Durham University offers £5,000 postgraduate scholarships to 200 international students
Durham University has introduced the Inspiring Excellence 5K Postgraduate Scholarship for 2025, giving 200 international students the opportunity to receive a £5,000 tuition fee reduction for full-time, one-year taught master’s programs beginning in September 2025.
According to the university, this £5,000 scholarship will be applied directly to tuition fees and awarded to 200 international students.
The scholarship is merit-based, aimed at supporting students with outstanding academic achievements and strong potential for success in their fields.
Programs Covered and Exclusions
This scholarship is available for various master’s programs at Durham University but excludes the following:
All Business School master’s degrees and MBA programs
Second-year studies of a taught postgraduate program
PGCE and PGCERT (Education)
MA – Conservation of Archaeological and Museum Objects
Have applied for a one-year, full-time (in-person) MSc, MA, LLM, or MDS program (excluding MBA programs).
Begin their master’s studies in September 2025.
Receive an offer for a master’s program at Durham by May 4, 2025 (first selection) or June 8, 2025 (second selection).
Be classified as an overseas student for tuition purposes.
Meet or exceed the entry requirements for their chosen program at Durham University.
Not be receiving any other scholarship from Durham, except the Durham International Scholarship (£5,000) available for students from Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Vietnam.
Be self-funded and not supported by an external sponsor or scholarship body.
Submit the Inspiring Excellence 5K Postgraduate Scholarship application form.
Students must also meet or surpass the admission requirements for their selected program and be classified as overseas students for tuition purposes.
Applicants must submit a separate application for the Inspiring Excellence 5K Scholarship, as it cannot be transferred or converted into cash.
Additionally, this scholarship is only available to students not receiving other Durham funding, except for students eligible for the Durham International Scholarship.
Selection Process
Durham University states:
The scholarship is competitive, and not all applicants will be selected.
A panel of university staff will evaluate applications.
Besides the application responses, factors like nationality diversity and balance across programs will be considered.
Due to the high volume of applications, feedback will not be provided to unsuccessful candidates.
Additional Funding for Select Countries
Students from Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Vietnam can combine this scholarship with the Durham International Scholarship, potentially receiving a total tuition fee discount of £10,000.
The Durham International Scholarship, worth £5,000, is automatically awarded to students from these countries and can be added to the 5K scholarship.
Applicants must ensure they meet all eligibility requirements and apply for the correct scholarships.
Application Timeline and Deadlines
Applications opened: March 14, 2025.
First application deadline: April 30, 2025.
First selection results announced: May 12, 2025.
Selected students must confirm enrollment by paying a deposit within two weeks.
Second application deadline: June 8, 2025.
Final selection results announced: June 16, 2025.
Waiting list confirmed: July 7, 2025.
Durham University encourages interested students to visit the scholarship application page and submit their applications on time. Detailed guidance is available on the university’s official website.
