Studying in the UK is the dream of many students, but when you see the prices of tuition, it seems more like a fantasy than a real plan: an average year of studying at a university can cost from $14,826 to $21,003, and living expenses will amount to about $12,355 more. How can we not think about miracles?
Fortunately, scholarships and grants are very real and can be the key to making your dreams come true! They cover part or even all of the costs: from tuition to accommodation and flights. But there is a nuance - it is not easy to get such opportunities. You need to learn what scholarships are, what is important for them and how exactly to get them.
Who pays and for what?
All scholarships are conventionally divided into three categories: public, university and private. Each has its own characteristics, so you can choose something for your goals and capabilities.
Government Programs
If we talk about state funding, then the first thing that comes to mind is the Chevening program — something like a golden ticket: the master's program is fully paid, including not only tuition, but also accommodation, flights, visas, even meals! It sounds like an ideal package, but there is a nuance – the competition is enormous: annually, thousands of students from all over the world compete for a place, so they really choose only the chosen ones.
Other well-known programs are Commonwealth Scholarships or GREAT Scholarships, but unfortunately, they are not available for students from the CIS.
University Scholarships
Most universities in the UK offer financial aid, and here the competition is already lower: most often these are discounts on tuition - from 10% to 50%. However, to get into the lucky ones, you will have to stand out: you need excellent academic success, recommendations, and sometimes even a strong story of why exactly you need this money.
The most generous option is the Gates Scholarship provided by Cambridge. This program covers everything from tuition to personal expenses (including a $21,621 stipend per year!). But here, again, there is extremely tough competition.
Sample categories of university scholarships:
- Academic Merit Scholarships – an award for academic excellence,
- Low Income Scholarships – assistance to students from families with limited finances,
- Subject-specific Scholarships — funding for certain areas: for example, MBA or engineering,
- Performance-based Scholarships are for athletes or creative individuals.
On the website of each university, you can find your own "magic wand", the main thing is not to hesitate to get detailed information.
Private Grants
If there is not enough university or state, private foundations and companies will come to your aid. For example, the (ISC)² Information Security Undergraduate Scholarship supports future professionals in cybersecurity: payments range from $1,000 to $5,000, and even high school students can apply!
There are other programs that, in addition to money, give a chance to do an internship or offer a job in the future. Such support is especially popular in the technological and scientific fields.
How much does education cost and how much can you get?
Let's be honest, average expenses look intimidating to many:
- Tuition: from $14,826 per year,
- Living expenses: about $12,355 more.
Scholarships do not save everyone and not always. For example:
- University discounts usually cover up to 30% of tuition,
- Chevening and the like pay for everything, including the air tickets,
- Small grants (for example, Low Income Scholarships) give from $1,235 to $3,706 per year. This can compensate, for example, for the purchase of textbooks or travel for research.
How to prepare for the application?
No matter how wonderful everything sounds, you can't do it without effort.
Search for programs
Study university websites: they usually have a Funding and Scholarships section where all the options are collected. You can also turn to platforms like The Scholarship Hub.
Build a portfolio
Most programs look not only at grades but also at the personality of the candidate. Academic achievements are important, but a convincing motivation letter about yourself can play an equally important role. It is useful to add:
Prepare the documents
The package of documents is standard, but check the requirements every time:
- Letters
- Resume
- Research plan (for master's or postgraduate studies).
Don't forget about deadlines!
Most programs close applications six months before the begining of the school year. Prepare in advance!
Where is it easier to get support?
Bachelor's programs are the most difficult, while master's or PhD programs have the best chances, because universities are extremely interested in strong researchers. Another real option is small grants from the universities themselves: they cover $1,235-2,471, allowing them to slightly reduce tuition costs.
Where to look for information?
- Official websites of universities,
- Platforms: scholarshiphub.org, Euraxess,
- Private foundations and companies related to your professional field,
- Professional educational consultants.
Education in the UK can become a reality if you approach the issue systematically and persistently. Each step brings you closer to your goal, whether it's collecting documents, finding a program, or writing a motivation letter. Remember: in such processes, it is important to be honest, confident – and be sure to believe that your name will be on the list of lucky ones!
