Ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide

The University of Leicester is a leading UK university and is committed to international excellence through the creation of world changing research and high quality, inspirational teaching. The QS World University Rankings 2011 placed us among the top 2% of global universities - so it is no surprise that many students from outside the United Kingdom choose to study here. We welcome students from more than seventy countries to study at our University and we have significant numbers of students from China, India, Nigeria, Malaysia, Pakistan, Taiwan, the USA, and Saudi Arabia.

Our International Office can provide all the information you need about applying for a course at the University of Leicester as well as advice on scholarships, English Language programmes, and acceptability of international qualifications.

Current Funding Opportunities for International Postgraduates

Many of our current postgraduate studentships and funding opportunities are open to international applicants - please consult the individual adverts for details of eligibility in each case.

Additionally, each year the University awards a number of open studentships for PhD researchers and masters degree programmes to international students who have been accepted for study. The studentships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and are usually advertised from January for programmes starting in September/October.

Learn more about open international studentships >

Other Funding Opportunities for International Postgraduates

In addition to the discipline-specific and open studentships available to international applicants, the University works with external parterns to provide other funding opportunities for postgraduates:

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme for Postgraduates

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, set up by the Department for International Development (DFID) in 1986, represent a unique partnership between the United Kingdom government and UK universities. To date in excess of 2,500 students from developing Commonwealth countries have been awarded Shared Scholarships. Without these awards they would not otherwise have been able to benefit from UK higher education.

Awards are for one year long taught masters degree programmes only. No awards will be made for undergraduate or doctoral study.

Learn more about Commonwealth Shared Scholarships >

Santander Postgraduate Scholarships

Banco Santander, one of the largest banks in the world, created Santander Universities in 1996 to support the higher education sector in such areas as teaching and research, international cooperation, knowledge and technology transfer, entrepreneurial initiatives, student mobility, and innovation.

In September 2010, the University of Leicester and Santander Universities Global Division announced a new three-year funding programme worth some £175,000 to provide a range of scholarships and travel awards. Details will be posted here as scholarships/awards become available

Learn more about Santander Scholarships >

Overseas Research Student Award Scheme

In July 2008 the Higher Education Funding Council for England announced that it was withdrawing funding for the Overseas Research Student Award Scheme (ORSAS). ORSAS funding is no longer available to international postgraduate researchers.

Further Advice

The British Council and the UK Council for International Student Affairs can provide further advice on alternative sources of funding for international students.