University of Leeds Scholarship 2026: Complete Guide for International Students

If you are thinking about studying in the United Kingdom, the University of Leeds is one of the most rewarding choices you can make. It combines world-class academic standing with a genuinely welcoming environment for international students, and it backs that welcome up with real financial support. For the 2026 academic year, the university has made up to £4.7 million worth of scholarships available for international students alone. That is not a small gesture. It is a serious commitment to making quality education in the UK reachable for talented people all over the world.

This guide covers every scholarship the University of Leeds offers, from undergraduate and postgraduate awards to PhD funding and subject-specific bursaries. Whether you are planning to study business, law, engineering, sciences, humanities, or any other discipline, you will find everything you need here to understand your options, check your eligibility, and take the first step toward applying.

About the University of Leeds

The University of Leeds was established in 1904 and has grown into one of the United Kingdom’s most respected research-intensive universities. It is located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, a vibrant and affordable northern English city with a strong student culture, excellent transport links, and a growing reputation as one of the best places to live and work in the UK.

Leeds is consistently ranked among the top universities in the UK and the world. It holds a place in the QS World University Rankings top 100 globally, and several of its subject areas perform even more impressively at a national level. The university ranks first in the UK for Electronic and Electrical Engineering and in the top ten for Civil and Structural Engineering according to the Guardian University Guide 2025. Its Business School, Law School, Medical School, and Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences are all internationally recognized for teaching and research excellence.

The university is home to over 39,800 students from 137 countries. That makes it one of the most internationally diverse universities in the United Kingdom and creates a genuinely global campus where students learn not just from their lecturers but from each other. This multicultural environment is something the university actively values and invests in through its scholarship programs.

Leeds also has a long and distinguished history of producing influential graduates across every field, from arts and sciences to law, medicine, and business. Its strong links with industry and its Career Service mean graduates leave with both the academic foundation and the professional connections to succeed.

Overview of the University of Leeds Scholarship Program

The University of Leeds runs one of the most comprehensive scholarship programs of any UK university. Scholarships are available at every level of study, from undergraduate degrees to postgraduate Masters programmes and fully funded doctoral research. The awards come from several sources including central university funding, individual faculties and schools, external government partnerships, and private donors, which means there are more options available than at most comparable institutions.

For September 2026, the university has up to 500 scholarships available for international undergraduate students, valued at either £3,000, £6,000 or £16,000. It has also made available regional scholarships that are awarded automatically based on a student’s country of domicile, and a range of postgraduate and doctoral awards that go up to full tuition coverage and a maintenance stipend of £20,780 per year.

One of the most important things to understand about Leeds scholarships is that the university tries to make the process as transparent and accessible as possible. Many awards are described clearly on the university’s website with specific eligibility criteria, values, and deadlines, and some are even awarded automatically so that eligible students do not need to go through a separate application process.

Types of University of Leeds Scholarships

1. International Excellence Scholarship for Undergraduate Students

The International Excellence Scholarship is the flagship award for international students applying for undergraduate study at the University of Leeds in September 2026. The university has up to 500 scholarships available worth either £3,000, £6,000 or £16,000, and these awards are designed to recognize and reward high academic achievement among students applying from around the world.

The scholarship is competitive, which means you need to submit a separate application alongside your admission application. In your scholarship application, you are asked to explain why you are applying to study at the University of Leeds and how it fits your future ambitions and goals. The university wants to understand not just your academic record but your sense of purpose and what you plan to do with your education.

To be eligible for the International Excellence Scholarship at undergraduate level, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be classified as an international student for fee purposes.
• Hold a conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible undergraduate course starting in September 2026.
• Be self-funded or partially funded. Students who are fully sponsored are not eligible.
• Not be studying on the International Year One programme at the Leeds International Study Centre. Students on the International Foundation Year may apply separately.

Certain undergraduate courses are not eligible for this scholarship. The full list of excluded courses is available on the official scholarships page, so it is worth checking carefully whether your chosen programme qualifies before investing time in your application.

If you hold offers for more than one course at the University of Leeds, you will need to submit a separate scholarship application for each course. The award is applied as a tuition fee reduction and will be deducted from your fees when you register as a student.

