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Funding and scholarships for students

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer numerous scholarships to encourage exceptional students to apply for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of Exeter.

These scholarships tend to be highly competitive and merit-based, so we recommend investigating options early as deadlines and eligibility vary. Many schemes will not cover full costs, but may go some way to reducing the costs.

Terms and conditions apply. Please see the award entries for details.

The University of Exeter has more than £5 million worth of scholarships available for international fee paying students applying to study with us in 2025/26, including our Exeter Excellence Scholarships.

We are pleased to offer the Green Futures Postgraduate Taught Scholarship for study on an eligible Masters programme in the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy in 2025/26.

This award will support an exceptional candidate from a low or lower middle-income country to pursue their academic and career goals - combining education for sustainable development with global citizenship to deliver equitable and sustainable Green Futures around the world.

Find out more.

We are pleased to offer University of Exeter students graduating in Summer 2025 and progressing direct to a standalone taught Masters degree (e.g. MA, MSc, MRes, MFA, LLM) or research degree (e.g. MPhil/PhD) with us, a scholarship towards the cost of their tuition fees.

We are pleased to offer University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone taught Masters degree (e.g. MA, MSc, MRes, MFA, LLM) or research degree (e.g. MPhil, PhD) with us a scholarship towards the cost of their tuition fees.

Awards are available to all home and international University of Exeter alumni who have:

  • Graduated from an undergraduate or postgraduate degree awarded by the University of Exeter
  • Completed an inbound Study Abroad semester/year at the University of Exeter
  • Completed a credit-bearing University of Exeter International Summer School

Find out more.

As a benefit, University of Exeter Alumni have access to an exclusive Family and Friends Discount Scheme. We email registered alumni with details of the scheme, giving them the opportunity to refer family members or friends, who apply to start an eligible University of Exeter postgraduate programme of study, for a 20% discount on their first-year tuition fees when they enrol.

Referrals for programmes starting in September 2024 and January 2025 are closed but the scheme remains open for programmes with entry points later in the 2024/25 academic year and for programmes starting in the 2025/26 academic year.  

Alumni who have not received this information, and wish to refer a family member or friend, should update their details here and contact alumni@exeter.ac.uk for a copy of the email.

Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than 600 scholarships, amounting to an investment of over £8m in British Muslim communities.

The Scholarships Programme offers 100% tuition fee Masters scholarships to support British Muslims to study at UK universities. The scholarships are aimed at those who wish to advance in their careers and bring positive change to their communities and beyond.

The Foundation will be accepting Masters scholarships applications for 2025/26 from

  • 13 January to 4 April 2025 
  • 8 April to 20 June 2025

Scholarships are being awarded through over 50 partner universities and in eight subject areas – Arts and Culture, Grantmaking and Philanthropy, Law, Media and Journalism, Policy, Sports, Sustainability and Environment, and Technology - and the University of Exeter is delighted to be one of these partners.

Further terms and conditions apply, please see the Aziz Foundation website to find out more. 

The Hornby Trust is delighted to be partnering the University of Exeter to offer funding to academically talented and experienced applicants to the MEd TESOL at the University who are nationals of and work in countries as defined as Least Developed, Low Income, Lower Middle Income, or Upper Middle Income according to the OECD DAC list.

The Hornby Education Trust prioritises capacity building for English language teaching in low- and middle-income countries. It awards Master’s degree scholarships to teachers and related professionals with experience and evidenced potential to impact and enhance the field of English language teaching and learning in their home country.

Find out more about the Hornby Trust scholarship »

Search our funding database to find a range scholarships and bursaries.

Search our funding database

Merit Scholarships

Our range of merit scholarships reward the very best students based on extra-curricular achievements.

Endowed scholarships

Endowed scholarships are financial gifts given to the University to help students fund their studies. Often they come with a number of conditions and are subject to an annual funding review. For further details, please see our Endowed Scholarships for Masters students webage.

Faculty scholarships

Some of our Faculties offer awards for students studying taught Masters programmes with them. These awards are normally for general study with the Faculty, study on specific programmes they offer, or for students from selected academic/employment backgrounds or countries. Search our funding database to find Faculty scholarships available to you.

