About
The University of Leicester is a leading UK higher education institution founded in 1921 as a living war memorial. As a Gold-rated Teaching Excellence Framework institution and ranked in the top 30 in the UK for research quality according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, the University delivers world-class teaching and research across multiple disciplines. The University is committed to changing lives through education and research, with expertise spanning medicine, science, technology, business, law, culture, heritage, social science, and more. It serves a global community of students from over 150 countries.
Funding Opportunities
Leicester Postgraduate Partnership Scholarship
As part of an exciting new partnership between Leicester's two universities, University of Leicester and De Montfort University, this scholarship offers graduates of either institution a bursary if they choose to sign up for a taught postgraduate course. The scholarship provides a 20% fee discount on a selection of postgraduate taught courses at either University of Leicester or De Montfort University. This partnership initiative is designed to encourage progression from undergraduate to postgraduate study within the Leicester higher education community. The scholarship is available for eligible courses across multiple academic disciplines including Business and Law, Computing, Engineering and Media, Health and Life Sciences, and Art, Design and Humanities. The discount is applied automatically for eligible students who meet the criteria, making the transition to postgraduate study more affordable for graduates of these partner institutions.
Leicester-King Power Thai Scholarship
The Leicester-King Power Thai Scholarship celebrates the valued partnership between the University of Leicester and King Power. This exclusive award recognises the shared commitment to advancing education, opportunity, and cultural exchange between the UK and Thailand. All Thai-domiciled international students commencing a full-time, campus-based undergraduate or postgraduate taught programme in September 2026 will automatically receive a tuition fee discount of £5,000. The scholarship reflects the University's partnership with King Power, one of Thailand's most respected companies, and embodies a shared vision of empowering future generations of Thai leaders, scholars, and changemakers. The award is applied automatically to eligible offer holders and requires no separate application. This initiative deepens the educational and cultural ties between Thailand and the United Kingdom.
Family Loyalty Discount
The Family Loyalty Discount offers a 10% reduction on tuition fees for postgraduate students at the University of Leicester who have a sibling, spouse, or parent who is currently studying or has graduated from a full-time course at the university. This discount applies to each year of the postgraduate course and is designed to support families with multiple members studying at Leicester. When two or more family members register simultaneously, the discount is split between them, with each receiving a proportional share. The discount is available to international fee-paying students and requires documentary evidence of the family relationship, such as birth or marriage certificates in English.
Distance Learning Full Fee Instalment Incentive
The Distance Learning Full Fee Instalment Incentive provides a 5% discount on the total course fee for students who pay the full fee for their distance learning course prior to the start of their course. The payment must be made by the first instalment payment deadline which is detailed in the offer letter. This discount is designed to incentivize early full payment and reduce administrative burden associated with instalment payments. The discount is available for both self-funding and sponsored students and can be combined with other University of Leicester discounts including the alumni loyalty scheme or the distance learning merit-based scholarship. This discount does not apply to courses which already require full payment in advance.
Distance Learning Merit Scholarship
The Distance Learning Merit Scholarship offers a discount in the course fee for suitably qualified UK and international fee paying applicants pursuing taught postgraduate distance learning degrees at the University of Leicester. The scholarship awards vary by level of study: £800 for MA/MSc programs, £500 for PGDip programs, and £300 for PGCert programs. The scholarship is automatically applied to eligible students' fees based on their academic qualifications. To qualify, applicants must have a UK first class honours degree or its international equivalent and be starting their course in the 2025/26 academic year. This scholarship is available for both self-funding and sponsored students and can be combined with the Full Fee Instalment Incentive. No separate application is required as the scholarship is automatically applied to eligible students' fees.
University of Leicester GREAT Scholarships 2026
In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, the University of Leicester is offering one scholarship of £10,000 GBP to students in Pakistan applying for a one-year postgraduate course (excluding PGCEs). The GREAT Scholarships 2026 programme, launched by the British Council together with over 60 UK universities, supports postgraduate students from Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam in accessing world-class UK higher education opportunities. The scholarship programme offers financial support of £10,000 to students pursuing one-year postgraduate study in the UK. Students can apply for courses in a range of subjects, at over 60 institutions across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Chancellor's International Postgraduate Taught Scholarship
The Chancellor's International Postgraduate Taught Scholarship is offered by the University of Leicester to honor Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock PhD as the University's Chancellor. This scholarship provides a £3,000 tuition fee discount to international-fee-paying students who meet the entry requirements for a postgraduate taught degree. Dame Maggie was born in London to Nigerian parents and is an award-winning space scientist, broadcaster and author. The scholarship reflects the University's commitment to attracting talented students from around the world. This scholarship rewards academic achievement and is automatically awarded to eligible international students who successfully achieve the entry requirements for their applied course. No separate application is required; eligible students will be notified with their course offer when they submit their final results. The scholarship is available for students starting their course in January 2026, April 2026, and September 2026.