2. International Undergraduate Regional Scholarship

One of the most convenient scholarship options at Leeds is the International Undergraduate Regional Scholarship, which is automatic. You do not need to submit a separate application. If you meet the eligibility and award criteria, the scholarship will be applied to your fees automatically and you will be notified of the award shortly after you receive your course offer.

This scholarship is worth £6,000 and is available to international fee-paying students from eligible countries or regions applying for undergraduate study starting in September 2026. The list of eligible countries includes Canada, Egypt, European Union member states, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Nigeria, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States, among others.

There is an important distinction here worth noting. Being domiciled in one of the eligible countries alone does not automatically qualify you for the scholarship. You must be a national of the eligible country. Students who are simply residing in one of these countries but hold nationality elsewhere may not qualify.

This scholarship can be combined with the International Excellence Scholarship or with external funding, as long as the combined total does not exceed 100% of your tuition fees. It can also be combined with a School or Faculty scholarship in some cases, subject to the terms and conditions of those awards.

3. International Excellence Scholarship for Postgraduate Masters Students

For students applying to a postgraduate taught Masters programme at Leeds, the International Excellence Scholarship is equally significant. The university offers up to 500 scholarships for postgraduate students, with award values at 10%, 25%, or 50% of total tuition fees. These are sliding-scale merit awards, which means the amount you receive depends on the strength of your academic profile and your scholarship application.

Postgraduate Excellence Scholarship applicants must hold or be predicted to achieve at least a 2:1 Honours undergraduate degree or the international equivalent. You must also have applied for an eligible taught Masters course starting in the relevant academic year, be classified as an international fee-paying student, and be self-funded or partially funded.

This scholarship does not apply to fully online courses or to the Leeds MBA programme. If you are applying for either of those, you will need to look at separate award options within those specific programmes.

Unlike the undergraduate regional scholarship, the postgraduate Excellence Scholarship requires a competitive application. You can apply for the scholarship before receiving your admission offer, which is a helpful feature as it allows you to start planning your finances early in the process.

4. International Masters Regional Scholarship

The International Masters Regional Scholarship at Leeds is worth £6,000 and is available to international students from eligible countries applying to a taught Masters programme. Like the undergraduate regional scholarship, this award helps ease the cost of living while allowing students to focus fully on their education.

Students who have already been accepted into a University of Leeds Masters programme receive confirmation of the scholarship by email. New applicants are only contacted after they receive their admission offer. The £6,000 is applied as a tuition fee reduction in the second semester of study, specifically deducted from the second tuition installment, which is typically due in February. Because of this timing, students are encouraged to choose an installment payment plan to benefit most effectively from the award.

Eligible students include those from India, Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Vietnam, among others. Again, national status from the eligible country is required, not simply domicile.

This scholarship may be combined with other university, faculty, or external scholarships as long as the total does not exceed 100% of tuition costs. Always check the terms of any other award you have received to confirm whether combination is permitted.

5. GREAT Scholarships at the University of Leeds

The GREAT Scholarship is one of the most well-known and prestigious international scholarship programmes in the United Kingdom. It is a collaboration between the British Council, the UK government, and participating universities including the University of Leeds. The award is worth £10,000 and is available for full-time postgraduate taught Masters programmes.

At the University of Leeds, GREAT Scholarships are currently offered to students from Egypt and Turkey, with each country having one scholarship available per academic cycle. This makes the GREAT Scholarship highly competitive, but also extremely valuable. For eligible students, it represents one of the largest single scholarship awards available for postgraduate study at the university.

The GREAT Scholarship can only be used towards tuition fees and applies only to one-year full-time postgraduate courses. The deadline for the GREAT Scholarship for September 2026 entry was 30 May 2025 for the previous cycle. Always check the most current deadlines directly on the official GREAT Scholarships page, as these are updated annually.

The award is open to students who are passport holders and residents of the eligible target countries. For those who qualify, this is a government-backed scholarship that carries real prestige alongside its financial value.

6. Leeds Doctoral Scholarships for PhD Students

For students aiming for doctoral research, the Leeds Doctoral Scholarship is the university’s primary PhD funding award. Up to five Leeds Doctoral Scholarships are available for the 2026/27 session for new postgraduate researchers undertaking study in any faculty at the university.

This is a fully funded research scholarship covering full academic fees for three years of full-time study and a maintenance grant for 3.5 years of full-time study. For the 2025/26 session, the annual stipend is £20,780, and this amount increases annually in line with UKRI rates. Part-time awards are available on a pro-rata basis. The scholarship is initially awarded for one year and renewed annually subject to satisfactory academic progress.

