Last chance! UK university scholarships with May 2025 deadlines for international Students

The start of the 2025/2026 academic year is fast approaching, with courses scheduled to begin in September. If you're hoping to study in the UK and are looking for financial support, now is the time to act. A wide range of UK scholarships for international Master’s students have deadlines closing throughout May 2025.

To make life easier, we’ve rounded up all of the UK universities offering scholarships with May deadlines, along with key details on award amounts, eligibility, and closing dates.

📅 Why May is so important for scholarship applications

May is one of the busiest months for postgraduate scholarship deadlines. These awards are often linked to early admissions offers, and universities aim to finalise their funding allocations before summer. If you're serious about securing a partial or fully funded scholarship, you need to apply now — leaving it late could mean missing out altogether.

While some scholarships do extend into June and July, the majority of high-value or high-volume awards are decided in May. Submitting early also shows commitment and gives you a better chance of standing out.

🚨 Scholarships closing in early May (1–14 May)

These are the first deadlines coming up — don’t delay:

• University of Bath (Multiple awards) – Deadline: 9 May

  • Master’s Worldwide Scholarship – £5,000

  • Academic Excellence Scholarship – £10,000

  • Outstanding Individual Scholarship – £10,000

  • Master’s Scholarship for Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan & Vietnam – £15,000

  • Master’s Scholarship for selected EU countries – £10,000

• University of Sheffield
  International Postgraduate Taught Merit Scholarship – £10,000 – Deadline: 12 May

• University of Nottingham (Multiple regional awards) – Deadline: 14 May

  • Awards range from £4,000–£8,000

  • Regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, CIS, Americas

📆 Mid-to-late May scholarships (15–23 May)

There’s still time to apply to some fantastic offers mid-month:

• University of Leeds
  International Excellence Scholarships – 50%, 25%, or 10% tuition – Deadline: 16 May

• Norwich University of the Arts
  Vice-Chancellor’s PG Scholarship – £3,500 – Deadline: 18 May

• Leeds Beckett University
  Leeds School of Arts Scholarship – 50% tuition – Deadline: 22 May

• University of Kent
  India in Leadership Scholarship – 50% tuition – Deadline: 23 May

🏁 End of May: Final opportunities (26–31 May)

These are your last chances to apply this month:

• University of Glasgow – Deadline: 26 May

  • Adam Smith Business School Global Challenges – 100% tuition + £15,000 stipend

  • Advancing Women in Business – £10,000 + £10,000 stipend

  • Wealth of Nations – £10,000

  • Behavioural Science Scholarship – 100% tuition

  • Business Analytics Scholarship – £15,000

• Newcastle University – Deadline: 29 May

  • Vice-Chancellor’s Global Scholarships – £4,000

  • Excellence Scholarships – 50% or 100% tuition

• Sheffield Hallam University
  Transform Together Scholarships – 50% tuition – Deadline: 31 May

✍️ Is it the right time to apply for a scholarship?

Absolutely. If you haven’t already started your scholarship applications, now is the time. As you can see, many generous awards expire this month, and all require you to invest time and effort in creating a compelling application.

Don’t wait around hoping for something better later — although some scholarships are open in June or July, the best strategy is to apply for as many relevant awards as possible, starting today.

✅ Tips for a winning application

• Apply early – don’t leave it until the last minute.

• Read eligibility criteria carefully – many awards are region-specific.

• Tailor your personal statement to match the scholarship’s values (e.g. leadership, academic merit).

• Show evidence of achievements, goals, and how the scholarship will support your journey.

• Double check all required documents — transcripts, references, etc.

Read our expert advice on winning scholarship applications.

🔗 Useful resources

• Visit each university’s official website for full scholarship details and application forms.

• Use our UK Scholarship Finder to find updated opportunities by course, country, or university.

📣 Final call: Don’t miss out

May is make-or-break for many international students applying to UK Master’s programmes. Submitting even one strong application this month could make a huge difference to your financial future and study plans.