UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship 2026 in UK | Tuition Fee Waiver for Master's Students
The University of the Arts London is offering up to 288 scholarships worth £10,000 each as tuition fee waivers for international Master's students, including applicants from all African countries. Round 2 closes 26 June 2026 for offer holders. See who qualifies, what it covers, and how to apply.
Imagine studying fashion, film, fine art, or design in the creative capital of the world, at the university ranked among the very best on earth for art and design, with a serious chunk of your tuition paid for you.
That is what the UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship offers. And here is the number that should make you sit up: there are up to 288 of these scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year. Not five. Not ten. Two hundred and eighty eight.
Most prestigious scholarships give you a tiny chance. This one gives you a real one.
But before you get excited, there are two things you must know. First, this scholarship is not what some websites are calling it, and believing them could wreck your budget. Second, there is a deadline closing in a matter of days, and whether it applies to you depends on one simple question. We will answer both right now, no games.
What this is worth
What Is the UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship?
It sits within the official UAL International Postgraduate Scholarships scheme, offered by the University of the Arts London (UAL). UAL is consistently ranked the world's number one or number two university for art and design, and it is made up of six famous colleges, including Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion, Camberwell, Chelsea, Wimbledon, and London College of Communication.
The scholarship gives selected international students a generous tuition fee waiver for a taught Master's course at any of UAL's colleges and institutes. Eligible courses include the Grad Dip, M ARCH, MA, MFA, MBA, MRes, and MSc qualifications. Courses run by UAL Online are not eligible.
Now for the first truth we promised.
The Honest Truth: This Is NOT a Fully Funded Scholarship
Let us be direct with you, because some blogs will not be. The UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship is a partial scholarship. It is a one time reduction in your tuition fees. It is not free tuition, and it does not cover your accommodation, food, flights, or visa.
Why does this matter? Because international tuition at UAL costs more than this award covers, and London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in. If you apply believing this award covers everything, you could land in the UK facing bills you never planned for.
So here is the honest picture. This scholarship is a powerful discount, and the waiver is serious money. But you need a plan for the rest, whether that is family support, savings, a second award, or one of UAL's bigger scholarships, which we cover near the end of this guide. Walk in with your eyes open, and this award becomes a genuine blessing rather than a trap.
Who Is Eligible?
The official criteria from UAL are refreshingly clear. You qualify if you meet all three of these conditions.
You hold an offer to study a taught Master's course at UAL starting in the 2026/27 academic year. The course can be full time or part time, and it must lead to a Grad Dip, M ARCH, MA, MFA, MBA, MRes, or MSc. You cannot apply for the scholarship before you have a course offer, and you are not eligible if you already hold a UK postgraduate taught qualification or its equivalent.
You qualify for the Overseas category of tuition fee status. In plain language, you are an international student. Students from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, India, and every other non UK country fall into this category. There is no list of selected nations. This award is open to international students worldwide.
You have achieved, or are predicted to achieve, an upper second class honours degree or above at undergraduate level. In Nigerian terms, that means a second class upper (2:1) or a first class. Recognised equivalent qualifications from your country are accepted, and UAL publishes an international equivalency guide so you can check exactly where your result stands.
You will also need to meet the English language requirement of your chosen course, which for most UAL Master's programmes means IELTS 6.5 or an accepted equivalent, unless you qualify for an exemption.
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The Deadline Situation: Which Group Are You In?
This is the second truth, and it splits readers into two groups. Be honest with yourself about which one you belong to.
Group 1: You already hold a UAL offer for 2026/27. Good news. The Round 2 scholarship deadline is Friday 26 June 2026 at 11:59pm UK time, and it is still open. Log into your UAL Applicant Portal right now, open the "my funding" page, and the scholarship application form will be waiting there if you are eligible. Do not leave it until the final night. Submit this week.
Group 2: You do not have a UAL offer yet. Here is the part other websites hide. The Round 1 scholarship deadline (27 March 2026) has passed, and UAL advised that Round 2 course applications should have been submitted by 18 March 2026 so your offer would arrive before the scholarship deadline. In plain terms, if you are starting from zero today, the 2026 scholarship window has effectively closed for you.
But do not close this page, because this is exactly where smart applicants get ahead. The 2027/28 cycle will follow the same pattern: course applications opening in autumn 2026, scholarship forms appearing on the portal from around December, a Round 1 deadline around March 2027, and a Round 2 deadline in June 2027. The applicants who win are the ones who apply for their course early, in Round 1, with a polished portfolio ready. You now have months to build exactly that. We will show you how below.