International Postgraduate Taught Merit Scholarship
The University of Leicester offers the International Postgraduate Taught Merit Scholarship in recognition of the high standard of applications received for Master's degrees. This scholarship provides a tuition fee discount of £5,000 to international fee-paying students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement. The scholarship is available to students starting campus-based postgraduate taught degree programmes in January, April, or September 2026. Eligible students must possess a qualification equivalent to a UK first class degree. There is no separate application process - eligible students are automatically considered when they apply for their course and will be notified with their course offer upon submission of final results. The scholarship is awarded for a maximum of one year and students can only hold one University of Leicester scholarship.
Leicestershire Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Doctoral Training Programme
This prestigious PhD programme addresses the unique health issues faced by Leicester and Leicestershire's ethnically and culturally diverse population, recently amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to funding from the Wellcome Trust, the programme offers funding opportunities for 25 Research Fellows over five years, providing nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and doctors with the chance to pursue academic research. The Fellows will benefit from well-established partnerships across the regional and national healthcare system, local government, industry and community groups, with the aim of developing a generation of innovative world-leading researchers in under-represented groups of health care professionals addressing important areas of health inequalities. The programme is delivered in partnership with the University of Leicester, Loughborough University, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester City Council's Public Health team, and Leicester City CCG.
EPSRC CDT in Digital Transformation of Metals Industry (DigitalMetal CDT)
The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Transformation of Metals Industry (DigitalMetal) will train a new generation of eighty leaders ready to transform the metals and manufacturing industry using digital technology; and increasing the industry's agility, productivity and international competitiveness. DigitalMetal CDT, led by the University of Leicester, in partnership with Universities of Birmingham, Loughborough, Nottingham, and Warwick, invites applications for about 14 fully funded PhD positions for 2025 entry. This programme is designed to train future leaders equipped with combined expertise in metals and alloy engineering and digital technology and AI, supported by a broad foundation in manufacturing management, product development, leadership, and personal development skills. The programme offers PhD projects in five research themes in collaboration with world-leading industrial partners, including Rolls-Royce, UKAEA, GKN Aerospace, TWI, MTC, AWE, WMG, Siemens, Qinetiq, Tata Steel, British Steel, and HVM Catapult. Graduates of the DigitalMetal CDT will be uniquely prepared to excel in academia, industry, or policy roles.
BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership
The Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) is a BBSRC-funded Doctoral Training Partnership comprising six universities: University of Warwick, University of Birmingham, University of Leicester, Aston University, Coventry University and Harper Adams University. The partnership offers comprehensive PhD training programmes across four key research themes: Sustainable Agriculture and Food, Understanding the Rules of Life, Renewable Resources and Clean Growth, and Integrated Understanding of Health. As an MIBTP Scholar, students join a comprehensive training programme that runs concurrently with their PhD research, providing interdisciplinary research opportunities and fostering critical mass for global impact. The programme offers 4-year fully funded studentships with extensive training and development opportunities. The partnership recognizes that interdisciplinarity underpins most significant research and provides students access to resources, expertise, and facilities across all partner institutions.
Leicester-King Power Thai Scholarship
The Leicester-King Power Thai Scholarship celebrates the valued partnership between King Power and the University of Leicester to advance education, opportunity, and cultural exchange between the UK and Thailand. Under this scheme, all Thai-domiciled international students commencing a full-time, campus-based undergraduate or postgraduate taught programme in September 2026 will automatically receive a tuition fee discount. The scholarship recognizes the shared commitment of King Power and the University to advancing education and cultural exchange. This exclusive award is part of a broader vision to empower future generations of Thai leaders, scholars, and changemakers who will contribute to both Thailand's continued success and the strengthening of UK-Thai relations. The discount is applied automatically to eligible offer holders with no separate application required.
Family Loyalty Discount
The University of Leicester offers a Family Loyalty Discount providing a 10% reduction on tuition fees for students who have family members who are currently studying or have graduated from the university. This discount is designed to support families who have multiple members pursuing their education at Leicester. The discount applies to each year of a student's course. This opportunity is specifically for international fee-paying students whose sibling, spouse, or parent is either currently studying on or has graduated from a full-time course at the University of Leicester. Applicants must provide documentary evidence of the family relationship and meet specific eligibility criteria. The discount cannot be combined with other university scholarships or discounts. When two or more family members register at the same time, the family discount is split between them, so two family members would each receive a 5% discount.
Chancellor's International Scholarship
To honour Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock PhD as the University of Leicester's Chancellor, the University offers the Chancellor's International Scholarship to all international-fee-paying students who meet entry requirements for an undergraduate taught degree. Dame Maggie was born in London to Nigerian parents and is an award-winning space scientist, broadcaster and author. This scholarship, worth £3,000 per year, reflects the University's commitment to attracting talented students from around the world. The scholarship rewards academic achievement for all international qualifications equivalent to British A-levels. If students meet or exceed the standard entry criteria for their course, they will receive a £3,000 discount from the standard tuition fee per year. The scholarship is automatically awarded to eligible students, with no separate application required. Students will be notified of the award when they submit their final results.
