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Applications are open for the USC Trustee Scholarship 2027, one of the most competitive undergraduate merit scholarships offered by the University of Southern California in the United States.

The Trustee Scholarship covers full undergraduate tuition for the standard scholarship period. International students are eligible, and there is no separate Trustee Scholarship application: eligible students who apply to USC by the appropriate merit-scholarship deadline are automatically considered.

For most Fall 2027 first-year applicants, the scholarship consideration deadline is November 1, 2026. Students applying to certain Dance, Dramatic Arts, and Music programmes have a December 1, 2026 scholarship deadline.

Students searching for other opportunities can also browse all scholarships and fully funded scholarships on Scholarships Central.

USC Trustee Scholarship 2027 Overview

Detail	Information
Scholarship	USC Trustee Scholarship
University	University of Southern California
Country	United States
Degree level	Undergraduate
Intake	Fall 2027
International students	Eligible
Scholarship value	Full tuition
Standard duration	Up to 8 semesters
Architecture	Up to 10 semesters
Separate scholarship application	No
Main deadline	November 1, 2026
Performing arts scholarship deadline	December 1, 2026
SAT/ACT	Optional for 2027–28
Need-based aid for international students	Not available

USC merit scholarships range from smaller awards to full tuition and are awarded on the basis of academic excellence, leadership, service, talent, and overall application strength.

What Is the USC Trustee Scholarship?

The USC Trustee Scholarship is one of USC’s premier undergraduate merit awards.

It is intended for exceptional incoming first-year students and covers the cost of USC’s standard full-time tuition.

USC’s scholarship rules define the award relative to the university’s flat-rate tuition for 12–18 units per semester. For a standard undergraduate programme, the scholarship can continue for up to eight semesters, while students in the five-year Bachelor of Architecture programme can have up to ten semesters of eligibility.

How Much Is the USC Trustee Scholarship Worth?

The Trustee Scholarship covers:

100% of standard undergraduate tuition

USC’s published tuition for the 2026–27 academic year is $75,384 for two semesters of full-time undergraduate study.

The exact tuition amount for 2027–28 has not yet been published, so applicants should not treat $75,384 as the confirmed 2027 scholarship value.

Because USC tuition generally changes over time, the actual four-year value of a Trustee Scholarship can be substantially higher than four times the current annual tuition.

Is the USC Trustee Scholarship Fully Funded?

No.

The Trustee Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship, not a full-cost or full-ride scholarship.

USC explicitly states that no USC merit scholarship covers the entire cost of attendance for international applicants.

The Trustee Scholarship does not automatically cover costs such as:

• housing;
• food;
• university fees;
• books and supplies;
• transportation;
• health insurance;
• personal expenses.

For comparison, USC’s estimated 2026–27 on-campus cost of attendance is $103,162, while tuition accounts for $75,384 of that amount. A $450 new-student fee also applies in the first semester.

Therefore, describing Trustee as a full-tuition scholarship is more accurate than calling it fully funded.

Who Can Apply for the USC Trustee Scholarship?

The Trustee Scholarship is available to exceptionally strong incoming first-year applicants.

USC evaluates applicants holistically and considers factors including:

• academic achievement;
• curriculum rigor;
• leadership;
• extracurricular involvement;
• service;
• talent;
• personal qualities;
• essays and short responses;
• potential contribution to the USC community.

USC does not publish a fixed minimum GPA, SAT score, ACT score, or class rank specifically for merit-scholarship eligibility.

Can International Students Apply?

Yes.

International applicants who submit their USC application by the appropriate scholarship deadline are eligible for USC merit scholarships, including consideration for the Trustee Scholarship.

USC states that merit awards are based on a comprehensive holistic review, not financial need.

Students from countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana, Indonesia, China, Canada, and others can compete.

USC Trustee Scholarship for Pakistani Students

Pakistani students are eligible to compete as international first-year applicants.

There is no separate scholarship quota or application specifically for Pakistan.

A Pakistani applicant should focus on presenting a strong overall USC application through:

• excellent secondary-school results;
• challenging coursework;
• leadership and activities;
• strong essays;
• recommendation letters;
• evidence of initiative and achievement.

Pakistani applicants whose native language is not English must also satisfy USC’s English-proficiency requirements.

Important Financial Rule for International Students

International applicants should pay particular attention to this requirement.

USC does not provide need-based financial aid to international applicants.

At the time of application, international students must provide financial documentation showing their ability and intention to finance the full USC cost of attendance for at least the first academic year.

An applicant cannot simply state:

“I will pay for USC if I receive the Trustee Scholarship.”

USC says potential scholarship funding cannot be relied upon as proof of financial support because the scholarship has not yet been guaranteed.

This requirement applies even though international applicants are eligible to compete for merit scholarships.

USC Trustee Scholarship Deadline 2027

For most Fall 2027 first-year applicants, the important deadline is:

November 1, 2026

Applicants who submit by the November 1 Early Action or Early Decision deadline are considered for available USC Admission Merit Scholarships.

Special Deadline for Performing Arts

Students applying to certain majors in:

• Dance;
• Dramatic Arts;
• Music

may use the:

December 1, 2026

Regular Decision scholarship deadline.

The final general USC application deadline is later, but students applying after the applicable merit-scholarship deadline should not expect automatic Trustee consideration.

Early Action vs Early Decision

For Fall 2027, USC offers Early Action, Early Decision, and Regular Decision routes.

Early Action

Early Action is generally non-binding.

An admitted student can still compare other university offers before deciding where to enroll.

Early Decision

Early Decision is binding.

Students admitted through ED are expected to enroll according to USC’s Early Decision agreement. USC confirms that ED applicants who apply by November 1 are also considered for major merit scholarships such as Trustee and Presidential.

Applicants should therefore choose ED only when they are comfortable with its binding commitment.

Is There a Separate Trustee Scholarship Application?

No.

For the initial scholarship review, applicants do not submit a separate Trustee Scholarship application.

USC states that first-year students who apply by the appropriate November 1 or December 1 merit deadline are automatically considered for scholarships administered by the Office of Admission.

The basic process is:

USC admission application → automatic merit review → finalist selection → scholarship interview → final scholarship decision

How to Apply for the USC Trustee Scholarship 2027

Step 1: Complete the Common Application

USC accepts first-year applications through the Common Application.

Start with USC’s official application information.

Step 2: Choose Your Admission Plan

Most students seeking Trustee consideration should apply by:

November 1, 2026

through Early Action or Early Decision.

Applicants to designated Dance, Dramatic Arts, or Music programmes should follow the December 1 scholarship deadline.

Step 3: Submit Your Academic Records

Provide the required high-school or secondary-school academic records.

USC reviews both achievement and the difficulty of the curriculum available at the applicant’s school.

Step 4: Complete USC Essays and Short Answers

The application includes USC-specific written responses.

These are important because USC’s scholarship review is holistic rather than based on a GPA or test-score formula.

Step 5: Submit Recommendation Materials

First-year applications include counselor/teacher recommendation materials according to USC’s current admission requirements.

Step 6: Complete Additional Major Requirements

Some programmes require:

• portfolios;
• auditions;
• résumés;
• additional writing;
• other supplementary material.

Applicants should check their individual school or programme requirements.

Step 7: Complete International Requirements

International students must provide required English-proficiency evidence and financial documentation.

Step 8: Submit Before the Merit Deadline

Do not wait for USC’s final Regular Decision deadline if you want Trustee consideration.

The scholarship deadline comes earlier.

Is There a Separate Trustee Scholarship Essay?

USC does not currently require a separate initial essay labelled specifically as the Trustee Scholarship essay.

Applicants complete the regular Common Application, personal statement, USC-specific questions, and any required programme supplements.

The scholarship committee uses the admission application when selecting merit candidates.

This means applicants should treat every part of their USC application as part of the scholarship competition.

USC Trustee Scholarship GPA Requirement

There is no official minimum GPA specifically required for Trustee consideration.

USC explicitly states that merit scholarships have never been awarded through fixed formulas or GPA/test-score cutoffs.

Successful applicants are normally among the strongest students in USC’s applicant pool, but websites claiming that applicants must have exactly:

• 3.8/4.0;
• 3.9/4.0;
• 4.0/4.0

are not quoting an official Trustee eligibility requirement.

USC instead evaluates academic performance in the context of the applicant’s school and available curriculum.

Is SAT or ACT Required for USC Trustee Scholarship 2027?

No.

USC is test optional for first-year applicants entering in the 2027–28 academic year.

Students do not need to submit SAT or ACT scores for either admission or merit-scholarship consideration.

USC also states that applicants who do not submit scores are not disadvantaged in merit-scholarship selection.

Students who have strong SAT or ACT results may still choose to submit them.

English Language Requirements for International Students

International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency.

USC currently lists recommended minimums including:

• IELTS: 7.0
• Duolingo English Test: 130
• PTE Academic: 68
• Cambridge C1 Advanced: 185 overall, with at least 169 in each skill.

For TOEFL tests taken on or after January 21, 2026, USC uses the revised TOEFL scoring scale and recommends 5 overall with at least 4 in each section. Older qualifying TOEFL scores are assessed under the previous scale.

USC states that international applicants whose native language is not English must provide approved English-proficiency evidence and that it does not grant English-test waivers or exceptions under this policy.

How Competitive Is the USC Trustee Scholarship?

Extremely competitive.

In a recent scholarship cycle, USC reported that more than 40,000 students applied by the merit-scholarship deadline, while approximately 1,000 students were invited to interview for the Trustee and Presidential Scholarships combined.

These figures should not be treated as a Trustee-specific acceptance rate because the interview pool included more than one scholarship.

USC does not publish a guaranteed annual Trustee acceptance percentage.

For the Fall 2026 entering class overall, USC received 79,331 applications and admitted 10,006 students, while about 10% of incoming first-year students received some form of USC merit scholarship.

Trustee Scholarship Interview

Applicants selected as finalists for USC’s major Trustee and Presidential Scholarships may be invited to an interview.

Recent USC admissions information confirms that approximately 1,000 applicants in one cycle were invited to scholarship interviews.

An interview invitation therefore represents an advanced stage of the merit-scholarship process, but it should not be interpreted as a guaranteed Trustee award.

What Does USC Look for in Trustee Scholars?

USC’s broader merit and admission criteria indicate that strong candidates demonstrate a combination of:

Academic Excellence

Strong results in challenging coursework appropriate to the student’s school and intended major.

Leadership

Evidence of taking initiative rather than simply collecting activity titles.

USC specifically emphasizes that meaningful leadership can take many forms and does not require holding a formal position.

Service and Contribution

Meaningful involvement in school, community, family, or other environments.

Talent and Achievement

Distinction in academic, artistic, technical, entrepreneurial, athletic, or other pursuits.

Authenticity

USC uses holistic review to understand the student’s individual story, interests, motivations, and potential contribution to campus.

Required Documents

A typical Fall 2027 first-year application includes:

• Common Application;
• official secondary-school transcripts;
• Common App personal statement;
• USC short-answer responses;
• activities list;
• counselor/teacher recommendation;
• supplemental materials where required;
• English-proficiency results for relevant international applicants;
• international financial documentation.

Students following qualifications such as A Levels or the IB may also need to provide predicted examination results.

How Long Does the Trustee Scholarship Last?

The Trustee Scholarship is normally based on USC’s standard flat-rate tuition for:

8 semesters

for most undergraduate degrees.

Students in the five-year Bachelor of Architecture programme may have up to:

10 semesters

of eligibility.

The scholarship is tied to undergraduate study and does not continue indefinitely beyond the permitted scholarship terms.

USC Trustee Scholarship Renewal Requirements

Trustee Scholars must continue meeting USC’s merit-scholarship conditions.

Current USC scholarship guidance requires recipients to:

• maintain USC academic standing;
• make normal progress toward the undergraduate degree;
• normally complete 30 or more units during the academic year;
• remain appropriately enrolled;
• comply with USC conduct and academic-integrity standards.

Students completing fewer than 30 units can have their scholarship reviewed and may face scholarship probation or loss of funding if adequate progress is not restored.

Importantly, USC’s current general Trustee renewal guide does not state a universal 3.0 GPA renewal requirement for the scholarship itself. The key published requirement is maintaining USC academic standing and satisfactory progress.

Can Trustee Scholars Study Abroad?

Yes, the Trustee Scholarship can generally be used with eligible USC overseas programmes.

However, because Trustee is a tuition scholarship, USC may reduce the scholarship amount when an overseas programme charges less tuition than a normal USC semester.

The scholarship will not be increased beyond its normal value.

Can You Combine Trustee With Other Scholarships?

Potentially, but USC coordinates multiple sources of funding.

Current scholarship rules allow outside awards in certain circumstances, but USC may adjust university scholarship amounts if combined funding exceeds permitted tuition or cost-of-attendance limits.

Applicants should therefore report outside scholarships rather than assuming every award can automatically be stacked on top of Trustee.

USC Trustee vs Presidential Scholarship

USC’s two best-known admission merit scholarships differ mainly in value.

Scholarship	Funding
Trustee Scholarship	Full tuition
Presidential Scholarship	Approximately half tuition

Both are highly competitive and use USC’s holistic merit-scholarship selection process.

USC may consider applicants for different merit awards based on the strength of their application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the USC Trustee Scholarship open for 2027?

Yes. The Fall 2027 USC application cycle is open, and the primary merit-scholarship deadline is November 1, 2026.

Is USC Trustee fully funded?

No. It covers full tuition, not USC’s complete cost of attendance.

How much does the Trustee Scholarship cover?

It covers standard USC undergraduate tuition. Current 2026–27 tuition is $75,384 per year, but 2027–28 tuition has not yet been announced.

Can international students apply?

Yes. International applicants are eligible for USC merit scholarships.

Can Pakistani students apply?

Yes.

What is the scholarship deadline?

For most students:

November 1, 2026.

Certain Dance, Dramatic Arts, and Music applicants use the December 1, 2026 merit deadline.

Is there a separate application?

No. Apply to USC by the correct scholarship deadline and you will be automatically considered for applicable Office of Admission merit scholarships.

Is there a minimum GPA?

USC does not publish a fixed Trustee GPA cutoff.

Is SAT required?

No. SAT and ACT are optional for Fall 2027 admission and scholarship consideration.

Will applying without SAT hurt my scholarship chances?

USC states that applicants who do not submit SAT or ACT scores are not disadvantaged in merit-scholarship selection.

Does Trustee cover housing?

No. Trustee is a full-tuition scholarship and does not automatically cover housing, meals, books, transportation, and other living costs.

Does USC give international students need-based aid?

No. USC does not offer need-based financial aid to international applicants.

Do international applicants still need proof of funds?

Yes. International applicants must demonstrate the ability to finance their first academic year and cannot rely on an unconfirmed future merit scholarship as proof of funding.

Official USC Links

USC Scholarships — Official

Use this page for current USC merit-scholarship information.

USC How to Apply

Use this page for the current undergraduate application process.

USC International Student Requirements

International applicants should use this page for English-proficiency, financial-documentation, and testing requirements.

USC Test-Optional Policy

This confirms the current test-optional policy and merit-scholarship treatment.

USC Cost of Attendance

Use this page to compare tuition with the total cost of attending USC.

Related Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Students looking for other undergraduate funding can also explore:

All Scholarships

Fully Funded Scholarships

Scholarships Still Open

Fully Funded Scholarships Still Open

Final Thoughts

The USC Trustee Scholarship 2027 is one of the strongest undergraduate merit awards available to international students in the United States because it covers 100% of standard USC tuition.

For most applicants, the critical scholarship deadline is November 1, 2026, and there is no separate initial Trustee application.

Applicants should also understand the scholarship’s limitations. Trustee is full tuition, not full ride, and international students still need to plan for housing, food, insurance, fees, transportation, and other living expenses.

There is no official minimum Trustee GPA or SAT score, and USC remains test optional for the 2027–28 cycle. Selection instead depends on an exceptionally strong overall application demonstrating academic excellence, leadership, service, talent, and personal potential.

Applications are open for students seeking the University of Miami Stamps Scholarship 2027, one of the University of Miami’s most competitive undergraduate merit awards.

The scholarship covers the full cost of attendance for four years, including full tuition and fees, standard room and board, textbooks, and a one-time computer allowance. Stamps Scholars also receive access to a $12,000 enrichment fund that can support approved activities such as study abroad, undergraduate research, unpaid internships, conferences, and leadership development.

International students are eligible to compete for University of Miami merit scholarships. For Stamps consideration, students should apply to the University of Miami through Early Decision I or Early Action by November 1, 2026.

Students looking for other undergraduate opportunities can also explore Scholarships Central and the latest fully funded scholarships.

University of Miami Stamps Scholarship 2027 Overview

Scholarship Detail	Information
Scholarship	University of Miami Stamps Scholarship
University	University of Miami
Country	United States
Degree level	Undergraduate
Intake	Fall 2027
Eligible applicants	Incoming first-year students
International students	Eligible
Tuition and fees	Fully covered
Room and board	Standard room and board covered
Textbooks	Covered
Computer	One-time allowance
Enrichment fund	$12,000
Standard duration	4 years / 8 semesters
Initial separate scholarship application	No
Admission routes	Early Action or Early Decision I
Deadline	November 1, 2026
Renewal GPA	3.0 cumulative UM GPA
Required annual credits for renewal	24 credits

The University of Miami Stamps Scholarship programme describes the University of Miami award as covering the full cost of attendance for four years, rather than simply providing a fixed cash scholarship.

What Is the University of Miami Stamps Scholarship?

The Stamps Scholarship is the University of Miami’s highest-level academic merit scholarship for exceptional incoming first-year students.

It is offered in partnership with the Stamps Scholars Program and is designed for students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement together with strong leadership, extracurricular involvement, and potential to contribute to the university community.

Unlike many university scholarships that cover only tuition, the Stamps Scholarship covers the broader cost of attending the University of Miami.

University of Miami Stamps Scholarship Benefits

Successful Stamps Scholars receive:

• full tuition and mandatory fees;
• standard room and board;
• textbooks;
• a one-time computer allowance;
• access to a $12,000 enrichment fund;
• Stamps Scholars networking opportunities;
• leadership and educational programming;
• access to the wider Stamps Scholars community.

$12,000 Enrichment Fund

An important point is that $12,000 is not the total value of the Stamps Scholarship.

The scholarship already covers the full cost of attendance. The $12,000 is an additional enrichment fund.

It may be used for approved educational activities such as:

• study abroad;
• undergraduate research;
• unpaid internships;
• academic conferences;
• leadership development;
• other approved educational opportunities.

Applicants should therefore be cautious with websites describing Stamps as simply a “$12,000 scholarship.”

Is the University of Miami Stamps Scholarship Fully Funded?

Yes. It is reasonable to describe the University of Miami Stamps Scholarship as a fully funded undergraduate scholarship because it covers the University-defined full cost of attendance for the standard scholarship period.

However, “full cost of attendance” should not be interpreted as unlimited personal spending.

University financial-aid calculations use an official cost-of-attendance budget covering educational expenses such as tuition, housing, meals, books, transportation, and other estimated costs.

The $12,000 enrichment fund is separate and must be used for approved educational purposes.

Who Can Apply?

The Stamps Scholarship is designed for exceptional incoming first-year undergraduate students.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• outstanding academic performance;
• a rigorous secondary-school curriculum;
• meaningful extracurricular involvement;
• leadership potential;
• strong personal qualities;
• ability to contribute to the University of Miami community.

The scholarship is highly competitive, and simply meeting the University’s minimum admission requirements does not guarantee Stamps consideration or selection.

Can International Students Apply?

Yes.

The University of Miami accepts international first-year applicants, and its merit-scholarship programmes include students from around the world.

This means students from countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Indonesia and others can compete if they meet the admission and scholarship requirements.

University of Miami Stamps Scholarship for Pakistani Students

Pakistani students can apply for the University of Miami Stamps Scholarship as international first-year applicants.

A student applying from Pakistan should normally prepare:

• secondary-school transcripts;
• school report;
• at least one recommendation;
• Common Application;
• English-language evidence where required;
• any programme-specific materials;
• financial documentation required for international admission.

Pakistani students studying outside the United States may also use the University’s international applicant rules concerning standardized testing and English proficiency.

There is no separate Stamps Scholarship specifically for Pakistan.

University of Miami Stamps Scholarship Deadline 2027

The important deadline is:

November 1, 2026

The University of Miami lists:

Early Decision I — November 1

and

Early Action — November 1.

Students seeking Stamps consideration should therefore prepare their Fall 2027 application before this deadline.

Do not confuse the Stamps deadline with the later Regular Decision deadline.

Early Action vs Early Decision I

Both application plans have the same November 1 deadline, but they are different.

Early Action

Early Action is non-binding.

If admitted, you are not required to attend the University of Miami and can compare other university offers before making your final decision.

Early Decision I

Early Decision is a binding admission plan.

Students applying ED I are indicating that the University of Miami is their first-choice institution. If admitted under the Early Decision agreement, they are expected to enroll and withdraw applications from other institutions according to the University’s terms.

For most international students who want flexibility to compare admissions and financial offers, this distinction is very important.

Is There a Separate Stamps Scholarship Application?

There is no separate initial Stamps application for students to complete before applying to the university.

Incoming applicants submit their University of Miami admission application and eligible high-achieving students are considered for merit scholarships.

The most academically competitive candidates may then move into additional scholarship selection stages.

So the process is generally:

University admission application → scholarship review → finalist selection → additional Stamps evaluation/interview → final award

How to Apply for the University of Miami Stamps Scholarship 2027

Step 1: Prepare Your University of Miami Application

First-year applications are submitted through the Common Application.

Review the University’s current first-year admission requirements.

Step 2: Choose Early Action or Early Decision I

Students seeking Stamps consideration should use the qualifying early application route.

Deadline:

November 1, 2026

Step 3: Submit Your Academic Records

Your school should submit the required official secondary-school transcript showing completed courses and current coursework.

Step 4: Submit a Recommendation

The University currently requires first-year applicants to provide at least one letter of recommendation.

Choose someone who can provide meaningful evidence of your academic ability, character, leadership, or contributions.

Step 5: Complete International Requirements

International applicants should check the University’s international first-year admission requirements.

Step 6: Submit by November 1

Complete the admission application and required materials as early as possible rather than waiting until the deadline.

Step 7: Complete Additional Scholarship Steps if Selected

Highly competitive applicants may be invited to further scholarship review or interviews.

Follow all University of Miami instructions carefully if selected as a semifinalist or finalist.

University of Miami Stamps Scholarship GPA Requirement

There is no single official entering GPA such as 3.8/4.0 or 4.0/4.0 published as a universal Stamps eligibility cutoff.

Stamps is a highly competitive merit scholarship, so successful candidates are expected to have exceptional academic records.

Applicants should therefore focus on:

• strong grades;
• rigorous coursework;
• class performance;
• academic awards;
• extracurricular achievements;
• leadership;
• recommendation quality;
• overall application strength.

Websites claiming that one exact GPA guarantees eligibility should be treated cautiously.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Applicants should not rely on older Stamps articles claiming:

“SAT 1500 or ACT 34 is required.”

Those figures appear in older scholarship-profile materials and should not be treated as a current 2027 Stamps cutoff.

Current University of Miami admission rules should always be followed.

The University allows applicants to report SAT or ACT scores and superscores the exams when scores are submitted. International students graduating from secondary schools outside the United States may apply under the University’s current test-optional admission rules.

Check the latest policy before submitting:

University of Miami First-Year Admission Requirements

IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo Requirements

Non-native English-speaking international students may need to demonstrate English proficiency.

The University currently identifies the following as generally competitive scores:

• IELTS: 6.5
• TOEFL iBT: 80
• Duolingo English Test: 125

These should not be confused with separate Stamps Scholarship requirements. They are part of University of Miami admission.

Can the English Test Be Waived?

Yes, in certain circumstances.

For example, international applicants may qualify for an English-proficiency waiver based on approved English-medium schooling or other qualifying academic evidence.

Students should review the official international admission page for current waiver options.

Documents Required

Typical first-year applicants should prepare:

• Common Application;
• official secondary-school transcript;
• school report;
• at least one recommendation letter;
• SAT/ACT information where applicable;
• English-proficiency test where required;
• programme-specific portfolio or audition where applicable;
• international financial documentation where required.

Additional requirements can apply to programmes such as architecture, music and certain fine-arts degrees.

How Are Stamps Scholars Selected?

Stamps is not awarded simply because a student has high grades.

Successful candidates are typically distinguished by a combination of:

• academic excellence;
• intellectual curiosity;
• leadership;
• extracurricular achievement;
• initiative;
• character;
• community engagement;
• potential to make meaningful use of enrichment opportunities.

The University first evaluates the undergraduate application. The strongest candidates may then move through additional scholarship review and interview stages.

Scholarship Renewal Requirements

Winning Stamps is only the beginning. Scholars must continue satisfying University merit-aid academic requirements.

