University of Leicester Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students 2026 – Tuition, Visa Sponsorship & Direct Online Application Links (UK Study Abroad Guide)

Reading time: 12 minutes | Last updated: May 2026 | Verified against official University of Leicester sources

If you’ve landed here, you’re probably staring at a tuition fee bill of £22,000 to £29,000 per year and wondering how on earth you’re going to afford studying at one of the UK’s top research universities. Take a breath. By the time you finish reading this guide, you’ll know exactly which Leicester scholarships you qualify for, how much you can realistically save, and the precise steps to apply, in the right order, before the deadlines pass you by.

This isn’t a generic list. It’s a personalised decision tool. Before you click anywhere else, work through the steps below in order.

📋 Quick Navigation (Jump to Your Section)

The 60-Second Eligibility Quiz
How Much Will You Actually Pay?
The Scholarship Decision Tree
Tier 1: Full Tuition Waivers (£60,000+ Value)
Tier 2: Major Cash Awards (£5,000–£30,000)
Tier 3: Automatic Discounts (No Application Needed)
Tier 4: Country-Specific Awards
Tier 5: External Partner Scholarships
The Critical “One Scholarship” Rule
Your Week-by-Week Application Timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
Apply Links & Contact Information

🧭 Step 1: The 60-Second Eligibility Quiz

Answer these five questions in your head before you go any further. Your answers determine which scholarships you should target first.

Question 1: Are you applying for undergraduate or postgraduate study?

Undergraduate → focus on Tiers 1, 2, 3, 4
Postgraduate → focus on Tiers 2, 3, 4, 5

Question 2: What’s your country of permanent residence?

Pakistan → GREAT Scholarship is your priority
Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, etc.) → Africa Development Scholarship
Thailand → King Power Thai Scholarship (automatic)
India → check Global Excellence exclusions; focus on Merit Scholarship + Commonwealth/Chevening
USA → Fulbright or Marshall Scholarship
Commonwealth country → Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship
Anywhere else → Citizens of Change / Global Excellence / Merit

Question 3: What are your academic grades like?

Top of your class (3 grades above standard A-level entry or UK first-class equivalent) → you qualify for £5,000 Merit Scholarship automatically
Strong but not exceptional (2 grades above entry) → you qualify for £3,000 Merit Scholarship automatically
Standard offer-meeting grades → focus on leadership-based and country-specific awards

Question 4: Has anyone in your family studied at Leicester?

Yes (sibling, spouse, parent) → claim the 10% Family Loyalty Discount automatically
You completed an earlier degree at Leicester yourself → claim the 20% Alumni Discount automatically

Question 5: Do you have demonstrable leadership experience or community impact?

Yes → apply for the International Citizens of Change Scholarship (undergraduate) or Global Excellence Scholarship (postgraduate)
Not really → focus on automatic awards and country-specific options

Hold your answers in mind. They’ll guide every decision below.

💷 Step 2: How Much Will You Actually Pay? (The Real Numbers)

Before scholarships, here’s what you’re up against for 2026/27:

Cost Item	Annual Cost (£)	3-Year Total (£)
International undergraduate tuition (low end)	22,200	66,600
International undergraduate tuition (high end)	26,550	79,650
International postgraduate tuition (typical)	17,500–29,000	n/a (1 year)
Living costs (visa requirement)	12,276	36,828
Total minimum (undergraduate)	~£34,476	~£103,428

For the 2026/27 academic year, the University of Leicester charges new full-time international undergraduate students tuition fees between £22,200 and £26,550 per year, depending on the course. Students applying for a Student Visa must also demonstrate they have £1,023 for living costs each calendar month of their course.

The good news: stack the right scholarships and you can cut tuition costs by 100%. Even moderate scholarship combinations save £15,000–£25,000 across a degree. Keep reading to see how.

🌳 Step 3: The Scholarship Decision Tree

Here’s the logic Leicester scholarship recipients actually follow, in priority order:

Start here → External fully-funded scholarship (Chevening / Commonwealth / Fulbright / Marshall)?