University of Exeter Business School Scholarships

The Business School offers a range of scholarships for their programmes. Full details of the scholarships can be found on their dedicated Masters and The Exeter MBA funding pages.

Bursaries

Bursaries are non-competitive payments intended to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds, or who are having difficulties funding their studies.

The University of Exeter offers financial support to students who have been in care in the form of a full tuition fee waiver for UK undergraduates and PGCE students, and a Care Leavers’ Bursary.

For the purposes of these schemes, the University of Exeter we define a care leaver as a young person (up to the age of 25) who has been looked after by a UK local authority for more than 13 weeks since they were 14, including some time at age 16 or 17.

Tuition Fee Waiver

The University of Exeter offers financial support in the form of a full tuition fee waiver to undergraduate students who are verified as being a care leaver. Students must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a home fee status, and be paying the home level of tuition fee
  • Be a UK citizen or resident in the UK for at least three years
  • Be studying a first degree, PGCE or integrated undergraduate Masters degree (e.g. MSci or MEng)*
  • Meet the University’s care leaver definition and be verified as a care leaver by their Local Authority.
  • Be 25 or under when commencing their course

*The Care Leaver fee waiver applies to a student’s first degree only and for four years maximum in study length (which might include an integrated Masters up to year four), with the exception of Medicine where we will support care leavers in all five years of study. Any additional years of study, for whatever reason, should be funded by the student themselves via the student loan system or by other means.

The fee waiver will only be applied for a PGCE course if the student did not receive a tuition fee waiver at undergraduate level.

Care Leavers and Estranged Students Bursary

The bursary offers financial support for undergraduate students who are recognised as a care leaver or estranged from both parents/carers. The £1,000 bursary is payable for up to four years maximum in study length (which might include an integrated Masters up to year four), with the exception of Medicine where we will support students in all five years of study.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the care leavers/estranged student bursary you must:

  • Be studying a full-time undergraduate course. 
  • Meet the University’s definition of being a care leaver or an estranged student. 
  • Be assessed by the relevant UK student funding body as having independent/estranged student status or be in the process of applying for this status.  
  • Be a UK citizen or have been resident in the UK for at least three years 
  • Be studying for your first degree, PGCE or integrated undergraduate Masters degree (e.g., MSci or MEng)*  
  • Be 25 or under when commencing your course  
  • Be starting or continuing your studies in the 2025/2026 academic year

Bursary Terms and Conditions

If you have any questions regarding financial support, please contact the Exeter Cares Team exeter-cares@exeter.ac.uk.

The University of Exeter is offering a £600 bursary to our UK students whose household income has been assessed by your relevant student funding body as £30,000 or less. There is no separate application procedure for the bursary, however, to be eligible you must complete your application for Student Finance, and your parent(s) or sponsor, should not opt out of consenting to share your financial details with the University.

The PGCE Exeter Bursary for 2025/26 academic year will be paid in one instalment on the last Friday in October, or thereafter within 10 working days of confirmation of your household income.

In addition to the tuition and maintenance loan, the Department for Education and Teaching Regulation Agency (formally known as the National College for Teaching & Leadership) offers further financial incentives and support as a bursary, available to Home trainees on an eligible course in England. Bursary amounts vary depending on teaching subject and degree class.

For further details on the DETRA scheme, please visit the PGCE course pages.

There is no formal application procedure for the bursary however, as part of the registration process, you will be asked to accept the University's terms and conditions which will include the terms and conditions for receipt of the DETRA Training Bursary.

Payment dates

You will receive your first bursary payment in October, on the condition you have provided your bank account details and have registered.

Payments are made on a monthly basis, to reach your bank account for the first Friday of the month. The funds will be paid between October and July in 10 equal instalments.

Please note:

If you are considering withdrawing or interrupting from your course, you must inform your College immediately as you will no longer be eligible to receive the bursary. Any bursary payment received after your last day of attendance will require repayment.

International Students are not eligible for the training bursary.

Payments made before eligibility has been properly assessed are made on a provisional basis and may be subject to repayment.

Search our Funding Database >>

I was ecstatic to receive the Global Excellence Scholarship because my financial situation at the time and the expense of international tuition fees meant I would never be able to do a Masters degree without this scholarship which greatly improved the likelihood of me being in a career I dreamt of.

Terita

MSc Conservation and Biodiversity