Current University of Miami rules require undergraduate merit scholarship recipients to maintain:

Minimum cumulative University of Miami GPA: 3.0

and complete:

At least 24 earned credit hours per academic year

Students generally must also maintain the required full-time enrollment.

The University reviews merit-scholarship renewal after the academic year.

How Long Does the Stamps Scholarship Last?

The standard Stamps Scholarship covers:

four years, or eight semesters, of undergraduate study.

University institutional aid is generally limited to eight terms for standard undergraduate degrees. Certain approved programmes, such as the Bachelor of Architecture, can have different institutional-aid term limits, so students in longer programmes should verify their scholarship agreement directly.

Can You Combine Stamps With Other Scholarships?

Students should report all outside scholarships to the University of Miami.

Receiving additional aid can sometimes affect a financial-aid package if total assistance exceeds the University’s calculated cost of attendance.

University policy requires outside scholarships to be reported, and aid may be adjusted when necessary to prevent an over-award.

Therefore, do not assume that every external scholarship can simply be added on top of the full Stamps award without adjustment.

Stamps Scholarship vs Frost School Stamps Scholarships

These should not be confused.

The general University of Miami Stamps Scholarship covered in this guide is a university-level premier scholarship for incoming first-year students.

The Frost School of Music also has Stamps Distinguished Ensemble scholarships connected with particular musical programmes and competitive auditions.

Those Frost scholarships have their own talent, audition, ensemble, and renewal requirements.

Students applying to music programmes should therefore check the Frost School rules separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the University of Miami Stamps Scholarship open for 2027?

Yes. Students applying for Fall 2027 should prepare for the November 1, 2026 Early Action/Early Decision I deadline.

Is the University of Miami Stamps Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. The standard award covers the University’s defined full cost of attendance for four years and includes additional enrichment funding.

How much is the Stamps Scholarship worth?

There is no simple fixed total because University costs can change. The award covers the full cost of attendance plus access to a $12,000 enrichment fund.

Is the scholarship only worth $12,000?

No. The $12,000 amount is only the additional enrichment fund.

Can international students apply?

Yes.

Can Pakistani students apply?

Yes. Eligible Pakistani first-year applicants can compete as international students.

Do I need a separate Stamps application?

There is no separate initial application. Students first apply for admission to the University of Miami under the qualifying early application route.

What is the deadline?

November 1, 2026.

Is Early Decision required?

No. Applicants may use Early Action, which is non-binding, or Early Decision I, which is binding.

Is there a minimum GPA?

No universal entering Stamps GPA cutoff is currently published. Selection is highly competitive and holistic.

Is SAT 1500 required?

No current official rule establishes SAT 1500 as a universal Stamps requirement. Applicants should follow the University’s current standardized-testing policy.

What IELTS score is needed?

International applicants who need an English test are generally considered competitive at around IELTS 6.5, although approved waivers may apply.

What GPA must a Stamps Scholar maintain after enrollment?

University merit scholarship recipients generally need a 3.0 cumulative institutional GPA and 24 earned credits per academic year.

How long does the scholarship last?

Normally four years or eight semesters.

Official University of Miami Links

University of Miami First-Year Admission

Use this page to verify application plans, deadlines, documents, recommendations, and current testing requirements.

University of Miami International First-Year Admission

International applicants should use this page for English-language and international admission requirements.

Stamps Scholars — University of Miami

This page provides details about Stamps funding, scholarship duration, enrichment funding, and programme benefits.

University of Miami Financial Aid Terms

Use this page for current aid, enrollment, and outside-scholarship rules.

Related Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Students interested in fully funded undergraduate opportunities can also explore:

All Scholarships

Fully Funded Scholarships

Scholarships Still Open

Fully Funded Scholarships Still Open

Final Thoughts

The University of Miami Stamps Scholarship 2027 is one of the strongest undergraduate scholarship opportunities in the United States because it covers the full cost of attendance for four years and provides an additional $12,000 enrichment fund.

International students, including applicants from Pakistan, can compete.

The most important application detail is the deadline: students seeking Stamps consideration should apply through the qualifying Early Action or Early Decision I route by November 1, 2026.

Applicants should also avoid outdated information claiming that the scholarship is worth only $12,000 or that an SAT score of 1500 is automatically required. The $12,000 is an enrichment fund, while Stamps itself covers the full cost of attendance.

Because the scholarship is exceptionally competitive, applicants should focus on building a strong overall application combining academic excellence, leadership, meaningful extracurricular involvement, and clear evidence of personal initiative.

Applications are open for the IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme 2026, also known as the IAEA MSCFP. The programme supports female students from IAEA Member States who are accepted into or already studying an eligible Master’s degree in a nuclear-related field.

Selected fellows can receive up to €20,000 toward tuition fees and up to €20,000 toward living costs, giving a maximum potential award of €40,000. The current application deadline is October 31, 2026.

The fellowship is offered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is not limited to study in Austria. Applicants may pursue an eligible nuclear-related Master’s at an accredited university that satisfies the programme requirements.

The programme may also provide access to limited internship opportunities facilitated by the IAEA, although an internship is not guaranteed to every fellowship recipient.

Students searching for other current opportunities can also explore Scholarships Central’s Master’s Scholarships, Scholarships Still Open, and Fully Funded Scholarships.

IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Overview

Detail	Current Information
Programme	IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme
Short name	MSCFP
Organisation	International Atomic Energy Agency
Degree level	Master’s
Applicants	Female students
Eligible countries	IAEA Member States
Eligible fields	Nuclear-related fields
Tuition support	Up to €20,000
Living support	Up to €20,000
Maximum potential support	Up to €40,000
University	Accredited university meeting programme conditions
Admission required first?	Yes
Reference letters	1 mandatory; second preferred
Application language	English
Deadline	October 31, 2026
Internship	Limited opportunities may be facilitated

Applicants should use the official IAEA MSCFP programme page and the current IAEA application call for final verification.

What Is the IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship?

The IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme was launched in 2020 to encourage more women to study and build careers in nuclear science and technology.

The programme supports women pursuing Master’s degrees related to the peaceful applications of nuclear science.

It is named after Marie Skłodowska-Curie, the pioneering physicist and chemist whose work transformed research on radioactivity.

The programme combines financial support with opportunities to develop professional experience and connections within the international nuclear field.

IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship Benefits

The current fellowship provides two main forms of financial support.

Up to €20,000 for Tuition

The IAEA can provide:

up to €20,000 toward tuition costs

for the eligible Master’s programme.

If tuition costs are below €20,000, applicants should not assume they will automatically receive the full €20,000.

Up to €20,000 for Living Costs

Selected fellows can also receive:

up to €20,000 toward living expenses.

The amount depends on the fellowship conditions and individual circumstances.

Maximum Potential Funding

Combined support can therefore reach:

up to €40,000

for tuition and living expenses.

The IAEA’s programme material confirms these funding ceilings. The phrase “up to” is important because the final contribution can be lower depending on tuition costs, other scholarships and the fellow’s financial situation.

Is the IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship Fully Funded?

The fellowship can provide substantial funding, but applicants should be careful with the term fully funded.

The IAEA provides:

• up to €20,000 for tuition;
• up to €20,000 for living costs.

This does not mean every selected student automatically receives €40,000 or that every possible expense will always be covered.

For example, if tuition fees exceed €20,000, the fellowship does not automatically promise to pay the excess.

Similarly, living expenses above the IAEA contribution remain the student’s responsibility.

A more accurate description is:

up to €40,000 in tuition and living-cost support.

Who Can Apply for the IAEA MSCFP?

Applicants must satisfy the current programme eligibility requirements.

The fellowship is open to:

• female candidates;
• nationals of an IAEA Member State;
• applicants accepted into or already enrolled in an accredited Master’s programme;
• students pursuing a nuclear-related field.

The programme is specifically designed to increase women’s participation in nuclear science, technology and related professions.

Do You Need Master’s Admission Before Applying?

Yes.

You must already be:

accepted into or enrolled in an eligible Master’s programme

before applying for the IAEA fellowship.

Applicants cannot normally submit the fellowship application first and then search for a university afterward.

The university admission or acceptance letter should clearly identify:

• the Master’s programme;
• the nuclear-related field of study;
• the expected duration of the degree.

This is one of the most important requirements to complete before starting the MSCFP application.

Can You Study at Any University?

The fellowship is not restricted to the University of Vienna or universities in Austria.

Applicants can study at an accredited university that offers an eligible nuclear-related Master’s programme and meets the MSCFP requirements.

The IAEA is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, but the fellowship programme supports women studying in different countries.

Applicants should therefore choose their university based on the academic programme rather than assuming they must relocate to Austria.

Eligible Fields for the IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship

The programme covers a broad range of nuclear-related disciplines.

Examples specifically associated with MSCFP include:

• Nuclear Engineering
• Nuclear Physics
• Nuclear Chemistry
• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiation Biology
• Isotopic Techniques
• Nuclear Safety
• Nuclear Security
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation
• Nuclear Law

Related programmes may also be considered if they clearly connect with the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology.

This means MSCFP is relevant not only to nuclear engineers.

Students from backgrounds such as:

• physics;
• chemistry;
• engineering;
• medicine;
• health sciences;
• radiation sciences;
• biotechnology-related nuclear applications;
• law;
• security and policy

may potentially qualify when their actual Master’s programme has a strong nuclear component.

IAEA MSCFP Academic Requirement

The current call states that preference is given to applicants with above-average academic credentials.

The academic benchmark mentioned is approximately:

75% or above

or:

GPA above 3.0/4.0.

Importantly, this is described as a selection preference, rather than a simple universal automatic eligibility cutoff.

Therefore, it is more accurate to say:

Candidates with at least around 75% or GPA above 3.0/4.0 are preferred.

rather than:

Every applicant below 75% is automatically ineligible.

Selection considers the complete application.

Is There an Age Limit?

The current MSCFP call does not publish a specific maximum age requirement.

Applicants should therefore not rely on unofficial websites claiming that candidates must be below 25, 30 or another specific age unless the IAEA adds such a condition to the official call.

Documents Required for the IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship

The current application requires important supporting documents including:

1. Passport or national identity document.
2. Official Master’s admission or acceptance letter.
3. Confirmation that the Master’s is nuclear-related.
4. Confirmation of the programme duration.
5. Information or documentation showing tuition costs.
6. Information about other scholarships or funding received.
7. MSCFP reference documentation.

Applicants should use the checklist in the current official application rather than adding unnecessary documents that have not been requested.

Recommendation Letter Requirement

The current MSCFP call requires:

at least one reference.

A:

second reference is preferred.

This is important because some older MSCFP articles still state that two recommendations are mandatory.

For the current application cycle, the live IAEA instructions should take priority.

How Should the Reference Be Submitted?

The referee should complete the official MSCFP reference template.

The reference is sent directly by the referee to:

MSCFP@iaea.org

by the fellowship deadline.

Applicants should contact their referee early enough to ensure the reference reaches the IAEA before October 31, 2026.

Application Documents Must Be in English

The IAEA requires application documents to be submitted in English.

If an original university document, admission letter or other required record is issued in another language, an official English translation should also be provided where required.

Incomplete applications are not considered.

Can You Apply If You Already Have Another Scholarship?

Yes, potentially.

Having another scholarship does not automatically prevent a student from applying for MSCFP.

However, all other scholarship funding must be disclosed.

The IAEA may adjust its financial contribution depending on what another scholarship already covers.

For example, if another award fully covers the student’s living expenses, MSCFP support may focus on eligible tuition costs instead.

Applicants should therefore never hide another scholarship.

Failure to disclose funding can result in suspension of IAEA financial assistance.

Can Working Professionals Apply?

Being employed does not automatically make an applicant ineligible.

Applicants still need to satisfy the fellowship’s normal requirements and disclose relevant employment income or other financial support when requested.

The key requirements remain eligible Master’s admission, female applicant status, IAEA Member State nationality and a nuclear-related field.

How Are IAEA Marie Curie Fellows Selected?

The IAEA Technical Selection Committee assesses more than academic grades.

Selection can consider:

• eligibility requirements;
• educational background;
• previous academic achievements;
• applicant motivation;
• expected impact of the fellowship on career goals;
• commitment to public service;
• geographic diversity;
• field-of-study diversity;
• linguistic diversity.

A strong application should therefore explain how the Master’s programme will help the candidate contribute to the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology.

Does MSCFP Guarantee an IAEA Internship?

No.

This is another point often overstated in scholarship articles.

The programme can provide limited internship opportunities facilitated by the IAEA, but receiving the fellowship does not automatically guarantee an internship placement.

Internship opportunities may involve organisations such as:

• the IAEA;
• IAEA laboratories;
• research institutes;
• universities;
• industry;
• partner organisations.

Availability depends on programme needs and suitable placements.

IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship for Pakistani Students

Yes. Pakistani women can apply.

Pakistan is an official IAEA Member State and has been a member since May 2, 1957.

The IAEA’s official Pakistan country profile confirms Pakistan’s membership.

A Pakistani applicant would need to:

• be female;
• have admission to or enrollment in an eligible Master’s;
• study a nuclear-related subject;
• provide the required application documents;
• meet the scholarship deadline.

There is no separate Pakistan-only application process.

Can Indian Students Apply?

Yes.

India is also an IAEA Member State, so eligible female Indian applicants may apply under the same general MSCFP conditions.

Can African Students Apply?

Female applicants from African countries that are IAEA Member States can apply.

The IAEA also considers geographic diversity during selection, but applicants should not interpret this as a guaranteed regional quota unless the IAEA publishes one for the current round.

How to Apply for the IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship 2026

Step 1: Apply for a Nuclear-Related Master’s

First obtain admission to an eligible Master’s programme at an accredited university.

Step 2: Confirm Your Programme Is Nuclear-Related

Make sure the degree clearly connects with nuclear science, technology, medicine, law, safety, security or another eligible nuclear field.

Step 3: Collect Your Admission Documents

Your admission letter should identify the programme and its duration.

Step 4: Prepare Tuition Information

Obtain documentation showing the tuition cost of your Master’s programme.

Step 5: Prepare Your Identification Document

Upload the required passport or national-ID information.

Step 6: Arrange Your Reference

Ask at least one suitable referee to complete the official MSCFP reference form.

A second referee is preferred.

Step 7: Disclose Other Funding

Include accurate details about any other scholarships or financial assistance you receive.

Step 8: Submit the Online Application

Complete the official IAEA application through the current MSCFP call:

Apply for the IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship

Step 9: Ensure References Arrive

Your referee should send the official reference template directly to the MSCFP programme before the deadline.

Step 10: Submit by October 31, 2026

Do not leave document translations or references until the final day.

IAEA MSCFP Deadline 2026

The current deadline is:

October 31, 2026.

Applications submitted after the official deadline should not be expected to receive consideration.

Because references are part of the application process, applicants should make sure the required reference also reaches the IAEA on time.

What Happens After Selection?

Selected candidates receive an official fellowship offer from the IAEA.

The current call requires selected applicants to confirm acceptance within one week.

Applicants should therefore monitor the email address they used for their application.

Missing the acceptance window could affect the fellowship offer.

Important Obligation After Receiving the Scholarship

MSCFP recipients are expected to successfully complete their Master’s programme and comply with the fellowship conditions.

The current call states that failure to graduate or satisfy programme requirements can result in:

• termination of the fellowship; and
• possible repayment of tuition and living-cost support if requested by the IAEA.

Applicants should therefore treat the fellowship as a formal funding agreement rather than unrestricted financial assistance.

IAEA MSCFP vs EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

These programmes have similar names but are different.

Feature	IAEA MSCFP	EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Organisation	IAEA	European Union
Main audience	Women in nuclear-related Master’s programmes	Researchers at different career stages
Degree focus	Master’s	Mainly research training and mobility
Main field	Nuclear-related disciplines	Broad research fields
Current MSCFP funding	Up to €40,000	Depends on individual MSCA scheme

Applicants looking specifically for the IAEA women’s nuclear scholarship should search for IAEA MSCFP, not just “Marie Curie scholarship.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship open now?

Yes. The current call is open and closes on October 31, 2026.

How much is the IAEA MSCFP worth?

Up to €20,000 for tuition and €20,000 for living costs, giving maximum potential support of €40,000.

Is MSCFP fully funded?

It can cover a substantial portion of tuition and living expenses, but the funding is capped. Not every recipient automatically receives €40,000 or complete coverage of every expense.

Can men apply?

No. The current MSCFP is specifically for female candidates.

Can Pakistani students apply?

Yes. Pakistan is an IAEA Member State.

Do I need university admission before applying?

Yes. You must be accepted into or already enrolled in an eligible nuclear-related Master’s programme.

Do I have to study in Austria?

No. The Master’s can be pursued at an eligible accredited university outside Austria.

What GPA is required?

The IAEA gives preference to applicants with approximately 75% or above or GPA above 3.0/4.0. This is presented as an academic preference rather than a simple universal cutoff.

Is there an age limit?

The current call does not publish a specific maximum age.

Are two references mandatory?

No. For the current call, one reference is mandatory and a second is preferred.

Can I apply if I already have another scholarship?

Yes, but you must disclose it. The IAEA may adjust its own financial contribution based on other funding received.

Is an IAEA internship guaranteed?

No. Internship opportunities are limited and facilitated subject to availability.

Are documents required in English?

Yes. Required documents should be submitted in English, with official English translations when necessary.

Can current Master’s students apply?

Yes, provided they are enrolled in an accredited nuclear-related Master’s programme and meet the remaining eligibility requirements.

Official IAEA Links

Official IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme

Use this page for official programme information and future updates.

Official MSCFP 2026 Application

This is the current application call closing October 31, 2026.

IAEA Member State information

Applicants can check whether their country is an IAEA Member State.

IAEA Pakistan Member State Profile

This confirms Pakistan has been an IAEA Member State since May 2, 1957.

Related Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Applicants looking for other international Master’s opportunities can also explore:

• Master’s Scholarships
• Fully Funded Scholarships
• Scholarships Still Open
• Fully Funded Scholarships Still Open
• All Scholarships

Final Thoughts

The IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme 2026 is a strong opportunity for women planning careers in nuclear science, engineering, medicine, safety, security, law and related fields.

Selected fellows can receive up to €40,000, split between a maximum of €20,000 for tuition and €20,000 for living expenses.

Applicants should remember three important points: they need Master’s admission before applying, another scholarship must be disclosed, and an IAEA internship is an additional opportunity rather than a guaranteed benefit.

The deadline is October 31, 2026, so applicants who still need an admission letter, official English translations or a referee should prepare those documents early.

The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded scholarship for outstanding applicants pursuing the Oxford 1+1 MBA at the University of Oxford.

Oxford offers up to five Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships. Each award covers the full course fees for an eligible Oxford Master’s degree in the first year and the Oxford MBA in the second year. Scholars also receive a living-cost grant of at least £21,805 for each year of study.

The main Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship deadline is January 6, 2027. Applicants must separately apply to their chosen Master’s programme by its own December or January deadline.

Students looking for other Oxford opportunities can also read the Clarendon Scholarship 2027 guide or browse fully funded scholarships on Scholarships Central.

Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship 2027 Overview

Detail	2027 Information
Scholarship	Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship
University	University of Oxford
Business school	Saïd Business School
Programme	Oxford 1+1 MBA
Duration	2 years
Year 1	Oxford Master’s
Year 2	Oxford MBA
Scholarships available	Up to 5
Master’s tuition	Fully covered
MBA tuition	Fully covered
Living grant	At least £21,805 per year
Minimum two-year living support	At least £43,610 at the current published rate
Main deadline	January 6, 2027
Scholarship essay	Maximum 500 words
1+1 MBA essay	Maximum 250 words
Shortlisting	Early April 2027
Interviews	Late April or early May 2027

Oxford’s dedicated scholarship page currently lists five awards, even though some older Oxford and third-party materials still mention six. For 2027 applicants, the current dedicated scholarship page should be treated as the primary source.

What Is the Oxford 1+1 MBA?

The Oxford 1+1 MBA combines two Oxford qualifications over two years.

Year 1: You complete an eligible one-year Oxford Master’s degree.

Year 2: You complete the one-year Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School.

This allows students to combine specialist knowledge in fields such as public policy, computer science, law, health, environmental studies or social sciences with business and management training.

The two programmes are separate degrees and have separate admissions processes.

Is the Pershing Square Scholarship Fully Funded?

Yes. For the standard Oxford 1+1 MBA route, Pershing Square is genuinely a fully funded Oxford scholarship.

It covers:

• full fees for the Master’s degree;
• full fees for the Oxford MBA;
• at least £21,805 per year for living costs;
• mentorship opportunities;
• conferences and networking;
• Pershing Square Scholar community activities.

At the currently published rate, the living grant alone is worth at least £43,610 across two years, in addition to full tuition for both degrees.

Who Can Apply for the Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship?

Oxford considers applicants in three priority groups.

1. New Oxford 1+1 MBA Applicants

This is the main route.

You must be admitted to both:

• an official Oxford 1+1 MBA partnering Master’s programme; and
• the Oxford MBA.

Applicants placed only on the MBA waiting list are not considered admitted for scholarship purposes.

2. Other One-Year Oxford Master’s + MBA Applicants

Oxford can also consider applicants admitted to both a full-time one-year Oxford Master’s that is not currently on the official 1+1 partner list and the Oxford MBA.

However, these candidates are considered after standard 1+1 MBA applicants.

3. Current Oxford Master’s Students

Current Master’s students who are subsequently admitted to the MBA and were not previously considered for Pershing Square may also be considered.

This route has different funding implications, so current Oxford students should check the latest Saïd Business School rules before relying on the standard two-year package.

What Does Oxford Look for?

The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship eligibility and selection criteria go beyond grades.

Oxford looks for applicants who demonstrate:

• strong academic achievement;
• leadership potential;
• integrity and commitment;
• an intention to address major global social challenges;
• the ability to develop scalable and sustainable solutions;
• a convincing explanation of why the Oxford 1+1 MBA is important to their goals.

Academic achievement can be demonstrated through university results, GMAT or GRE performance, academic prizes and other evidence.

The scholarship is especially suited to applicants who can connect a major real-world challenge with a credible plan for impact.

Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship Work Experience Requirement

Because applicants must qualify for the Oxford MBA, they normally need at least:

two years of full-time work experience after graduation.

Oxford excludes internships from this minimum and looks for career progression, leadership potential and the ability to contribute professional experience to the MBA class.

This means Pershing Square is generally not designed as a direct Bachelor-to-MBA scholarship.

Pershing Square Scholarship GPA Requirement

There is no separate universal Pershing Square Scholarship GPA cutoff.

For Oxford MBA admission, Saïd Business School says it welcomes applicants with approximately:

3.5/4.0 GPA or equivalent, or a UK First/Upper Second Class degree.

Applicants below that level may still be considered if they demonstrate strong career progression and competitive GMAT or GRE performance.

The selected first-year Master’s programme will also have its own academic requirements.

GMAT or GRE Requirement

Oxford MBA applicants must submit either a GMAT or GRE score.

Oxford does not impose an absolute minimum, but currently describes:

GMAT 595+ on the current scale as competitive.

For the GRE, around:

160 verbal and 160 quantitative

is considered competitive.

These are competitive benchmarks rather than guaranteed admission thresholds.

IELTS and English Requirement

The Pershing Square Scholarship itself does not have a separate IELTS requirement. Applicants must satisfy the language requirements of both the MBA and their selected Master’s.

For the Oxford MBA, the current IELTS Academic requirement is:

7.5 overall, with at least 7.0 in each component.

Eligible applicants may receive an English-language waiver based on recent qualifying English-medium education or certain professional experience.

Always check the first-year Master’s requirements separately because they may differ.

Oxford 1+1 MBA Master’s Programmes

The Oxford 1+1 MBA includes a wide range of partnering programmes, not just business degrees.

Current options include Master’s programmes in areas such as:

• Public Policy;
• Advanced Computer Science;
• Criminology;
• Education;
• Pharmacology;
• Sociology;
• Statistical Science;
• Law and Finance;
• International Health and Tropical Medicine;
• Social Data Science;
• environmental studies;
• Anthropology;
• African Studies;
• Chinese Studies;
• Japanese Studies;
• South Asian Studies.

Oxford maintains a live list because participating programmes can change.

See the official Oxford 1+1 MBA partnering programmes

You Need Two Separate Applications

One of the most important points about how to apply for the Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship is that the 1+1 MBA requires two applications.

You must apply separately to:

1. your chosen Oxford Master’s programme; and
2. the Oxford MBA.

Both applications are assessed independently and each programme has its own requirements and deadline.

You should clearly indicate in the MBA application that you are applying for the Oxford 1+1 MBA.

Two Important Essays

There are two additional essays applicants should not confuse.

Oxford 1+1 MBA Essay — 250 Words

All 1+1 MBA applicants must explain why the combined programme is particularly beneficial to them and how it fits their career and personal-development goals.