To be eligible for the Leeds Doctoral Scholarship, applicants must hold or be expected to hold a UK First-Class Honours degree or the international equivalent. Applicants with a 2:1 or lower grade may be considered if they hold or expect a Distinction in a relevant Masters degree, or if they have significant relevant experience in industry or business. Applicants must be new postgraduate researchers, meaning those already registered for a PhD are not eligible. The awards must be taken up by 1 October 2026, and recipients must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds during the scholarship period.

The application deadline for the Leeds Doctoral Scholarships 2026 is 17:00 UK time on Wednesday 1 April 2026. Applications must be submitted in two stages: first, a full PhD programme application including all required supporting documents, and then a separate online scholarship application form completed using your 9-digit Student Application ID.

7. Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship (LORS)

The Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship is a PhD-level funding award specifically designed for students from Black, Asian, and other minoritised ethnic groups. Up to five LORS scholarships are available for the 2026/27 session for study in any faculty.

This award is part of the University of Leeds’s wider commitment to postgraduate diversity and inclusion as outlined in its Access and Student Success Strategy. It is also connected to the university’s involvement with the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education and the Generation Delta initiative.

The selection process for the LORS award acknowledges the historic barriers that students from minoritised ethnic groups often face when accessing higher education. Rather than evaluating applicants purely on extra-curricular or professional achievements, the selection panel assesses personal circumstances, personal statements, financial declarations, and research suitability as evidenced by the offer to study and supervisor support statements.

This approach is genuinely thoughtful and reflects a recognition that not all students have had equal access to the kinds of achievements that competitive scholarship panels typically reward. It means that strong researchers from disadvantaged backgrounds have a fairer chance of being recognized and supported.

8. School and Faculty-Specific Scholarships

Beyond the central university scholarships, individual schools and faculties at Leeds offer their own awards. These are often targeted at specific subject areas and can represent very significant levels of support. Some notable examples include:

• Leeds University Business School International Excellence Scholarship: A competitive award for international applicants to Business Masters programmes, recognizing academic excellence and potential for leadership.
• Leeds University Business School Global Community Bursary: Worth £10,000, this award is for particularly deserving international applicants from low-income countries or low-income households in under-represented countries applying for a Business School Masters programme. This bursary specifically targets students who face the highest financial barriers to study.
• Dean’s Excellence Business School Undergraduate International Scholarship: A competitive award for international students applying for undergraduate degrees within Leeds University Business School.
• School of Law International Undergraduate Scholarship: An automatically awarded scholarship worth £2,500 as a tuition fee discount, available to eligible international students enrolling in law undergraduate courses at Leeds.
• Leeds Law School International Scholarship: A generous award offering a substantial tuition fee discount for eligible international students enrolling in law courses, covering both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
• Clothworkers’ Academic Achievement Scholarship: A merit-based award for UK students applying for the BA in Sustainable Fashion, worth £2,000 per year for three years.
• Ray and Naomi Simpson Scholarship: Worth £4,000, this scholarship supports UK or Commonwealth students pursuing an MSc programme within the School of Civil Engineering at Leeds.
• MBA Excellence Scholarships: Available for deserving candidates on the Leeds full-time MBA programme. Specific award amounts vary depending on the individual applicant’s profile.
• School of History Doctoral Scholarship: One fully funded scholarship available in the School of History for 2026/27, covering Home fees and a maintenance stipend. Open to UK applicants only.
• School of Law (William Harrison) Doctoral Scholarships: Two full doctoral scholarships available in the School of Law for UK postgraduate researchers beginning PhD study in 2026/27. The deadline for this award is Wednesday 15 April 2026.
• PhD Politics of Global Challenges Scholarships: Two highly competitive fully funded PhD scholarships in the School of Politics and International Studies, open to UK and international applicants.
• Masters in Accounting and Finance Scholarship (Chulalongkorn University Partnership): A targeted scholarship supporting students from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok who wish to progress to a full-time Masters degree in Accounting and Finance at Leeds.

