Birmingham Masters Scholarship 2026 – £3,000 Tuition Fee Discount

Scholarship Description

The Birmingham Masters Scholarship is a £3,000 tuition fee discount offered by the University of Birmingham to support Home postgraduate students commencing their Master's studies in January or September 2026. As part of the University's £1.4 million scholarship commitment to Home postgraduate students, this scholarship aims to alleviate traditional barriers to postgraduate study and support the brightest and best applicants.

The University of Birmingham is a world-class institution with a proud civic history. The scholarship is designed to help students excel at Birmingham and stand out in an increasingly competitive global job market after graduation. In recognition of the importance of talent retention in the Midlands, priority will be given to applications from students who have graduated from Midlands-based universities.

Scholarship Location

The scholarship is tenable at the University of Birmingham campuses, including the Edgbaston Campus, Stratford-upon-Avon, and through online (distance learning) delivery. The scholarship applies to eligible Master's courses delivered at these locations.

Scholarship Deadline

The Birmingham Masters Scholarship has three application rounds for the 2026 intake. Applications are reviewed and marked after each respective deadline.

Host Institution

The University of Birmingham is a public research university located in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Founded in 1900, it is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and is consistently ranked among the world's top 100 universities. The University offers a wide range of postgraduate taught programmes across all disciplines.

Level and Fields of Study

Level: Postgraduate Taught (Master's). The scholarship is only applicable to full postgraduate taught 180-credit Master's degrees.

Eligible course types include:

• LLM
• MA (Taught)
• MSc (Pre-reg and Taught)
• MPH
• MEd
• MBA
• MPA

Ineligible courses include:

• MA/MSc by Research
• MRes (combined taught and research)
• Integrated Master's degrees (MSci, MEng, MBChB, etc.)
• Intercalated Master's degrees
• Postgraduate Diplomas (PGDip) and Certificates (PGCert)
• PhD and other research programmes
• NHS bursary-funded programmes
• Programmes delivered at the Dubai Campus

Target Group

The scholarship targets Home fee-paying students (domiciled in the UK or Ireland) who are self-funded or applying for a postgraduate government loan. Priority consideration is given to students who have graduated from one of the Midlands-based universities. Students of any nationality can apply provided they are eligible for Home fee status and meet all other criteria.

Scholarship Amount

Award Value: £3,000 tuition fee discount.

Payment: The scholarship is applied as a tuition fee waiver. The £3,000 is deducted from the total tuition fees. The waiver cannot be exchanged for monetary value or paid directly to the student.

Duration: The scholarship is tenable for one year only and cannot be deferred. If you choose to defer your studies, you will need to re-apply in the next cycle.

Combining with other scholarships: Students can generally hold other scholarships alongside this award. However, you cannot hold this scholarship in conjunction with any scholarship that covers the full tuition fee. If you hold the Postgraduate Access Scholarship, the tuition fee waiver will be awarded at a 50% rate. Students can apply for and receive a UK governmental loan alongside the Birmingham Masters Scholarship.

Scholarship Eligibility

Essential criteria:

• Fee status: Must be eligible for Home fee status (domiciled in the UK or Ireland).
• Funding status: Must be self-funding or applying for a postgraduate government loan.
• Previous study: Must not have previously studied at the University of Birmingham. Must not be currently enrolled on a postgraduate degree course.
• Programme: Must be commencing an eligible 180-credit taught Master's course in January or September 2026.
• Course delivery: Courses delivered at Edgbaston Campus, Stratford-upon-Avon, partnered institutions, or by distance learning are eligible.

Priority criteria:

• Midlands graduates: Priority will be given to applications from students who have graduated from one of the Midlands-based universities.
• Academic excellence: Awards are primarily based on academic performance in previous studies.
• Professional qualifications: Qualifications and achievements from relevant professional roles will be considered.

Application Procedure

1. Apply for admission – Submit an application to your intended Master's programme through the University of Birmingham course finder. Include all relevant supporting documentation: references, transcripts, and English language certification (if applicable).
2. Obtain your application ID – You will receive an application ID number during your programme application. You will need this to apply for the scholarship.
3. Complete the scholarship application form – Submit the Birmingham Masters Scholarship application form online. Enter your application ID number accurately – incorrect ID numbers may void your application.
4. Submit by the deadline – Applications must be submitted by one of the three deadlines: 8 December 2025, 30 April 2026, or 31 July 2026. If you apply in an earlier round and are placed on reserve, your application will be automatically carried over to the next round.
5. Await notification – Applications are reviewed after each deadline. Successful applicants are typically contacted within 3–4 weeks after the respective deadline. If you have not been contacted within this timeframe, your application may be unsuccessful.
6. Accept the scholarship – If offered, accept the scholarship by completing the acceptance form in the awarding email. You must respond by the specified deadline, or the offer will be reallocated.
7. Accept your study offer and register – To receive the £3,000 tuition fee waiver, you must accept your study offer and complete online registration. Delays in registration will delay the scholarship payment.

Important notes: Scholarship offers are contingent upon you having an offer to study on an eligible course. The £3,000 is deducted from your tuition fees — you will not receive an updated invoice, so you must manually deduct the discount from your full tuition fees. The scholarship cannot be deferred.

Official Website & Application Links

University of Birmingham – Birmingham Masters Scholarship Official Page

Email Enquiries: Central Postgraduate Recruitment Team (via the enquiry form on the official page)

Course Finder: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/courses