Maximum:

250 words.

Pershing Square Scholarship Essay — 500 Words

Applicants seeking Pershing Square funding must upload a separate scholarship essay in the Funding section of the 1+1 MBA application.

The current question asks applicants to explain:

How do you intend to change the world and what does this tell us about you as a person?

Maximum:

500 words.

How to Write the Pershing Square Scholarship Essay

A strong essay should not simply say that you want to become a leader or make the world better.

A useful structure is:

major problem → why it matters → your experience with the problem → scalable solution → why the Master’s is necessary → why the MBA is necessary → long-term impact

The essay should show that your plan is ambitious but credible.

Oxford specifically looks for candidates focused on world-scale challenges who can envision scalable and sustainable solutions.

How to Apply for the Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship 2027

The application process is straightforward once the two-degree structure is understood.

1. Choose an eligible Oxford Master’s programme.
2. Check its admission requirements and funding deadline.
3. Prepare and submit the Master’s application.
4. Prepare the separate Oxford MBA application.
5. Select the Oxford 1+1 MBA route.
6. Submit the required 250-word 1+1 MBA essay.
7. Upload the 500-word Pershing Square essay in the Funding section.
8. Submit the complete MBA application by January 6, 2027.
9. Complete any interviews or additional admissions steps required by either programme.

Both programme applications must ultimately be complete for scholarship consideration.

Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship Deadline 2027

The correct main deadline is:

January 6, 2027.

Oxford states that 1+1 MBA applications for the 2027/28 intake must be submitted by this date for Pershing Square consideration.

The MBA application-stage deadline closes at:

23:59 UK time.

Do not confuse this with the later March 15, 2027 MBA admissions round. Oxford says applicants who want consideration for University scholarships need to apply by the January stage.

Master’s Deadline

The first-year Master’s has its own deadline, normally in:

December 2026 or January 2027.

Applicants must check their exact course page.

Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship Selection Timeline

The current scholarship timeline is:

Stage	Expected Timing
Master’s application	Course-specific December/January deadline
1+1 MBA + scholarship deadline	January 6, 2027
Scholarship shortlisting	Early April 2027
Scholarship interviews	Late April / early May 2027

Oxford selects candidates based on the full application, scholarship essay and interview.

Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship for Pakistani Students

Pakistani applicants can apply. The current scholarship page does not impose a nationality restriction.

A Pakistani candidate must meet the same Oxford requirements as other international applicants, including:

• admission to the relevant Master’s;
• admission to the Oxford MBA;
• appropriate academic qualifications;
• GMAT or GRE;
• relevant work experience;
• English-language requirements where applicable;
• a strong Pershing Square scholarship essay.

Applicants from Pakistan should focus less on nationality and more on demonstrating a credible connection between their previous experience, the world-scale problem they want to address, and the combination of specialist Master’s training plus an MBA.

Is There an Application Fee?

There is no separate Pershing Square scholarship fee.

However, because applicants submit two separate Oxford programme applications, normal programme application fees apply.

The current Oxford MBA application fee is:

£75.

The Master’s application is processed separately under Oxford Graduate Admissions.

Scholarship Benefits Beyond Funding

Pershing Square Scholars also receive access to a specialist community and professional-development opportunities.

Oxford highlights mentorship, scholar events, conferences, networking and engagement with the Pershing Square Foundation community. Some cohorts may also participate in activities such as the Pershing Square New York Trek, although such opportunities can change from year to year.

Oxford Pershing Square vs Clarendon Scholarship

Pershing Square and Clarendon are both major Oxford scholarships, but they work differently.

Feature	Pershing Square	Clarendon
Main route	1+1 MBA	Broad Oxford graduate study
Master’s funding	Yes	Yes
MBA funding	Yes	Depends on eligible course/rules
Living support	Yes	Yes
Separate scholarship essay	Yes	No
Social-impact emphasis	Strong	Not the same specific criterion
Awards	Up to 5	More than 200 annually
Scholarship application	Separate Pershing essay	Automatic consideration for eligible applicants

For the wider Oxford funding route, see Scholarships Central’s Clarendon Scholarship 2027 guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. It covers full fees for both the Master’s and MBA and provides at least £21,805 per year toward living costs.

How many Pershing Square Scholarships are available?

The current dedicated Oxford page lists five.

What is the deadline for 2027?

January 6, 2027 for the 1+1 MBA scholarship application. The Master’s has its own December or January deadline.

Can international students apply?

Yes. The current scholarship criteria do not impose a nationality restriction.

Can Pakistani students apply?

Yes, subject to normal Oxford and scholarship requirements.

Is work experience required?

Yes. Oxford MBA applicants should have at least two years of full-time post-graduation work experience.

Is GMAT or GRE required?

Yes. Oxford requires one of the two for MBA applicants.

Is there a minimum GMAT score?

Oxford does not publish an absolute minimum. A current GMAT score of 595 or above is described as competitive.

What IELTS score is required?

The current Oxford MBA requirement is 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each component, unless an approved waiver applies.

How many essays are required specifically for the 1+1/Pershing route?

There is a 250-word 1+1 MBA essay and a separate 500-word Pershing Square scholarship essay, in addition to the normal MBA application requirements.

Can I apply in the March MBA round?

You can apply for MBA admission in a later round, but Oxford says scholarship applicants need to apply by the January 6, 2027 scholarship stage.

Can an MBA waiting-list candidate receive Pershing Square?

Applicants on the MBA waiting list are not considered for the scholarship under the main priority route.

Official Oxford Links

Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships — official page

Oxford 1+1 MBA — official programme page

Oxford 1+1 MBA partnering Master’s programmes

Oxford MBA application requirements

Oxford MBA FAQs and 2027 deadlines

Related Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Applicants comparing fully funded graduate opportunities can also use:

Clarendon Scholarship 2027 at Oxford

Master’s Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Fully Funded Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Fully Funded Scholarships Still Open

Final Thoughts

The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship 2027 is particularly valuable because it funds both specialist graduate study and an MBA. Scholars receive full course fees for both years plus at least £21,805 per year in living support.

The main challenge is the application structure. Candidates must prepare two separate Oxford applications, satisfy both sets of admission requirements and submit the additional 1+1 MBA and Pershing Square essays.

Applicants should also use the correct deadline: January 6, 2027, not January 8 or the later March MBA admissions round.

The strongest applications will show more than excellent grades. Oxford specifically wants candidates with the leadership potential, integrity and practical vision to address large-scale challenges through scalable and sustainable solutions.

Applications are open for the UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027/28 at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Officially known as the UNIL Master’s Excellence Grant, the scholarship is designed for academically outstanding students who obtained, or will obtain, a university degree outside Switzerland and want to pursue an eligible Master’s programme at the University of Lausanne.

The scholarship provides CHF 1,600 per month for the minimum statutory duration of the selected Master’s degree. The University of Lausanne awards approximately 10 Master’s grants each year, making the programme highly selective. The application deadline for the 2027/28 academic year is 1 November 2026.

Scholarship recipients are also exempt from the normal course-registration fees, although they must still pay a CHF 80 fee per semester. Applicants should understand that the UNIL Master’s Scholarship is not a fully funded scholarship: the University explicitly indicates that CHF 1,600 per month is not enough to cover all living costs in Switzerland.

Students looking for other opportunities can also explore Scholarships Central’s Master’s Scholarships, Fully Funded Scholarships, Scholarships Still Open, and All Scholarships.

UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027/28 Overview

Scholarship Detail	2027/28 Information
Scholarship	UNIL Master’s Scholarship / Master’s Excellence Grant
University	University of Lausanne
Country	Switzerland
Degree level	Master’s
Status	Open
Deadline	1 November 2026
Number of scholarships	Around 10 per year
Monthly grant	CHF 1,600
Funding period	Minimum statutory duration of the Master’s
Typical degree duration	3 or 4 semesters
Course-registration fees	Exempt
Remaining semester fee	CHF 80 per semester
Application/admission fee	CHF 200, non-refundable
Fully funded?	No
Recommendation letters	2
Language level	Generally C1 in programme language
Separate Master’s admission application	No
Scholarship results	Expected in early April 2027

Current 2027/28 application information confirms the November 1 deadline, CHF 1,600 monthly grant, approximately 10 awards, the single scholarship/admission application process and the multi-stage selection timeline.

What Is the UNIL Master’s Scholarship?

The University of Lausanne offers approximately ten excellence grants every year to students who graduated from foreign universities and demonstrated particularly strong academic performance.

The purpose of the programme is to help excellent international graduates pursue a Master’s degree at UNIL.

The scholarship is highly competitive and is not intended as a general financial-aid programme for every international student. Academic excellence is one of the central selection criteria.

UNIL Master’s Scholarship Amount

The headline scholarship amount is:

CHF 1,600 per month.

The grant is awarded for the minimum statutory duration of the chosen Master’s programme.

Most eligible UNIL Master’s programmes take:

• three semesters, or
• four semesters.

The exact total amount therefore depends on the programme and the payment structure applicable to the recipient.

How Much Can You Receive?

Current 2027/28 conditions reported from the UNIL application materials indicate:

• up to CHF 19,200 during the first year;
• additional funding during the second study period depending on the programme length;
• a maximum second-year figure of approximately CHF 16,000 for a standard 120-ECTS route.

However, because payment periods can differ between 90-ECTS and 120-ECTS Master’s programmes, applicants should use CHF 1,600 per month rather than assuming that every recipient receives the same total scholarship value.

Is the UNIL Master’s Scholarship Fully Funded?

No.

This is one of the most important things to understand about the University of Lausanne Scholarship 2027.

The UNIL Master’s Grant provides substantial financial assistance, but it is not designed to cover every cost associated with living and studying in Switzerland.

The University states that the CHF 1,600 monthly grant is not sufficient to cover the complete cost of living in Switzerland.

The scholarship does not normally provide separate full coverage for:

• airfare;
• visa fees;
• health insurance;
• accommodation;
• all food and personal expenses;
• all other living costs.

Students should therefore plan additional funding.

Applicants specifically seeking comprehensive funding can compare opportunities through Scholarships Central’s Fully Funded Scholarships directory.

Does UNIL Cover Tuition Fees?

UNIL scholarship holders are exempt from the standard course-registration fees.

However, recipients still pay:

CHF 80 per semester.

Therefore, it is slightly misleading to describe the award as a completely free tuition arrangement with no university charges at all.

A more accurate description is:

UNIL Master’s Scholarship recipients receive an exemption from standard course-registration fees but remain responsible for the CHF 80 semester charge.

CHF 200 UNIL Application Fee

Applicants must also pay a separate:

CHF 200 administrative fee.

This is not the same as the CHF 80 semester fee.

The CHF 200 fee covers the processing of the applicant’s admission file and is non-refundable, regardless of whether the applicant receives the scholarship. Proof of payment must be included in the scholarship application file.

Applicants should therefore distinguish between:

Fee	Amount	When
Application/administrative fee	CHF 200	Before application
Semester fee for scholarship holders	CHF 80	Each semester

UNIL Master’s Scholarship Deadline 2027

The application deadline for the 2027/28 UNIL Master’s Scholarship is:

1 November 2026.

The application is currently open.

Importantly, the November 1 deadline does not refer only to the online form.

Three separate parts of the application may need to be completed by that date.

Application Component	Deadline
Online registration and PDF application	1 November 2026
Two recommendation letters	1 November 2026
Certified postal documents, if required	Postmarked by 1 November 2026

UNIL currently publishes the deadline as a date without specifying a universal closing hour. Applicants should therefore avoid waiting until the last day.

Who Can Apply for the UNIL Master’s Scholarship?

The scholarship is aimed at academically outstanding international applicants who obtained their degree from a university outside Switzerland.

Applicants generally need to:

• hold, or be completing, a university degree obtained outside Switzerland;
• have a qualification judged equivalent to a Swiss university Bachelor’s degree;
• demonstrate excellent academic results;
• meet the language requirements for the selected Master’s;
• not already be enrolled at UNIL;
• apply for an eligible UNIL Master’s programme;
• pay the CHF 200 administrative fee;
• submit a complete scholarship application by November 1.

Is There a Nationality Restriction?

The UNIL Master’s Excellence Grant is intended for graduates from foreign universities rather than being limited to one nationality or region.

Applicants from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, the United States, Canada and other countries can potentially apply if they satisfy the academic and programme requirements.

There is no general nationality quota published in the current scholarship conditions.

UNIL Scholarship for Pakistani Students

Pakistani students can apply for the UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027/28 if they satisfy the general eligibility conditions.

However, Pakistani applicants need to pay special attention to the certified-document requirement.

UNIL requires additional certified academic documents by post when a qualification was obtained in a state that has not ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention. Current Council of Europe treaty records list the parties to Convention ETS No. 165; Pakistan is not shown among the listed parties as of September 2026.

Therefore, a Pakistani applicant should verify the current treaty status and UNIL instructions when preparing the application and be ready to arrange university-certified documents in a sealed envelope.

This is especially important because international postage and university certification can take time.

UNIL Scholarship for Indian Students

Indian applicants may also compete for the UNIL Master’s Grant provided their foreign degree is recognised as suitable for admission to the selected programme and they satisfy all other requirements.

Applicants should check whether their diploma country triggers UNIL’s separate certified-document procedure and should verify the relevant programme’s language and academic requirements.

Can Final-Year Bachelor’s Students Apply?

Yes.

Students who have not yet received their final Bachelor’s diploma can apply.

Current 2027/28 guidance allows applicants who are completing their degree to submit available academic records and information about their unfinished Bachelor’s programme.

However, the qualifying degree must ultimately be completed before the UNIL Master’s programme begins.

This means a student graduating in 2027 can potentially apply during the 2026 scholarship round rather than waiting until the degree certificate is issued.

Can You Apply If You Already Have a Master’s Degree?

Holding an existing Master’s degree does not necessarily create an automatic exclusion under the current guidance.

However, the scholarship is primarily designed to enable highly qualified graduates of foreign universities to pursue a Master’s at UNIL, and applicants should verify how their previous academic path will be considered for admission.

A previous Master’s degree should therefore be disclosed fully in the application rather than omitted.

Can Current UNIL Students Apply?

No.

The Master’s Excellence Grant is designed for applicants coming from foreign universities.

Students already registered at the University of Lausanne cannot generally use this competition to fund an existing UNIL degree.

UNIL Master’s Scholarship GPA Requirement

A common question is:

What GPA is required for the UNIL Master’s Scholarship?

UNIL does not publish one universal GPA such as:

• 3.5/4.0;
• 3.7/4.0;
• 80%;
• 85%.

Instead, applicants are expected to have very strong academic results.

The University describes the grants as excellence scholarships for students whose academic performance is of a particularly high standard.

Therefore, websites claiming one fixed GPA cutoff should not be treated as official unless the requirement belongs to a specific UNIL Master’s programme.

UNIL Scholarship IELTS and Language Requirements

Applicants generally need approximately:

C1 level in the language of instruction of the chosen Master’s programme.

That usually means:

• French-taught programme → strong French proficiency;
• English-taught programme → strong English proficiency.

Examples commonly corresponding to C1 English include:

• IELTS Academic around 7.0;
• TOEFL iBT around 100;
• appropriate Cambridge C1/C2 qualifications.

For French, recognised C1-level qualifications may include DALF C1/C2 or comparable accepted certificates.

However, applicants should not describe IELTS 7.0 as a universal scholarship requirement.

The exact acceptable proof depends on the selected Master’s programme and UNIL’s language rules.

Can You Apply Without IELTS?

Potentially, yes.

Current guidance indicates that separate language certification may not always be required when:

• the programme language is the applicant’s mother tongue; or
• the applicant completed their Bachelor’s degree entirely in the same language as the selected Master’s.

Applicants should still check the specific programme requirements rather than assuming automatic exemption.

Which UNIL Master’s Programmes Are Eligible?

Most University of Lausanne Master’s programmes can potentially be considered, but not every Master’s programme is eligible.

This is one of the most important differences between the official scholarship rules and many simplified scholarship articles.

Master’s Programmes Excluded From the UNIL Scholarship

Current 2027/28 guidance excludes programmes including:

• Master’s programmes from the School of Medicine;
• Master in Sciences and Practices of Education;
• most Master of Law programmes;
• Master of Science in Physical Education and Sport Didactics;
• Master of Science in Health Sciences;
• Master of Science in Sustainable Management and Technology;
• Master of Science in Human Taphonomy;
• MAS and other continuing-education programmes.

Applicants should verify the latest programme list before submitting.

Important Master of Law Exceptions

Although most Master of Law routes are excluded, current scholarship guidance identifies several exceptions.

Eligible Law specialisations include:

• International and Comparative Law;
• Legal Theory;
• International Tax Law and Policy.

This is an important distinction because saying simply “Law is excluded” would also be inaccurate.

Programmes With Additional Admission Conditions

Applicants interested in the following fields should pay particular attention to programme-specific admission requirements:

• Finance;
• Psychology;
• Arts;
• Nursing.

Current 2027/28 scholarship guidance specifically points applicants in these areas to additional UNIL Admissions conditions.

Being eligible for the scholarship does not automatically mean the relevant faculty will admit the applicant to the programme.

The Scholarship Application Is Also Your Master’s Admission Application

This is one of the most important features of the UNIL process.

Applicants applying for the Master’s Excellence Grant do not normally submit a second separate application to the UNIL Admissions Office for the same programme.

The scholarship application itself is also the admission application for the selected Master’s.

The process therefore looks like:

Master’s Scholarship application → admission review → faculty eligibility assessment → scholarship selection

Submitting duplicate applications can cause unnecessary confusion.

Documents Required for UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027

Current 2027/28 guidance requires applicants to prepare their principal application documents as one PDF file.

The file typically includes:

1. Complete and updated CV with photograph.
2. Covering/motivation letter of approximately 1–2 pages.
3. Copies of university diploma(s).
4. Full university transcripts.
5. Current transcripts and programme information if the Bachelor’s is unfinished.
6. Language certificate where required.
7. Secondary-school leaving certificate.
8. Passport identity-page copy.
9. Proof of payment of the CHF 200 administrative fee.
10. Authenticated translations where necessary.

Applicants should follow the ordering requested in the current application instructions.

Translation Requirements

If documents are not issued in one of the accepted languages, authenticated translations may be required.

Current guidance uses:

• French;
• German;
• English;
• Italian

as the principal accepted document languages. Documents in another language should generally be accompanied by an authenticated translation.

Applicants should normally retain the original-language document alongside its certified translation where requested.

Two Recommendation Letters Are Required

Applicants need:

two recommendation letters.

Current guidance allows recommendations from:

• teachers or academics familiar with the applicant’s current or previous university studies; or
• an employer.

This is somewhat more flexible than scholarships that accept only academic professors.

Recommendation Letters Must Be Sent Directly

Applicants should not simply upload the two reference letters themselves.

The referees must send them directly to the University of Lausanne from a:

professional email address.

The current scholarship contact used for recommendations is:

mastergrants@unil.ch

The email should identify the applicant clearly.

Important: References Must Be Sent After Online Registration

This is one of the easiest application rules to miss.

The recommendation letters should be sent only after the applicant has completed the online registration.

Current application guidance says letters submitted before online registration may not be considered.

A sensible sequence is therefore:

1. prepare the application;
2. complete online registration;
3. confirm registration;
4. tell referees to send their letters;
5. make sure both arrive before November 1.

Recommendation Letter Deadline

Both recommendations need to reach UNIL by:

1 November 2026.

Applicants should contact referees well before the deadline.

Lisbon Recognition Convention Document Rule

Some international applicants face an additional postal-document requirement.

If the applicant’s diploma was issued in a country that has not ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention, the issuing university must prepare certified copies of the relevant academic documents.

These can include:

• university diploma;
• transcripts;
• provisional certificate where relevant.

The issuing institution must certify them and place them in a sealed envelope.

Where Should Certified Documents Be Sent?

Current application guidance gives the destination as:

University of Lausanne
Social Affairs and Student Mobility Service (SASME)
Bâtiment Unicentre
CH-1015 Lausanne
Switzerland

The documents must be postmarked by 1 November 2026 where this requirement applies.

Applicants should first check whether the country where their degree was issued has ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

The Council of Europe maintains the official Treaty No. 165 ratification list.

Special Note for Pakistani Applicants

Because Pakistan is not currently shown among the parties listed for the Lisbon Recognition Convention in the Council of Europe’s treaty status information, applicants with Pakistani university qualifications should pay close attention to UNIL’s certified-copy procedure.

Do not leave this step until late October.

The process may require:

• certification by the university;
• sealed institutional envelope;
• certifier contact details;
• international postal delivery.

The November 1 requirement relates to the postmark, but preparing certified documents can still take substantial administrative time.

How to Apply for the UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027/28

Step 1: Choose an Eligible UNIL Master’s Programme

Review the University of Lausanne Master’s catalogue and confirm that your chosen programme participates in the scholarship.

Pay special attention to excluded programmes and additional admission conditions.

Step 2: Check Academic Eligibility

Confirm that your foreign degree can potentially be recognised as equivalent to a Swiss university Bachelor’s degree.

Final-year students can prepare the available academic records and documentation showing their studies in progress.

Step 3: Confirm the Language Requirement

Check whether the Master’s is taught in English, French or another approved language arrangement.

Make sure you satisfy the required language level and have a certificate where necessary.

Step 4: Pay the CHF 200 Administrative Fee

Pay the required administrative fee and keep proof of payment.

The payment proof belongs in the application PDF.

Step 5: Prepare One Complete PDF

Combine the required documents in the requested order into one PDF file.

Make sure scans are readable and translations are included where required.

Step 6: Complete the Online Registration

Submit the online scholarship application through the UNIL Master’s Grant application system.

The scholarship application simultaneously serves as your application for admission to the selected Master’s programme.

Step 7: Ask Your Two Referees to Send Their Letters

Only after registration, ask both referees to email their recommendation letters directly from professional addresses.

Deadline:

1 November 2026.

Step 8: Send Certified Documents if Required

If your qualification comes from a country outside the Lisbon Recognition Convention framework, arrange the required certified documents and postal submission.

The envelope must meet UNIL’s institutional certification requirements and be postmarked no later than November 1.

Step 9: Check That All Three Components Are Complete

Before the deadline, confirm:

• online application submitted;
• complete PDF uploaded;
• two recommendation letters sent;
• certified postal copies arranged where required;
• CHF 200 payment proof included.

Incomplete applications are not considered.

UNIL Master’s Scholarship Selection Process

Selection happens in several stages rather than through one immediate scholarship review.

November–December 2026

The scholarship office and Admissions Service review applications for completeness and formal admission eligibility.

December 2026–January 2027

Applicants whose files are incomplete or fail the initial admissions screening can be informed that they are no longer being considered.

January–February 2027

Eligible applications move to the relevant faculties, which assess whether applicants meet the academic conditions for the selected Master’s.

March 2027

The scholarship Selection Board makes the final award decisions.

Early April 2027

Applicants are informed of the final result.

UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027 Timeline

Stage	Expected Date
Applications open	September 2026
Scholarship deadline	1 November 2026
Recommendations due	1 November 2026
Postal-document postmark, if required	1 November 2026
Administrative processing	Nov–Dec 2026
Faculty review	Jan–Feb 2027
Scholarship selection	March 2027
Final results	Early April 2027
Studies begin	Academic year 2027/28

How Competitive Is the UNIL Master’s Scholarship?

UNIL offers approximately:

10 Master’s Excellence Grants per year.

The University does not publish enough current applicant-volume data to calculate a reliable annual acceptance rate.

Therefore, claims such as:

• “1% acceptance rate”;
• “3% acceptance rate”;
• “5% acceptance rate”

should not be presented as official unless UNIL releases corresponding application figures.

The safe conclusion is simply that the scholarship is highly competitive because only around ten awards are available annually.

What Does UNIL Look for in Applicants?

Academic excellence is central.

A strong application should demonstrate:

• outstanding previous academic performance;
• a coherent reason for choosing the specific UNIL Master’s;
• strong preparation for graduate-level study;
• relevant academic, research or professional experience;
• appropriate language proficiency;
• convincing recommendations;
• a clear motivation letter.

Because only around ten grants are available, simply satisfying minimum admission requirements should not be confused with being competitive for the scholarship.

How to Write the UNIL Motivation Letter

The current application guidance asks for a covering or motivation letter of approximately one to two pages.

A strong letter should answer four basic questions.

Why This Master’s?

Explain specifically why the selected UNIL programme fits your academic direction.

Avoid generic statements about wanting to study in Switzerland.

Why Are You Academically Prepared?

Connect previous coursework, research, projects, internships or professional experience with the Master’s curriculum.

Why UNIL?

Identify concrete academic reasons for choosing the University of Lausanne.

These might include:

• programme structure;
• specific research themes;
• interdisciplinary opportunities;
• academic environment;
• career relevance.

