Scholarships, bursaries and discounts for international students

Scholarships and discounts

We have a range of scholarships, bursaries and discounts available to international students. You can apply for our scholarships once you have received an offer from us.

You must be applying for a full-time degree. Applications for postgraduate research, online studies, foundation and pre-sessional language programmes are not eligible for a discount or scholarship.

Read our full terms and conditions

Find out more about scholarship criteria for your country

Our scholarships

Here are our available scholarships for the September 2023 intake. You can apply for all four scholarships, but will only be awarded one if your application is successful. Successful scholarship applicants will be contacted via email to confirm their award.

GREAT Scholarship

In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT British Campaign, this scholarship programme offers financial support of £11,000 to eligible students pursuing one year postgraduate study at the University of Derby, as part of our September 2023 intake.

A separate application is required through an online form once you have received your offer. Applicants must be from one of the following eligible countries:

The outcome of applications will be announced after 15 June 2023.

GREAT Scholarships full details

Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship

The Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship provides one full year’s tuition fees to a limited number of eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Students will need to achieve high academic results exceeding the entry criteria for the course and demonstrate exceptional achievements in extracurricular activity, either in your own time or through your employment in the last two years in your personal statement.

You can only apply for this scholarship once you have an offer from us. The outcome of applications will be announced after 1 July 2023. Please read our terms and conditions for full details.

International Excellent Student Scholarship

£5,000 scholarship to a limited number of eligible undergraduate and postgraduate international students from the following countries who can demonstrate excellence in their application.

South East Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore)
China (including Hong Kong)
South Asia (India, Pakistan)
Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
Europe (Norway, Switzerland)

If you are from a country not listed above, you may still be awarded a scholarship at the discretion of the University.

You will need to achieve high academic results exceeding the entry criteria for the course and demonstrate excellence in extracurricular activity, either in your own time or through your employment in the last two years in your personal statement.

You can only apply for this scholarship once you have an offer from us. This is an ongoing process and we will advise successful applicants throughout the year. Please read our terms and conditions for full details.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

Full tuition fee and stipend for talented and motivated postgraduate students from Commonwealth countries:

Please note, the deadline for this scholarship has passed. The outcome of applications will be announced after 31 March 2023. More information can be found on the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship website.

Getting the Vice-Chancellor scholarship has helped me believe in myself and my achievements. I have become more confident and it is a big motivation to work even harder. I am very grateful and really blessed that I got this opportunity.

Mohika Shankar

Dance and Movement Studies and Psychology

Further discounts

We also offer the following discounts to international students in addition to any scholarships received. You do not need to apply separately for these discounts.

Early Bird Discount

£500 discount to eligible undergraduate and postgraduate international students who pay the tuition fees in full by the time of enrolment.

International Alumni Discount

£500 discount to eligible postgraduate taught international students who have completed a bachelor or masters degree, on-campus, at the University of Derby.

Sports Scholarships

We also have a number of Sports Scholarships available for which international students can apply.

Find out more about our Sports Scholarships

Mohika's scholarship story

Mohika wanted to lift some of the financial burden of studying abroad, and so applied and was successful in achieving a scholarship at Derby. Here she talks about how grateful she was to receive it.

Sam's scholarship story

Sam's first-year fees were covered by the Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship, one of a range of scholarships, bursaries and discounts we offer to international students. Here, he shares his experience of receiving the award and what it meant to him.

Sam Chikowore from Zimbabwe with University of Derby Vice-Chancellor Dr Kathryn Mitchell