Pinch Your Pence! 11 Scholarships to Study Abroad in England

Scholarships to study abroad in England will get you there just in time for high tea! England has come out on top as one of the most popular study abroad destinations in the world. This small but mighty country has a wide-reaching cultural influence. Some of our top pop culture icons (where would we be without Harry Potter or The Beatles?), world famous literature, and a good ol’ English breakfast all come from England. England offers students a high quality of living and world-renowned educational institutions. It’s a country that has a ton of opportunities for international students to take advantage of, no doubt.

Prince Harry may be taken, but study abroad in England scholarships will still grant you one heckuva time abroad!

There’s just one problem: living and studying in England can be expensive. Both tuition and living costs are quite high. Of course there’s a price to pay in one of the top study abroad countries in the world; the good news is that many programs have stepped in to help cover the costs. That’s right: we’re talking about scholarships! Specifically, scholarships to study abroad in England. Due to the growing demand, many schools and programs now offer study abroad in England scholarships for aspiring students (and you can always browse the full scholarships directory for more)!

Here are the top study abroad in England scholarships to apply for and save big:

The 11 scholarships to study abroad in England, at a glance:

11 scholarships for US students studying in the UK

1. IFSA (The Institute for Study Abroad) Scholarships 

IFSA offers study abroad programs for US and Canadian undergraduate students. They have a passion for helping students study abroad, and operate as a non-profit organization. As part of their mission, they offer a number of scholarships to study abroad in England for those who participate in their programs. These include general scholarships, first-generation scholarships, and a Gilman matching award that adds up to $2,500 for Pell Grant recipients—and more than one in three IFSA applicants receives scholarship or grant funding. IFSA offers study abroad placements in multiple large cities in England (and all around the world!).

• Award amount: $500-$2,500
• Application due date: Annual: March 1 for fall, academic year, and summer programs; October 1 for spring, winter, and January programs
• Learn more about IFSA Scholarships here

2.  CEA CAPA Education Abroad Scholarships

CEA and CAPA joined forces as CEA CAPA Education Abroad, combining CEA’s balance of academics and adventure with CAPA’s globally networked city programs—including some pretty awesome programs in London. You can study at a CEA CAPA center or a local partner university, earn university credits, participate in an internship, or complete a full certificate while abroad. They award more than $2 million each year across four flagship scholarships: the need-based Opportunity Abroad award (up to $5,000), the merit-based Academic Excellence award ($2,500), a sustainability-projects award ($2,000), and, best of all for England-bound students, the John Christian Leadership Scholarship: $5,000 for fall students at their London Center. Early-bird deadlines land in February and September, with final deadlines each term.

• Award amount: Up to $5,000
• Application due date: Annual early-bird deadlines (February 15 for fall, September 15 for spring, February 1 for summer), with final deadlines each term
• Learn more about CEA CAPA Scholarships here

3. CIEE Scholarships

CIEE has one major mission: to break down barriers. They focus on breaking down barriers in three ways: in cost, curriculum, and culture. To put words into action, they offer a number of scholarships and grants to their program participants. They offer need-based and merit-based scholarships, as well as grants for those attending a Minority Serving Institution. They have programs worldwide, but operate many study abroad programs in London! Check out their scholarships for students studying in the UK.

• Award amount: Up to $4500 
• Application deadline: Dependent on scholarship type
• Learn more about CIEE Scholarships here

4. IES Scholarships

IES understands that money can be a deciding factor for whether or not you can study abroad. That is the reason why you can apply for an IES scholarship before even applying for one of their programs! They offer a ton of program-related scholarships and grants, and the best part is that you can see if you are eligible before getting locked into a program. Some examples include need-based scholarships, various donor-funded scholarships and grants, and diversity scholarships. They offer programs in London, Cambridge, and Oxford.

• Award amount: $1,000-$7,000
• Application deadline: Dependent on program and scholarship type
• Learn more about IES Scholarships here

5. AIFS Scholarships

AIFS awards over 50% of their students with scholarships and grants—those odds aren’t too shabby! They offer scholarships and grants to program participants because they believe studying abroad is an essential part of a well-rounded university experience. They offer program-specific and session-specific scholarships, including discount scholarships of up to 50% of program fees. Their study abroad in England programs are located in London.