What Will You Do After the Degree?

Explain how the programme contributes to your longer-term academic or professional goals.

The strongest applications normally present a clear progression:

previous studies → current interests → UNIL Master’s → future goals.

Does the Scholarship Include Accommodation?

The scholarship does not provide free accommodation as a standard benefit.

Recipients may receive access or priority through student-housing arrangements associated with Lausanne, but accommodation expenses remain the student’s responsibility.

Therefore, applicants should not interpret “housing support” or student-housing access as meaning that the scholarship pays all rent.

Does UNIL Pay for Flights?

No standard airfare allowance is listed as part of the UNIL Master’s Excellence Grant.

Students should budget independently for international travel.

Does the Scholarship Cover Visa Fees?

Visa and residence-permit expenses are not listed as standard scholarship benefits.

International students requiring a Swiss visa should plan separately for these costs and the financial documentation required for immigration purposes.

Does UNIL Cover Health Insurance?

Swiss health-insurance obligations are separate from the monthly scholarship.

Applicants should investigate the insurance rules applicable to international students in Switzerland rather than assuming that the grant automatically includes a separate insurance policy.

Can You Work While Receiving the UNIL Scholarship?

International students in Switzerland are subject to Swiss residence and employment regulations.

Any student considering part-time employment should check the rules applicable to their nationality and residence permit.

The scholarship itself should not be treated as permission to work.

What Happens If You Do Not Win the Scholarship?

Because the scholarship application also serves as the Master’s admission application, it is possible for an applicant to be academically admissible to the Master’s programme but not receive one of the approximately ten scholarships.

Current guidance indicates that an admitted applicant may then be given instructions for ordinary enrolment without having to pay the CHF 200 admissions-processing fee again for the same application.

The applicant would then need to determine whether they can finance the programme independently or through another funding source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027 open?

Yes. The 2027/28 application round is open, with a deadline of 1 November 2026.

What is the UNIL Master’s Scholarship deadline?

1 November 2026.

Recommendation letters must also arrive by that date, and required certified postal documents must carry a November 1 postmark.

How much is the UNIL scholarship?

The grant is CHF 1,600 per month for the minimum statutory duration of the selected Master’s programme.

Is the UNIL Master’s Scholarship fully funded?

No. UNIL states that the monthly grant does not cover the complete cost of living in Switzerland.

Does the scholarship cover tuition?

Scholarship recipients are exempt from normal course-registration fees but must still pay CHF 80 per semester.

Is there an application fee?

Yes. Applicants pay a CHF 200 non-refundable administrative fee.

How many UNIL scholarships are awarded?

Approximately 10 per year.

Can Pakistani students apply?

Yes, provided they satisfy the academic, language and programme requirements. Pakistani applicants should also carefully check the additional certified-document requirement connected with the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

Can Indian students apply?

Yes. Indian applicants can compete if their degree and academic record meet UNIL requirements.

Can final-year Bachelor’s students apply?

Yes. Applicants may apply before receiving the final degree, but the qualifying degree must be completed before beginning the UNIL Master’s.

Is there a minimum GPA?

No universal scholarship GPA is published. UNIL requires particularly strong academic results.

Is IELTS required?

Not universally. Applicants need the required language proficiency for their selected Master’s. C1-level proficiency is generally expected, with IELTS, TOEFL or another certificate used where appropriate.

What IELTS score is required?

For programmes where IELTS is an accepted way to demonstrate C1 English, approximately IELTS 7.0 is commonly indicated in the current guidance. Applicants should verify their exact Master’s programme requirements.

Do I need two recommendation letters?

Yes.

Both must be sent directly by the referees from professional email addresses.

Can I upload recommendation letters myself?

No. The current instructions require the authors to send them directly to UNIL.

When should referees send their letters?

After the applicant has completed online registration and before 1 November 2026.

Do I need to submit a separate UNIL admission application?

No. The scholarship application also functions as the application for admission to the selected Master’s programme.

Are all UNIL Master’s programmes eligible?

No. Several programmes are excluded, including programmes from the School of Medicine, Education-related programmes, most Law programmes, certain health/sport programmes and continuing-education MAS programmes.

Can PhD students apply?

No. The UNIL Master’s Excellence Grant is specifically for eligible Master’s study.

When are results announced?

Final results are expected in early April 2027.

Does the scholarship include free accommodation?

No. Housing access should not be confused with free accommodation; rent remains the student’s responsibility.

Does UNIL cover airfare?

No separate airfare benefit is normally included.

Official UNIL Scholarship Links

Applicants should always verify the final requirements directly with the University of Lausanne before submitting.

Official UNIL Master’s Scholarship page

This is the University’s main Master’s Grant information page. The official URL is also referenced by other university scholarship directories.

UNIL Admissions Portal

Use the University’s admissions system and scholarship instructions for the relevant application route.

Lisbon Recognition Convention – Official Treaty Status

Applicants who may need certified documents by post should use the Council of Europe’s official treaty list to check the current status of the country where their degree was issued.

Related Scholarships on Scholarships Central

International students interested in Switzerland, Europe and Master’s funding can also explore:

• Master’s Scholarships
• Fully Funded Scholarships
• Scholarships Still Open
• Fully Funded Scholarships Still Open
• All Scholarships

Final Thoughts

The UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027/28 is a highly competitive opportunity for outstanding international graduates who want to study at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.

The scholarship provides CHF 1,600 per month for the minimum statutory duration of an eligible Master’s degree and exempts recipients from standard course-registration fees, although a CHF 80 semester charge remains payable. Around 10 scholarships are awarded each year.

Applicants should not treat the scholarship as fully funded. UNIL makes clear that the monthly allowance does not cover all living costs in Switzerland, so additional financial planning is necessary.

The application process also has several rules that are easy to miss. The scholarship application doubles as the Master’s admission application, two references must be sent directly after online registration, and applicants whose degrees come from countries outside the Lisbon Recognition Convention may need certified university documents sent separately by post.

The complete deadline is 1 November 2026, so applicants should prepare references, translations, certification and postal documents well before November rather than treating November 1 as only an online-form deadline.

The Émile Boutmy Scholarship 2027 is a major Sciences Po scholarship for international students from outside the European Union who are applying for an eligible Bachelor’s or two-year Master’s programme in France.

For Master’s students, the Émile Boutmy Scholarship amount is €18,500 per year as a tuition-fee exemption for each of the two years of an eligible Master’s programme. This represents up to €37,000 in tuition support over two years.

Bachelor’s recipients receive either a full tuition-fee exemption or a €9,500 tuition-fee exemption, depending on the award granted by Sciences Po.

An important point for applicants searching for a “fully funded Sciences Po scholarship” is that the Émile Boutmy Scholarship is not a standard fully funded scholarship covering living costs. Sciences Po lists it as tuition-fee support; it does not generally include a monthly living stipend, accommodation, airfare or visa expenses.

Around 300 students receive the Émile Boutmy Scholarship each year, according to Sciences Po.

For the 2027 undergraduate intake, international applicants from foreign secondary schools must request the scholarship by 13 January 2027. Master’s applicants must apply substantially earlier than the normal February graduate admissions deadline because Sciences Po uses separate Boutmy scholarship committees.

Applicants looking for other funding options can also explore Scholarships Central’s Master’s Scholarships, Partially Funded Scholarships, Europe Scholarships, and Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027/28.

Émile Boutmy Scholarship 2027 Overview

Detail	2027 Information
Scholarship	Émile Boutmy Scholarship
University	Sciences Po
Country	France
Eligible levels	Bachelor’s and eligible two-year Master’s
Eligible nationality profile	Mainly non-EU applicants meeting tax-residence rules
Bachelor’s funding	Full tuition exemption OR €9,500 tuition exemption
Master’s funding	€18,500 tuition exemption per year
Maximum published Master’s support	€37,000 over two years
Living stipend	Not a standard Boutmy benefit
Accommodation	Not generally included
Airfare	Not included as a standard benefit
Number of recipients	Around 300 per year
Undergraduate 2027 deadline	13 January 2027 for applicants from foreign secondary schools
Master’s scholarship deadlines	Current Boutmy page lists 19 October and 30 November committees
Normal Master’s admission deadline	21 February 2027 for the main international route
One-year Master’s eligible?	No
PhD eligible?	No
Scholarship application	Requested inside Sciences Po admissions application
Selection	Merit and profile sought by Sciences Po
Universal GPA requirement	No scholarship-wide cutoff published

The authoritative source is the official Émile Boutmy Scholarship page.

What Is the Émile Boutmy Scholarship?

Sciences Po created the Émile Boutmy Scholarship to attract highly qualified international students from outside the European Union.

The scholarship is named after Émile Boutmy, the founder of Sciences Po.

It is awarded to first-time applicants admitted to eligible Sciences Po Bachelor’s or Master’s programmes who satisfy the scholarship’s nationality and household tax-residence conditions.

Sciences Po describes selection as based on merit and the profile sought for the programme.

This means Boutmy should not be treated simply as a need-based scholarship. Household tax residence determines whether an applicant falls within the eligible population, while academic quality and the overall applicant profile are central to selection.

Sciences Po says approximately 300 students receive the Émile Boutmy Scholarship each year.

Émile Boutmy Scholarship Amount 2027

One of the most common searches is:

How much is the Émile Boutmy Scholarship?

The answer depends on whether the applicant is entering a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme.

Bachelor’s Scholarship Amount

A successful Bachelor’s applicant receives either:

• a full exemption from Sciences Po tuition fees, or
• a €9,500 exemption from tuition fees.

The amount awarded is determined when the student is admitted.

Sciences Po may subsequently adjust the scholarship amount in line with tuition-fee increases.

Master’s Scholarship Amount

For an eligible two-year Master’s programme, Boutmy provides:

€18,500 per year in tuition-fee exemption.

Over two years, this represents:

€18,500 × 2 = €37,000

in published tuition support.

Applicants should therefore describe it as up to €37,000 in tuition-fee support over a two-year Master’s, rather than a €37,000 cash payment.

Is the Émile Boutmy Scholarship Fully Funded?

This is one of the most searched questions about the programme.

The answer is:

Not in the usual meaning of “fully funded.”

The Boutmy Scholarship primarily provides a tuition-fee exemption.

Sciences Po does not list the standard Boutmy award as including:

• a monthly living stipend;
• accommodation;
• airfare;
• visa costs;
• health insurance;
• monthly food or transport expenses.

Master’s recipients receive €18,500 per year toward tuition. Bachelor’s recipients receive either a full tuition exemption or a €9,500 tuition exemption.

Therefore, headlines describing Boutmy as a universally “fully funded France scholarship” can be misleading.

Students specifically searching for scholarships that also cover living expenses can compare the Fully Funded Scholarships directory and the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027/28.

Émile Boutmy Scholarship 2027 Deadline

There is not one deadline for every applicant.

Undergraduate Deadline for 2027

For applicants studying for a foreign secondary-school diploma, Sciences Po has officially confirmed the Émile Boutmy Scholarship deadline as:

13 January 2027

The deadline is based on Paris time.

The scholarship must be selected before the Sciences Po admission application is submitted.

Sciences Po’s official 2027 undergraduate admissions page specifically warns that a Boutmy request cannot be added after the application has been validated.

Applicants can verify the date on the official Sciences Po 2027 undergraduate admissions page.

Master’s Boutmy Scholarship Deadline

The current official Boutmy page lists two Master’s scholarship committees:

Committee	Current Deadline	Decision Timing
First committee	19 October	Before 30 December
Second committee	30 November	Before 2 March

For the 2027 intake, these scholarship dates fall much earlier than the normal final Master’s admission deadline.

Applicants should confirm the date displayed in the 2027 application system before submitting because Sciences Po’s scholarship page lists the committee dates without printing the intake year next to each date.

General Master’s Deadline Is Not the Boutmy Deadline

This distinction is extremely important.

For international applicants to Sciences Po’s standard two-year Master’s programmes, the general final admission deadline is:

21 February 2027.

But Sciences Po explicitly says applicants seeking the Émile Boutmy Scholarship must submit by the scholarship deadline, regardless of the later ordinary programme deadline.

Do not wait until February if you want Boutmy consideration.

Check the official 2027 graduate deadlines.

Sciences Po 2027 Master’s Admission Timeline

The international admissions process uses rolling rounds.

Complete Application Submitted By	Admission Decision Expected By
18 October 2026	17 December 2026
29 November 2026	11 February 2027
3 January 2027	1 April 2027
31 January 2027	6 May 2027
21 February 2027	3 June 2027

Applicants seeking Boutmy must follow the earlier scholarship timetable rather than relying on the later rounds.

Émile Boutmy Scholarship Eligibility

People searching for Émile Boutmy Scholarship eligibility often see the programme described simply as “open to non-EU students.”

The real rules are more specific.

To be eligible, applicants must generally be:

• first-time applicants to Sciences Po;
• from a non-EU state;
• members of a household that does not file taxes within the European Union;
• admitted to an eligible Sciences Po Bachelor’s or Master’s programme.

The applicant must also satisfy the normal academic, language and admission requirements for the selected programme.

Is Boutmy Based on Nationality or Tax Residence?

Both factors matter.

Sciences Po requires eligible applicants to be from outside the EU, but it also considers the household’s tax residence.

A common question is:

Can I apply if I currently live in Europe?

Potentially, yes.

Sciences Po states that it normally considers the parents’ tax residence, rather than simply the student’s current place of residence.

Therefore, a student temporarily living or studying in an EU country may potentially remain eligible if the household does not file taxes in the EU.

However, if the parents have tax residence in the European Union, the student is generally not eligible.

Sciences Po may instead consider the student’s own tax situation if the student meets its formal requirements for financial independence.

Are EU Dual Citizens Eligible?

No.

Applicants holding dual nationality are not eligible if one of their nationalities is from an EU country.

For example, someone holding both Pakistani and French citizenship would not satisfy the standard Boutmy nationality rule merely because they also possess a Pakistani passport.

This is an important eligibility condition frequently omitted from scholarship summaries.

Are Swiss and Norwegian Students Eligible?

No.

Sciences Po specifically lists Swiss and Norwegian applicants as ineligible because they may qualify for CROUS-related funding arrangements.

So “non-EU” should not be interpreted as meaning every European non-EU nationality automatically qualifies.

Are Quebec Students Eligible?

It depends on the study level.

Bachelor’s

Applicants from Quebec can be eligible for Boutmy at Bachelor’s level if they satisfy the other conditions.

Master’s

Quebec applicants are not eligible at Master’s level, because Sciences Po states that they can benefit from a tuition-fee scale similar to European applicants.

This is an unusual rule that applicants should check before applying.

Can Pakistani Students Apply for the Émile Boutmy Scholarship?

Yes.

Pakistani applicants can potentially apply because Pakistan is outside the European Union.

However, citizenship alone is not sufficient.

A Pakistani applicant still needs to satisfy the household tax-residence requirement, gain admission to an eligible Sciences Po programme and meet all academic and language requirements.

A typical eligible profile would be a Pakistani first-time applicant whose household does not file taxes in the EU and who is applying for an eligible Sciences Po Bachelor’s or two-year Master’s programme.

Applicants can also compare other opportunities through Scholarships Central’s Master’s Scholarships.

Can Indian Students Apply for the Émile Boutmy Scholarship?

Yes.

Indian students can apply if they satisfy the normal Boutmy conditions, including:

• first-time applicant status;
• admission to an eligible programme;
• non-EU status;
• household tax residence outside the EU.

Sciences Po’s South Asia information also lists other funding routes available to Indian students, including external schemes such as the France Excellence Charpak programme.

Can African Students Apply?

Yes.

Applicants from eligible African countries can compete for Boutmy if they satisfy the standard rules.

However, some students from Sub-Saharan Africa may also qualify for Sciences Po’s separate Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which follows different eligibility and funding rules.

Applicants should compare the schemes carefully because Sciences Po applies restrictions to combining multiple institutional scholarships.

Can US Students Apply?

Potentially yes.

US applicants may be eligible if they are first-time applicants, have no EU dual citizenship, meet the relevant household tax-residence rules and obtain admission to an eligible degree.

The scholarship is not restricted to developing countries.

Which Sciences Po Programmes Are Eligible?

Boutmy primarily supports:

• eligible Sciences Po Bachelor’s programmes;
• eligible two-year Master’s programmes.

However, several important categories are specifically excluded.

One-Year Master’s Programmes Are Not Eligible

This is one of the biggest eligibility traps.

Candidates applying to Sciences Po’s one-year Master’s programmes cannot receive the Émile Boutmy Scholarship.

Sciences Po explicitly states that one-year Master’s students are not eligible for scholarships, financial aid or tuition-fee waivers administered by its Scholarship Services.

That includes Boutmy.

Applicants should therefore not assume that every programme carrying the word “Master” qualifies.

Are PhD Students Eligible for the Émile Boutmy Scholarship?

No.

PhD candidates are expressly excluded.

Boutmy is not a Sciences Po doctoral scholarship.

Applicants looking for doctoral opportunities should instead use Scholarships Central’s PhD Scholarships directory.

Are Journalism Master’s Programmes Eligible?

No.

Sciences Po excludes candidates applying to:

• the Master in Journalism;
• the Joint Master in Journalism and International Affairs.

This exclusion applies even though these are Sciences Po graduate programmes.

Are Master’s Dual Degrees Eligible?

Most Master’s dual degrees are not eligible.

Sciences Po currently lists only a small number of exceptions.

Dual Degree	Boutmy Eligibility
Sciences Po / Columbia Journalism dual degree	Eligible exception
Sciences Po / Fudan – Europe-Asia in Global Affairs	Eligible only for Chinese nationals
Sciences Po / Peking University	Eligible only for Chinese nationals
Most other Master’s dual degrees	Not eligible

Applicants should always verify the latest status on the official scholarship page before selecting a dual degree.

Are Bachelor’s Dual Degrees Eligible?

Generally no.

Bachelor’s dual-degree applicants are normally excluded unless the programme operates under a specific agreement that allows Boutmy consideration.

There is another important rule for current Boutmy Scholars.

If a Bachelor student receives Boutmy for the normal Sciences Po Bachelor’s programme and later enters a dual-degree programme directly in the third year, the student loses the Boutmy Scholarship.

Can Exchange Students Apply?

Exchange students cannot receive Boutmy simply for an exchange semester or exchange year at Sciences Po.

However, a former exchange student may later apply for a full Sciences Po degree and can potentially receive Boutmy if they satisfy the normal first-time degree-applicant eligibility conditions.

This distinction is frequently missed in third-party guides.

Can Current Sciences Po Students Apply Later?

No.

Applicants generally cannot begin studying at Sciences Po and then decide to apply for Boutmy afterward.

The scholarship is intended for first-time applicants and must be requested during the admissions process.

Sciences Po explicitly states that students cannot apply for Boutmy after admission or during their existing studies.

How to Apply for the Émile Boutmy Scholarship 2027

There is no completely separate external Boutmy application portal.

For most applicants, Boutmy is requested inside the Sciences Po admission application.

Step 1: Choose an Eligible Sciences Po Programme

Select an eligible Bachelor’s or two-year Master’s programme.

Check carefully that your programme is not among the excluded categories.

Step 2: Create Your Sciences Po Application

Use the official Sciences Po admissions platform for your degree level.

For 2027 international Master’s applicants, admissions open at the end of September 2026.

Step 3: Complete the Admission File

The graduate application normally includes academic and personal information, transcripts and other programme-specific documents.

Sciences Po expects the application to be complete when submitted.

Step 4: Request Boutmy Under “Financial Information”

This is the critical step.

Applicants using the Sciences Po online platform must indicate that they are applying for the:

Émile Boutmy Scholarship

in the Financial Information section.

Do not submit the application first and expect to add the scholarship later.

Step 5: Submit Required Language Evidence

Master’s applicants should include the required language-test documentation where applicable.

Sciences Po says scholarship candidates must submit the complete admission file, including required proof of language proficiency, by the scholarship deadline.

Step 6: Submit Before the Scholarship Deadline

For undergraduate applicants from foreign secondary schools, submit by:

13 January 2027.

Master’s applicants must use the earlier Boutmy committee deadlines rather than waiting until the general February admission deadline.

Can You Apply for Boutmy After Submitting Your Sciences Po Application?

Generally no.

For applicants using the normal online platform, Sciences Po states that the scholarship request must be indicated in the application under Financial Information.

The undergraduate 2027 admissions page is particularly explicit:

no Boutmy application will be accepted after the Sciences Po application has already been validated.

This is one of the most important mistakes to avoid.

Émile Boutmy Scholarship Required Documents

Boutmy is assessed as part of the Sciences Po admissions process rather than through a completely separate scholarship application.

Applicants therefore need the documents required for their programme and admission pathway.

For graduate applications, Sciences Po expects a complete file and may require items such as:

• academic transcripts and degree documentation;
• CV/resume;
• motivation letter;
• academic references;
• programme-specific documents;
• language-test evidence where required;
• financial information requested for scholarship assessment.

Sciences Po advises applicants not to overload the file with documents that were not requested.

The exact checklist depends on the selected programme, so applicants should use the official Sciences Po graduate application file guidance.

Is IELTS Required for the Émile Boutmy Scholarship?

There is no single Émile Boutmy IELTS score applicable to every applicant.

Language requirements are determined primarily by the selected Sciences Po programme.

Some programmes are taught in English, some in French and others have specific language requirements.

Applicants should therefore check the exact programme requirements rather than relying on claims such as:

“IELTS 6.5 is required for Boutmy.”

There is no scholarship-wide IELTS score published as a universal Boutmy rule.

If language evidence is required for the selected Master’s programme, the complete documentation must be submitted by the relevant scholarship deadline.

Émile Boutmy Scholarship GPA Requirement

Another common search query is:

What GPA is required for the Émile Boutmy Scholarship?

Sciences Po does not publish one universal scholarship GPA such as:

• 3.5/4.0;
• 3.7/4.0;
• 80%;
• 85%.

Boutmy is merit-based and selection depends on the strength of the applicant’s Sciences Po admission profile.

Applicants must first satisfy the admission expectations of their chosen programme.

Therefore, third-party claims presenting one GPA as a guaranteed or official Boutmy cutoff should be treated cautiously.

What Does Sciences Po Look for in Boutmy Applicants?

Sciences Po states that Boutmy is awarded according to:

merit and the type of profile sought for the programme.

A strong candidate should therefore focus on the overall quality of the admissions application.

Relevant strengths can include:

• excellent academic performance;
• strong motivation for the chosen programme;
• clear intellectual interests;
• relevant extracurricular or professional experiences;
• coherent career objectives;
• evidence that the applicant is a strong fit for Sciences Po.

The scholarship should not be treated as a separate lottery independent of admission quality.

Is There an Émile Boutmy Scholarship Acceptance Rate?

Sciences Po does not currently publish a reliable overall Émile Boutmy Scholarship acceptance rate.

What it does publish is that approximately:

300 students receive Boutmy each year.

Without an official annual number of eligible Boutmy applicants, calculating a percentage would be speculative.

Applicants should therefore be careful with websites claiming an exact Boutmy acceptance rate unless they provide a current official source.

Is There an Application Fee?

Yes.

For the 2027 international undergraduate route, Sciences Po currently lists an application fee of:

€150.

For the international graduate procedure, the application fee is also:

€150.

The graduate fee is normally non-refundable if the application is incomplete, withdrawn or unsuccessful.

Sciences Po provides limited fee exemptions for specific categories, such as eligible refugees and certain other officially defined cases.

Applying for Boutmy itself does not automatically remove the Sciences Po application fee.

Can Boutmy Be Combined With Another Scholarship?

Sometimes—but the source of the other scholarship matters.

Other Sciences Po or Partner Scholarships

Boutmy generally cannot be combined with another scholarship awarded by Sciences Po or one of its programme partners.

Sciences Po gives examples including:

• Mastercard Foundation;
• CARE;
• Fondation de France / René Seydoux;
• China Scholarship Council.

External Scholarships

Boutmy may be combined with certain external scholarships, including external government or institutional funding where the rules permit.

Sciences Po mentions examples such as:

• France Excellence Eiffel;
• AEFE;
• French government scholarships.

Applicants must still check the terms of the external award because the other scholarship may have its own restrictions.

For broader European funding options, see the Europe Scholarships guide.

Important 2027 Eiffel Scholarship Note

Although Sciences Po’s general Boutmy rules say Boutmy may be combined with external funding such as Eiffel, Sciences Po currently states that it will not participate in the 2027 France Excellence Eiffel selection process.

Therefore, applicants should not interpret the general combination rule as confirmation that Sciences Po will nominate new candidates for the 2027 Eiffel cycle.

Students researching Eiffel can also read Scholarships Central’s Eiffel Scholarship Results guide.

What Happens If You Defer Your Sciences Po Admission?

Deferral is particularly important for Boutmy recipients.

If you receive the Émile Boutmy Scholarship and then decide to defer admission, the scholarship is lost.

