Global Excellence Scholarship 2027 | Study in United Kingdom — University of Leicester
Three separate intake points in a single academic year gives an applicant far more flexibility than the usual single September start date most UK scholarships are built around.
About the Scholarship
The Global Excellence Scholarship at the University of Leicester rewards international postgraduate taught applicants who hold a qualification equivalent to a UK first class degree. Uniquely, the scholarship is available across three separate intake points within the same academic cycle, September, January and April, giving applicants more flexibility than most comparable UK postgraduate scholarships. The scheme specifically excludes applicants from India, who are instead directed toward Leicester’s other dedicated funding routes, so Indian students should check the university’s full scholarships list rather than assuming this particular scheme applies to them.
Scholarship Benefits
- A tuition fee discount for international postgraduate taught students with a first class equivalent degree
- Available across three separate intakes, September, January and April
- Applied directly to the cost of an eligible taught postgraduate programme
- Recognition of strong prior undergraduate achievement
- Flexibility for applicants who cannot start in the standard September intake
Eligibility Criteria
- Hold an offer to study a postgraduate taught programme at Leicester starting in September 2026, January 2027, or April 2027
- Hold a qualification equivalent to a UK first class, 1st, degree
- Be classified as an international student for tuition fee purposes
- Not be an applicant from India, who are excluded from this particular scholarship
- Apply within the scholarship’s stated window for your chosen intake
- Not already hold funding that fully covers the equivalent tuition cost
Fields of Study Covered
The scholarship is available across a broad range of postgraduate taught programmes at Leicester, spanning business, media, the sciences, social sciences and the humanities, with the specific list of eligible courses confirmed through the university’s scholarships page each cycle.
Required Documents
- A confirmed offer letter for an eligible Leicester postgraduate taught course
- Academic transcripts and degree certificate confirming a first class equivalent result
- Proof of international fee status
- A completed Global Excellence Scholarship application for your chosen intake
- English language test results where required by the course
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Apply for and secure an offer on an eligible Leicester postgraduate taught course for your preferred intake
- Confirm your prior degree classification meets the first class equivalent threshold
- Confirm you are not applying from India, since this scholarship excludes that nationality
- Submit the Global Excellence Scholarship application ahead of the deadline for your chosen intake
- Provide transcripts and certificates confirming your academic record
- Wait for Leicester’s scholarship decision, generally confirmed after the relevant intake deadline
Selection Process
Leicester’s scholarships team checks each eligible international applicant’s prior degree classification against the first class equivalent threshold, confirming the scholarship for successful applicants ahead of whichever of the three intakes they have applied for.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Confirm exactly how your degree classification translates to the UK first class equivalent before applying
- Consider the January or April intake if the September deadline has already passed for your situation
- Check Leicester’s separate scholarships for Indian applicants, since this particular scheme excludes that nationality
- Keep transcripts and certificates clearly translated and certified where required
- Compare this with the Chancellor’s International Scholarship at Sussex if you are weighing several UK universities with multiple intake options
- Look at the two full tuition fee waiver scholarships Leicester runs for Sub-Saharan African postgraduate students as a further comparison if you are from that region
Frequently Asked Questions
Which intakes does this scholarship cover?
September, January and April, giving applicants three separate opportunities within the same academic cycle.
What academic result do I need?
A qualification equivalent to a UK first class, 1st, undergraduate degree.
Are Indian applicants eligible?
No, this particular scholarship explicitly excludes applicants from India, who should check Leicester’s other scholarship routes instead.
Does the scholarship cover undergraduate study?
No, it is designed specifically for postgraduate taught applicants.
Is there a separate scholarship for Sub-Saharan African students?
Yes, Leicester offers two full tuition fee waiver scholarships specifically for postgraduate students from Sub-Saharan Africa.
How much is the scholarship worth?
The exact discount amount is confirmed through Leicester’s official scholarship page, applied directly to tuition fees for the relevant intake.
Can I switch intakes after applying?
Switching intakes generally means reapplying under that intake’s own deadline, so applicants should confirm their intended start date before submitting the scholarship application.
Is English language proficiency assessed separately from the scholarship?
Yes, English language requirements are set by your specific course rather than the scholarship itself, so both must be satisfied independently.