Scholarships for South African students to study in the UK

Prestigious universities, variety of courses offered across different fields, and the high standard of education make the UK a very attractive option for South African students. A 2020/21 survey by Erudera revealed that there were 2060 South African students pursuing higher education in UK universities. A majority of these, 630 to be precise, were studying in England, 350 in Scotland, 55 in Wales, and 20 in Northern Ireland⁵. London, the country’s capital, has a thriving community of South Africans and students moving here won’t miss out on culture, food, or that familiar feeling of home.

The UK is very well versed with managing the needs of international students. For common worries such as international money transfers you have Wise, a bank alternative that helps you send money from the UK to South Africa at the mid-market exchange rate.

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Scholarships available for South African students looking to study in the UK

Many types of scholarships are available in the UK for international students, and you will find students from all around the globe during your study experience here. The scholarship opportunities available in the country can be broadly broken down into the following categories⁶:

- University-Specific Scholarships: As the name suggests there are scholarships specific to universities for international students and can be for undergraduate or postgraduate studies. These scholarships are often merit-based and can cover either part or all the tuition fees.

- Government-Funded Scholarships: The UK government and its agencies provide full scholarships to international students to remove financial barriers for deserving candidates. The Chevening Scholarships and the Commonwealth Scholarships are the most popular examples of these.

- Private Scholarships: Private organisations, foundations, and companies also provide scholarships based on academic merit, financial need, or a combination to international students.

- Subject Scholarships: Some scholarships are available for students who plan to study a particular subject. For instance, there are scholarships for students who plan to study engineering, business, or medicine.

Undergraduate scholarships for South African students in the UK

While less common than postgraduate scholarships, the undergraduate scholarships offered in the UK largely depend on the course and university you choose to study in. It is important that you thoroughly research the courses you’re interested in and note down the with which you can avail a scholarship. Scholarships for undergraduate international students in the UK are generally offered by the university themselves. Achievement in sport and academic excellence are important factors that play a key role in receiving undergraduate scholarships.

Unlike most of the postgraduate scholarships however, these won’t accommodate your entire tuition, but are a good source of support to help you with your finances. Some universities, such as the University of Nottingham, offer scholarships for full tuition fees⁷. The following universities offer scholarships that are popular for undergraduates:

• University of Nottingham
• University College London
• Warwick University
• University of Edinburgh

Postgraduate scholarships for South African students in the UK

The UK government offers several scholarships, bursaries and additional financial support to students from a large number of countries including those from South Africa.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website gives further detail on eligibility, and requirements on scholarships for South Africans in the UK.

Master’s scholarships for South African students in the UK

Government-funded scholarships:

The UK government runs a variety of scholarship programmes to financially support South African students who are looking for help funding their studies in the UK. The two main UK government scholarships on offer are:

• Chevening Scholarship:

  Founded in 1983 this state-governed global scholarship program in the UK supports international students with high academic potential.

  The program awards the following types of grants:

1. Scholarships

2. Fellowships

   The scholarship is typically for those pursuing a 1-year postgraduate degree in the UK, however, other postgraduate courses may also be eligible. You can check the Chevening website to get more detail into course eligibility⁸.

   Here are the other requirements to be eligible for this scholarship:

• Return to your home country for at least two years upon completing the program.

• Have an undergraduate degree.

• Have at least two years of work experience.

• You meet the English language requirements.

• Receive an offer from at least one of three eligible UK degree programs.

• Commonwealth Scholarship

  This is a set of UK scholarships for international students governed jointly by 53 countries (former British colonies) part of the Commonwealth. It is open to citizens of these countries who wish to pursue postgraduate or doctoral studies at a UK university.

  Eligible course for this scholarship include:

1. One-year Master taught or equivalent courses.

2. Doctoral degrees lasting for 3-4 years.

   Receiving a Commonwealth Scholarship covers your tuition fees, flight costs, essential living costs, as well as gives you other allowances⁹.

   It is awarded to students who wish to pursue their Master’s in the subjects listed below:

• Engineering & Technology
• Theoretical and Applied Science
• Agriculture
• Humanities and Social Sciences

University-specific scholarships

The UK is home to the world’s most prestigious universities that offer excellent scholarships for international students. These include full and partial scholarships. Some of the popular one’s at the most prestigious universities in the country include the following:

• Rhodes Scholarship

  The Rhodes Scholarship funding is one of the oldest scholarship programs and one of the most prestigious in the world. This scheme awards scholarships to postgraduate students aiming to study at the University of Oxford. It is a full-ride (includes tuition, living expenses, and even airfare!) scholarship given to 95 brilliant minds from all around the globe. Recipients are typically between 18-28 years of age and all courses offered at the University of Oxford are eligible¹⁰.

• Gates Cambridge Scholarships

  Like Oxford, Cambridge also has an exciting bursary scheme for prospective international students. The Gates Scholarship offers financial support for excellent international applicants aiming to attend a full-time postgraduate course at this University and much like the Rhodes scholarship is all inclusive of expenses¹¹.

• UCL Global Masters Scholarship

  The UCL Global Masters Scholarship helps provide financial assistance to international students from economically weaker backgrounds to pursue full-time postgraduate courses at UCL. 85 of these are available for the 2024/25 academic year with 5 designated for students from India. The total value of the award is £15,000¹². It may be held alongside other scholarships, studentships, awards, or bursaries which ensures students can get most of their tuition covered to relieve financial burden. However, the amount of the UCL award may be adjusted depending on the total value of other funds received by the student. You can read more about it on the UCL website.

