Funding Your Course of Study

The information which follows is intended to help you to identify sources of financial support before your course begins.

Please Note: The information given below is intended as a general guide. It does not represent an exhaustive list of all available funding. You are encouraged to apply to all sources of funds for which you may be eligible. International students should approach their local British Council for information on local funding.

The level of competition for most of the awards mentioned here is extremely high and candidates are usually assessed on past, and potential, academic performance. If you will require a grant in order to undertake your studies, your application should be made as early in the year as possible. Applications received after March cannot be considered for most scholarships.

The majority of international postgraduate students taking courses in the School of International Development are sponsored by their Governments, their employers, or an agency such as the British Council.

However, most UK and European Union students are self-financing. UK students should investigate Professional and Career Development Loans available from major banks.

You should not begin a new course unless you are confident that you have enough money for the duration of your course, bearing in mind that fees and expenses are likely to increase annually. Although it is increasingly possible for international students to work part-time while studying in the UK, (currently 20 hours each week for a full-time student earning about £5 to £8 per hour) you should not rely on funding your studies through vacation or part-time work since your earnings are likely to be low in relation to your expenses.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

School of International Development Scholarships:

• International Development Scholarships - £1,000 fee awards may be offered to international applicants on the basis of academic excellence (minimum requirement 2:1 degree or equivalent).
• International Development Full Fees Scholarship - Full fee award may be offered to one international taught applicant on the basis of academic excellence (Holds a First Class Degree) and their personal statement.

Eligibility: International students.
Method of Application: All eligible candidates to whom the School have made an offer are automatically considered for nomination.
Deadline for Applications: Please note that the deadline of 16th March has passed. All successful applicants have been notified by the School (Full Fee award only).
 

School of International Development Scholarships for Japanese Students:

International Development Excellence Scholarships - £3,000 fees awards may be offered to up to two applicants from Japan on the basis of academic excellence and their personal statement.

Eligibility: Japanese students.
Method of Application: All eligible candidates to whom the School have made an offer are automatically considered for nomination.
Deadline for Applications:  Please note that the deadline for full fee awards has passed, however the £1,000 fee awards are still available. 
 

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme:

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (with funding from DFID), and UK universities, to support scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom. One award may be available to candidates, under 35 years old, from a developing Commonwealth country who have been offered a place on an advanced taught course. The School is able to nominate one student per year for this scholarship. All candidates to whom the School have made an offer are automatically considered for nomination and the appropriate application forms are automatically sent to the student selected. Students already studying in the developed countries are not eligible; neither are employees of government or parastatal bodies. The award includes Full Fees, Maintenance and Travel costs. .

Eligibility: International students from developing Commonwealth countries.
Method of Application: All eligible candidates to whom the School have made an offer are automatically considered for nomination and the appropriate application forms are automatically sent to the student selected.
Deadline for Applications: Please note that the deadline has passed. The School will contact all successful applicants by 13 April 2012.

Marshal Papworth Scholarship:

Up to 5 Marshal Papworth Scholarships may be available, on the basis of academic excellence, for applicants from developing countries working in natural resource based projects (agriculturalist/natural resource) applying for a place on the MA Agriculture and Rural Development, or the MSc Environment and International Development. The Scholarship varies from £12,000 to £17,000 as determined by the Marshal Papworth committee. For further details please visit: http://www.marshalpapworth.com/

Eligibility: International students from developing countries working within certain conditions (see above).
Method of Application: All eligible candidates to whom the School have made an offer are automatically considered for this award. The School nominated student will be sent the appropriate application forms.
Deadline for Applications: Please note that the deadline has passed. The School will contact all successful applicants by 13 April 2012.

School of International Development Internal Bursaries:

All UEA Undergraduates who successfully register to progress on to any of our International Development Masters courses are eligible to receive a 20% Fees Award. Please contactpgt.dev.admiss@uea.ac.uk for further information. NB: This award cannot be added to the £1,000 international scholarship described above.

Eligibility: Home/EU/International students.
Method of Application: All eligible candidates to whom the School have made an offer are automatically considered for nomination.

 
OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

General (Non-UK Residents):

Students planning to come to Britain to study should seek information from their own Ministry of Education and from the nearest British Council Office, British Embassy or British High Commission. Students already in the UK can obtain information from their own Embassy or High Commission and the British Council regional or London offices. Further information on funding may be obtained from the UK Council for Overseas Students Affairs.

Chevening Scholarships – MA Media and International Development

Chevening Scholarships are for talented people who have been identified as potential future leaders across a wide range of fields including politics, business, the media, civil society, religion and academia. If you are applying to our MA Media and International Development course, you may be eligible to apply for this scholarship. For further information, please visit the Chevening website.

Deadline: 23rd January

World Council of Churches:

Candidates who are directly engaged in church service, or community service, or who have previous theological education may be eligible to apply for a World Council of Churches scholarship. Candidates should normally have had some working experience related to their proposed field of study. Applications should be made through a candidate's local church or church-related organisation - a WCC application form is made available by the National Correspondent only after local selection has taken place. Further details may be obtained directly from the World Council of Churches Scholarship Secretary, 150 Route de Ferney, PO Box 66, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.

Method of Application: All eligible candidates should apply directly to the World Council of Churches.
Deadline for Applications: 30 April 2012.

Africa Educational Trust:

The Africa Educational Trust has been assisting African students in the UK since 1958. All grants and scholarship programmes have specific criteria for eligibility. Please see theAfrica Educational Trust scholarship website for further information.

Eligibility: International students from Africa working within certain conditions (see above).
Method of Application: Please see website (above).

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan:

The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan is an international programme under which member governments offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. Scholarships can be offered annually by the UK to commonwealth citizens resident in a Commonwealth country other than Britain itself. Awards are for university postgraduate study or research, and are administered by the Department for International Development.

Eligibility: International students from a Commonwealth country.
Method of Application: Candidates must apply through the appropriate agency in their country of normal residence.
Deadline for Applications: Please refer to http://www.csfp-online.org/ for details.

 World Bank:

The World Bank Scholarship Program and the Fellowships Program are vehicles for knowledge sharing and capacity building in the developing world. The Programs provide opportunities for graduate and postgraduate studies leading to master's and doctoral degrees in development-related fields for mid-career professionals from eligible developing countries. Applicants must be a national of a World Bank member country, under 45 years of age, hold a bachelor's degree with superior grades, have two years of recent employment in economic development activities and have been admitted to a university renowned for development research and teaching.

Contact address: World Bank, Graduate Scholarship Program, 1818 H Street, N.W. -- Room M 4001, Washington, DC 20036, USA.
Method of Application: All eligible candidates should apply directly to the World Bank.
Deadline for Applications: 30 March 2012.