As of April 2, 2026, there are still a number of important UK scholarship windows open for students starting in September 2026. Even though the main “early” awards, like Chevening, are over, this month is very important for British Council programmes and high-value university-specific grants.
1. Scholarships for GREAT in 2026
The UK government and the British Council pay for the GREAT Scholarship programme, which gives £10,000 towards the cost of tuition for a one-year master’s degree. Different universities have different deadlines, but many stay open until April.
- For Nigerian students, the deadline is April 30, 2026, at the University of Southampton.
- Brunel University London: The deadline is April 30, 2026, for students from China, Nigeria, and Vietnam.
- The deadline for students from Ghana, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, and Turkey is April 24, 2026, at the University of Kent.
- Imperial College and University College London (UCL), London: Some deadlines go until late April, so check the pages for each department.
2. Scholarships from the British Council for Women in STEM
These scholarships pay for everything, including tuition, monthly stipends, travel, and visa costs, for women from certain areas (South Asia, East Asia, and the Americas).
- Queen Mary University of London (QMUL): The deadline is April 19, 2026.
- General Program Deadline: For many schools that are taking part, the last date to apply is April 30, 2026.
- Regions that can apply include Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and some parts of Southeast Asia and the Americas.
3. Global Futures Scholarships from the University of Manchester
More than 300 awards will be available to international students at the University of Manchester starting in September 2026.
- Master’s Awards (Africa): worth £18,000. You must receive an offer and submit the scholarship form by April 23, 2026.
- Undergraduate Awards: worth £10,000 a year (up to £30,000 total). Most international qualifications have a deadline of April 9, 2026.
4. University of Kent: Scholarships for International Students
In addition to the GREAT scholarships, Kent has several internal awards for the 2026 intake.
- Kent Business School Taught Masters: You can still apply for several awards until the end of April.
- The Bestway Foundation Scholarship is for Pakistani students studying STEM subjects and is worth £26,000. Look at the portal for the last dates to close in the spring.
5. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships (Last Few Spots)
The main Commonwealth portal usually closes in December, but some universities may still have “Shared” slots open if their first choices turn them down.
- Strategy: Look at the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship page to see if any universities are still looking at applications or have extended deadlines for less common subjects like climate science or public health.
6. Automatic Discounts on Tuition (No Deadline)
Many colleges and universities offer automatic discounts that stay “open” as long as you apply for admission before the course starts.
- Northumbria University gives a £3,000 Global Scholarship to all students who meet the requirements.
- University of Birmingham: Offers £2,000 Global Masters Scholarships based on how well you did in school when you got the offer.
Final Thoughts
The month of April 2026 is the final major window for competitive UK government-backed funding like GREAT and Women in STEM. If you miss the April 30th cutoffs, your best remaining options for 2026 will be university-specific automatic discounts or smaller regional bursaries. Ensure you have an “unconditional” or “conditional” offer from your target university immediately, as most of these scholarships require a student ID number to apply.
Do you have an admission offer from a UK university yet, or are you looking for a scholarship to apply to alongside a new application?