However, Sciences Po has a special rule for candidates already in deferral.

A deferred candidate may be able to request Boutmy if:

• they did not request it in their original application; or
• they previously received Boutmy but lost it because of the deferral.

The candidate must follow Sciences Po’s specific process before the scholarship deadline.

Sciences Po also encourages applicants waiting for a Boutmy decision to accept their admission offer while waiting for the scholarship outcome, rather than deferring immediately.

What Happens If You Fail an Academic Year?

Boutmy continuation depends on academic progression.

Sciences Po states that if a scholarship recipient does not validate the academic year, the scholarship is lost.

This applies to both Bachelor’s and Master’s recipients.

Therefore, scholarship continuation is not completely unconditional.

Does Boutmy Continue During the Bachelor’s Year Abroad?

Yes.

The standard Sciences Po Bachelor’s degree includes a third-year period abroad.

Boutmy recipients retain their tuition-fee grant during the year abroad.

However, as noted earlier, switching into a dual-degree programme can affect or terminate the scholarship depending on the situation.

Does the Émile Boutmy Scholarship Continue From Bachelor’s to Master’s?

Yes, under an important condition.

If an existing Boutmy Scholar completes a Sciences Po Bachelor’s degree and then continues directly into an eligible Sciences Po Master’s programme, the scholarship is automatically renewed.

The student does not need to submit a completely new Boutmy application.

This is one of the strongest long-term benefits of the scholarship and is often missing from third-party guides.

The Master’s programme must still be an eligible programme under Boutmy rules.

Can a Previous Boutmy Rejection Be Reconsidered?

Sciences Po states that if an applicant has already been refused the Émile Boutmy Scholarship, they cannot apply again within the same admission process.

Applicants should therefore make sure the original admissions file is as strong and complete as possible.

Should You Accept Your Admission Offer Before the Scholarship Decision?

Sciences Po advises candidates waiting for the Boutmy outcome to accept their admission offer while waiting.

This is particularly important for applicants thinking about deferral.

If the scholarship is not awarded, an admitted applicant may still subsequently discuss deferral options with Sciences Po.

Requesting a deferral too early can affect future Boutmy eligibility.

Émile Boutmy Scholarship for Bachelor’s Students

For Bachelor applicants, the strongest features are:

Feature	Rule
Award	Full tuition exemption OR €9,500 exemption
Entry point	First year of Sciences Po Bachelor’s
2027 foreign-school deadline	13 January 2027
Third-year abroad	Tuition grant retained
Academic progression	Must validate each year
Deferral	Scholarship lost
Switching to dual degree	Can cause loss of scholarship
Continuation to eligible Sciences Po Master’s	Automatically renewed

This makes Boutmy potentially valuable beyond the initial undergraduate award.

Émile Boutmy Scholarship for Master’s Students

For eligible two-year Master’s students:

Feature	Rule
Annual tuition exemption	€18,500
Duration	2 years
Maximum published tuition support	€37,000
One-year Master’s	Not eligible
PhD	Not eligible
Journalism programmes	Excluded
Most dual degrees	Excluded
Academic progression	Required
Deferral	Scholarship lost
General 2027 admission deadline	21 February 2027
Boutmy deadline	Earlier scholarship committee deadline

Applicants should not confuse the February admission deadline with the scholarship deadline.

Common Émile Boutmy Scholarship Mistakes

Calling It Fully Funded

Boutmy is primarily a tuition-fee scholarship. It does not automatically provide a living stipend, accommodation or flights.

Waiting Until February for a Master’s Application

February 21, 2027 is the general international Master’s deadline, not the safe deadline for Boutmy applicants.

Applying to a One-Year Master’s

One-year Master’s programmes are not Boutmy-eligible.

Assuming All Dual Degrees Qualify

Most dual-degree programmes are excluded.

Assuming Any Non-EU Applicant Qualifies

Household tax residence, EU dual citizenship, Swiss/Norwegian status and other specific rules matter.

Forgetting to Select Boutmy Before Submission

Applicants must request the scholarship under the Financial Information section while completing the Sciences Po application.

Inventing a GPA Requirement

Sciences Po does not publish one universal Boutmy GPA cutoff.

Assuming €37,000 Is Cash

It represents two years of €18,500 tuition exemptions for an eligible Master’s programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Émile Boutmy Scholarship 2027 open?

Sciences Po has published the 2027 undergraduate admissions cycle, including the confirmed 13 January 2027 Boutmy deadline for applicants from foreign secondary schools.

The 2027 international Master’s admissions cycle opens at the end of September 2026.

What is the Émile Boutmy Scholarship deadline for 2027?

For international Bachelor’s applicants from foreign secondary schools, the confirmed deadline is 13 January 2027.

For Master’s applicants, Sciences Po’s current Boutmy page lists scholarship committees on 19 October and 30 November, which are earlier than the general February Master’s deadline.

How much is the Émile Boutmy Scholarship?

Bachelor’s recipients receive either a full tuition exemption or a €9,500 tuition exemption.

Eligible Master’s recipients receive €18,500 per year for two years, equivalent to up to €37,000 in tuition support.

Is the Émile Boutmy Scholarship fully funded?

Not in the normal full-cost sense. It primarily covers tuition. Living expenses, accommodation and flights are not standard Boutmy benefits.

Is Émile Boutmy available for international students?

Yes, but applicants must satisfy the non-EU citizenship and household tax-residence requirements.

Can Pakistani students apply?

Yes, provided they satisfy all scholarship and admission criteria.

Can Indian students apply?

Yes, subject to the same eligibility conditions.

Can Nigerian or other African students apply?

Yes, if eligible under the standard Boutmy rules.

Can US students apply?

Yes, provided they meet the non-EU and tax-residence conditions.

Can EU citizens apply?

Generally no.

Can someone with dual EU and non-EU citizenship apply?

No. Holding an EU citizenship alongside another nationality makes the applicant ineligible under the current rules.

Can Swiss or Norwegian students apply?

No.

Are Quebec students eligible?

Quebec applicants can potentially qualify for Bachelor’s funding but are not eligible for Boutmy at Master’s level.

Is there an age limit?

Sciences Po does not publish one universal Boutmy-specific age limit. Applicants must instead satisfy the admission requirements for their chosen degree.

Is there a GPA requirement?

There is no universal official Boutmy GPA cutoff.

Is IELTS required?

There is no single Boutmy-specific IELTS score. Applicants must satisfy the language requirements of their chosen programme.

Can one-year Master’s students apply?

No.

Can MBA students apply?

Applicants should check the exact programme status. The key rule is that one-year Master’s programmes are not eligible for Sciences Po-administered Boutmy funding.

Can PhD students apply?

No.

Can exchange students receive Boutmy?

Not for exchange study itself. A former exchange student may later apply for an eligible full degree.

Can current Sciences Po students apply?

Not normally. Boutmy must generally be requested as a first-time applicant.

Can Boutmy be combined with another scholarship?

It cannot normally be combined with other Sciences Po or partner scholarships, but it may be compatible with certain external funding.

What happens if I defer?

The Boutmy award is lost if a recipient defers admission.

What happens if I fail my year?

Sciences Po states that the scholarship is lost if the recipient does not validate the academic year.

Does Boutmy continue from Bachelor’s to Master’s?

Yes. An existing Boutmy Scholar who continues directly into an eligible Sciences Po Master’s can have the scholarship automatically renewed.

How many students get the Émile Boutmy Scholarship?

Sciences Po says approximately 300 students receive it each year.

What is the Émile Boutmy Scholarship acceptance rate?

Sciences Po does not publish enough current applicant-volume data to calculate a reliable scholarship acceptance rate. Any exact percentage from an unofficial website should therefore be treated cautiously.

Official Émile Boutmy Scholarship Links

Applicants should use Sciences Po as the final authority because scholarship rules and dates can change.

Official Émile Boutmy Scholarship page

This is the main source for funding amounts, eligibility, excluded programmes, scholarship combinations, deferral rules and application instructions.

Sciences Po 2027 International Undergraduate Admissions

This page confirms the 13 January 2027 Boutmy deadline for applicants from foreign secondary schools.

Sciences Po 2027 International Graduate Admissions

Use this for the two-year Master’s application process.

Sciences Po 2027 Master’s Deadlines

This page confirms the ordinary Master’s admission rounds and warns scholarship applicants to follow their earlier scholarship deadline.

Sciences Po Graduate Application File

Use this to verify documents and application-file requirements.

Sciences Po Scholarships and Financial Aid

This page confirms that approximately 300 students receive Boutmy each year and lists other Sciences Po funding options.

Related Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Applicants considering France or other European destinations can also explore:

• Master’s Scholarships
• Partially Funded Scholarships
• Fully Funded Scholarships
• Europe Scholarships
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarship 2027/28
• Erasmus Mundus Scholarships 2027 Guide
• All Scholarships

Final Thoughts

The Émile Boutmy Scholarship 2027 is one of the most valuable Sciences Po scholarships for international students, particularly because an eligible Master’s applicant can receive €18,500 per year in tuition support for two years, while Bachelor’s recipients can receive either a full tuition exemption or a €9,500 exemption.

However, applicants should not rely on simplified claims that Boutmy is simply a “fully funded scholarship for all non-EU students.”

Eligibility is more precise.

Applicants need to understand household tax residence, EU dual citizenship restrictions, programme exclusions, the one-year Master’s ban and the requirement to request the scholarship inside the Sciences Po application before submitting it.

Timing is equally important.

For undergraduate applicants from foreign secondary schools, the confirmed Émile Boutmy Scholarship 2027 deadline is 13 January 2027. Master’s applicants need to work much earlier than Sciences Po’s February general admission deadline because the Boutmy scholarship follows earlier selection committees.

A competitive applicant should therefore first confirm programme eligibility, prepare a complete Sciences Po admission file, secure required references and language evidence early, request Boutmy under the Financial Information section and submit before the scholarship-specific deadline rather than the ordinary admission deadline.

The University of Manchester Global Futures Scholarship 2027 offers more than 350 merit-based scholarships worth over £6 million to international students beginning undergraduate or taught Master’s study in September 2027.

The scholarship is available to eligible students from selected countries across South Asia, Africa, South East Asia, North America, the Middle East and Türkiye. Awards vary substantially by region and study level. Undergraduate students can receive up to £36,000, while eligible Master’s students currently receive either £12,000 or £19,000, depending on their region.

An important point is that the Global Futures Scholarship is not fully funded. Manchester officially describes the programme as a collection of partial merit-based scholarships. The awards are tuition-fee discounts and do not generally cover accommodation, living expenses, flights or other personal costs.

Students comparing other partial awards can browse Scholarships Central’s Partially Funded Scholarships directory. Master’s applicants can also explore the Master’s Scholarships directory.

University of Manchester Global Futures Scholarship 2027 Overview

Scholarship Detail	2027 Information
University	University of Manchester
Country	United Kingdom
Study levels	Undergraduate and taught Master’s
Study start	September 2027
Number of awards	More than 350
Total scholarship value	More than £6 million
Funding type	Partial tuition-fee scholarship
Maximum undergraduate award	Up to £36,000
Master’s award	£12,000 or £19,000 depending on region
Study mode	Full-time, on-campus
PhD eligible?	No, not through Global Futures
Application method	Scholarship form emailed to eligible applicants/offer-holders
Main selection basis	Academic merit plus scholarship application
Universal deadline?	No — deadline varies by region and level

Manchester explicitly states that award values, eligibility criteria and deadlines differ by region, so applicants should use their country page rather than rely on a single generic scholarship deadline.

What Is the University of Manchester Global Futures Scholarship?

The Global Futures Scholarship is an international merit scholarship offered by the University of Manchester to high-achieving overseas students.

For 2027 entry, Manchester is making more than 350 awards available across undergraduate and taught Master’s study. Applicants must normally be international fee-paying students, study full-time on campus in Manchester and satisfy the rules attached to their country or regional competition.

Unlike scholarships with one worldwide award amount, Global Futures is organised regionally. That means a student from Pakistan may face a different Master’s deadline and award value from an applicant in Nigeria, Canada or Saudi Arabia.

Is the Global Futures Scholarship Fully Funded?

No.

The University of Manchester Global Futures Scholarship is a partial tuition scholarship.

The scholarship reduces the international tuition fee charged by the University. It is not designed as a complete package covering all education and living expenses. Manchester’s central 2027 page describes the awards as partial merit-based scholarships.

Applicants should therefore budget separately for remaining tuition fees, accommodation, food, local transport, visa-related costs and other living expenses.

Students specifically looking for comprehensive packages covering tuition and living expenses can compare options in Scholarships Central’s Fully Funded Scholarships directory.

How Much Is the Manchester Global Futures Scholarship?

The scholarship value depends on study level and region.

Undergraduate Scholarship: Up to £36,000

Eligible undergraduate students can receive up to:

£36,000 in total

structured as:

£12,000 in the first year + £12,000 in the second year + £12,000 in the third year.

The award is deducted from international tuition fees. Continued funding in years two and three normally depends on achieving at least a 60% average in annual examinations and assessments.

This means the £36,000 headline is not one lump-sum payment and is not automatically guaranteed for all three years regardless of academic performance.

Master’s Scholarship: £12,000 or £19,000

Most eligible regions currently offer:

£12,000

toward Master’s tuition.

Eligible African applicants receive the larger:

£19,000

Master’s tuition discount.

Global Futures Scholarship 2027 Awards and Deadlines by Region

There is no universal deadline. Current official regional information includes:

Region	Undergraduate Award	UG Deadline	Master’s Award	Master’s Deadline
South Asia	Up to £36,000	30 March 2027	£12,000	25 April 2027
Africa	Up to £36,000	25 Feb or 8 Apr 2027	£19,000	20 April 2027
Egypt	Up to £36,000	13 April 2027	£19,000	20 April 2027
South East Asia	Up to £36,000	23 April 2027	£12,000	14 May 2027
North America	£36,000	4 March 2027	£12,000	11 March 2027
Middle East — Saudi Arabia/UAE	Up to £36,000	20 May 2027	£12,000	6 June 2027
Türkiye	Up to £36,000	6 April 2027	£12,000	22 April 2027

The exact rules should always be checked on Manchester’s current country page because regional deadlines, qualifications and offer requirements differ.

Eligible Countries

Manchester’s current central Global Futures page lists eligible applicants living in countries including Bangladesh, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan for postgraduate taught study, Thailand, Türkiye, the UAE, the USA, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

However, appearing on the central list does not mean every country has identical undergraduate and Master’s eligibility.

For example, Mauritius appears in the current African undergraduate competition, while the Master’s eligibility structure should be checked against the latest regional terms. Taiwan is specifically identified by Manchester as eligible for postgraduate taught Master’s consideration rather than the general undergraduate route.

Domicile Matters More Than Nationality

One of the most important eligibility rules is that Manchester normally assesses domicile, not simply passport nationality.

For many regional competitions, applicants must have predominantly lived in the eligible country during the previous three years. Manchester defines permanent residence as the country where the applicant is ordinarily resident rather than a country where they are living only for full-time education.

This means a Pakistani passport holder who has been ordinarily resident somewhere else may not automatically qualify for the Pakistan/South Asia scholarship.

Conversely, Manchester’s Middle East competition is open to overseas fee-paying students of any nationality who satisfy the domicile conditions for Saudi Arabia or the UAE.

Global Futures Scholarship for Pakistani Students

Pakistan is included in the South Asia Global Futures Scholarship route.

Pakistani Undergraduate Applicants

Eligible Pakistani undergraduate applicants can receive up to £36,000, divided into £12,000 per year over three years.

Applicants need to be international fee-paying, ordinarily domiciled in an eligible South Asian country, self-funded and applying for direct first-year entry. Manchester requires the University to be selected as the applicant’s firm UCAS choice by 15 May 2027. The scholarship application deadline is 30 March 2027, and successful applicants are expected to be notified by 1 May 2027.

Manchester also restricts the accepted direct-entry qualification routes for this competition. Applicants should check their exact qualification against the 2027 South Asia terms before assuming eligibility.

Pakistani Master’s Applicants

The Master’s scholarship for applicants domiciled in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is worth:

£12,000

as a tuition-fee discount.

Applicants must hold a conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible full-time, on-campus Master’s course and submit the scholarship application by 25 April 2027. Manchester expects successful candidates to be informed by 1 June 2027.

A particularly important rule is that applicants who completed their Bachelor’s degree outside South Asia are not eligible for this regional Master’s award.

Global Futures Scholarship for Indian Students

India participates in the South Asia undergraduate competition and has a separate Master’s allocation.

Undergraduate applicants can receive £12,000 per year for three years, subject to maintaining the required academic performance. The 2027 application deadline is 30 March 2027, and Manchester must be selected as the applicant’s firm UCAS choice by 15 May 2027.

For Master’s study, Indian applicants can receive £12,000 toward tuition fees.

A useful difference from many regions is that the Indian Master’s scholarships are divided across two award rounds. Manchester states that 50% of awards are allocated by 15 March 2027, while the remaining awards are allocated by 1 June 2027. Candidates unsuccessful in the first round are automatically reconsidered in the second round without submitting a new scholarship application.

Global Futures Scholarship for African Students

Manchester’s African competition offers the highest Global Futures Master’s award.

Eligible Master’s applicants from specified African countries can receive:

£19,000

toward international tuition fees.

The current eligible Master’s countries include Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Applicants need an unconditional offer for an eligible full-time, on-campus Master’s course and must submit the scholarship form by 20 April 2027. Successful candidates are expected to receive decisions by 24 May 2027.

For undergraduate applicants, Manchester uses two scholarship rounds. Students completing qualifying examinations in 2026 may enter an early round by 25 February 2027, while other eligible applicants generally use the 8 April 2027 round.

Global Futures Scholarship for Egyptian Students

Egypt has its own undergraduate Global Futures route.

Eligible undergraduate students can receive up to £36,000, with the scholarship application due by 13 April 2027. Manchester requires successful recipients to maintain the relevant annual academic standard for continuation.

Egyptian Master’s applicants participate in the African Master’s scheme and can receive £19,000. The current deadline is 20 April 2027, and applicants need an unconditional offer for an eligible programme by that date.

Global Futures Scholarship for South East Asian Students

The South East Asia competition covers applicants domiciled in:

Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Eligible undergraduate applicants can receive up to £36,000, with the application deadline on 23 April 2027. Manchester requires a 60% annual average for continuation into subsequent scholarship years.

Master’s applicants can receive £12,000. The scholarship deadline is 14 May 2027.

Applicants should note a particularly important condition: students who completed their Bachelor’s degree outside South East Asia are not eligible for this regional Master’s scholarship.

Manchester’s South East Asia page currently contains slightly different wording in different sections about whether a conditional offer or an unconditional offer is required by the deadline. Applicants should therefore verify their exact offer-status requirement against the latest 2027 terms and conditions before submission.

Global Futures Scholarship for USA and Canadian Students

North America has a different application mechanism.

Applicants domiciled in the USA or Canada can receive £36,000 for undergraduate study or £12,000 for an eligible Master’s degree.

If an undergraduate applicant applies to Manchester before the 13 January 2027 UCAS equal-consideration deadline, Manchester can send the scholarship form once the academic application has been submitted. Applicants applying later need an offer before receiving the form.

The undergraduate scholarship deadline is 4 March 2027, and recipients must make Manchester their firm choice by 5 May 2027.

For Master’s applicants, the scholarship deadline is 11 March 2027. Those applying before January 13 can receive the scholarship form after submitting their course application; later applicants need an offer. Successful candidates are due to be informed by 16 April 2027, must firm their offer by May 5, and may need to pay the CAS deposit by 25 July 2027.

Global Futures Scholarship for Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Applicants of any nationality may potentially qualify for the Middle East Global Futures Scholarship if they are international fee-paying students ordinarily domiciled in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates and meet the other conditions.

Undergraduate awards are worth up to £36,000, with applications due by 20 May 2027.

Master’s applicants can receive £12,000, with a deadline of 6 June 2027.

Manchester’s current Middle East page contains slightly different wording between its eligibility and application sections about whether a Master’s applicant needs an unconditional offer or whether a conditional offer may also qualify. Applicants should therefore read the current downloadable terms before relying on one interpretation.

Global Futures Scholarship for Türkiye

Eligible applicants domiciled in Türkiye can receive up to £36,000 for undergraduate study.

The undergraduate deadline is 6 April 2027, and successful applicants are expected to be notified by 10 May 2027. Recipients must make Manchester their firm UCAS choice by 24 May 2027.

For Master’s students, the award is £12,000 and the application deadline is 22 April 2027.

Applicants who completed their Bachelor’s degree outside Türkiye are not eligible for the Turkish Master’s Global Futures award.

Undergraduate Eligibility Criteria

The undergraduate rules vary slightly by region, but several conditions appear repeatedly.

Applicants generally need to be international fee-paying, ordinarily domiciled in an eligible country, self-funded, applying for direct first-year entry in 2027, studying an accepted qualification for the regional scheme and applying to a full-time course delivered at Manchester’s UK campus.

Manchester also normally requires scholarship recipients to select the University as their firm UCAS choice by a region-specific deadline.

Is the Full £36,000 Undergraduate Award Guaranteed?

No.

The £36,000 award is structured as £12,000 per year for three years.

Continuation into the second and third years is normally conditional on achieving a 60% average in annual examinations and assessments.

Therefore, applicants should describe the award as:

up to £36,000

rather than a guaranteed £36,000 payment at the start of the degree.

Undergraduate Courses That Are Not Eligible

Across the main regional competitions, the following programmes are commonly excluded:

Programme / Study Type	Global Futures UG Eligibility
Medicine (MBChB)	Not eligible
Dentistry (BDS)	Not eligible
Architecture	Not eligible
Courses with integrated foundation year	Not eligible
Blended learning	Not eligible
Distance learning	Not eligible
Previous UK higher-education study	Generally not eligible

Regional terms should still be checked individually because qualification requirements and other restrictions vary.

Master’s Eligibility Criteria

Master’s applicants generally need to be international fee-paying, self-funded and ordinarily domiciled in an eligible region.

They must apply for a full-time, on-campus taught Master’s programme beginning in September 2027 and satisfy the regional offer requirement before the relevant scholarship deadline.

In several regions, Manchester also requires the applicant’s Bachelor’s degree to have been completed within the same broad geographic region.

For example, a South Asia applicant who completed a Bachelor’s degree outside South Asia is ineligible for the regional Master’s award; comparable rules apply to North America, South East Asia, Africa and Türkiye.

Master’s Courses That Are Not Eligible

The following programmes are repeatedly excluded from the current regional Master’s competitions:

Programme	Eligibility
MBA	Not eligible
MPhil	Not eligible
Master of Architecture (MArch)	Not eligible
Architecture and Urbanism MA	Not eligible
Architecture and Digital Design MA	Not eligible
Master of Landscape Architecture	Not eligible
PGCE	Not eligible
Clinical Medicine	Not eligible
Dentistry	Not eligible
Some Master’s by Research programmes	Not eligible
Blended/distance programmes	Not eligible

Applicants should check their regional terms because programme eligibility may change.

What Does “Self-Funded” Mean?

Manchester commonly requires Global Futures applicants to be self-funded rather than externally sponsored.

This generally means the applicant should not be funded by a government agency, commercial sponsor or another full scholarship that covers the same costs.

Manchester’s funding database has also stated that Global Futures can in some circumstances be held alongside partial awards, subject to the other scholarship’s rules, while it cannot be combined with some conflicting awards such as GREAT. Applicants should confirm the 2027 combination rules before accepting multiple awards.

Is There a Minimum GPA for Global Futures?

Manchester does not publish one universal Global Futures GPA applying to every country, degree and course.

Selection is primarily merit-based and can take into account academic achievement, predicted or achieved grades and the quality of responses in the scholarship form. Manchester may also consider the overall composition of the scholarship cohort, including representation across academic programmes, domicile, gender and qualification background.

Applicants must separately satisfy the academic admission requirements for their chosen Manchester programme.

How to Apply for the Manchester Global Futures Scholarship 2027

There is no public standalone scholarship form that everyone can open immediately.

The process is tied to Manchester admission:

1. Apply for an eligible undergraduate or taught Master’s programme at the University of Manchester for September 2027 entry.
2. Meet the domicile, fee-status, study-mode and regional eligibility rules.
3. Receive an offer where required by your regional scheme.
4. Manchester emails the Global Futures Scholarship application form to eligible applicants or offer-holders.
5. Complete the online scholarship form carefully.
6. Submit before the deadline for your region and degree level.
7. If selected, satisfy any firm-choice, offer-acceptance, academic-performance or CAS-deposit requirements attached to your award.

Manchester’s central scholarship page confirms that eligible applicants receive the scholarship form by email after the appropriate admissions stage.

Do You Need a University Offer Before Applying for the Scholarship?

Usually yes, but there are exceptions.