• Award amount: $500-$10,000; up to 50% of program fees
• Application deadline: Dependent on semester
• Learn more about AIFS Scholarships here

6. Fund for Education Abroad

The Fund for Education Abroad exists to make study abroad possible for students the field has historically underserved: first-generation college students, community college students, and students of color are all prioritized. FEA awards can be used on any eligible program, England included, regardless of provider.

• Award amount: Up to $5,000
• Application deadline: Annual cycle; check the current dates
• Learn more about FEA Scholarships here

7. Fulbright UK Summer Institutes

Run by the US-UK Fulbright Commission, the UK Summer Institutes are the most England-specific award on this list: fully funded three-to-four-week summer programmes at UK universities for US undergraduates early in their college careers, with flights, tuition, and housing covered. It’s a prestigious, zero-cost first taste of British university life, and a serious résumé line.

• Award amount: Fully funded (flights, tuition, and housing)
• Application deadline: Annual; check the current cycle
• Learn more about Fulbright UK Summer Institutes here

8. Gilman Scholarship

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is the US State Department’s own study abroad award—and one every England-bound student should know. Gilman offers up to $5,000 toward any credit-bearing study abroad program, including every program type in this article, for undergraduates receiving a federal Pell Grant. Two application cycles run each year, and unlike provider scholarships, Gilman travels with you to whichever program you choose. If you qualify, this is the first application to send.

• Award amount: Up to $5,000
• Application deadline: Annual: two cycles (spring and fall)
• Learn more about the Gilman Scholarship here

9. BUTEX Scholarships

BUTEX (the British Universities Transatlantic Exchange Association) exists for exactly one audience: study abroad students headed to the UK. The association awards scholarships to students studying abroad at its member universities across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—so unlike provider scholarships, BUTEX awards aren’t tied to any one program. If your host university is a BUTEX member (many England universities are), you apply after you’ve been accepted, making it a natural stack on top of any other award in this article.

• Award amount: £500 (~$650)
• Application deadline: Annual, for the following academic year; check the current cycle
• Learn more about BUTEX Scholarships here

10. Chevening

Chevening is the UK government-run international awards programme. They offer UK scholarships for American students (and students from more than 160 other eligible countries) who are looking to attend university in the UK (eligibility requirements can be found here). The goal of Chevening is to improve relations between the UK and other countries by helping students study abroad in the UK and learn more about UK culture. One thing to know: Chevening funds postgraduate study only and requires roughly two years of work experience, so think of it as the plan-ahead option for after graduation rather than a semester-abroad award.

• Award amount: Fully funded master’s: tuition, a monthly stipend, flights, and visa
• Application deadline: Annual: applications open early August and close early October
• Learn more about Chevening Scholarships here

11. Marshall Scholarship

Marshall Scholarships provides scholarships for US students in the UK. Their goal is to recognize academically distinguished American students and give them an opportunity to study abroad in the UK. Marshall Scholarships are unique because they can be applied to any course of study at any UK institution—you will not be limited by a specific program! Like Chevening, Marshall funds postgraduate study, so it’s one for graduating seniors and recent grads to plan toward.

• Award amount: Fully funded postgraduate study: university fees, living costs, and travel
• Application deadline: Annual: late September
• Learn more about Marshall Scholarships here

Get money to study in England!

Scholarships for students studying in the UK will make for a priceless experience—in more ways than one.

England has so much to offer for students looking to study abroad—famous historical artifacts and structures, an influential culture, and top-notch schools (just to name a few)! Unfortunately, studying abroad in England also comes with a bit of a hefty price tag. Luckily for you, there are plentiful scholarships for students studying in the UK available. Soon you’ll be learning about all the fuss over pie and mash, kicking coffee to the curb in favor of tea, jamming to vintage Spice Girls, and taking that quintessential red phone booth selfie, all without seeing your pence washed down the drain. 

With so many programs having stepped up to the plate to meet the demand for study abroad scholarships in the UK, what are you waiting for? Your golden ticket could be out there! Surely one of these study abroad in England scholarships will help make your experience much more affordable. Otherwise, how will you keep yourself in a steady supply of fresh fish and chips at dinner? Settle in, and grab a cuppa and some biscuits—it’s time to apply to these study abroad in England scholarships!

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Jasmine Harding

GoAbroad Contributor

Jasmine recently graduated from Western University with a degree in Media, Information and Technoculture. She lived in 5 different countries before she turned 7 years old, but she claims that none of them "count" since she doesn't remember them. She can't wait to actually live in 5 different countries. In her spare time, you can find her playing with cats or watching food documentaries on Netflix. 

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