University of Leeds Masters International Excellence Scholarships 2027 in the UK: £3,000 to £16,000 Tuition-Fee Discounts for International Students If you are planning a taught master's degree in England for September 2027 and your grades are strong, the University of Leeds Masters International Excellence Scholarships are worth putting on your shortlist. They reward high academic achievement with a tuition-fee discount of £3,000, £6,000 or £16,000 — but you need an offer for an eligible course first, and there are two application rounds to choose from. Key facts at a glance - Provider: University of Leeds, United Kingdom - Scholarship: Masters International Excellence Scholarships - Study level: Full-time taught master's degree, starting September 2027 - Value: £3,000, £6,000 or £16,000 as a tuition-fee discount for the first year of study only - Funding type: Partial funding — a tuition-fee discount, not a fully funded award and not a cash payment for living costs - Round one deadline: Sunday 28 February 2027 (successful applicants notified by 2 April 2027) - Round two deadline: Sunday 16 May 2027 (all applicants notified by 11 June 2027) - How to apply: Complete the scholarship application form after you hold a conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible course - Official page: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/scholarship/12/masters-international-excellence-scholarships What the scholarship covers The Masters International Excellence Scholarships are competitive awards for international students applying for a taught master's degree starting in September 2027. Successful applicants receive a tuition-fee discount of £3,000, £6,000 or £16,000. The final amount awarded to an applicant is determined by the University, and all decisions are final. This is a first-year fee reduction only. It can only be used as a fee reduction — it cannot be used towards maintenance, accommodation or other costs. It can be combined with the University's Masters International Regional Scholarship or external funding, as long as the total does not exceed 100% of your tuition fees, and you may also be able to combine it with a School or Faculty scholarship. If you apply through an International Partner Agreement and are offered more than one University of Leeds scholarship, you can only accept one — whichever award represents the highest value. The award cannot be deferred to the following year and is non-transferable to other courses. Who can apply To apply for a Masters International Excellence Scholarship, you must: - Be classified as an international student for fee purposes - Hold a conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible full-time taught master's course starting in September 2027 - Be self-funded or partially funded - Demonstrate an excellent academic track record, and be predicted to achieve or have achieved a minimum of a bachelor's degree with a 2:1 (hons) or equivalent - Show excellent professional and personal skills, evidenced through work experience and/or extracurricular activities The following master's courses are not eligible: the MBA, which has its own generous MBA Excellence Scholarship scheme, and all fully online courses. How to apply — step by step 1. Apply for an eligible full-time taught master's course at the University of Leeds starting in September 2027, and secure a conditional or unconditional offer. 2. Find your University of Leeds Student ID and Application ID(s) in your applicant portal account — you will need both for the scholarship form. 3. Complete the scholarship application form by your chosen round deadline. The form cannot be saved part-way through, so have everything ready before you start. 4. In the form, write a 100-word statement explaining why you are applying to study at the University of Leeds and how it fits your future ambitions and goals. 5. If you hold offers for multiple courses, submit a separate scholarship application for each course. Eligible applicants who are not selected in round one may be considered again in later rounds, so an early application does not close the door if you are not picked first time round. Deadlines to remember - Round one: Apply by Sunday 28 February 2027. Successful applicants are notified by 2 April 2027, and applications remain under consideration until all scholarship awards have been allocated. - Round two: Apply by Sunday 16 May 2027. All applicants are notified of the outcome by 11 June 2027. Why this one stands out A £16,000 fee discount can make a serious dent in the cost of a one-year master's degree, and even the £3,000 and £6,000 tiers help. The catch is that this is a competitive, merit-based award — strong grades and a clear, focused 100-word statement matter, and you cannot apply until you hold an offer. That makes the real first deadline your course application, not the scholarship form. Apply for your course early, get your offer in hand, and then use the round that gives you the most time to write a sharp statement. Questions and official source Always confirm the latest details on the University of Leeds official Masters International Excellence Scholarships page before you apply, as terms, eligibility and deadlines can change: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/scholarship/12/masters-international-excellence-scholarships
Securing a Fully Funded Scholarship is only the first step. Many Nigerian students are now utilizing No-Cosigner Student Loans through providers like MPOWER Financing and Prodigy Finance to cover living expenses in the USA, Canada, and the UK.
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For Canada and the US, a WES Course-by-Course Evaluation is often mandatory. Additionally, if your degree was taught in English, you may qualify for an IELTS/TOEFL Waiver, saving you significant costs during the Graduate Admissions process.
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