Manchester’s general Global Futures page says applicants normally need an offer before applying.

North America is a notable exception. Applicants from Canada or the USA who submit their academic application before 13 January 2027 can receive a scholarship application before an offer is issued. Applicants applying later must hold an offer before the relevant scholarship deadline.

Applicants should therefore follow their own country-specific page rather than applying a single offer rule to every region.

Global Futures Scholarship Selection Criteria

Academic merit is central to selection.

For undergraduate applicants, Manchester can consider previous examinations, predicted grades, achieved grades and answers provided in the scholarship application.

For Master’s applicants, selection is based strongly on previous academic performance and the quality of the scholarship application. Manchester may also take account of the overall composition of the award cohort.

A strong scholarship application should therefore explain academic achievement clearly and answer the online questions specifically rather than relying only on grades.

Global Futures vs Chevening Scholarship

The Global Futures Scholarship and Chevening are very different funding schemes.

Feature	Global Futures	Chevening
Provider	University of Manchester	UK Government
Level	Undergraduate + taught Master’s	One-year taught Master’s
Funding	Partial tuition discount	Fully funded
University	Manchester only	Eligible UK universities
Living stipend	No standard Global Futures stipend	Yes
Flights	Not standard Global Futures benefit	Included under Chevening rules
Application	Manchester admission + emailed form	Separate Chevening application
Main basis	Academic merit	Leadership, networking, course choice and career plan

Students considering a fully funded UK Master’s alternative can read Scholarships Central’s Chevening Scholarship 2027/28 Complete Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Manchester Global Futures Scholarship 2027 open?

The University has published the official 2027 scheme and is accepting applications for September 2027 programmes. Scholarship forms are sent to eligible applicants or offer-holders according to the relevant regional timetable.

How many scholarships are available?

More than 350 scholarships are available for 2027 entry, with a total value above £6 million.

Is the scholarship fully funded?

No. It is a partial merit-based tuition scholarship.

What is the maximum scholarship amount?

Eligible undergraduate students can receive up to £36,000 across three years.

How much do Master’s students receive?

Eligible Master’s students currently receive £12,000 in most regions or £19,000 under the eligible African Master’s competition.

Is £36,000 paid at once?

No. The undergraduate award is normally £12,000 per year for three years, with continued funding dependent on achieving the required annual academic performance.

Can Pakistani students apply?

Yes. Pakistan is eligible under the South Asia route for qualifying undergraduate and Master’s applicants.

Can Indian students apply?

Yes. India participates in the undergraduate South Asia award and has its own £12,000 Master’s Global Futures competition.

Can Nigerian students apply?

Yes. Nigeria is included in both the eligible African undergraduate competition and the £19,000 African Master’s competition.

Can USA and Canadian students apply?

Yes. Applicants ordinarily domiciled in Canada or the USA can compete under the North America route.

Can students in Saudi Arabia or the UAE apply?

Yes. Eligible international fee-paying applicants ordinarily domiciled in Saudi Arabia or the UAE can compete under the Middle East route.

Does nationality alone determine eligibility?

No. Manchester frequently uses ordinary domicile rather than nationality. Applicants generally need to have predominantly lived in the eligible country during the previous three years.

Can PhD students apply?

Not through the Global Futures Scholarship. Manchester directs research-degree applicants to separate PhD funding opportunities.

Is MBA eligible?

No. MBA applicants are excluded from the current Master’s Global Futures competitions.

Is distance learning eligible?

No. Current regional rules restrict the scholarship to eligible full-time, on-campus programmes.

Do I apply directly for Global Futures before applying to Manchester?

No. You first submit the relevant Manchester programme application. The scholarship application is then emailed to eligible applicants or offer-holders.

Is there one Global Futures deadline?

No. Deadlines vary by region and study level.

Official University of Manchester Links

Applicants should use Manchester’s own pages for final verification because regional terms differ.

Official University of Manchester Global Futures Scholarship page

Official Global Futures information for Pakistan

Official Global Futures information for India

Official Global Futures information for Nigeria/Africa

Official Global Futures information for Canada/North America

Official Global Futures information for South East Asia

Official Global Futures information for Türkiye

Official Global Futures information for Saudi Arabia

Related Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Students looking for comparable opportunities can also explore:

Master’s Scholarships

Partially Funded Scholarships

Chevening Scholarship 2027/28

Scholarships Still Open

All Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Final Thoughts

The University of Manchester Global Futures Scholarship 2027 is a valuable merit award for international students, but applicants need to understand what the headline numbers actually mean.

The undergraduate award is worth up to £36,000, normally paid as a £12,000 annual tuition discount for three years and subject to continued academic performance. Master’s students currently receive either £12,000 or £19,000, depending on the regional competition.

The scholarship is also not based simply on nationality. Domicile, where an applicant completed previous education, self-funding status, programme choice, offer status and regional deadlines can all determine eligibility.

Most importantly, there is no universal Global Futures deadline and no public scholarship form that every applicant completes independently. Applicants should first apply to Manchester, identify the exact regional competition that applies to them, wait for the University’s scholarship invitation where required, and then submit the Global Futures form by the correct country-specific deadline.

The Ertegun Scholarship 2027/28 is one of the University of Oxford’s most competitive fully funded graduate scholarships for students pursuing eligible Master’s and DPhil programmes in the Humanities.

Officially known as the Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme in the Humanities, the scholarship covers Oxford course fees in full and provides a generous annual grant for living costs. Scholars also receive dedicated access to Ertegun House, individual study space, academic mentorship, lectures, seminars, performances and an interdisciplinary intellectual community.

The programme is open to applicants from all countries and all backgrounds, including UK students. Both eligible Master’s and doctoral applicants can compete, but the course must be a new full-time graduate programme included on the official Ertegun eligibility list.

Ertegun is exceptionally competitive. Oxford reports more than 1,500 applications for a maximum of around 15 awards each year, with historical average success rates of approximately 1.5% for Master’s applicants and 1.3% for doctoral applicants.

Students comparing Oxford funding opportunities can also read Scholarships Central’s Clarendon Scholarship 2027 guide, Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship 2027/28 guide, browse Master’s Scholarships, or explore PhD Scholarships.

Ertegun Scholarship 2027/28 Overview

Scholarship Detail	Information
Scholarship	Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme in the Humanities
University	University of Oxford
Country	United Kingdom
Study levels	Master’s and DPhil
Main field	Humanities
Study mode	Full-time only
Nationality	All countries, including UK students
Course fees	100% covered
Living grant	Annual living-cost grant
Latest published rate	£21,805 for 2026/27
2027/28 living rate	To be confirmed/updated by Oxford
Approximate awards	Maximum of around 15 per year
Applications	1,500+ annually
Master’s historical success rate	About 1.5%
Doctoral historical success rate	About 1.3%
Separate scholarship application	Yes, through Oxford application + Ertegun supporting statement
Supporting statement	Mandatory
Interview	Yes, for shortlisted applicants
Deadline	Early January/relevant Oxford funding deadline
Results	First offers normally by end of March; further offers in April
Other scholarship simultaneously	Ertegun cannot normally be held with another award

Oxford confirms the core eligibility, application, funding, selection and competition information on the official Ertegun programme page.

What Is the Ertegun Graduate Scholarship?

The Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme was established to support exceptional graduate students studying Humanities subjects at Oxford.

The programme’s mission is not simply to fund degrees. It aims to support Scholars who want to broaden their knowledge, extend their intellectual vision and exchange ideas across disciplines and cultures.

Ertegun Scholars become part of a small interdisciplinary community rather than receiving only financial assistance.

Oxford describes the programme as bringing outstanding Humanities graduate students together with academics and researchers in a setting designed to encourage dialogue across:

• academic disciplines;
• cultures;
• generations;
• intellectual traditions.

How Competitive Is the Ertegun Scholarship?

The Ertegun Scholarship is extremely selective.

Oxford currently reports:

• more than 1,500 applications each year;
• a maximum of around 15 awards;
• historical average Master’s success rate of 1.5%;
• historical average doctoral success rate of 1.3%.

These figures should be treated as historical programme statistics rather than a prediction of any individual’s chances.

The competition level means that simply meeting Oxford’s academic entry requirements is not enough. Applicants need an exceptionally strong graduate application as well as a compelling Ertegun supporting statement.

Ertegun Scholarship Benefits

100% Oxford Course Fees

All Ertegun Scholarships cover the recipient’s Oxford course fees in full.

This applies for the full period of fee liability for the approved course.

Annual Living-Cost Grant

Scholars also receive a generous annual grant intended to cover the normal living costs of a single student in Oxford.

Oxford currently publishes:

£21,805 per year for 2026/27.

This is the latest confirmed rate shown on the Ertegun website.

Because that figure is explicitly identified as the 2026/27 rate, applicants for 2027/28 should not assume £21,805 is the final 2027/28 amount. Oxford may update the living grant before the new academic year.

Multi-Year Funding

For programmes lasting more than one year, the scholarship normally covers the full period of fee liability.

However, continuation from one year to the next is subject to:

satisfactory academic progress and the programme’s annual renewal process.

This is particularly important for DPhil and multi-year Master’s applicants.

What Is Ertegun House?

One of the scholarship’s most distinctive benefits is access to the Mica and Ahmet Ertegun House for the Study of the Humanities.

Each Ertegun Scholar receives access to dedicated space for study and research, including an exclusive desk.

Ertegun House also hosts:

• lectures;
• seminars;
• concerts;
• performances;
• visiting speakers;
• student-organised conferences;
• social events;
• interdisciplinary discussions.

The House is designed to function as the centre of the Ertegun Scholar community rather than simply as office space.

Academic Mentoring

Ertegun Scholars receive one-to-one mentorship and support from the programme’s academic leadership and Scholar-in-Residence structure.

This makes the scholarship meaningfully different from funding programmes that provide tuition and a stipend without a dedicated intellectual community.

Who Can Apply for the Ertegun Scholarship?

Applicants need to satisfy both:

1. Oxford admission requirements for their chosen graduate programme; and
2. Ertegun-specific scholarship requirements.

Applicants From Any Country

The scholarship is open worldwide.

Oxford states that students from:

all countries and all backgrounds, including UK students

are welcome to apply.

There is no separate nationality quota published on the current programme page.

Master’s Students

Eligible Master’s applicants may apply if their programme appears on the official Ertegun course list and is studied full-time.

Eligible formats include a range of Oxford:

• MSt;
• MPhil;
• MSc;
• BPhil;
• other approved graduate Humanities degrees.

DPhil Students

Yes. Unlike some Oxford scholarships focused mainly on taught Master’s programmes, Ertegun also supports eligible DPhil programmes.

The selected doctorate must appear on the programme’s official eligible-course list.

Students seeking other doctoral opportunities can also browse Scholarships Central’s PhD Scholarships directory.

Full-Time Study Only

Ertegun awards are available only to applicants beginning a:

new full-time graduate course.

Part-time programmes are not eligible.

Current Oxford Students

A current Oxford student may apply only if they are applying to begin a new course.

Ertegun cannot normally be used to fund the second or third year of a graduate programme that the student has already started.

Eligible Subjects for the Ertegun Scholarship

Ertegun primarily supports graduate programmes administered through Oxford’s Humanities Division.

The main eligible academic areas include:

• Asian and Middle Eastern Studies;
• Classics;
• Classical Archaeology;
• English Language and Literature;
• Fine Art — specifically the eligible DPhil route in Contemporary Art History and Theory;
• History;
• History of Art;
• History of Architecture;
• Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics;
• Medieval and Modern Languages;
• Music;
• Philosophy;
• Theology and Religion.

Several interdisciplinary programmes are also eligible, including:

• Celtic Studies;
• Comparative Literature and Critical Translation;
• Medieval Studies;
• Film Aesthetics;
• Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies;
• Digital Scholarship.

Important: Not Every Humanities-Looking Course Is Automatically Eligible

Oxford explicitly warns applicants to check the official course list.

If the selected course is not included on the Ertegun eligibility list, the applicant is not eligible simply because the programme appears related to the Humanities.

The University’s general application portal displays many scholarship names and does not automatically confirm individual course eligibility.

Applicants should therefore verify their programme using the official Ertegun scholarship page before selecting the scholarship.

Eligible Global and Area Studies Exceptions

Although Ertegun is primarily a Humanities scholarship, Oxford currently includes several specifically approved programmes associated with the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies or Social Sciences.

These include:

• MPhil in Japanese Studies;
• MSc in Japanese Studies;
• MPhil Modern Chinese Studies;
• MSc Contemporary Chinese Studies;
• MPhil Modern South Asian Studies;
• MSc Modern South Asian Studies;
• MSc in Modern Middle Eastern Studies;
• MPhil in Classical Archaeology;
• MSt in Classical Archaeology;
• DPhil in Classical Archaeology.

Applicants in these programmes should follow the specific deadline instructions published by Ertegun for those exceptions.

Is There a Minimum GPA for the Ertegun Scholarship?

Oxford does not publish one universal Ertegun GPA cutoff.

Applicants need to satisfy the academic entry requirements of their chosen Oxford graduate course and compete successfully in a highly selective scholarship process.

Third-party claims that the Ertegun Scholarship universally requires a specific GPA such as 3.8/4.0 should therefore not be treated as an official scholarship rule.

The actual academic requirements vary by Oxford course.

Is IELTS Required for the Ertegun Scholarship?

Ertegun does not publish one universal scholarship-specific IELTS or TOEFL requirement.

Instead, applicants must satisfy the English-language requirement of their chosen Oxford graduate programme.

Depending on the course and applicant’s educational background, Oxford may require:

• IELTS Academic;
• TOEFL;
• another accepted qualification;
• or allow an applicable exemption.

Applicants should check the language requirement shown on the exact Oxford course page.

Can You Hold Ertegun With Another Scholarship?

Oxford states that:

the Ertegun Scholarship may not be held in conjunction with another award.

An applicant may still be considered for different Oxford scholarship schemes during the funding process, but if they ultimately receive Ertegun funding, the Ertegun award itself cannot normally be combined with another scholarship.

Ertegun Scholarship vs Clarendon Scholarship

Both are major Oxford graduate funding programmes, but the application processes are different.

Feature	Ertegun	Clarendon
Main academic scope	Eligible Humanities programmes	Much broader Oxford graduate portfolio
Master’s eligible	Yes	Yes
DPhil eligible	Yes	Yes
Nationality restriction	None	None
Separate scholarship statement	Yes	No
Scholarship selection box	Yes	Automatic consideration when eligible
Full course fees	Yes	Yes
Living support	Yes	Yes
Dedicated Scholar House	Yes – Ertegun House	No equivalent Ertegun-style house
Can be held with another award	Ertegun says no	Rules depend on award combination

Oxford’s Humanities Division confirms that Clarendon applicants are generally automatically considered when they submit an eligible application by the funding deadline, whereas Ertegun requires the applicant to select the scholarship and upload a supporting statement.

Read Scholarships Central’s full Clarendon Scholarship 2027 guide for the separate application process.

Ertegun Scholarship vs Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship

These scholarships also target different applicant profiles.

The Ertegun Scholarship primarily supports eligible Humanities Master’s and DPhil programmes and is open to applicants from all countries.

The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship supports a defined list of primarily Master’s programmes and places strong emphasis on leadership, public impact and applicants from eligible developing and emerging economies.

For the separate eligibility, course list and leadership requirements, see Scholarships Central’s Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship 2027/28 guide.

The Ertegun Supporting Statement Is Mandatory

Applicants are not automatically considered for Ertegun simply because they apply to an eligible Oxford course.

They must:

1. select Ertegun Graduate Scholarships in the Humanities in the funding section of the Oxford graduate application;
2. complete the Ertegun supporting statement;
3. upload the statement as a PDF;
4. submit it by the applicable scholarship deadline.

Oxford explicitly states that an Ertegun scholarship application cannot be reviewed without the supporting statement.

What Does the Ertegun Supporting Statement Ask?

The current programme page confirms that the statement contains three questions related to the aims and mission of the Ertegun Scholarship Programme.

Recent official Ertegun guidance frames these around three broad areas:

1. Study and Career Plans

Applicants are asked to explain their current academic and career direction and how their plans connect with the mission of the Ertegun programme.

A strong answer should make clear:

• what you want to study;
• what intellectual skills and knowledge you expect to gain;
• what your longer-term ambitions are;
• why Ertegun would broaden your perspective beyond your immediate research.

2. Acting as an Ambassador for the Humanities

Applicants are asked to reflect on how they could contribute to their home country or community and support the wider role of the Humanities.

Relevant evidence may include:

• teaching;
• public engagement;
• writing;
• cultural initiatives;
• community projects;
• interdisciplinary work;
• previous contributions to Humanities-related activities.

3. Contribution to Ertegun House

The third theme concerns how the applicant would contribute to the academic, social and cultural life of the Ertegun House community.

This is important because the programme is selecting members of a community, not only recipients of money.

Applicants should use the latest supporting statement issued for the 2027/28 application cycle when they apply, because wording or formatting can change between cycles.

How to Write a Strong Ertegun Supporting Statement

The statement should complement the Oxford course application rather than repeat it.

A useful approach is:

experience → intellectual direction → Ertegun opportunity → contribution → long-term impact

Avoid generic claims such as:

“I love the Humanities and Oxford is the best university.”

Instead, use specific evidence showing:

• how your academic interests developed;
• what questions you want to investigate;
• how you engage with ideas outside your immediate specialism;
• what you would contribute to other Ertegun Scholars;
• how Humanities study will shape your future work.

Because Ertegun emphasizes exchanging ideas and extending intellectual vision, applicants should show openness to interdisciplinary discussion rather than present themselves only as specialists working in isolation.

How to Apply for the Ertegun Scholarship 2027/28

Step 1: Choose an Eligible Oxford Graduate Course

First, identify a Master’s or DPhil programme on the official Ertegun eligibility list.

Do not rely only on the general Oxford scholarship selector.

Step 2: Check the Course Admission Requirements

Review:

• academic requirements;
• English-language requirements;
• required references;
• supporting documents;
• written work;
• research proposal requirements where applicable.

Oxford makes clear that Ertegun applicants must separately satisfy the normal admission criteria for their chosen programme.

Step 3: Start the Oxford Graduate Application

Apply through Oxford’s normal graduate admissions process.

Oxford’s scholarship directory confirms that applicants need to submit their graduate application by the relevant January funding deadline.

Step 4: Select Ertegun in the Funding Section

Choose:

Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Postgraduate Scholarships in the Humanities

or the current equivalent wording shown in the Oxford application system.

Step 5: Complete the Supporting Statement

Download the latest Ertegun supporting statement from the official programme page and answer all required sections.

Step 6: Upload the Statement as a PDF

Oxford specifically requires the completed statement to be uploaded as a PDF document with the graduate application.

Step 7: Submit Before the Ertegun Deadline

Do not rely on a later ordinary course deadline if you want Ertegun consideration.

The scholarship follows a special early-January rule explained below.

Ertegun Scholarship Deadline 2027/28

This is one of the most important areas to understand.

There is not a simple universal deadline that should be copied from a third-party scholarship website.

Oxford’s central scholarship listing says applicants must submit by the relevant January deadline for their course.

The dedicated Ertegun page adds an important rule:

Ertegun Follows the Early-January Deadline

For most eligible Humanities programmes, Ertegun adheres to the early January funding deadline.

If an eligible Humanities course has a later ordinary application deadline, applicants still need to submit early enough for Ertegun consideration.

Applicants should therefore check the exact 2027/28 date on their Oxford course page rather than relying on an old January 5 or January 7 date published elsewhere.

What If Your Oxford Course Has an Earlier Deadline?

Oxford provides an unusual exception for applicants whose course closes before the Ertegun deadline.

The preferred option is to submit the entire scholarship package with the course application.

However, exceptionally, Oxford allows applicants to:

1. submit the graduate-course application by the earlier course deadline;
2. select the Ertegun Scholarship option;
3. upload a placeholder statement saying that the final Ertegun statement will be provided for the January deadline;
4. later send the completed supporting statement to Graduate Admissions by the Ertegun deadline.

Applicants using this route must include their full name, course details and student number when submitting the final statement.

What If Your Course Has a Later Deadline?

If an eligible Humanities course has a deadline later than early January, that does not mean you can wait until the later deadline and still receive Ertegun consideration.

Oxford explicitly states that Ertegun normally follows the early January deadline, except for the specifically identified eligible Global and Area Studies/related courses.

This is one of the most important practical rules in the entire application.

Ertegun Scholarship Selection Process

Selection happens in multiple stages.

Stage 1: Faculty Review

The relevant Oxford faculty first reviews eligible applicants and identifies strong candidates for Ertegun consideration.

Stage 2: Interview

Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by a faculty representative.

Oxford says this interview is normally conducted via:

• videoconference; or
• telephone.

The interview allows candidates to expand on the ideas presented in their supporting statement.

Applicants should therefore be ready to discuss:

• their academic plans;
• long-term goals;
• the importance of the Humanities;
• their potential contribution to Ertegun House;
• intellectual interests beyond their narrow research project.

Stage 3: Central Ertegun Selection Committee

Faculties nominate shortlisted candidates to the multidisciplinary Ertegun Scholarships Selection Committee.

The committee includes:

• the Head of Oxford’s Humanities Division;
• one representative from each eligible faculty;

and acts in consultation with the Board of Ertegun Overseers.

When Are Ertegun Scholarship Results Announced?

Oxford’s dedicated Ertegun page says:

• first-round scholarship offers are expected by the end of March;
• additional offers can follow in April;
• the selection process is normally completed by the end of April.

Successful applicants are contacted by email.

Because of the volume of applications, unsuccessful applicants are generally not contacted individually, and the programme does not provide application feedback.

Ertegun Scholarship Application Timeline 2027/28

Stage	Expected Timing
Oxford graduate applications	2026/27 admissions cycle for 2027 entry
Prepare Ertegun supporting statement	Before course funding deadline
Ertegun application deadline	Early January 2027 / relevant Oxford funding deadline
Faculty assessment	After application review
Shortlisted interviews	During selection process
First scholarship offers	By end of March 2027
Additional offers	April 2027
Selection complete	By end of April 2027
Oxford academic year begins	2027/28

Applicants should always use the exact deadline shown by Oxford for their chosen course.

Can Pakistani Students Apply?

Yes.

Ertegun has no nationality restriction, so eligible Pakistani applicants can compete alongside applicants from other countries.

A Pakistani applicant would still need to:

• qualify academically for the selected Oxford programme;
• apply to an Ertegun-eligible course;
• meet the English-language requirement;
• submit the Oxford graduate application by the applicable funding deadline;
• select Ertegun in the scholarship section;
• upload the supporting statement.

There is no separate Pakistan quota on the official Ertegun page.

Can Indian Students Apply?

Yes.

Applicants from India are eligible under the programme’s worldwide nationality policy, provided they meet Oxford admission and Ertegun course requirements.

Can UK Students Apply?

Yes.

Oxford specifically confirms that UK students are eligible.

Can Part-Time Students Apply?

No.

The scholarship is restricted to students starting a new full-time graduate course.

Can Current Oxford Students Apply?

Only if they are applying to start a new course.

The scholarship cannot be used simply to fund a later year of the graduate programme the student is already studying.

Can Ertegun Fund a DPhil?

Yes.

Eligible DPhil programmes are included alongside eligible taught graduate programmes. Applicants must verify that their exact DPhil appears on the official course list.

Is There an Ertegun Application Fee?

The Ertegun programme does not advertise a separate scholarship application fee.

However, applicants still apply through Oxford’s graduate admissions system and should check whether the normal Oxford graduate application process requires a course application fee for their circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ertegun Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. It covers Oxford course fees in full and provides an annual grant for living costs. Scholars also receive access to Ertegun House and the programme’s academic and community activities.

How much is the Ertegun stipend for 2027/28?

Oxford has not yet confirmed a specific 2027/28 figure on the current Ertegun page.

The latest published rate is £21,805 for 2026/27.

How many Ertegun Scholarships are available?

Oxford says a maximum of around 15 awards are made each year.

How many people apply?

More than 1,500 applicants compete annually according to Oxford’s current programme statistics.

What is the Ertegun Master’s success rate?

Oxford reports an average historical success rate of approximately 1.5% for Master’s candidates.

What is the Ertegun DPhil success rate?

The historical average is approximately 1.3% for doctoral applicants.

Is the Ertegun Scholarship open to international students?

Yes. Applicants from all countries are eligible, including UK students.

Does Ertegun have a GPA requirement?

Oxford does not publish one universal scholarship-specific GPA cutoff.

Applicants must satisfy the academic requirements of their selected Oxford course and compete successfully in the Ertegun selection process.

Is IELTS required?

The Ertegun Scholarship does not impose one universal IELTS score. Applicants must satisfy the English-language requirement of their chosen Oxford course.

Does Ertegun fund Master’s degrees?

Yes, provided the Master’s course is on the official eligibility list and is full-time.

Does Ertegun fund DPhil degrees?

