The University of Southampton Scholarships 2027 for International Students provide several ways to reduce the cost of undergraduate and master’s study in the United Kingdom. Under Southampton’s current international scholarship scheme, the Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship and the postgraduate Global Excellence Scholarship each provide £3,000 toward tuition fees, while students who need complete financial support can apply for the fully funded Chevening Scholarship, including the Chevening–Southampton partnership award. The two University-funded Excellence Scholarships are awarded automatically to eligible students, whereas Chevening has a separate competitive application process. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the University of Southampton Scholarships, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
Southampton is still updating its general scholarship information for students starting in 2027. The University has specifically stated that the postgraduate Global Excellence Scholarship page will be updated for 2027 entry during autumn 2026. For awards whose new cycle has not yet been published, this guide therefore explains the current scholarship structure without treating previous-cycle dates as 2027 deadlines.
Related Scholarships
- Chevening Scholarship 2027
- Fully Funded Scholarships in the UK
- Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students
- Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships
University of Southampton Scholarships Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate / Master’s
- Institution: University of Southampton
- Study Destination: United Kingdom
- Courses Offered: Most eligible full-time undergraduate and postgraduate master’s programmes
- Program Period: One year to the normal duration of the selected degree, depending on the scholarship
The three scholarships covered in this guide are:
- Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship
- Global Excellence Scholarship
- Chevening–Southampton Scholarship
University of Southampton Scholarships Deadline
The application process and deadline differ for each scholarship.
Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship Deadline
The University has not yet published a separate 2027 scholarship deadline for the Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship.
Under the current scheme, there is no separate scholarship application. Eligible students are identified automatically after receiving an offer and meeting the scholarship conditions. Applicants should therefore follow the admission deadlines for their chosen undergraduate programme and check the official scholarship page when Southampton completes its 2027 update.
Global Excellence Scholarship Deadline
The confirmed deadline for the 2027 postgraduate Global Excellence Scholarship has not yet been published.
Southampton has stated that it will update the scholarship page with information for 2027 entry in autumn 2026. The current scheme operates on a first-come, first-served basis and requires eligible students to pay their tuition fee deposit by a specified cut-off, so early admission and acceptance may be important once the new round is announced.
Chevening–Southampton Scholarship Deadline
Applications for the 2027–2028 Chevening Scholarship are currently open.
- Applications opened: August 4, 2026
- Application deadline: October 6, 2026 at 11:00 UTC
- Interviews: March to April 2027
- Results: From mid-June 2027
- University offer deadline: July 8, 2027 at 5:00 PM UK time
- Studies begin: September or October 2027
Late Chevening applications are not accepted.
University of Southampton Scholarship Coverage
Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship
The Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship currently provides:
- £3,000 toward first-year tuition fees
- Automatic consideration for eligible international students
- No separate scholarship application
The £3,000 award is applied as a tuition fee reduction rather than paid directly to the student.
It can also be combined with another eligible University of Southampton award, provided the combined scholarships do not exceed 100% of the student’s tuition fees.
The University has not yet published a separate 2027 version of this award, so students should confirm the final value and conditions before enrolment.
Global Excellence Scholarship
For postgraduate students, the current Global Excellence Scholarship provides:
- £3,000 toward tuition fees
- 83 scholarships for international students
- Automatic consideration once the eligibility conditions are met
- Funding toward the first year of an eligible full-time master’s programme
The current general award excludes students from China, India, Nigeria, Thailand, and Vietnam because Southampton offers separate country-specific Excellence Scholarships for these students.
If a recipient becomes eligible for another Southampton scholarship, the University may reduce the Excellence Scholarship to 50% of its normal value before combining the awards.
The number and value of scholarships for 2027 entry will be confirmed when the University publishes the new round.
Chevening–Southampton Scholarship
Chevening provides comprehensive funding for eligible international students undertaking a one-year master’s degree in the UK.
The scholarship normally covers:
- Full university tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Economy-class travel to and from the UK
- Arrival allowance
- Departure allowance
- Cost of one UK visa application
- Contribution toward tuberculosis testing where required
- Travel support for required Chevening events
The University of Southampton also offers a Chevening–Southampton partnership scholarship for eligible Chevening applicants who choose Southampton as their first-choice university.
For the complete scholarship process, read our Chevening Scholarship 2027 guide.
Eligibility Criteria for University of Southampton Scholarships
Applicants must meet the admission and English-language requirements of their selected University of Southampton course in addition to the scholarship-specific conditions below.
Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship Eligibility
Under the current scheme, applicants must:
- Be international students who are liable to pay overseas tuition fees
- Hold a conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible University of Southampton undergraduate programme
- Study full-time and in person
- Begin their programme in Year 1
The scholarship is not available for:
- One-year foundation programmes
- Distance-learning courses
- Programmes at the University’s Malaysia campus
- Programmes at the University’s Delhi campus
There is no separate scholarship application under the current system.
Global Excellence Scholarship Eligibility
Under the current postgraduate scheme, applicants must:
- Be classified as international students paying overseas tuition fees
- Hold a conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible full-time, in-person master’s programme
- Meet the required tuition deposit condition
- Be self-funded
- Satisfy the academic and admission requirements of their selected programme
The general Global Excellence Scholarship currently applies to international students except those from China, India, Nigeria, Thailand, and Vietnam, who are considered through separate country-specific Excellence Scholarships.