Application deadline
June 26, 2026We'll email you 14, 3, 1 days before the deadline.
How to Apply (Step by Step)
The application has two stages: course first, scholarship second.
Step 1: Choose your Master's course. Browse the postgraduate courses across UAL's six colleges at arts.ac.uk and pick the programme that matches your creative direction, whether that is fashion design, graphic communication, photography, architecture, curation, or the business of the creative industries.
Step 2: Prepare your portfolio and apply for admission. Creative courses at UAL are usually won on the strength of your portfolio. Give it real time. Show range, show process, and show your own voice rather than imitations of trends.
Step 3: Receive your offer. Once UAL makes you an offer on a qualifying course, the "my funding" page on your Applicant Portal updates to display the scholarship application forms you are eligible for.
Step 4: Submit the scholarship application within your round. This is the rule that catches people out. You must apply for the scholarship in the same application round in which your course offer was made. Offer in Round 1 means scholarship application by the Round 1 deadline. Offer in Round 2 means scholarship application by the Round 2 deadline.
Step 5: Watch your email. UAL emails applicants the outcome after each round's decision date. If you win, an award letter arrives and you accept the scholarship through your UAL Portal.
Notice something? Unlike the Cambridge scholarships we covered recently, this one has a separate scholarship form. Holding an offer is not enough by itself. You must actually submit the scholarship application before the deadline.
Want Bigger Funding? UAL Has Other Awards Too
This scholarship is the largest scheme by number of awards, but it is not the only money on the table at UAL.
UAL Postgraduate £7,000 Scholarships. A £7,000 fee waiver for taught Master's courses, available through two routes with their own eligibility criteria.
UAL/ISH Scholarships. These are the big ones. Offered with International Students House, they have covered full tuition plus accommodation in London for students who are ordinarily resident in low income countries. The qualifying country list changes by cycle, so check the official page to see whether your country is included for your intake.
If money is your main barrier, check every scheme on UAL's Scholarships Search tool before you apply. You can filter by fee status, college, and subject area, and apply for everything you qualify for.
Fully funded opportunities for you
Fully Funded Loughborough University Sanctuary PhD Scholarship 2026/27
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Quick Tips to Strengthen Your Application
Apply for your course in Round 1. Earlier offers mean earlier scholarship access, more time, and less pressure.
Treat your portfolio as the scholarship essay. At an arts university, your work speaks before your words do.
Tell a clear story in your statement. UAL values students with direction. Explain what you will create, why London, and what you will take back to your community.
Sort your English test early. Do not let an IELTS booking delay your course offer past a scholarship deadline.
Budget honestly. Build a realistic plan for the fees and living costs beyond the waiver before you accept any offer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship fully funded?
No. It is a partial tuition fee waiver. You remain responsible for the rest of your tuition and all living costs. For fuller funding, look at the UAL/ISH schemes or external awards such as Chevening and Commonwealth.
Are Nigerian students eligible?
Yes. Any student who qualifies for Overseas fee status can apply, including students from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and every other African country.
How many scholarships are available?
Up to 288 for the 2026/27 academic year, which makes the odds far better than most prestigious awards.
When is the deadline?
Round 1 closed on 27 March 2026. Round 2 closes on Friday 26 June 2026 at 11:59pm UK time, for applicants who already hold a UAL offer made in that round. The next full cycle, for 2027/28 entry, is expected to open from late 2026.
Can I apply before getting admission?
No. The scholarship form only appears on your Applicant Portal after you receive a course offer. Admission always comes first.
Does it require IELTS?
The scholarship itself has no separate test, but your UAL course will require proof of English, typically IELTS 6.5 or an accepted equivalent, unless you are exempt.
Can I use it for an online course?
No. UAL Online courses are excluded. The award is for taught Master's courses at UAL's colleges and institutes.
Official Links (Bookmark These)
Final Word
Here is the honest summary. The UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship will not pay for everything, and anyone telling you otherwise is doing you no favours. What it offers is a real discount on a Master's degree at the best art and design university in the world, with 288 chances to win it, and a clear, fair process.
If you already hold a UAL offer, your move is simple: open your portal and submit the scholarship form before 26 June 2026. If you do not, your move is even more powerful: spend the coming months building a portfolio that cannot be ignored, and enter the 2027/28 cycle in Round 1, ahead of the crowd.
Either way, you now understand this scholarship better than most people who will apply for it. Use that advantage.
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Similar opportunities
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