Yes, eligible DPhil programmes can receive Ertegun funding.

Can part-time students apply?

No. Ertegun awards are for new full-time graduate courses.

Is the supporting statement compulsory?

Yes.

Oxford explicitly says an Ertegun application cannot be reviewed without the supporting statement.

Is there an interview?

Yes.

Shortlisted candidates are normally interviewed by a faculty representative before final nomination to the Ertegun Selection Committee.

Can I hold Clarendon and Ertegun together?

The Ertegun programme says its scholarship may not be held in conjunction with another award.

When will results be announced?

First-round offers are normally expected by the end of March, with additional offers in April and the overall selection process completed by the end of April.

Official Ertegun Scholarship Links

Applicants should use Oxford and the Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme as the final authority.

Official Ertegun Scholarship application and eligibility page

This is the primary source for eligibility, funding, application instructions, competition statistics, interviews, deadlines and results.

Oxford A–Z graduate scholarship directory

Use this to verify Oxford’s central 2027/28 scholarship instructions.

Ertegun House and Scholar experience

This explains the dedicated study environment, mentoring, lectures and Scholar community.

Oxford Humanities graduate funding guidance

Use this to compare Ertegun with Oxford’s other Humanities funding schemes.

Related Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Applicants looking for other Oxford or fully funded graduate opportunities can also use:

• Clarendon Scholarship 2027 at Oxford
• Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship 2027/28
• Master’s Scholarships directory
• PhD Scholarships directory
• Fully Funded Scholarships directory
• All Scholarships directory

Final Thoughts

The Ertegun Scholarship 2027/28 is one of Oxford’s most selective Humanities funding opportunities. It combines full course-fee coverage and living support with something less common in major scholarships: a dedicated interdisciplinary academic community based at Ertegun House.

Applicants should pay particular attention to three things.

First, course eligibility is specific. A programme must appear on the official Ertegun list.

Second, the scholarship requires a separate supporting statement and is not an automatic funding competition like Clarendon.

Third, applicants need to follow Ertegun’s early-January deadline rule even when their Humanities course would otherwise accept applications later.

With more than 1,500 applications competing for around 15 awards, a competitive application needs strong academic credentials, clear intellectual ambition and a convincing explanation of how the applicant would contribute not only to their academic discipline but also to the wider Ertegun community and the Humanities beyond Oxford.

Applications are open for the Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027 at Peking University in Beijing, China. Yenching Academy offers an interdisciplinary Master’s in China Studies for academically strong graduates from diverse educational and professional backgrounds.

For the 2027 cohort, international applications opened on September 1, 2026 and close on November 30, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Beijing time. Peking University says Yenching Academy enrolls approximately 120 new Scholars each year, with international students making up roughly 75% of the student body.

Every admitted Scholar receives a generous first-year fellowship covering tuition, accommodation, a monthly stipend, basic medical insurance, one round-trip travel allowance and research-related expenses. However, applicants should understand an important detail often missed by scholarship websites: the academic programme lasts two years, while the initial fellowship is guaranteed for the first academic year. Eligible students in good academic standing who remain in Beijing can apply for fellowship support for the second year.

Students searching for similar opportunities can also explore Scholarships Central’s Master’s Scholarships directory and Fully Funded Scholarships directory.

Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027 Overview

Detail	2027 Information
Programme	Yenching Academy of Peking University
University	Peking University
Country	China
Degree	Master’s in China Studies
Programme duration	2 years
First-year fellowship	Provided to all admitted Scholars
Second-year fellowship	Available by application for eligible Scholars
Annual intake	Approximately 120 Scholars
International students	Roughly 75% of student body
Bachelor’s field	Any academic discipline
Research areas	6
Chinese required for admission?	No prior Chinese study required
IELTS	7.0 overall
TOEFL iBT	100 overall
Cambridge English Advanced	185
Personal statement	Maximum 750 words
Research statement	Maximum 1,500 words excluding citations
Recommendations	2 academic recommendations
Applications open	September 1, 2026
Deadline	November 30, 2026, 9:00 a.m. Beijing time
International interviews	Winter or early spring
International decisions	Around April 2027

These requirements come from Yenching Academy’s current 2027 admissions information and official FAQ.

What Is Yenching Academy?

The Yenching Academy of Peking University is an interdisciplinary graduate programme focused on the study of China from multiple academic perspectives.

Rather than limiting admission to applicants who previously studied Chinese history, politics or language, Yenching welcomes graduates from a wide range of disciplines. Applicants may come from humanities, social sciences, business, economics, science, engineering, medicine or other fields as long as they can demonstrate a serious interest in interdisciplinary China Studies and explain how the programme connects with their longer-term goals.

The Academy looks for candidates with:

• a strong academic record;
• broad intellectual curiosity;
• clear motivation;
• leadership potential;
• extracurricular or community engagement;
• social responsibility;
• international outlook;
• long-term professional aspirations.

Yenching’s own FAQ says successful applicants should give specific and persuasive explanations of how the programme will contribute to their academic and professional development.

How Many Yenching Scholars Are Selected?

Yenching Academy says it enrolls approximately:

120 new Scholars each year.

International students account for roughly:

75% of the student body.

This makes Yenching strongly international rather than primarily a domestic Chinese graduate programme.

The Academy’s FAQ indicates that, among international Scholars, students have historically come from Europe, the United States and Canada, and many other regions worldwide.

Yenching Academy Scholarship Benefits

Yenching calls its funding package the Yenching Fellowship.

Full Tuition

The fellowship covers tuition fees for Scholars receiving the award.

Accommodation

First-year Scholars receive accommodation in Yenching Academy housing.

The official FAQ says Scholars currently live in Shaoyuan 6 dormitory on Peking University’s campus. Most are placed in two-bedroom suites and share a bathroom with one other Scholar of the same gender.

Monthly Stipend

The fellowship includes a monthly stipend to support Scholars during their studies.

Yenching does not currently publish a universal 2027 stipend amount on its main admissions page. Applicants should therefore be careful with third-party websites quoting old fixed yuan amounts as though they are confirmed for the 2027 cohort.

Basic Medical Insurance

The first-year Yenching Fellowship includes basic medical insurance.

Round-Trip Travel Support

Scholars receive a travel stipend for one round-trip journey between their base city and Beijing.

The Academy specifies that the base city must be located within the applicant’s country of nationality, and Yenching calculates the eligible travel cost.

Research-Related Expenses

The fellowship also supports expenses associated with the Scholar’s research.

The main admissions page additionally lists field-study costs among fellowship benefits.

Is Yenching Academy Fully Funded for Both Years?

This is one of the most important details applicants should understand.

The academic programme lasts two years, but fellowship funding works differently across those two years.

First Academic Year

All admitted students receive the Yenching Fellowship for the first academic year.

It covers:

• tuition;
• Yenching Academy accommodation;
• monthly stipend;
• basic medical insurance;
• one round-trip travel stipend;
• research-related expenses.

Second Academic Year

Second-year fellowship support is not described as automatically guaranteed to every Scholar.

Students who:

• maintain good academic standing; and
• plan to remain in Beijing during their second academic year

may apply for the second-year Yenching Fellowship.

That second-year package can include:

• tuition;
• on-campus accommodation or an off-campus housing stipend;
• basic medical insurance;
• monthly stipend.

Students living on campus during year two who serve in student-assistant roles may also receive additional financial support.

Therefore, it is more accurate to say:

All admitted Scholars receive comprehensive first-year funding, while qualifying students can apply for continued fellowship funding in year two.

rather than claiming that an identical two-year package is automatically guaranteed at admission.

How Long Is the Yenching Academy Programme?

The Yenching Academy Master’s programme lasts:

two years.

Students normally complete the main coursework requirements during the first academic year.

The second year focuses more heavily on:

• thesis research;
• thesis writing;
• thesis defence;
• internships or other professional development opportunities.

All Scholars are required to live on campus during the first academic year.

International students can choose whether to remain in Beijing during their second year while completing their thesis and defence.

Is a Thesis Required?

Yes.

Every Yenching Scholar must complete a Master’s thesis under the supervision of an academic adviser and successfully defend it before an academic committee.

The degree is awarded only after the Scholar has:

• completed required coursework;
• earned the necessary academic credits;
• completed the Master’s thesis;
• passed the thesis defence.

International Scholars must complete and defend their thesis within the programme’s two-year period.

Six Yenching Academy Research Areas

Every Yenching Scholar selects one of six research areas within China Studies:

1. Economics and Management
2. History and Archaeology
3. Philosophy and Religion
4. Politics and International Relations
5. Law and Society
6. Literature and Culture

The selected research area influences the student’s thesis direction and the specific Master’s degree title awarded at graduation.

However, Scholars retain interdisciplinary flexibility and can take courses beyond their own research area.

What Degree Does a Yenching Scholar Receive?

Every graduate receives a Master’s diploma in China Studies from Peking University.

The exact degree category depends on the Scholar’s chosen research area.

Research Area	Degree Type
Politics and International Relations	Master of Law in China Studies
Law and Society	Master of Law in China Studies
Economics and Management	Master of Economics in China Studies
History and Archaeology	Master of History in China Studies
Literature and Culture	Master of Literature in China Studies
Philosophy and Religion	Master of Philosophy in China Studies

This degree structure reflects the disciplinary categories used within China’s higher-education system.

Yenching Academy Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

International applicants should meet the current Yenching Academy admission requirements.

Bachelor’s Degree

Applicants need at least a:

Bachelor’s degree in any field.

Students who are still completing their Bachelor’s degree can also apply if they expect to receive their diploma by August of the intended enrollment year.

For the 2027 cohort, that means final-year applicants must be able to complete their current degree before beginning Yenching Academy.

Bachelor’s Degree Can Be in Any Field

Applicants do not need a previous degree in:

• China Studies;
• international relations;
• Chinese language;
• history;
• politics.

Yenching explicitly welcomes students from a broad range of disciplines.

Applicants from unrelated academic fields should explain clearly why interdisciplinary China Studies is relevant to their future academic or professional plans.

Outstanding Academic Record

Yenching expects a strong academic background.

The Academy does not publish one universal GPA cutoff on its international admissions page.

Applicants should therefore avoid relying on unofficial articles claiming that Yenching requires one fixed GPA such as 3.5/4.0.

Academic merit is considered as part of the overall selection process together with leadership, motivation, international experience and long-term goals.

Interest in China Studies

Applicants should demonstrate a genuine interest in studying China through an interdisciplinary approach.

Previous academic study of China is not required, but the applicant should be able to explain why Yenching is a logical next step.

Leadership and Community Engagement

Yenching looks for evidence of:

• extracurricular achievement;
• community engagement;
• social responsibility;
• leadership potential.

Applicants should therefore use concrete examples of initiative, responsibility and impact rather than relying on generic statements such as “I am a leader.”

Can Final-Year Bachelor’s Students Apply?

Yes.

Applicants currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s programme may apply as long as they are expected to receive their degree by August of the intended enrollment year.

Peking University does not allow simultaneous enrollment in another degree programme while studying at Yenching Academy.

Can Applicants Who Already Have a Master’s Degree Apply?

Yes.

International applicants who already hold a Master’s degree are welcome to apply.

Yenching says roughly 16% of previous Scholars had already completed a Master’s degree before entering the Academy.

However, holding a graduate degree does not provide preferential treatment during selection.

Can You Be Enrolled in Another Degree at the Same Time?

No.

Peking University does not permit concurrent enrollment in another degree programme.

Applicants already completing another Bachelor’s, Master’s or graduate degree must ensure that the degree is officially awarded no later than August of the intended Yenching enrollment year.

Is There an Age Limit for Yenching Academy?

Yenching says there is:

no strict formal age cutoff.

However, applicants should be aware of an important historical pattern.

The Academy states that, excluding recipients of the separate Zhuoyue Scholarship, no applicant over age 29 has historically been admitted, and the average age of entering Scholars is approximately 23.

Therefore, it would be misleading either to say there is a formal maximum age of 29 or to say age has no relevance at all.

The accurate position is:

Yenching publishes no strict age cutoff, but its historical intake has been strongly concentrated among younger applicants.

Yenching Academy English Language Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient English proficiency because the programme is taught primarily in English.

The current minimum scores for the 2027 application are:

English Test	Minimum Score
IELTS Academic	7.0 overall
TOEFL iBT	100 overall
Cambridge English Scale – Advanced	185 overall
CET-6	600 overall
TEM-4	良好 or above

Can You Apply to Yenching Academy Without IELTS?

Potentially, yes.

International applicants do not need to submit an English-language test report if:

• English is their native language; or
• they graduated from an English-taught degree programme at undergraduate level or above.

Therefore, Yenching Academy can be accessible without IELTS for applicants who meet the official exemption.

However, applicants who do not qualify for an exemption need to provide an accepted English test.

English Test Validity for the 2027 Cohort

For the 2027 application cycle, English proficiency tests must have been taken:

after September 1, 2025.

Applicants with older scores should therefore check whether they need to retake the test before applying.

English Test Formats Yenching Does Not Accept

Yenching currently states that it does not accept:

• TOEFL MyBest Scores;
• TOEFL iBT Home Edition;
• IELTS Indicator;
• IELTS Online;
• IELTS One Skill Retake.

Applicants should use an accepted test format rather than assuming all versions of IELTS or TOEFL are valid.

English Scores Must Be Sent Directly

For:

• IELTS;
• TOEFL;
• Cambridge English,

Yenching says scores must be sent directly by the testing organisation.

Applicants should select:

Yenching Academy of Peking University

as the score recipient.

For TOEFL, the institution code is:

C488.

Is Chinese Language Proficiency Required?

No previous study of Chinese is required for international admission.

Yenching welcomes candidates who have not formally studied China or the Chinese language before.

However, international Scholars normally take Chinese-language coursework after enrollment.

The Academy states that Chinese-language study is compulsory for international Scholars, although those with sufficiently high Chinese proficiency may apply for a waiver and instead take Chinese-taught Peking University courses.

So the correct distinction is:

Chinese proficiency is not required to apply, but Chinese-language study normally forms part of the programme after enrollment.

Required Documents for Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027

International applicants submit their materials through the Yenching Academy online application system.

The current application requires:

1. Completed online application form.
2. Personal statement — maximum 750 words.
3. Statement of Research Interest — maximum 1,500 words excluding citations.
4. Curriculum Vitae.
5. Official academic transcript(s).
6. Diploma(s) or certificate(s) of enrollment.
7. Two academic letters of recommendation.
8. English-language evidence where required.

Applicants can access the official Yenching Academy application portal.

Yenching Academy Personal Statement

The personal statement can be no more than:

750 words.

Yenching’s selection guidance suggests that a strong statement should explain clearly:

• who you are academically and professionally;
• what experiences shaped your interest in China;
• why interdisciplinary China Studies matters to you;
• why Yenching Academy specifically fits your goals;
• evidence of leadership or community engagement;
• what you want to accomplish after the programme.

Yenching’s FAQ explicitly says personal statements should provide specific and persuasive explanations of how the candidate would benefit from the programme.

A strong statement should therefore avoid generic praise of Peking University or China and focus instead on the applicant’s own trajectory.

Statement of Research Interest

Applicants must also submit a:

Statement of Research Interest of no more than 1,500 words, excluding citations.

This document should be more academically focused than the personal statement.

A useful structure is:

• proposed research topic;
• problem or research question;
• academic context;
• why the topic matters;
• connection to China Studies;
• proposed research approach;
• relationship with one of Yenching’s six research areas;
• how the research connects with longer-term academic or professional plans.

Applicants do not need to pretend that the proposal is a final thesis plan, but it should demonstrate intellectual maturity and a clear research direction.

Two Academic Recommendation Letters

Applicants need:

two academic letters of recommendation.

This is not a flexible employer-reference requirement.

Peking University states that it will accept recommendations only from:

full professors, associate professors, or academics holding equivalent titles.

The recommenders should also be in the applicant’s intended field of study.

This is unusually strict compared with many graduate scholarships.

Applicants should therefore identify eligible professors early rather than waiting until the final weeks of the application cycle.

Who Should Write Your Yenching Recommendation Letters?

The best recommenders are academics who can comment credibly on:

• your academic performance;
• intellectual ability;
• research skills;
• analytical thinking;
• academic independence;
• preparation for graduate study;
• suitability for your proposed research area.

A senior professor who barely knows the applicant may technically have the correct title but still provide a weak recommendation.

Applicants should therefore seek eligible professors who both meet Yenching’s title requirement and know their academic work well.

Partner Universities: Important Application Rule

Yenching Academy has formal Partner Universities around the world.

Students and alumni of these universities cannot simply ignore their institution’s process and submit directly.

Yenching states that Partner Universities conduct a preliminary evaluation of applications from their own students and alumni and nominate candidates for Yenching consideration.

All students and alumni of a Partner University are required to apply through their university’s internal process.

Applicants should therefore check the official Yenching Partner and Cooperating Universities list before applying.

Partner Universities vs Cooperating Universities

These terms do not mean the same thing.

Partner Universities

Partner Universities:

• conduct preliminary applicant evaluation;
• nominate candidates;
• require their students and alumni to follow an internal application route.

Cooperating Universities

Cooperating Universities provide information and support about Yenching Academy but do not conduct pre-selection.

Students and graduates of Cooperating Universities apply directly through Yenching Academy’s online admissions portal.

This distinction is important because applicants from a Partner University may have an earlier internal deadline than the central November 30 deadline.

What If Your University Is Not a Partner?

International applicants whose universities are not Yenching Partner Universities generally apply directly through the official Yenching Academy admissions portal.

The central international application deadline remains:

November 30, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Beijing time.

How to Apply for Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility

Check that you:

• hold or will obtain a Bachelor’s degree by August 2027;
• have a strong academic record;
• can demonstrate English proficiency or qualify for an exemption;
• have a genuine interest in interdisciplinary China Studies;
• can secure two eligible academic recommenders.

Step 2: Check Whether Your University Is a Partner

Before starting the central application, search Yenching’s official Partner University list.

If your university is a Partner University, follow its internal nomination procedure first.

Step 3: Choose Your Research Area

Select the research area that most closely fits your proposed academic interests:

• Economics and Management
• History and Archaeology
• Philosophy and Religion
• Politics and International Relations
• Law and Society
• Literature and Culture

Step 4: Prepare Your Personal Statement

Write a focused statement of no more than 750 words.

Your personal statement should explain why Yenching Academy fits your broader academic, professional and leadership trajectory.

Step 5: Prepare Your Research Statement

Write the Statement of Research Interest, up to 1,500 words excluding citations.

It should show serious academic thinking and a clear connection with your selected China Studies research area.

Step 6: Arrange Two Academic Recommendations

Contact two eligible full or associate professors, or academics holding equivalent titles, from your intended field.

Give them sufficient time to prepare detailed letters.

Step 7: Arrange English Test Scores

If you require an English test:

• take an accepted test;
• ensure it was taken after September 1, 2025;
• send scores directly to Yenching where required.

For TOEFL, use institution code C488.

Step 8: Upload Academic Documents

Prepare:

• transcripts;
• diploma or enrollment certificate;
• CV;
• other information requested by the portal.

Step 9: Submit the Online Application

International applicants should submit through the official Yenching portal:

Apply to Yenching Academy

Step 10: Submit Before the Deadline

The international deadline is:

November 30, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Beijing time.

Applicants at Partner Universities should remember that their university may impose an earlier internal nomination deadline.

Yenching Academy Selection Criteria

Yenching does not select candidates only on GPA.

Its official FAQ identifies important factors including:

• academic merit;
• leadership potential;
• international experience;
• strong motivation;
• broad curiosity;
• long-term aspirations.

A competitive application should therefore connect:

academic preparation → research interests → leadership/community experience → Yenching Academy → future goals.

How to Strengthen Your Application

A strong candidate should demonstrate a coherent reason for studying China.

For example, an engineering graduate does not need to pretend to have a humanities background. Instead, the applicant could explain how technology policy, industrial development, sustainability, digital governance or China’s innovation ecosystem connects their previous training with a China Studies research question.

Likewise, a business applicant might connect previous work to Chinese economic policy or international trade, while a biotechnology graduate might explore science policy, food systems, public health governance or technology cooperation.

The important point is coherence.

Yenching explicitly welcomes applicants from different academic backgrounds, but candidates need to explain how their previous experience and future goals connect meaningfully with the programme.

Yenching Academy Interview

International finalists are interviewed:

online.

International interviews normally take place during the:

winter or early spring.

Finalists are generally contacted approximately one week before their interview date.

Applicants should be ready to discuss:

• academic background;
• personal statement;
• research interests;
• chosen research area;
• knowledge of China-related issues;
• leadership experiences;
• career ambitions;
• why Yenching Academy is the right programme.

The Academy advises online interview candidates to prepare a stable internet connection, test their microphone and camera, and be ready before the scheduled interview.

When Are Yenching Academy Results Announced?

For international applicants, final admission decisions are generally released:

around April.

Successful applicants must then complete Peking University’s internal admission procedures.

The final official Peking University acceptance letter is issued during the summer before enrollment.

Yenching Academy 2027 Application Timeline

Stage	Timing
International applications open	September 1, 2026
Partner-university internal process	Varies; may be earlier
Central application deadline	November 30, 2026, 9:00 a.m. Beijing time
International interviews	Winter / early spring
Final international decisions	Around April 2027
Official PKU admission confirmation	Summer 2027
Programme begins	Around September 2027

Yenching Academy Scholarship for Pakistani Students

Pakistani citizens can apply through the international applicant route provided they meet Yenching’s normal requirements.

There is no separate general Pakistan quota published on the current admissions page.

A Pakistani applicant should focus on:

• strong university results;
• a convincing China-related academic interest;
• two eligible professor recommendations;
• leadership or community activity;
• a strong personal statement;
• a focused Statement of Research Interest;
• valid English evidence or an applicable English-medium-degree exemption.

If the applicant’s previous Bachelor’s or higher degree was taught in English, the current international rules may exempt them from submitting a separate English proficiency test report.

Applicants should nevertheless ensure that their academic documents clearly support any claimed English-medium qualification.

Yenching Academy vs Schwarzman Scholars

Yenching Academy and Schwarzman Scholars are both prominent graduate opportunities in Beijing, but they are different programmes.

Feature	Yenching Academy	Schwarzman Scholars
University	Peking University	Tsinghua University
Main degree	Master’s in China Studies	Master’s in Global Affairs
Programme length	2 years	1 year
Main academic focus	Interdisciplinary China Studies	Global affairs and leadership
Research tracks	6	Different academic concentrations within programme
Thesis	Required	Programme-specific requirements differ
International cohort	Strong international representation	Strong international representation
Funding	Comprehensive Yenching Fellowship	Comprehensive Schwarzman funding
Main application emphasis	Academic merit, research, leadership, China interest	Leadership, intellect and character

Students considering both opportunities can read Scholarships Central’s Schwarzman Scholars 2027–2028 guide.

The two programmes should not be treated as substitutes solely because both are based in Beijing. Yenching is particularly suitable for applicants seeking deeper academic study and thesis research on China, while Schwarzman has a distinct one-year global-affairs and leadership structure.

Is Yenching Academy Part of the Chinese Government Scholarship?

The standard Yenching Academy admissions route described in this article is the Academy’s own admissions and fellowship process.

China also operates separate government scholarship routes through the China Scholarship Council and other programmes.

Applicants should not assume that a general CSC application automatically constitutes a Yenching Academy application.

Students exploring other Chinese funding options can also browse Scholarships Central’s broader Master’s Scholarships directory and Fully Funded Scholarships directory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027 open?

Yes.

International applications opened on September 1, 2026 and close on November 30, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Beijing time.

Is Yenching Academy fully funded?

All admitted Scholars receive a comprehensive fellowship for the first academic year covering tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend, basic medical insurance, one round-trip travel allowance and research-related expenses.

Is second-year funding guaranteed?

The second-year fellowship is not described as automatically guaranteed to all Scholars at admission.

Students in good academic standing who plan to remain in Beijing can apply for second-year fellowship support.

How many Scholars are selected?

Approximately 120 new Scholars annually, with roughly 75% international students.

How long is the programme?

Two years.

Can students from any academic field apply?

Yes.

A Bachelor’s degree can be in any field, provided the applicant demonstrates a strong interest in interdisciplinary China Studies.

Can final-year Bachelor’s students apply?

Yes, provided they will receive their degree by August of the intended enrollment year.

Can someone with a Master’s degree apply?

Yes.

Yenching says roughly 16% of previous Scholars already held a Master’s degree before joining.

Is there an age limit?

There is no strict formal cutoff. However, outside the separate Zhuoyue Scholarship category, Yenching says no Scholar over 29 has historically been admitted and the average entering age is 23.

What IELTS score is required?

IELTS Academic 7.0 overall.

What TOEFL score is required?

TOEFL iBT 100 overall.

Can I apply without IELTS?

Yes, potentially.