If yes → these cover most or all costs. You’re done.
If no → continue ↓

Country-specific Leicester scholarship available for your nationality?

If yes → apply (GREAT, Africa Development, King Power Thai, Saïd Foundation)
If no → continue ↓

Strong leadership profile and exceptional grades?

If yes → apply for the Full Fee Waiver (UG), Citizens of Change (UG), or Global Excellence (PGT)
If no → continue ↓

Strong academic grades?

If yes → you’ll automatically receive the Merit Scholarship (£5,000) or Chancellor’s Scholarship (£3,000). No action required beyond your course application.
If no → focus on Family Loyalty (10%), Alumni Discount (20%), or external scholarships from your home country government.

Now let’s go through each tier in detail.

🥇 Tier 1: Full Tuition Waivers (Value: £60,000+)

These are the most valuable awards Leicester offers. They are also the most competitive. If you have a strong academic and leadership profile, target these first.

International Undergraduate Tuition Fee Waiver

Value: Full tuition fee waiver (worth £66,600–£79,650 across a 3-year degree)
Awards available: 30 for September 2026 intake (out of 150 over 5 years)
Application opened: 18 November 2025

Eligibility requirements:

International fee-paying status
Starting a full-time undergraduate programme in September 2026 at the UK campus
Programme duration of 3 years or less
Academic excellence: 2 grades above standard A-level entry for your course
Must make Leicester your firm UCAS choice by 30 June 2026
All offer conditions met by 20 August 2026
Excludes: Medicine, LLB Maitrise, STEM International Foundation, International Year 1 courses

What you’ll need to submit:

Completed online scholarship application
200-word written statement on how you’ll embody Leicester’s “Citizen of Change” values
60-second video describing your academic and career goals
Proof of meeting offer conditions

Insider tip: The video matters more than most applicants realise. Authentic, specific stories about your impact beat polished corporate-style pitches. Mention a real person you’ve helped, a real measurable outcome, a real plan for after graduation. Avoid generic phrases like “I want to make a difference.”

Africa Development Scholarship

Value: Full tuition fee waiver
Awards available: 2 for September 2026 intake
Who can apply: Postgraduate students from Sub-Saharan Africa

If you’re from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, or any other Sub-Saharan African country, this is your single highest-value Leicester-specific opportunity. Two awards for an entire region means competition is fierce, but a full tuition waiver for a UK Master’s is rare enough to justify the effort.

Sanctuary Scholarships

Value: Full tuition fee waiver plus a personalised support package
Awards available: Up to 4 awards
Who can apply: Those seeking asylum in the UK (undergraduate, postgraduate, or distance learning)

🥈 Tier 2: Major Cash Awards (£5,000–£30,000)

These awards require an application but are worth the effort if you have a strong profile.

International Citizens of Change Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Value: Up to £10,000 per year for up to 3 years (total potential value: £30,000)
Awards available: 10 for September 2026 intake
Application type: Active application with essay and video components

If you’ve led a project, started an initiative, organised in your community, or built something that helped others, this is the scholarship where that experience converts directly into funding. Leadership and impact stories are weighted heavily.

Global Excellence Scholarship (Postgraduate)

Value: £7,000 tuition fee discount
Awards available: 10 for 2026/27
Important exclusion: Applicants permanently living in India are not eligible
Note: For April 2027 starts, only College of Business PGT programmes qualify

University of Leicester GREAT Scholarship 2026 (Pakistan)

Value: £10,000 tuition fee discount
Awards available: 1 award
Who can apply: Pakistani students applying for a one-year postgraduate course (PGCEs excluded)
Important: Students receiving a Commonwealth Master’s or Chevening fully funded scholarship do not qualify for this fee discount. Treat it as an alternative, not a top-up.

🥉 Tier 3: Automatic Discounts (No Application Required)

These are the most overlooked scholarships, because students assume “easy” means “low value.” In fact, the Merit Scholarship alone is worth £15,000 across a 3-year undergraduate degree, more than many “prestigious” external scholarships.