9. Leeds Masters Scholarships for UK Students

The University of Leeds also has a dedicated scholarship program for UK fee-paying students who are applying for postgraduate Masters study. The Leeds Masters Scholarships are worth £7,000 each and are designed to encourage eligible UK fee-paying students from under-represented groups to pursue a Masters qualification. The university also offers over 30 scholarships worth £5,000 each for UK students wishing to study a full-time taught Masters degree.

These awards reflect the university’s commitment to widening participation at postgraduate level among domestic students, particularly those who may not have previously considered a Masters degree as a financially realistic option.

10. Leeds International Study Centre Progression Scholarships

The Leeds International Study Centre (LISC) offers a pathway progression scholarship for students who complete the International Foundation Year at LISC and then progress to the University of Leeds in September 2026. This scholarship is awarded automatically on a rolling basis to students from a select range of eligible countries including Canada, Egypt, European Union member states, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Nigeria, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States.

For pathway students, this automatic award removes the stress of a separate application and gives you a clear financial incentive to complete your foundation year successfully and progress to your chosen undergraduate degree at the main university.

General Eligibility Requirements for University of Leeds Scholarships

While each scholarship at Leeds has its own specific criteria, there are some broad requirements that apply to most international scholarship awards at the university:

• You must be classified as an international student for tuition fee purposes.
• You must hold or be expected to hold a conditional or unconditional offer for a relevant course at the University of Leeds.
• You must be self-funded or partially funded. Students who are fully sponsored by a government, employer, or external organization are generally not eligible.
• You must be enrolling as a new student for the relevant academic year. Students who are already enrolled at Leeds are typically not eligible for new student scholarship awards.
• You must meet the academic entry requirements of your chosen programme, which for postgraduate study usually means holding a 2:1 Honours degree or higher.
• For PhD scholarships, English language requirements must be met with IELTS 6.0 overall and no component below 5.5, or an equivalent accepted qualification.

Tuition Fees at the University of Leeds

Understanding how tuition fees work at Leeds helps you appreciate just how much the scholarships are worth in real terms. International undergraduate tuition fees at the University of Leeds typically range from around £22,000 to £28,500 per year depending on the subject. Medical and clinical programmes may be higher. Postgraduate tuition fees for taught Masters programmes generally range from £19,000 to £30,000 per year depending on the discipline.

With a £16,000 International Excellence Scholarship applied to a £22,000 annual undergraduate fee, your tuition cost for that year would fall to £6,000. With a 50% postgraduate Excellence Scholarship applied to a £24,000 Masters fee, you would pay £12,000 for the year. These are substantial savings that can make a transformative difference to whether studying at Leeds is financially viable for many international students.

The Leeds Doctoral Scholarship takes this even further by covering full tuition fees for three years and adding a £20,780 annual maintenance stipend, giving PhD researchers the financial stability to focus entirely on their research without needing to work part-time to cover living costs.

How to Apply for University of Leeds Scholarships

The application process varies depending on which scholarship you are applying for. Here is a clear breakdown of the steps involved for the most common awards:

For the International Excellence Scholarship (Undergraduate and Postgraduate)

1. Apply for your course: Undergraduate students apply through UCAS. Postgraduate students apply through the University of Leeds postgraduate application portal. For the postgraduate Excellence Scholarship, you can apply for the scholarship before receiving your admission offer.
2. Receive or apply for your offer: For the undergraduate award, you must already have a conditional or unconditional offer before submitting a scholarship application.
3. Submit your scholarship application: Complete the scholarship application form on the official University of Leeds scholarships page. You will be asked to write a statement explaining why you want to study at Leeds and how it relates to your future goals. Use this opportunity well.
4. Await your decision: The university will assess your application and notify you of the outcome. Successful applicants will have the scholarship applied as a tuition fee reduction upon enrollment.

For PhD (Leeds Doctoral Scholarship)

1. Stage 1: Apply for your PhD programme: Submit a full online research application through the University of Leeds portal, including all required supporting documents specified by your chosen school or faculty. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.
2. Receive your Student Application ID: Once your application is processed, you will be issued a 9-digit Student Application ID.
3. Stage 2: Submit the scholarship application form: Using your Student Application ID, complete the separate online Leeds Doctoral Scholarship application form before the deadline of 17:00 UK time on Wednesday 1 April 2026.
4. Selection process: Each school shortlists top candidates and nominates them for consideration. The final awardees are selected by the University of Leeds Scholarship Selection Panel based solely on academic merit. Financial need is not a criterion. Results are announced within 10 weeks of the application closing date.