International applicants whose native language is English or who graduated from an English-taught undergraduate or higher degree are not normally required to submit an English proficiency test report.

Is Chinese language proficiency required?

No previous Chinese study is required for admission.

International Scholars generally take Chinese-language courses after enrollment unless granted a proficiency-based waiver.

How many recommendation letters are required?

Two academic recommendations.

Can an employer write my recommendation?

The current requirement specifies recommendations from full professors, associate professors or academics with equivalent titles in the applicant’s intended field of study.

How long is the personal statement?

Maximum 750 words.

How long is the research statement?

Maximum 1,500 words excluding citations.

Is a thesis required?

Yes.

All Yenching Scholars complete and defend a Master’s thesis.

Are international interviews online?

Yes.

International finalists are interviewed online during winter or early spring.

When are international admission results announced?

Usually around April.

Do Partner University students apply directly?

Not initially.

Students and alumni of Yenching Partner Universities must first follow their university’s internal pre-selection process.

Can I reapply if I am rejected?

Yes.

Yenching says unsuccessful applicants may reapply and should be prepared to explain how they used the intervening year to strengthen their skills and progress toward their goals.

Official Yenching Academy Links

Applicants should use Peking University’s own pages for final verification.

Official Yenching Academy 2027 admissions page

This is the primary source for the 2027 deadline, eligibility, required documents, recommendation rules, English requirements and fellowship overview.

Official Yenching Academy application portal

Use this portal to create and submit the international application.

Official Yenching Academy FAQ

This page explains programme duration, second-year funding, age, accommodation, interviews, degrees and other detailed rules.

Official Partner and Cooperating Universities list

Use this before applying to determine whether your university requires internal pre-selection.

Related Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Applicants exploring other major international Master’s opportunities can also use:

• Schwarzman Scholars 2027–2028
• Master’s Scholarships
• Fully Funded Scholarships
• Fully Funded Scholarships Still Open
• Scholarships Still Open
• All Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Final Thoughts

The Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027 is a strong opportunity for applicants who want a funded Master’s programme combining serious academic research with an interdisciplinary understanding of China.

The programme is open to graduates from any academic field, and applicants do not need previous Chinese-language or China Studies training. What matters more is whether they can demonstrate strong academics, genuine intellectual interest, leadership potential and a convincing connection between Yenching Academy and their long-term goals.

Applicants should pay particular attention to the application details that are easy to overlook: the personal statement is limited to 750 words, the research statement to 1,500 words excluding citations, and both recommendations must come from eligible senior academics in the applicant’s intended field. English test scores must also meet Yenching’s current format and validity requirements unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption.

Finally, applicants should understand the funding correctly. The programme lasts two years, but the fellowship is initially provided for the first academic year. Eligible Scholars who maintain good academic standing and stay in Beijing may apply for continued second-year support.

For international applicants, the central application deadline is November 30, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Beijing time. Students and alumni of Yenching Partner Universities should check their university’s internal nomination schedule immediately because their first deadline may be earlier.

Applications are now open for the Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027/28, a fully funded postgraduate scholarship for eligible students from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine who want to complete a one-year Master’s degree in the United Kingdom.

For the 2027/28 cycle, applications opened on 1 September 2026 at 9:00 a.m. UK time and will close on Friday, 30 October 2026 at 5:00 p.m. UK time. The Saïd Foundation normally awards approximately 20–30 new scholarships each year.

The scholarship is genuinely comprehensive. The standard award includes tuition fees, full maintenance/living costs, an arrival allowance, visa and healthcare surcharge fees, and one economy return flight. Different funding arrangements apply to recipients studying at Oxford or Cambridge and to joint Saïd Foundation/Chevening Scholars.

Applicants looking for other major Master’s opportunities can also explore Scholarships Central’s Master’s Scholarships directory and Fully Funded Scholarships directory.

Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027/28 Overview

Scholarship Detail	2027/28 Information
Scholarship	Saïd Foundation Scholarship
Study destination	United Kingdom
Study level	Master’s
Course duration	Normally one year
Funding	Fully funded
Scholarships offered	Approximately 20–30 annually
Eligible nationalities	Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese and Palestinian
Academic requirement	Equivalent to UK 2:1 or above
Final-year students	Eligible
Work/voluntary experience	Required, but no minimum number of years
Age limit	None
IELTS minimum	6.0 overall and 6.0 in every band
Duolingo minimum	105 overall and 105 in every sub-score
Applications opened	1 September 2026
Scholarship deadline	30 October 2026, 5:00 p.m. UK time
Later university-application evidence deadline	29 January 2027
Interviews	March 2027
Final selection	May 2027
Results	Beginning of June 2027

The Foundation confirms these eligibility rules, application dates, interview schedule and final-selection timetable for the current competition.

What Is the Saïd Foundation Scholarship?

The Saïd Foundation Scholarship supports talented students and professionals who are expected to use their postgraduate education to contribute to positive development in the Middle East.

The Foundation has offered educational scholarships and training opportunities since 1984 and focuses its main postgraduate scholarship programme on candidates from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. It describes the programme as being aimed at outstanding people with leadership potential who can become drivers of positive change in their countries and communities.

The Foundation reports that it has supported hundreds of postgraduate scholars at leading UK universities over the history of the programme.

Unlike scholarships selected only on grades, the Saïd Foundation considers academic strength together with leadership, community engagement, career plans, the value of the selected subject to the applicant’s country, and the applicant’s realistic ability to use the knowledge gained in the UK after returning to the region.

How Many Saïd Foundation Scholarships Are Available?

The Foundation states that it normally awards approximately:

20–30 new scholarships each year.

There is not a published fixed quota for each of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine on the current general scholarship page.

Applicants should therefore view the programme as a competitive regional scholarship rather than assume that a predetermined number of awards is reserved for each nationality.

Saïd Foundation Scholarship Benefits

The standard Saïd Foundation Scholarship is described by the Foundation as fully funded.

Full Tuition Fees

The scholarship covers the recipient’s tuition fees for the approved Master’s degree.

Applicants should note that separate funding arrangements operate for students selected for Oxford, Cambridge or the joint Saïd Foundation/Chevening route.

Full Living and Maintenance Costs

The Foundation provides full maintenance/living costs for the duration of the approved course.

The Foundation does not present the scholarship as one universal fixed cash stipend in its current general FAQ. The exact funding arrangement can therefore depend on the scholar’s award circumstances.

Arrival Allowance

Successful Scholars receive an arrival allowance to assist with costs associated with starting their studies in the UK.

Visa Fee

The standard scholarship includes the relevant visa fee.

Healthcare Surcharge

The scholarship also covers the applicable healthcare surcharge fee associated with the student’s UK immigration arrangements.

Economy Return Flight

The standard package includes:

one economy return flight.

What Does the Scholarship Not Cover?

The Foundation does not provide financial support for a Scholar’s spouse or children and advises recipients to travel to the UK unaccompanied.

Applicants planning to move with family members should therefore calculate family visa, accommodation, travel and living costs independently.

Students comparing the Saïd Foundation package with other UK awards can also read Scholarships Central’s Chevening Scholarship 2027/28 guide.

Saïd Foundation Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must satisfy all of the Foundation’s eligibility requirements.

Eligible Nationalities

Applicants must hold one of the following nationalities:

• Syrian
• Jordanian
• Lebanese
• Palestinian

The Foundation also accepts dual nationals, provided the applicant holds Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese or Palestinian nationality and uploads the relevant passport or national ID demonstrating that nationality.

Residency Requirements

As a general rule, applicants should be permanently resident in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon or Palestine.

There are several important exceptions and clarifications.

Applicants temporarily living outside their home country for study or work can still apply if they are normally resident in one of the Foundation’s target countries.

The Foundation says it is more flexible with Syrian applicants because of current circumstances in Syria.

Palestinians living in Israel may apply, and Palestinian candidates who were normally resident in Gaza but have been displaced to other countries since 2023 are also eligible to apply.

These rules are important because eligibility depends on more than simply holding one of the four nationalities.

Can Dual Nationals Apply?

Yes.

An applicant may hold another nationality in addition to Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese or Palestinian nationality.

However, the application must include a passport or national ID proving nationality from one of the Foundation’s four target countries.

Academic Requirement

Applicants should hold an undergraduate degree equivalent to at least a:

UK Upper Second-Class Honours degree (2:1).

The Foundation provides country-specific guidance to help candidates understand what this may mean in different education systems.

Saïd Foundation GPA Requirements by Country

The following figures are Foundation guidance rather than guaranteed conversion rules:

Country	Approximate UK 2:1 Comparison
Jordan	75–91%, or GPA 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0
Lebanon	80–89%
Palestine	80–89% / Very Good
Syria – private universities	Generally 80–89% / Very Good
Syria – state universities	Generally 70–79% / Very Good

The Foundation explicitly warns that exact comparisons between education systems are difficult and says a lower-ranking degree may be accepted in some cases. Applicants must also independently satisfy the entry requirements of their chosen UK university.

Can Final-Year Bachelor’s Students Apply?

Yes.

Applicants who are still completing their undergraduate degree may apply if they are in their final year.

They should upload all academic transcripts available at the time of application.

Is Work Experience Required?

Yes, but the rule is more flexible than many scholarship articles suggest.

Applicants must have work and/or voluntary experience relevant to their proposed field of study. However, the Foundation does not specify a minimum number of months, years or hours of experience.

The key issue is relevance.

Applicants should be able to show that their experience connects logically with their chosen Master’s degree and longer-term career plan.

Leadership Potential

Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential in their chosen field or sector.

Leadership does not necessarily mean holding a senior job title.

Evidence can come from professional responsibilities, community projects, voluntary work, initiatives, organisational roles or other examples showing the applicant’s ability to influence, organise or create positive change.

Is There an Age Limit?

No.

The Foundation explicitly states that there is no age limit for applicants.

Eligible Degrees

The main Saïd Foundation Scholarship supports:

one-year Master’s degree courses in the United Kingdom.

Are All Academic Subjects Eligible?

There is no general subject restriction.

However, the applicant must explain why the selected subject is relevant and how it will help them contribute to the development of their home country or region.

Therefore, “all subjects” does not mean course choice is irrelevant.

The course must fit the applicant’s previous experience, career trajectory and intended impact.

Are Two-Year Master’s Degrees Eligible?

No.

The Foundation explicitly says it does not accept applications for two-year Master’s programmes in the UK under the standard scholarship route.

Are PhD Programmes Eligible?

No.

The main Saïd Foundation Scholarship programme does not fund PhD study.

Are Undergraduate Degrees Eligible?

No.

Undergraduate study is not supported through this main UK postgraduate scholarship scheme.

Can You Study Outside the UK?

No.

The standard scholarship is for approved Master’s study at universities in the United Kingdom.

Can Distance-Learning Master’s Students Apply?

Only in exceptional circumstances.

The Foundation may consider a distance-learning Master’s degree from a UK university if the applicant provides a detailed explanation showing why they cannot travel to the UK.

Distance-learning programmes lasting more than two years will not be considered.

Saïd Foundation Partner Universities

Applicants are expected to apply to one or more Saïd Foundation partner universities.

The current official partner list includes institutions such as:

University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, University for the Creative Arts, Durham University, University of Edinburgh, University of Essex, University of Exeter, University of Glasgow, Goldsmiths University of London, Imperial College London, King’s College London, University College London, University of Leeds, University of Leicester, London School of Economics, Loughborough University, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, Royal College of Art, Royal Holloway University of London, SOAS University of London, University of Southampton, University of Sussex, University of Warwick and University of York.

Because partnerships can change, applicants should verify the current list directly before choosing courses.

View the official Saïd Foundation partner-university list

Can You Apply to a Non-Partner University?

Potentially, but only in a limited situation.

The Foundation will consider study at a non-partner university only when the proposed course is not offered by one of its partner institutions.

Applicants taking this route must provide a strong justification in the scholarship application. An unexplained non-partner choice may prevent the application from being considered.

The safer strategy is therefore to search the Foundation’s partner universities first.

Saïd Foundation English Language Requirements

Applicants must already meet the Foundation’s minimum English-language requirement when they submit the scholarship application.

This is a strict eligibility condition.

IELTS Academic Requirement

The minimum is:

IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, with at least 6.0 in every band.

Duolingo English Test Requirement

The minimum is:

105 overall and 105 in every sub-score.

TOEFL iBT Requirement

For TOEFL iBT tests taken before 21 January 2026, the minimum is:

• 80 overall
• 20 in every section

For tests taken from 21 January 2026, the Foundation states:

• 4.5 overall
• 4.0 in every section

Applicants using TOEFL should carefully check the current test scoring format and the Foundation’s live guidance before submitting.

Does an English-Medium Degree Exempt You From the Test?

No general exemption is provided simply because a previous degree was taught in English.

The Foundation’s current guidance requires applicants to provide a valid accepted English-language test result when they apply. The certificate cannot normally be added later.

Therefore, this scholarship should not be advertised as a “without IELTS or English test” scholarship.

IELTS itself is not the only accepted test, but valid evidence through an accepted route is mandatory.

English Test Validity for 2027/28

Only English-language certificates dated after 1 September 2025 will be accepted for the 2027/28 scholarship round.

Applicants with older results need to retake an accepted test.

Screenshots Are Not Accepted

The Foundation requires a copy of the actual English-language test certificate.

Screenshots of test results are not accepted.

University English Requirements May Be Higher

Meeting the Foundation’s minimum English requirement does not necessarily satisfy the selected university.

A partner university may require:

• a higher overall IELTS score;
• higher individual band scores;
• a different TOEFL threshold;
• a specific accepted test.

Applicants must satisfy both the Saïd Foundation requirement and the university’s own English requirement.

Required Documents for Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027/28

The Foundation publishes a specific document checklist.

Applicants need to submit:

1. High-school marks/certificate.
2. University transcripts and graduation certificate; final-year applicants submit transcripts available to date.
3. Current passport or national ID.
4. Accepted English-language test certificate.
5. UK university offer letter(s) or evidence that the applicant has applied.
6. Three valid reference letters.
7. An up-to-date CV of no more than two pages, with no photograph.

This is important because generic scholarship checklists often omit the high-school certificate, three-reference rule or two-page/no-photo CV requirement.

Which Documents Can Be Added Later?

Almost all eligibility documents must be available when the application is submitted.

The main exception is:

• later university offers; or
• evidence of applying to courses whose application systems were not open before the scholarship deadline.

These later documents must be uploaded by:

29 January 2027.

Missing English certificates and missing references cannot simply be added after the scholarship deadline.

Three Reference Letters Are Mandatory

References are one of the most important parts of the Saïd Foundation application.

Candidates need:

three different reference letters from three different referees.

The preferred combination is:

• one academic reference;
• one professional reference;
• one voluntary/community reference.

If a professional referee is genuinely unavailable, the Foundation may accept a second academic or voluntary reference. However, three different reference letters are still required.

Academic Reference

The academic referee should be an academic who has taught the applicant and can comment meaningfully on academic ability and capacity to complete demanding postgraduate study.

A detailed academic reference is stronger than a generic confirmation that the applicant attended a university.

Professional Reference

The professional referee should ideally be a current or recent employer who can discuss relevant professional experience, ability, potential and leadership.

Voluntary Reference

The voluntary referee should be able to discuss the applicant’s community, charitable or extracurricular activities and the impact of that involvement.

Reference Letter Format

The Foundation’s referee guidance says references should be:

• written in English;
• signed;
• ideally on official headed paper;
• accompanied by the referee’s telephone number and email;
• written specifically for the Saïd Foundation Scholarship.

Generic references prepared for another scholarship or university should not be used as substitutes for a proper Saïd Foundation reference.

Can References Be Submitted After the Deadline?

No.

The applicant—not the Foundation—is responsible for collecting and uploading all three letters before submitting the scholarship application.

The Foundation will not collect references from referees and will not accept missing references after submission or after the deadline.

This is one of the most important application rules to remember.

Do You Need a UK University Offer Before Applying?

No.

Applicants do not need to already hold a university offer by 30 October 2026.

However, if applications for the selected Master’s degree are already open, the Foundation expects the applicant to have applied and provide evidence, such as an application ID.

If the selected course is not yet open, applicants may state that the course is not currently open for applications and provide proof of their university application later.

That evidence must reach the Foundation by:

29 January 2027.

Does the Saïd Foundation Pay University Application Fees?

No.

The Foundation states that it cannot pay UK university application fees or request fee waivers on behalf of scholarship applicants.

Applicants who cannot afford a university application fee should contact the university directly to ask whether any institutional assistance or waiver route is available.

How to Apply for the Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027/28

Step 1: Confirm Nationality and Residency Eligibility

Make sure you satisfy the nationality and residency rules before preparing the application.

Step 2: Check Your Academic Qualification

Confirm that your Bachelor’s degree is broadly comparable to a UK 2:1 or that you are currently completing the final year of your undergraduate degree.

Step 3: Choose a Relevant One-Year Master’s Degree

Search the Foundation’s partner universities and select a one-year Master’s degree that clearly relates to your academic background, professional experience and future career plans.

Step 4: Apply to the UK University

If the Master’s programme is already accepting applications, submit the university application and retain evidence of submission.

Remember that the scholarship application and university admission application are separate processes.

Step 5: Complete the English Test Before Applying

Obtain a valid IELTS Academic, Duolingo or TOEFL result that satisfies the Foundation’s threshold and falls within the accepted certificate period.

Step 6: Collect Three References

Request your academic, professional and voluntary references early.

Do not wait until October 30 because applications without three valid uploaded reference letters will not be considered.

Step 7: Prepare All Required Documents

Check the high-school certificate, university records, ID, English certificate, university evidence, references and two-page photo-free CV before starting final submission.

Step 8: Complete the Online Scholarship Application

Submit the application through the Foundation’s official online system.

Apply through the official Saïd Foundation application page

Step 9: Submit Before the Deadline

Applications close at:

5:00 p.m. UK time on Friday, 30 October 2026.

Applicants should avoid leaving submission until the final hours.

Saïd Foundation Selection Criteria

Scholarships are awarded on merit.

The Foundation states that decisions consider:

• academic excellence;
• usefulness of the proposed subject to the applicant’s home country;
• leadership potential;
• commitment to serving the community;
• future career goals;
• practical ability to use the knowledge gained in the UK after returning to the Middle East.

A strong application should therefore connect four elements clearly:

past experience → selected Master’s course → future career → measurable contribution to the home country or region.

How to Strengthen Your Application

A competitive application should avoid generic claims.

Instead of simply writing that you are passionate about leadership or want to help your country, demonstrate:

a real problem → what you have already done → what skills you still need → why the selected Master’s provides those skills → what you will do after returning.

This approach directly reflects the Foundation’s published emphasis on leadership, community service, career planning and practical post-study impact.

Your course selection should also make sense. A highly ranked UK programme is not enough by itself; you need to explain why that specific degree is useful to your future contribution.

Return and Development Commitment

The Saïd Foundation places considerable emphasis on post-study impact.

Successful Scholars must sign a binding undertaking to use the knowledge and skills gained through their scholarship to work toward the development of the Foundation’s target countries after completing their studies.

Applicants should therefore have a credible career pathway connected to Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine or the wider region.

Priority for Applicants Without Previous International Study

Applicants who previously studied outside their home country are still eligible.

However, the Foundation says priority is given to candidates who have not previously had the opportunity to study outside their home country.

Previous international education therefore does not automatically disqualify an applicant, but it can be relevant to prioritisation.

Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027/28 Timeline

Application Stage	Date
Applications open	1 September 2026, 9:00 a.m. UK time
Scholarship deadline	30 October 2026, 5:00 p.m. UK time
Eligibility checks and assessment	Early November 2026–end of January 2027
Ineligible applicants informed	December 2026
Course-application evidence deadline	29 January 2027
Interview shortlisting	By March 2027
Interviews	March 2027
Trustees make final selections	May 2027
Final results	Beginning of June 2027

The Foundation says eligible applications are reviewed by Foundation staff and external experts before interview shortlisting. Final selections are made by its Board of Trustees.

Saïd Foundation Interviews

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in:

March 2027.

Candidates should be prepared to explain:

• why they selected their proposed Master’s programme;
• how their previous education and experience prepared them;
• evidence of leadership;
• community involvement;
• future career plans;
• how the degree will create practical value after their return.

These areas align directly with the Foundation’s published selection criteria.

When Will Results Be Announced?

The Board of Trustees is expected to make final selections in May 2027, with shortlisted candidates informed of their outcome by the beginning of June 2027.

The Foundation does not normally provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants because of application volume.

Saïd Foundation and Chevening Partnership

The Saïd Foundation also partners with Chevening to jointly support up to:

12 Scholars each year.

Applicants who want to be considered for a joint Saïd Foundation/Chevening Scholarship must:

1. meet the requirements of both programmes;
2. submit a Saïd Foundation application; and
3. apply separately to Chevening before the Chevening deadline.

For joint Scholars, the Saïd Foundation pays the tuition fees while Chevening funds allowances and flights.

For the separate Chevening application rules, see Scholarships Central’s complete Chevening Scholarship 2027/28 guide.

Can You Bring Your Family?

You may have personal family arrangements, but the Saïd Foundation does not provide funding for spouses or children.

The Foundation advises Scholars to travel to the UK unaccompanied.

Applicants considering family accompaniment should independently check UK immigration rules and calculate all dependant costs before accepting an award.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027/28 open?

Yes. Applications opened on 1 September 2026 and close on 30 October 2026 at 5:00 p.m. UK time.

Is the Saïd Foundation Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. The Foundation describes its standard scholarship as fully funded and covers tuition, full maintenance/living costs, an arrival allowance, visa and healthcare surcharge fees, and one economy return flight.

How many scholarships are awarded?

Approximately 20–30 new scholarships annually.

Which countries are eligible?

The main target nationalities are Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, subject to the Foundation’s residency requirements and exceptions.

Can Pakistani or Indian students apply?

Not through the standard Saïd Foundation Scholarship solely on Pakistani or Indian nationality. Applicants need Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese or Palestinian nationality under the published criteria.

Is there an age limit?

No.

Is work experience compulsory?

Some relevant work and/or voluntary experience is required, but the Foundation does not require a specific minimum number of years or hours.

Can final-year students apply?

Yes, final-year undergraduate students can apply and should upload their available transcripts.

Is IELTS mandatory?

IELTS specifically is not the only accepted test. The Foundation also accepts eligible Duolingo and TOEFL results, but a valid accepted English-language test certificate must be provided with the application.

What IELTS score is required?

At least 6.0 overall with 6.0 in every band.

Can I apply without an English test and provide it later?

No. The English certificate must be included when the scholarship application is submitted.

Does an English-medium Bachelor’s degree waive the test?

The Foundation’s current rules still require valid evidence meeting its English-language requirement; an English-medium degree by itself is not presented as a blanket exemption.

Do I need a university offer before applying?

No. However, if the selected course is already open, you should normally have applied and provide evidence.

How many references are required?

Exactly three different reference letters must be uploaded before submission.

Can I submit references after October 30?

No. Late references are not accepted.

Can I apply for a two-year Master’s degree?

No, not through the standard UK Master’s scholarship programme.

Can I apply for a PhD?

No. The main Saïd Foundation Scholarship supports one-year UK Master’s degrees rather than PhDs.

Can I apply to a non-partner university?

Only if the proposed course is not available at a partner university, and you must provide a convincing justification.

Can I bring my spouse or children?

The Foundation does not cover their costs and advises Scholars to travel unaccompanied.

When are interviews held?

Interviews take place in March 2027.

When are final results announced?

By the beginning of June 2027.

Official Saïd Foundation Scholarship Links

Applicants should use the Foundation’s own pages for final verification.

Official Saïd Foundation 2027/28 application page

Official eligibility criteria

Official scholarship benefits and selection criteria

Official 2027/28 application timetable

Official English-language requirements

Official required-documents checklist

Official reference guidance

Official partner-university list

Official scholarship FAQ

Related Scholarships on Scholarships Central

Applicants considering other fully funded Master’s opportunities should also explore:

Chevening Scholarship 2027/28 Complete Guide

Master’s Scholarships directory

Fully Funded Scholarships directory

Fully Funded Scholarships Still Open

Scholarships Still Open

Final Thoughts

The Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027/28 is a particularly valuable opportunity for eligible Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese and Palestinian applicants because it combines full tuition with living support, visa and healthcare costs, an arrival allowance and an economy return flight.

However, the application is stricter than the simple “fully funded Master’s” headline suggests. Candidates need an appropriate one-year UK Master’s course, relevant work or voluntary experience, a valid English-language test, three references submitted before the scholarship application, all required documentation, and a convincing plan for using their UK education to contribute to their country or region.

The most important deadline is 30 October 2026 at 5:00 p.m. UK time. Applicants whose university courses are not yet open can provide qualifying university-application evidence later, but that separate deadline is 29 January 2027. Missing references or English-test evidence cannot simply be postponed to January.