International Merit Scholarship

Value: £5,000 per year (undergraduate) or one-off £5,000 (postgraduate taught)
How to apply: You don’t. Eligible students are automatically considered. If successful, you’ll be notified when you submit your final results.

Tiered amounts based on academic results:

£5,000 → 3 grades above standard A-level entry (UG) or UK first-class equivalent (PGT)
£3,000 → 2 grades above standard A-level entry (UG) or UK upper second-class equivalent (PGT)

Chancellor’s International Scholarship

Value: £3,000 tuition fee discount per year
How to apply: Automatic for international fee-paying students meeting entry requirements
Exclusions: Medicine, LLB Maitrise; postgraduate version not available to applicants permanently living in India

Alumni Discount

Value: 20% off Master’s tuition fees
How to qualify: Previously completed an undergraduate degree, PGCE, Study Abroad placement, or Master’s at Leicester

For a £20,000 master’s, that’s £4,000 saved with zero application effort.

Family Loyalty Discount

Value: 10% off tuition per year
How to qualify: Sibling, spouse, or parent has studied or is studying at Leicester

🌍 Tier 4: Country-Specific Awards

Leicester–King Power Thai Scholarship

Value: £5,000 tuition fee discount (automatic)
Who qualifies: All Thai-domiciled international students starting full-time UG or PGT in September 2026

Saïd Foundation Scholarship Programme

For students from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine pursuing postgraduate study.

ULSB International Dean’s Scholarship

Leicester School of Business award for international undergraduate students entering the business school.

🌐 Tier 5: External Partner Scholarships (Fully Funded)

These aren’t Leicester awards directly, but Leicester is a participating institution. They typically cover tuition, living stipend, flights, and additional allowances, often making them more valuable than any internal Leicester scholarship.

Chevening Scholarship

Value: Full funding (tuition, monthly stipend, return airfare, additional allowances)

Eligibility:

Citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory
Completed undergraduate degree (typically UK 2:1 equivalent)
At least two years (2,800 hours) of work experience including voluntary experience
Apply to 3 different eligible UK university courses
Commit to returning home for at least 2 years after the award

Status: Applications for 2026-27 are now closed. The 2027-28 cycle typically opens in August 2026.

Chevening-Leicester Partner Scholarship

A specific partnership variant for Chevening-eligible countries (excluding India) studying within the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities or related schools.

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship

Value: Full funding for postgraduate study
Who can apply: Students from eligible developing Commonwealth countries
Application process: Through your country’s national nominating agency, typically opens September–October each year.

Fulbright Scholarship (USA)

Marshall Scholarship (USA)

⚠️ The Critical “One Scholarship” Rule (Most People Miss This)

Here’s the single most important thing to understand about Leicester scholarships:

You can hold only one University of Leicester scholarship at a time. If you qualify for multiple Leicester awards, you receive only the highest-value one.

However, this rule applies only to internal Leicester scholarships. You can typically combine:

Family Loyalty Discount + external sponsorship (e.g., your government’s scholarship)
Alumni Discount + external sponsorship
External fully-funded scholarship (Chevening, Commonwealth) + Leicester’s automatic discounts where rules allow

The strategic implication is enormous. Instead of stacking multiple Leicester awards (which you cannot do), the smartest applicants:

Apply for one ambitious Leicester award (Full Fee Waiver, Citizens of Change, or Global Excellence)
Simultaneously apply for an external fully-funded scholarship (Chevening, Commonwealth, Fulbright)
Use the automatic discounts (Family Loyalty, Alumni) where eligible

This combination can realistically zero out tuition while covering living costs.

📅 Step 4: Your Week-by-Week Application Timeline

Print this. Set calendar reminders. Stick to it.