PhD scholarships for South African students in the UK

The basic requirement for a PhD in the UK is generally a master's degree or an equivalent qualification in a related field. This will need to be supported by a detailed research proposal explaining your research objectives. You will also need to provide academic references that assess your research abilities. Another thing and perhaps the most important is the funding you must secure to cover your tuition fees and living expenses, this can come from scholarships, grants, personal funds, or sponsorship¹⁶. There are several grants and scholarships offered by government organisations in the country depending on your area of research. You can find some of the most sought-after ones here.

MBA scholarships for South African students in the UK

UK business schools are renowned for their MBA catering to students of every academic level, budgetary requirement and career aspiration. The cohorts are an international mix of students and teachers, and the courses open doors to work opportunities that are unrivalled in many parts of the world.

The average cost of an MBA is around £19,000 per year for international students, but larger and more prestigious schools can charge upwards of £65,000. Some of the most popular MBA scholarships available in the UK for international students are listed below.

The Skoll Scholarship: Offered by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, one of the most prestigious business schools in the country. There are upto 4 scholarships available and it covers course tuition as well as partial living expenses¹³.

The Cambridge MBA Scholarship: Judge Business School, a part of the University of Cambridge offers scholarships for MBA students, including the following:

• Cambridge MBA Scholarship for Outstanding Women
• Cambridge MBA Scholarship for Entrepreneurship
• Cambridge MBA Scholarship for African Students

There is also the Cambridge MBA Professor Jochen Runde Scholarship for South African Nationals that has an award of £15,000¹⁴.

You can find out more about these here.

The Imperial MBA Scholarship: Imperial College Business School is one of the top B-schools in London and offers several scholarships for MBA students such as the Forté Foundation scholarship, the African Future Leaders Scholarship, and the Black Future Leaders award. Read more about them on the Imperial website¹⁵.

Other scholarships

• CastleSmart Scholarship:

Castle Smart Estate offers a scholarship of £6,000 for students pursuing an undergraduate degree at UK universities. The application process for this, however, is quite different compared to other scholarships. As part of the application, you need make a video about your motivations and aspirations and upload it on YouTube.

Students belonging to all nationalities are eligible to apply to this scholarship¹⁷.

• The Royal Society Grants:

The Royal Society is an independent scientific academy. Different Royal Society scholarships have different eligibility criteria. The society offers several scholarships and grants for undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), and PhD students. You can read more about the scholarship here¹⁸.

Manage money in the UK and make international payments to South Africa using Wise!

If you’re a South African studying in the UK or looking to study in the UK, Wise can help you save money¹ when making international money transfers back to South Africa.

Although the majority of banks may allow their account holders to make an international transfer, it is possible that a markup is added to the mid-market exchange rate. It is recommended to check the exchange rate offered by your bank against the mid-market rate, which is similar to the exchange rate shown on Google. Say no to hidden fees!

The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them and is considered the fairest rate in the market. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:

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Wise customers don’t have to pay an additional markup fee but only a small transparent fee to make an international transaction¹. That’s because Wise uses the mid-market rate for overseas payments!

With Wise, South African expats can save money¹ when making international payments from the UK to South Africa.

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FAQs about scholarships for South African students

• Where can South African students study for free?

The UK does not offer free education and international students typically pay a higher fee than citizens. However, being awarded scholarships such as the Chevening give South Africans an opportunity to study in the country with all expenses paid.

• What is the UK scholarship for South African students?

Universities in the UK as well as the UK government offer several scholarships to give the brightest minds from South Africa an opportunity to study in the country. Postgraduate scholarships are more common than those for undergraduate scholarships. The most prominent ones include the Chevening scholarship, Commonwealth scholarship, Rhodes scholarship, and the Gates Cambridge scholarship.

• How to get a scholarship to study abroad from South Africa?

If you wish to study in the UK on a scholarship, you will need to thoroughly research the options available, gain an acceptance from an eligible course, and follow the steps outlined to apply. There are typically two rounds of screening (written application followed by an interview) after which you will be notified of the outcome.

How can South African students apply for scholarships in the UK?

Attending a university in a country with lots of international students is appealing, it does mean that it is incredibly competitive – especially when you are applying for a scholarship. In most cases, to be awarded a scholarship you must prove to be an exceptional candidate.  

There is no one-size-fits-all approach, as requirements will vary depending on the academic institution and your chosen course.

General requirements for scholarships for South African students

The basic eligibility for a scholarship in the UK is having an acceptance from a UK institution. Further requirements to secure a scholarship in the UK vary depending on the scholarship type, amount and institution providing the scholarship. You generally need to have a minimum grade point average (GPA) or academic achievement in a subject area. You may also need to present an IELTS or TOFEL to provide proof of English proficiency.

Providing letters of recommendation from teachers, professors, or other professionals is also necessary to support your application. You may also most likely need to submit an essay or personal statements outlining your academic goals and achievements.

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In conclusion, pursuing higher education in the UK is a viable and attractive option for South African students, thanks to the numerous scholarships available. Whether you're looking at government-funded options like Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships, prestigious university-specific awards such as the Rhodes and Gates Cambridge Scholarships, or private scholarships from organisations, there is a wealth of support to help you achieve your academic dreams.

With careful planning and thorough research, securing a scholarship to study in the UK can significantly ease the financial burden, allowing you to focus on your studies and future career. And for important matters like banking and money management, you always have Wise – that makes sending money from the UK back home to South Africa a breeze!

Join Wise!

Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visit www.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.

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4. Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visitwww.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
5. Number of SA students in UK
6. Types of scholarships
7. Undergraduate scholarships
8. Chevening Scholarship
9. Commonwealth Scholarship
10. Rhodes Scholarship
11. Gates Cambridge Scholarship
12. UCL Global Master’s Scholarships
13. Skoll Scholarship
14. Cambridge MBA Scholarships
15. Imperial Scholarship
16. PhD Scholarships
17. CastleSmart
18. Royal Society of Grants
19. General Requirements