20 Scholarships for Studying AI in the UK

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20 Scholarships for Studying AI in the UK

The UK is one of the frontline nations in the story of artificial intelligence. This is where Alan Turing first asked whether machines can think, and today London is home to Google DeepMind and one of the world’s busiest AI scenes. From Turing’s Cambridge to DeepMind’s London, Britain has shaped AI from the start. Acquiring a master’s degree in the UK takes just one year, which makes them a fast, affordable route into an AI career. Here are 20 scholarships that can help you study AI, machine learning or data science in the UK.

 

Government and Commonwealth Scholarships

1. Chevening Scholarships The UK Government’s flagship award fully funds a one-year master’s degree for future leaders from around the world. Applications open each August and close in October, with the exact date set by your country, so check your country page now.
2. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships Citizens of eligible countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India and Pakistan, get full tuition, return airfare and a monthly stipend of £1,712 (£2,000 in London). The 2027/28 round closes at 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026, and you must also apply through a national nominating body that may close earlier.
3. Commonwealth PhD Scholarships Three years of fully funded PhD study, covering tuition, airfare, a monthly stipend and family allowances. Nigeria is eligible, and the 2027/28 deadline is also 20 October 2026.
4. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Jointly funded by the UK Government and British universities, these cover a full master’s for talented students who couldn’t otherwise afford it. The 2026/27 round has closed; watch the page for the next call.
5. GREAT Scholarships The British Council and more than 60 UK universities offer £10,000 towards tuition for one-year postgraduate courses. It’s open to students from 18 countries, including Nigeria.

University Scholarships

From Oxbridge’s prestigious full rides to generous tuition discounts, these awards fund master’s degrees in AI, computer science and data science at some of Britain’s best universities.

6. Rhodes Scholarship The world’s oldest international scholarship covers Oxford fees, a stipend of about £20,400 a year, flights, visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge. The current round has closed and is expected to reopen in 2027 for 2028 entry.
7. Gates Cambridge Scholarship For applicants from outside the UK, this covers the full cost of a Cambridge postgraduate degree, including a maintenance allowance of £23,152 a year (2026-27) and airfare. About 70 are awarded each year, two-thirds to PhD students.
8. Clarendon Fund Oxford’s flagship graduate scholarship pays course fees plus a living grant, open to every nationality and subject. There’s no separate application: apply for your course by the December or January deadline and you’re considered automatically.
9. UCL Global Masters Scholarship Students from lower-income backgrounds outside the UK can receive £15,000 towards a UCL master’s degree. The last round closed in May 2026.
10. University of Manchester Global Futures Scholarship African students, including Nigerians, can get £19,000 off a master’s starting in September 2027. You’ll need an unconditional offer and to apply by 20 April 2027.
11. University of Nottingham Developing Solutions Masters Scholarship This covers 50% or 100% of master’s tuition for students from all African nations, India and selected Commonwealth countries.
12. University of Glasgow Global Leadership Scholarship A £10,000 tuition discount for high achievers on one-year master’s programmes starting in September 2027. You can register your interest now; it usually opens in late August.
13. University of Bristol Think Big Scholarships Bristol offers tuition funding to international postgraduates, and you don’t need an offer before applying. The last round closed in April 2026.
14. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh This comprehensive scholarship supports talented young Africans with financial need to study at Edinburgh, one of Europe’s leading universities for AI and informatics.

PhD and AI-Focused Scholarships

Aiming for a PhD in machine learning, robotics or natural language processing? These pay your fees plus a tax-free stipend while you research.

15. UKRI AI Centres for Doctoral Training The UK Government funds 28 dedicated AI PhD centres, including 12 launched in 2023 that will train around 900 students. Each centre recruits its own students, so contact the ones that match your research interests directly.
16. Imperial College President’s PhD Scholarships Open to any nationality, these cover full fees and a £27,036 stipend (2027/28) for 3.5 years, plus £2,000 a year for research costs. The first round closes on 2 November 2026, with later rounds in January and March 2027.
17. Warwick Chancellor’s International Scholarship About 80 awards cover full fees, a 3.5-year stipend at the UKRI rate and a £5,000 research grant for overseas PhD students in any subject. The scholarship deadline is around 10 December 2026.
18. Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships Edinburgh’s School of Informatics is one of Europe’s biggest AI research hubs, and these scholarships fund PhD students starting in 2027-28.
19. Cambridge Trust Scholarships The Cambridge Trust funds hundreds of international students each year, often in partnership with Cambridge colleges and departments. Use its “Find a scholarship” tool to see awards that match your course.
20. Google DeepMind AI Scholarships via the Martingale Foundation Google DeepMind funds AI master’s study in the UK, with a DeepMind mentor and invitations to top AI conferences. The UK round is delivered by the Martingale Foundation and is aimed at UK students; the 2026 round has closed.

Tips to Boost Your Chances

• Act on autumn deadlines. Chevening, Commonwealth and Imperial all close between October and early November, nearly a year before courses start.
• Get your offer early. Many university scholarships, like Manchester’s and Glasgow’s, require an offer before you can apply.
• Show leadership, not just grades. Chevening, Rhodes and Gates Cambridge look for people who will make an impact back home.
• Find a supervisor for a PhD. Contact academics whose AI research excites you before you apply.
• Prepare your English test. Have IELTS or an accepted equivalent ready in time for visa and admission deadlines.