You can begin the process today by visiting the University of Leeds official scholarships and funding page, where you will find the full list of available awards, eligibility criteria, and application forms for your chosen entry year.

Key Deadlines for University of Leeds Scholarships

Missing a scholarship deadline almost always means missing the award. Here are the key dates to mark in your calendar:

• Leeds Doctoral Scholarship 2026: Applications close at 17:00 UK time on Wednesday 1 April 2026.
• School of Law (William Harrison) Doctoral Scholarship 2026/27: Deadline is Wednesday 15 April 2026.
• GREAT Scholarship (University of Leeds): Deadlines vary by cycle. For the most recent 2025/26 cycle the deadline was 30 May 2025. Check the British Council GREAT Scholarships page for the 2026/27 deadline.
• International Excellence Scholarship (Undergraduate and Postgraduate): Rolling applications with multiple deadlines throughout the year. Apply as early as possible once you have your offer.
• International Regional Scholarship (Undergraduate and Masters): Awarded automatically to eligible students. No separate application deadline.

Tips for a Strong University of Leeds Scholarship Application

Competition for scholarships at Leeds is real, and putting care into your application genuinely makes a difference. Here are some practical tips to help you stand out:

• Apply as soon as you have your offer: For competitive scholarships, earlier applications have a natural advantage. Do not wait until the deadline approaches.
• Be specific in your personal statement: Explain precisely why you chose Leeds, how it connects to your goals, and what you plan to do with your degree. Generic statements about wanting a quality education do not make strong scholarship applications.
• Highlight more than just grades: The university is interested in your leadership potential, your contribution to your community, and your future ambitions. Give reviewers a full picture of who you are.
• Check your fee status carefully: Make sure you are classified as an international student for fee purposes, as this is a core requirement for all international scholarships at Leeds.
• Explore all available awards: Do not just apply for the headline scholarship. Check the full funding database on the Leeds website for school, faculty, and subject-specific awards that match your profile. Some of these are less widely advertised and therefore less competitive.
• Understand the combination rules: Some Leeds scholarships can be combined with each other or with external funding. Understanding which ones can be stacked means you may be able to significantly increase your total scholarship support.
• Do not miss the PhD two-stage process: Many PhD scholarship applicants make the mistake of thinking their research application is enough. You must separately complete the scholarship application form using your Student Application ID. Missing Stage 2 means your application will not be considered for funding.

Why Study at the University of Leeds

Beyond the scholarship opportunities, there are many compelling reasons to choose Leeds for your education. The university’s research environment is exceptional. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, a significant proportion of Leeds research was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent, placing it among the top research universities in the UK.

Leeds is also known for its strong graduate employment outcomes. Its Careers Centre is one of the most active in the country and works closely with students from the very start of their studies to help them build the professional skills, experiences, and networks that lead to fulfilling careers. Leeds graduates are consistently sought after by employers across all sectors.

The city of Leeds itself is another major draw. It is one of the most affordable cities in the UK for students while still offering everything you would expect from a major modern city: a thriving cultural scene, excellent restaurants, shops, music venues, sports facilities, and fast rail connections to London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and beyond. For international students, Leeds offers a quality of life that is difficult to match at the same cost anywhere else in England.

Student support at Leeds is also comprehensive. The university has dedicated international student services, academic tutoring, mental health and wellbeing support, housing assistance, and a broad range of student societies and clubs that make it easy to find your community on campus regardless of where you are from.

Final Thoughts

The University of Leeds scholarship program is one of the most generous and wide-ranging in the United Kingdom. With up to £4.7 million in scholarships available for international students in September 2026, awards ranging from £3,000 to full PhD funding packages worth over £90,000 across 3.5 years, and multiple entry points from automatic regional awards to competitive excellence scholarships and doctoral studentships, Leeds gives students from every background and every corner of the world a genuine path toward an affordable, high-quality education.

If you are serious about studying in the UK, start your Leeds journey now. Check your eligibility for the scholarships that match your level of study and nationality, prepare a thoughtful and personal scholarship statement, and submit your application as early as you can. The financial support is there. You just need to reach out and claim it.

To explore every available scholarship, check current deadlines, and begin your application, visit the University of Leeds official scholarships and funding page today.