Chevening–Southampton Scholarship Eligibility
To qualify for a Chevening Scholarship, applicants must:
- Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory
- Commit to returning to their country of award for at least two years after completing the scholarship
- Hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies them for a UK master’s programme
- Have completed their undergraduate degree at least two years before the application deadline
- Have at least 2,800 hours of eligible work experience gained after completing their undergraduate degree
- Apply to three different eligible UK master’s courses
- Obtain at least one qualifying unconditional university offer
- Meet the admission requirements of their chosen University of Southampton programme if Southampton is one of their course choices
Eligible work experience can include full-time or part-time employment, voluntary work, and paid or unpaid internships completed after the undergraduate degree.
For the Chevening–Southampton partnership award specifically, applicants should choose the University of Southampton as their first-choice institution.
How to Apply for University of Southampton Scholarships?
The application process depends on the scholarship.
How to Apply for the Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship?
(1) Choose an eligible full-time undergraduate programme at the University of Southampton and check its academic and English-language entry requirements.
(2) Submit your undergraduate admission application and provide the academic qualifications and supporting documents required for your course.
(3) Receive a conditional or unconditional offer from Southampton.
(4) Meet the academic and fee-status requirements of the scholarship.
There is no additional scholarship form under the current scheme. Southampton automatically identifies eligible students and informs successful recipients by email.
How to Apply for the Global Excellence Scholarship?
(1) Choose an eligible full-time, in-person postgraduate master’s programme at the University of Southampton.
(2) Submit your application for admission and provide all documents required by your chosen programme.
(3) Receive a conditional or unconditional offer.
(4) Meet the scholarship conditions, including the required tuition fee deposit requirement.
(5) No separate scholarship application is required under the current scheme. Eligible students are considered automatically, with awards made on a first-come, first-served basis until the available scholarships have been allocated.
Students from China, India, Nigeria, Thailand, and Vietnam should check the relevant country-specific Excellence Scholarship rather than the general Global Excellence award.
How to Apply for the Chevening–Southampton Scholarship?
(1) Confirm that you satisfy Chevening’s nationality, education, work-experience, and return-home requirements.
(2) Select three eligible UK master’s programmes. Students interested in the Chevening–Southampton partnership should include an eligible University of Southampton programme and choose Southampton as their first-choice institution.
(3) Complete the Chevening online application in your own words. The application assesses your leadership experience, professional relationships, course choices, and career plans.
Chevening explicitly prohibits using AI-generated answers in the scholarship application, so applicants should write their responses themselves.
(4) Apply separately for admission to the University of Southampton. A Chevening application does not replace the University’s admission process.
(5) If shortlisted, upload the required education and reference documents and attend a Chevening interview.
(6) Successful candidates must obtain a qualifying university offer and submit it through the Chevening system.
Our detailed Chevening Scholarship application guide explains the complete process.
Documents Required for University of Southampton Scholarships
The Southampton Excellence Scholarships normally use information already supplied through the University admission process. Depending on the course, applicants may need:
- Academic transcripts
- Secondary-school qualifications for undergraduate admission
- Bachelor’s degree certificate for postgraduate admission
- Proof of English-language proficiency, where required
- Personal statement
- Academic or professional references, where required
- CV or résumé for relevant postgraduate programmes
- Passport or identification documents
- Additional course-specific supporting documents
For applications requiring additional written material, our guides on preparing an academic CV, writing a statement of purpose, and requesting a strong scholarship recommendation letter can help.
Chevening applicants initially provide their education and work history and the contact details of two referees. Candidates progressing to interview must later upload their undergraduate degree certificate, photo identification, and two reference letters.
Website
To learn more about the University of Southampton Scholarships, please visit the official scholarship pages:
- Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship
- Global Excellence Scholarship
- Chevening Scholarships at the University of Southampton
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the University of Southampton offer scholarships for international students?
Yes. Southampton offers a wide range of international scholarships for undergraduate, master’s, and research students, including University-funded tuition discounts and externally funded scholarships such as Chevening and Commonwealth awards.
Is the University of Southampton Scholarship fully funded?
The main Southampton Global Excellence Scholarships are not fully funded. They provide tuition fee reductions.
International students who require complete financial support can apply for fully funded programmes such as Chevening, which covers tuition fees, living costs, travel, and several additional allowances.
How much is the University of Southampton Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship?
Under the current scheme, the Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship provides a £3,000 reduction in first-year tuition fees.
The University has not yet separately confirmed the award value for 2027 entry.
How much is the Southampton Global Excellence Scholarship for master’s students?
The current postgraduate Global Excellence Scholarship is worth £3,000 toward first-year tuition fees, with 83 awards available in the most recently published competition.
Southampton has stated that it will publish updated information for 2027 entry.
Do I need a separate application for Southampton Excellence Scholarships?
Under the current arrangements, no. Both the Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship and postgraduate Global Excellence Scholarship are awarded automatically to eligible students.
Chevening requires a separate competitive application.
Can I combine University of Southampton scholarships?
In some cases, yes. Southampton allows certain awards to be combined provided the total value does not exceed 100% of tuition fees. The exact combination rules vary by scholarship.
Does Southampton offer a Chevening partnership scholarship?
Yes. In addition to standard Chevening awards, Southampton offers a Chevening–Southampton partnership scholarship for eligible master’s applicants who choose the University as their first-choice institution.
Can undergraduate students apply for Chevening at Southampton?
No. Chevening Scholarships fund eligible one-year postgraduate master’s degrees, not undergraduate programmes. Undergraduate students should instead consider Southampton’s undergraduate scholarship schemes.