Now (or this week):

Choose your course
Begin your course application (UCAS for undergraduate, Leicester portal for postgraduate)
Take your IELTS / TOEFL / PTE if you haven’t already

Within 2 weeks of receiving your offer:

Confirm you’ve been automatically considered for the Merit and Chancellor’s scholarships
If applying for the Full Fee Waiver, prepare your 60-second video and 200-word statement
Submit your Citizens of Change or Global Excellence application
Start your country-specific applications (GREAT, Africa Development)

Before 30 June 2026:

Make Leicester your firm UCAS choice (required for Full Fee Waiver)
Submit any outstanding documents

Before 20 August 2026:

Meet all conditions of your offer
Confirm your scholarship status with the international team

Parallel track (any time before deadlines):

Chevening 2027-28 cycle opens August 2026
Commonwealth Master’s typically opens September–October 2026
Apply to 3 UK universities if pursuing Chevening (Leicester being one of them)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I apply for a Leicester scholarship before I get my offer?
A: No. You must first be offered a place on a course before applying for any Leicester scholarship.

Q: Do I need IELTS to apply for scholarships?
A: You need it for your course application. Scholarships generally use the same eligibility criteria as your course offer.

Q: Can I defer my place and keep my scholarship?
A: Generally no. If you defer your place to the following academic year, your fee waiver offer will no longer be valid. You’d need to reapply for any scholarships available in that subsequent year.

Q: Are sponsored students eligible for these scholarships?
A: Yes. Sponsored students may still qualify for the fee waiver provided they meet all other eligibility criteria, with some scholarship-specific exceptions.

Q: Can I get both the Merit Scholarship and Chancellor’s Scholarship?
A: No. You’ll receive only the higher-value award (the £5,000 Merit Scholarship if you qualify for both).

Q: Does the Full Fee Waiver cover living costs?
A: No. It covers tuition only. You’ll still need to demonstrate £1,023 per month for living costs for your student visa.

Q: What if I’m applying for Medicine?
A: Most Leicester scholarships exclude Medicine. Look at NHS-related funding, your home country’s medical sponsorship schemes, or external scholarships like Commonwealth that don’t have the same exclusions.

Q: Can distance learning students get scholarships?
A: Yes. There are dedicated distance learning awards including a Distance Learning Merit Scholarship and Sanctuary Scholarship.

Q: What happens if I switch courses after starting?
A: You may lose your scholarship or be charged the new course’s fees. Contact the international team before switching.

Q: Do scholarships count as income for visa purposes?
A: Yes. Scholarship value reduces the amount you need to show in personal funds for your visa application.

✅ Step 5: Your Action Checklist

Before you click any external link, make sure you’ve done the following:

Identified which tier you’re targeting (Tier 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5)
Chosen your course at Leicester
Confirmed your country’s eligibility for country-specific awards
Checked whether you qualify for automatic discounts (Family Loyalty, Alumni)
Decided whether to pursue an external fully-funded scholarship (Chevening, Commonwealth) alongside a Leicester award
Calendar reminders set for the 30 June and 20 August 2026 deadlines

Once you’ve checked these off, you’re ready to actually apply.

🔗 Apply Links (Final Step)

Now that you know exactly what to apply for and in what order, here are the direct application pages. Bookmark this section.

Start your course application here:
Leicester International Application Portal

Main Leicester scholarships hub:
All International Scholarships

Tier 1 – Full Tuition Waivers

Tier 2 – Major Cash Awards

Tier 3 – Automatic Discounts

Tier 4 – Country-Specific

Tier 5 – External Partners

Distance Learning & PhD Funding

Need help? Contact the international team:
Leicester International Student Contact Page

Final Word

The students who win Leicester scholarships aren’t always the ones with the best grades. They’re the ones who understood the system, applied to the right tier, and submitted early. You now know more about Leicester’s 2026/27 scholarship portfolio than 95% of applicants. Take that advantage and use it.

Set aside one hour today to start your course application. Set aside another hour next week to draft your scholarship video. By August 2026, you could be packing your bags for Leicester with most of your tuition already covered.