More and more criminology scholarships are focusing on global security, digital forensics, and restorative justice in 2026. The late 2026 intake has already passed many deadlines, but the windows for the 2027 intake are about to open. These will give future policymakers and criminal justice experts full-ride opportunities.
1. Fully Funded Top “Full-Ride” Prizes
These programs give you the most financial security because they cover all of your tuition, allow you to travel abroad, and give you a monthly living allowance.
Chevening Scholarships in the UK
- The Prize: full funding for a one-year master’s degree in criminology, criminal justice, or security studies.
- Applications for the 2027 cohort open on August 5, 2026, and close on October 7, 2026.
- Strategic Tip: Make sure your application fits with global priority areas like “Strengthening Security and Stability in a Volatile World.”
- You need to have worked for at least two years (2,800 hours). Work as a volunteer in legal or social services is worth something.
Commonwealth Master’s and PhD Scholarships in the UK
- The award includes full tuition, a monthly stipend of about £1,452, and a round-trip plane ticket.
- Intake for 2027: Applications for the 2027/28 school year should open in September 2026 and close on October 14, 2026.
- Theme: Use the “Strengthening Global Peace, Security, and Governance” development theme to apply.
DAAD EPOS Scholarships in Germany
- The prize is a monthly payment of €992 for a master’s degree or €1,300 or more for a PhD, as well as health insurance and travel.
- Criminology Focus: Aimed at people who work in developing countries. Search for programmes that are connected to peace and conflict studies or international law and justice.
- 2027 Cycle: Applications for the 2027 intake usually open in June 2026 and close between August and October 2026.
2. Grants for Law and University Students (2026/2027)
University of Law: Full Fee Award for First Year (UK)
- The Award: A full fee award for the length of an undergraduate degree in criminology.
- 2026/2027 Status:
- Start date: September 2026. The deadline to apply is June 28, 2026.
- The month of January 2027 Start: The last day to apply is November 15, 2026.
- Requirement: You need to have an offer and take an online scholarship test.
University of Reading Excellence Scholarships in the UK
- The Prize: Automatic cuts to tuition fees of between £2,000 and £7,000.
- 2026/2027 Status: You don’t need to fill out a separate application; eligible international students will be automatically considered based on their degree application for the September 2026 intake.
3. Erasmus Mundus: An Important Update for 2026
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in Criminology is currently going through a transition phase, just like the IMARC programme.
- 2026–2027 Status: Many major consortia, including Euroculture, are not offering Erasmus Mundus scholarships for the 2026–2027 school year while they wait for the results of the funding re-selection process.
- 2027 Outlook: Full scholarships (about €1,400/month) are expected to come back for the September 2027 intake. The re-selection results will be publicly announced in mid-2026. Portals will open in late 2026.
4. How to avoid taking the IELTS for criminology in 2026
There are ways to skip formal tests in criminology, even though it is a field that requires a lot of communication:
- Medium of Instruction (MOI): If you got your bachelor’s degree in English, a lot of German (DAAD) and UK (Commonwealth) universities will accept an official MOI letter from your registrar.
- The University of Glasgow and many US schools now accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) as a faster, $59 alternative to the IELTS.
- Professional Waiver: If you have worked for three or more years in a legal or law enforcement role where English is the main language, some UK Master’s programmes will let you skip the test.
5. Important Timeline for 2026 and 2027
- The University of Law Full Fee Award is due by June 28, 2026. This award is for the September 2026 intake.
- The Chevening (UK) portal will open on August 5, 2026, for the 2027 intake.
- The Commonwealth (UK) and DAAD (Germany) application portals will open in September 2026.
- The University of Law’s January 2027 intake deadline is November 15, 2026.
Final Thoughts
The Chevening and Commonwealth programmes offer the best financial security for the master’s move in 2027. The University of Law’s Full Fee Award is the most important thing for you to do right now if you are starting an undergraduate degree and the deadline is in June. Put your application in for modern governance or cyber-criminology. Committees in 2027 are searching for people who can solve security problems in the digital age.
