So many international have chosen to study in the UK for free largely because there are different scholarships international students can apply for. The UK has largely become one of the countries with the highest intake of international students from all over the world. Statistics show that there are presently 485,645 international students in the UK.
This shows that a large number of people have shown interest to study in the UK, but money has been one of the great reasons that have limited them. Studying in the UK for free does come with some conditions. International students who want to study in the UK have to have a valid passport and visa and they also need an appropriate level of funding such as a Student Visa, Tier 4 visa, or Home Office student grant.
The good news is that there are many ways international students can finance their studies in the UK without having to spend any money on tuition fees. There are scholarships available for international students, which can cover a significant amount of their tuition fees. Moreover, many universities in the UK offer financial assistance for international students who are from low-income families or have special circumstances.
So if you are interested in studying in the UK and you do not have any money to pay for tuition fees, there are a number of ways that you can finance your studies without having to resort to loans or other forms of funding. International students who want to study in the UK should first research which scholarships are available for them and then apply for them.
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Ways International Students Can Finance Their Fees
Some examples of ways that international students can finance their tuition fees without having to borrow money include:
– Finding scholarships that are specifically for international students. These scholarships can be sources of funding for tuition fees, living expenses, or other costs associated with studying in the UK.
– Earning scholarship money through work or extracurricular activities. Many universities in the UK offer financial assistance for students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and significant extra-curricular involvement. This financial assistance can cover a significant amount of tuition fees.
– Accepting student loans from the UK government or private lenders. Many universities in the UK offer loan programs that are specifically designed for international students. These loans can cover a significant amount of tuition fees, and often have lower interest rates than those available to students who borrow money from private lenders.
– Finding scholarships that are specific to a certain country or region. Scholarships that are focused on a specific country or region can be more plentiful and provide more financial assistance than general scholarships.
– Negotiating with the UK government to have tuition fees paid in full or in part. Many international students who are qualified to study in the UK are able to have their tuition fees paid for by the government as part of a special program known as a ‘Tier 4 Student Visa’. This program allows talented and skilled international students to study in the UK without having to take out student loans or qualify for other forms of financial assistance.
– Filing a petition with the Home Office requesting that tuition fees be paid in full or in part. A small percentage of international students who study in the UK are able to have their tuition fees paid for by the government as part of a program known as ‘Tier 4 Student Visa’. For more information, please see our article on how to file a petition with the Home Office.
– Finding private scholarships that focus on the UK. A number of private scholarship organizations are focused on awarding scholarships to international students who are interested in studying in the UK. Search online for scholarship databases that specialize in finding scholarships for students from specific countries or regions.
Universities in the UK that Are Free for International Students
University Of Plymouth;
The University Of Cambridge;
Bucking Hamshire New University;
The University Of West Of Scotland;
University Of Suffolk;
Ravensbourne University;
University Of Sunderland;
Royal Agricultural University;
Coventry University;
The University Of Cumbria.
These UK universities are among the cheapest universities in the UK with the less financial burden on the international students.
Scholarship Schemes To Apply For In the UK
Gates Cambridge Scholarships for International Students
Gates is one of the most prestigious Scholarships in the UK. The gates scholarship scheme is awarded to academically strong students who are promising and shown academic prowess and are citizens from the country outside of the UK.
- College / University: University of Cambridge, UK;
- Eligible Courses are Ph.D., MLitt or MSc, or any one-year postgraduate course;
- Scholarships Include the Full cost of studying at Cambridge, travel costs, maintenance allowances, family allowance, fieldwork, etc;
- Scholarship Application Deadline: 10 October for USA students and 05 December for others, annually.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Citizen of a country outside of the United Kingdom;
- Applying for Ph.D., MLitt, MSc, or any full-time one-year postgraduate program.
Warwick Chancellor’s International Scholarships
Warwick Chancellor’s is allocated via a postgraduate research competition. It is awarded to all international students who have been accepted into any discipline for Ph.D. in the UK.
- College / University: University of Warwick, UK;
- Eligible Courses are Ph.D. in any discipline at the University of Warwick;
- Scholarships Include: The full payment of tuition fees up to £22,860 and a maintenance stipend of £15,044 for the duration of 3.5 years;
- Scholarship Application Deadline: 18 January, annually.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be accepted in a Ph.D. discipline offered at the University of Warwick;
- Students already in the first year of their Ph.D. at Warwick can also apply;
- No specific country requirements, the student must be from outside of the UK.
British Chevening Scholarships for International Students
British Chevening Scholarships are commonwealth scholarships in the UK and are funded by the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office). Chevening Scholarships are awarded to as many as 1500 students from 140 countries.
- College / University: Any University in the UK;
- Eligible Courses are: Full time Taught Master’s Degree in any subject;
- Scholarships Include Course Tuition Fees, Monthly living expenses, Economy Class return airfare to the UK, additional grants, and allowances;
- Scholarship Application Deadline: 6 November, every year.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a citizen of Chevening Country, the list of 162 countries around the world;
- Return to home country for minimum 2 years after the scholarship has ended;
- Two years of work experience;
- An Acceptance letter from the Universities in the UK;
- English Language Proficiency Proof.
