Undergraduate scholarships to study abroad
Undergraduate funding for international students is scarcer than postgraduate funding, and the reason is structural: most need-based aid in the US and UK is reserved for domestic students, and there is no research funding at this level.
At a glance
| Awards we list in this group | 5 |
|---|
Where undergraduate funding exists
- Merit awards at individual universities, often automatic from your application and usually partial.
- A small number of institutions with substantial international aid, which are themselves extremely competitive to enter.
- Low-tuition destinations, where the saving exceeds what a scholarship elsewhere would give you.
- Indian trusts and state schemes, some of which fund undergraduate study abroad.
For many families the realistic plan at this level is a lower-cost destination plus a partial award, rather than a high-cost destination plus the hope of a large one.
Planning for a four-year commitment
- Check whether an award renews each year or applies only to the first.
- Check what academic standard renewal requires.
- Model all four years, including currency movement, not just year one.
- Check the work rights, which rarely fund a meaningful share of an undergraduate degree.
A first-year-only award on a four-year degree covers about a quarter of what families often assume it does. Ask about renewal before counting it.
Undergraduate awards we list
5 awards, each with its own deadline, eligibility and the source we read it from.
Undergraduate scholarships — FAQs
2 questions
Very few, and at highly selective institutions. Partial merit awards are far more common.
Some do, usually subject to an academic standard. Many apply only to the first year — always ask.
Want help shortlisting? A counsellor matches your marks, course and budget to the awards you can actually win — free.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 1 October 2026.