University of Leicester Funding for International Students
University of Leicester Scholarships: International Student Funding & Tuition Fees
Looking for University of Leicester scholarships for international students? Leicester offers tuition discounts, competitive scholarships and research funding that can help reduce the cost of studying in the UK.
The right funding option depends on your degree level, academic results, country of residence and entry date. Some awards involve automatic consideration, while others require a separate application. Before choosing a course, compare the scholarship value with the tuition fees and living expenses you will still need to cover.
University of Leicester Scholarship Options
The following awards are published for the relevant 2026/27 intakes. Availability and conditions vary.
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| Scholarship | Study level | Published funding | Application route |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Undergraduate Merit Scholarship | Undergraduate | £5,000 tuition discount per eligible year | Automatic consideration |
| Chancellor’s International Scholarship | Undergraduate | £3,000 tuition discount per eligible year | Automatic consideration |
| International Postgraduate Taught Merit Scholarship | Postgraduate taught | £5,000 tuition discount for a maximum of one year | Automatic consideration |
| Global Excellence Scholarship | Eligible master’s programmes | £7,000 tuition discount | Separate application |
| International Undergraduate Tuition Fee Waiver | Undergraduate | Full tuition waiver for up to three years | September 2026 applications closed |
These awards have course, residence and other eligibility restrictions. A tuition scholarship does not automatically include accommodation or a living allowance.
Undergraduate Merit Scholarship: £5,000 Tuition Savings
The International Undergraduate Merit Scholarship rewards applicants whose qualifications exceed their chosen course’s standard entry requirements.
The published academic threshold is the equivalent of two A-level grades above the course requirement. For example, a course requiring ABB would normally require AAA or equivalent for this award.
Eligible applicants receive automatic consideration when their final results are available. The scholarship also includes certain progression routes from Leicester pathway programmes, subject to the required results.
Medicine, LLB Maitrise and specified foundation or International Year 1 courses are excluded from the award itself. Applicants permanently living in Thailand are directed to a separate scholarship.
The discount does not apply during industrial placements, overseas exchanges, resit years or suspended study.
Chancellor’s Scholarship: £3,000 Annual Fee Reduction
The undergraduate Chancellor’s International Scholarship provides eligible international fee-paying students with a £3,000 annual tuition discount when they meet their course’s standard entry requirements.
No separate scholarship application is needed. Eligible foundation, International Year 1 and top-up routes are included, although Medicine and LLB Maitrise are excluded. Applicants domiciled in Thailand should check the university’s separate Thai scholarship arrangements.
The published terms cover eligible September 2026, January 2027 and April 2027 starts. Check that your chosen programme offers the intake you want.
Master’s Funding: International Postgraduate Merit Scholarship
For eligible postgraduate taught applicants, Leicester offers a £5,000 tuition discount based on a qualification equivalent to a UK first-class degree.
The award covers a maximum of one year and applies to eligible full-time, campus-based master’s courses or PGCE programmes starting in September 2026, January 2027 or April 2027.
Eligible students are considered through their course application. Applicants domiciled in India or Thailand are excluded from this particular scheme and should review the alternative arrangements listed for them.
Global Excellence Scholarship: £7,000 Master’s Funding
Leicester’s Global Excellence Scholarship offers ten £7,000 tuition discounts across the 2026/27 academic cycle.
Applicants need an eligible postgraduate offer and a qualification equivalent to a UK first-class degree. The application includes a video of no more than two minutes explaining their achievements, future plans and how their chosen master’s supports those plans.
Applications for January and April 2027 entry are open, with a published deadline of 6 November 2026. September 2026 applications have closed.
April entry is limited to postgraduate taught programmes within the College of Business. Applicants domiciled in India are excluded, and the scholarship cannot normally be combined with other university scholarships or discounts.
Are Fully Funded Leicester Scholarships Available?
Distinguish between full tuition funding and funding that also pays living expenses.
Leicester offered 30 international undergraduate full tuition waivers for September 2026, covering eligible study for a maximum of three years. That application round is closed.
Recipients must still pay for their own accommodation and living costs. The university has announced a wider five-year fee-waiver initiative, but applicants should wait for the terms and application dates for their intended intake.
PhD Scholarships and Research Funding
Doctoral applicants should use Leicester’s separate postgraduate research funding directory rather than assume undergraduate or taught master’s scholarships apply to a PhD.
For each research opportunity, check:
- Whether international applicants are eligible.
- How much tuition funding is included.
- Whether a living stipend is provided.
- The funding duration and proposed start date.
- Whether you must apply for a specific research project.
- Any expenses that remain your responsibility.
Explore Leicester Research Funding Opportunities
How Much Will You Need After a Scholarship?
Build your study budget around the amount you must actually pay.
Tuition fees − confirmed tuition discount + living expenses + additional costs = estimated study budget.
For illustration, a £25,000 tuition fee reduced by a £5,000 scholarship leaves £20,000 in tuition payments. This is a calculation example, not a quoted Leicester course fee.
Then budget separately for accommodation, food, transport, travel and study materials. Compare accommodation using the full contract price and included bills, rather than the weekly rent alone.
For a multi-year degree, calculate each year separately. Check whether your award continues and whether any placement or exchange year receives different treatment.
Can You Combine Leicester Scholarships?
The published Merit and Chancellor’s scholarship terms generally allow students to hold one University of Leicester scholarship. If you qualify for more than one, you receive the higher-value award.
For example, qualifying for both the £3,000 Chancellor’s award and the £5,000 undergraduate Merit award does not normally produce an £8,000 discount.
Check any separate discount’s terms before including it in your budget.
Documents to Prepare
Your exact document list depends on the course and scholarship. As a preparation checklist, organise:
- Academic transcripts and certificates.
- Identification documents.
- Any required English-language evidence.
- A personal statement or answers to application questions.
- References and a CV, where requested.
- A research proposal for relevant research applications.
- Additional scholarship material, such as a video submission.
Follow the instructions for your chosen programme rather than assuming every award requires the same documents.
How to Apply
- Choose your course and intake. Check academic requirements and international tuition fees.
- Review matching scholarships. Confirm study level, residence restrictions and excluded courses.
- Submit your admission application. Provide the documents requested.
- Complete any separate funding application. Automatic consideration applies only to specified awards.
- Meet all offer and funding conditions. Track final-result, acceptance and deposit deadlines.
- Review your award confirmation. Confirm the amount, duration and remaining costs before finalising your budget.
Check University of Leicester Scholarships and Eligibility
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every international student receive funding?
Eligibility varies. International fee status alone does not establish entitlement to every award.
Are scholarships paid as cash?
The tuition discounts described here reduce course fees. Do not treat them as cash available for rent or everyday spending.
Can medical students receive these awards?
Medicine is excluded from several undergraduate schemes listed here. Check course-specific funding rather than assuming general scholarship eligibility.
Do I need a separate scholarship application?
The Merit and undergraduate Chancellor’s awards use automatic consideration. Competitive schemes such as Global Excellence require additional application material.
Where should I check deadlines?
- Use the individual scholarship page for your intended entry date. Different awards—and different intakes within an award—can have different deadlines.
