The Durham University International Scholarship is a partial, merit-based award of up to £5,000 for international students on eligible one-year master's programs at Durham. It is a discount on tuition, not a full ride. That one fact decides whether it belongs on your shortlist, so this guide starts there and then works through eligibility, the application route and the timing for 2027 entry. You can also see the full scholarship details on our site.
Durham, founded in 1832, sits in the cathedral city of Durham in northeast England. It is consistently ranked among the top 5 UK institutions and in the top 100 globally by QS, and it is known for Law, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences. Plenty of Pakistani students want the name on their degree. The question is how to pay for it.
A £5,000 tuition reduction, not a fully funded place
Durham University does not offer a fully funded scholarship of its own. If you have seen posts about a "fully funded Durham scholarship", they are almost always describing external funders such as Chevening, the Commonwealth Scholarship or Erasmus Mundus, which can be used to study at Durham. The university's own award tops out at £5,000.
The money is applied directly to your tuition fees. You do not receive it as cash, and it does not cover rent, food, flights or visa costs. You still need to fund the remaining tuition and your full living costs yourself.
Who does this suit? A Pakistani student who already has most of the money in place (family savings, a sponsor or a loan) and wants to bring the bill down. Who should look elsewhere? Anyone who cannot go to the UK without full funding. For you, Chevening or the Commonwealth Scholarship is the realistic route, and Durham's own award is not a backup plan that closes the gap.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Partial: up to £5,000, applied to tuition fees |
| Level | One-year full-time master's (MSc, MA, LLM, MDS) |
| Not eligible | MBA and MSW programs |
| Status and deadline | Not open for the 2026 intake; expected to reopen for 2027 entry, typically around October (confirm on the official website) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Provider | Durham University |
| Official site | Durham International Scholarships page |
Which master's degrees qualify, and why MBA students are out
The award is tied to one-year full-time master's programs. Eligible degree types are MSc, MA, LLM and MDS, across a wide range of faculties. That covers Law (LLM), Business (MSc and MA), Engineering (MSc), Computer Science (MSc), Humanities (MA) and Social Sciences (MA or MSc).
Two programs are explicitly excluded: the MBA and the MSW. This catches people out. A student who wants a business degree can still be eligible through an MSc or MA from the business school, but not through the MBA. If an MBA is your goal, Durham's own scholarship simply does not apply, and you should plan your funding without it.
Part-time study and programs longer than one year are also outside the stated scope, since the requirement is a one-year full-time course. If your chosen program sits in a grey area, check its eligibility on the official page before you build a budget around the £5,000.
Eligibility for Pakistani applicants
The scholarship is open to all international students, meaning those with overseas (non-UK, non-home) fee status. A Pakistani student applying from Pakistan with overseas fee status falls inside that group. Beyond nationality, the stated requirements are:
- You have overseas fee status.
- You apply for an eligible one-year full-time MSc, MA, LLM or MDS program.
- You meet or exceed the academic entry requirements for that program.
- You are self-funded and not receiving other scholarships (apart from the Durham International Scholarship itself).
The last point matters more than people expect. This award is meant for self-funded students. If you win Chevening or another external scholarship, you should assume you will not also hold the Durham award, and you should check the official terms if you are in any doubt. Treat the two as alternatives, not as money you can stack.
Meeting the entry requirements is the floor. The scholarship is merit-based, so a profile that only just clears the admission bar is weaker than one that comfortably exceeds it. Your degree results and transcript carry the most weight here.
What goes into your application file
The documents listed for this award are short, because most of the work is your normal admission application:
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Your Durham University application for an eligible master's program
- Proof of financial status, if required
- Any additional documents Durham Admissions asks for
For Pakistani applicants, the slow part is usually getting transcripts and degree certificates in order. Start early, and if you are unsure what attestation a UK university or the visa process may want, our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains the process. Keep scanned, clearly legible copies ready before the cycle opens.
Applying through the admissions portal
The official links describe consideration for this scholarship as automatic with your admission application, with no separate scholarship form. In practice, the route looks like this:
- Choose an eligible one-year full-time master's program (not an MBA or MSW).
- Read the eligibility criteria on the official scholarship page for the current cycle.
- Gather your transcripts, degree certificates, any financial proof and other requested documents.
- Apply to the program through the Durham University admissions portal, and make sure you do so before the scholarship deadline published for that cycle.
- Contact Durham University Admissions if anything about eligibility or the process is unclear.
Because the process can change between cycles, confirm on the official page whether any extra scholarship step is needed for 2027 entry. Do not assume last year's process still applies.
Timing your move for the 2027 intake
The scholarship is not open for the 2026 intake. It is expected to reopen for 2027 entry, and it typically opens around October. Those dates are expected rather than confirmed, so watch the official page for the actual opening date and deadline.
Since consideration is linked to your admission application, the sensible approach is to apply for your program early in the cycle once it opens, rather than waiting for the last weeks. If you also plan to try for Chevening, that runs on its own timeline, so plan both in parallel.
Once you hold an offer and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from Durham, the UK Student Route visa comes next. The British High Commission in Islamabad is the relevant mission for Pakistani applicants. The visa needs evidence that you can pay for the rest of your studies, which is where a partial award stops helping. Our guide to bank statements and proof of funds covers that part.
Where applicants go wrong with this award
The most common mistake is believing the "fully funded Durham" posts. Students plan a move around money that does not exist, then discover the award is up to £5,000 off tuition. Read the official page yourself.
The second mistake is applying for an MBA or MSW and expecting to be considered. Those programs are excluded. Pick an MSc or MA instead if the scholarship matters to you.
Third, people treat the award as one more piece in a stack of scholarships. The eligibility asks for self-funded students who are not receiving other scholarships, so build your budget on the assumption that you will hold one or the other.
Fourth, people forget that "up to" means up to. Budget as if you might receive less than the maximum, and confirm the amount you are offered before you commit to deposits or rent.
Finally, if full funding is what you need, put your real effort into Chevening or the Commonwealth Scholarship. Both cover study at Durham, and these external awards provide full tuition, a living allowance and flights. A strong applicant can target Durham through Chevening while also applying for admission, but be clear which funding you will rely on.
For a wider view of UK options, see all United Kingdom scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Durham International Scholarship fully funded?
No. It is a partial award of up to £5,000, applied to tuition fees. Durham does not offer a fully funded scholarship of its own. Full funding for Durham students comes from external bodies such as Chevening, the Commonwealth Scholarship or Erasmus Mundus.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Yes, as long as you have overseas fee status. The scholarship is open to all international (non-UK, non-home fee) students who apply for an eligible one-year full-time master's program and meet the other conditions.
Can I get it for an MBA at Durham?
No. MBA and MSW programs are explicitly excluded. Only one-year full-time MSc, MA, LLM or MDS programs are eligible. If business is your field, an MSc or MA may be an option.
Do I need to fill in a separate scholarship form?
The official links describe consideration as automatic with your admission application, with no extra form. Check the official scholarship page for the 2027 cycle in case the process changes, and apply before the published deadline.
When does it open again?
It is not open for the 2026 intake. It is expected to reopen for 2027 entry, typically around October. Confirm the exact opening date and deadline on the official website.
Can I hold this scholarship together with Chevening?
The eligibility conditions say applicants must be self-funded and not receiving other scholarships, so you should not expect to hold both. Confirm with Durham if your situation is unusual.
Before you apply, check the official Durham International Scholarships page for the current cycle, and keep the full Durham scholarship page handy for the key details.