International Undergraduate Merit Scholarship
The International Undergraduate Merit Scholarship is a merit-based award offered by the University of Leicester to recognize exceptional academic achievement among international students. Worth £5,000 per year, this scholarship is automatically awarded to international-fee-paying students who achieve grades equivalent to two levels above the standard A-level entry requirement for their chosen undergraduate degree programme. The scholarship rewards high-performing students from around the world who demonstrate outstanding academic credentials in qualifications equivalent to British A-levels. Students progressing from STEM International Foundation or International Year 1 courses are also eligible if they achieve an overall score of 70% or above. The scholarship is renewable annually for the duration of the undergraduate programme, provided students maintain their enrollment status. There is no separate application required - all eligible students are automatically considered and notified when final results are submitted.
University of Leicester Bursary Scheme
The University of Leicester Bursary Scheme provides financial support to undergraduate students from low-income backgrounds or those who have completed eligible progression programmes. For courses starting in academic years 2025/26 and 2026/27, eligible students receive £1,000 cash for each year of their course (excluding industrial placement years). Students qualify if they either completed an eligible progression programme (such as Access Leicester, Sutton Trust Pathway programme, UKWPMED partner programme, or Realising Opportunities programme) or if they live in a postcode identified as Index of Multiple Deprivation Quintile 1 (IMD Q1) and have a verified household income of £30,000 or less as confirmed by Student Finance. The bursary is paid directly to students at the start of semester 2 through their Student Loan Company account. This scheme is available for all subjects including Medicine, though medical students receive the bursary only for the first four years of their degree since NHS funding covers the fifth year. There is no application process required as eligibility is automatically assessed based on student data provided to UCAS and Student Finance.
Sir Laurence Howard Rutland Scholarship
The Sir Laurence Howard Rutland Scholarship Fund has been made possible thanks to generous philanthropic donations from University of Leicester alumni and supporters. This scholarship is for applicants with connections to the County of Rutland, UK, to support them during their studies at the University of Leicester. Each successful applicant will receive £2,000 a year for three years, subject to a review of the applicant's progress and circumstances each academic year. Two awards are available for applicants this year. The scholarship aims to provide financial support to undergraduate students who have demonstrated connections to Rutland through residency, education, voluntary service, or who meet specific additional criteria including being mature students, previously in care, having refugee status, being carers, or having achieved excellence in various pursuits.
Care Leavers Bursary
The Care Leavers Bursary at the University of Leicester provides financial support to students who have been in care. The bursary offers a payment of £2,000 for each year of the undergraduate course. This support is specifically designed to help care leavers under the age of 25 pursue their higher education goals. Students who indicate their care leaver status on their UCAS application will be contacted by the university, or they can reach out directly to the Student Welfare team for more information. The university's Student Welfare team also provides additional support including assistance with loan or grant applications and can liaise with Local Authorities on behalf of students.
Talented Athlete Award
The Talented Athlete Award is offered by the University of Leicester and Sport and Active Life to support individual student athletes in pursuing the highest levels in their sport alongside their academic studies. The award provides performance athletes at undergraduate or postgraduate level with support services and a targeted financial contribution aimed at helping each individual reach their potential. The program is designed for recognized talented athletes who are part of their respective sports' National Governing Bodies/Federation pathway programmes and have represented their NGBs at internationally recognized sporting events within the past 12 months. Priority is given to individuals who demonstrate a commitment to represent or play a full part in a respective Team Leicester sport within the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) programmes. The award is valid for one academic year and applicants must reapply each year.
Citizens of Change Scholarship
The Citizens of Change Scholarship honors the legacy of the first eleven students who enrolled at the University of Leicester in 1921. The scholarship recognizes students who embody the university's core values of being Inclusive, Inspiring, and Impactful. Recipients are selected based on their ability to demonstrate how they will live these values as students at Leicester, working toward a better future through understanding, ambitious research, and participation in a diverse and inclusive community. The scholarship supports undergraduate students who are committed to pursuing knowledge that has the power to transform and make the world a better place. Applicants must submit a 200-word essay explaining how they will embody the values of a Citizen of Change as a student at the University of Leicester. The selection panel evaluates submissions based on understanding of the values, vision for improvement, and communication clarity. Priority is given to applicants from Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) Quintile 1 backgrounds.
At a Glance
- Total Funding Opportunities
- 45
- Active Now
- 20
- Source Domain
- le.ac.uk
Catalog Data
This funder profile was automatically extracted from grant listings. Information may be incomplete.
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