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UK universities boost international scholarships for January 2026

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LONDON - s4story -- Scholarship Scanner today publishes new research drawn from its unique historic and current dataset of UK university scholarships, offering sector-leading insights into how opportunities for international students are evolving. The analysis, prepared by Scholarship Scanner's experts, compares the scale, generosity, and transparency of international postgraduate scholarships offered by UK universities for January 2025 vs January 2026, and reveals significant growth.

The announcement comes at a critical moment: January 2026 marks the last intake whose international students may still be eligible for the two year UK Graduate Route visa before it is cut to 18 months in January 2027.

Key findings: 2025 vs 2026 scholarships
  • The number of universities offering January international scholarships increased from 70 in 2025 to 82 in 2026.
  • Total scholarship offerings rose from 178 to 247 (a 39% increase).
  • The average maximum scholarship value grew about 19 percent, from £3,800 in 2025 to £4,530 in 2026.

Greater accessibility and choice
  • Automatic awards (no separate application required) increased from 128 to 166.
  • Application based competitive scholarships grew from 49 to 72.
  • A higher proportion of institutions published transparent deadlines (65 in 2025 vs 100 in 2026), improving clarity for prospective applicants.

Standout generosity and headline awards
  • Several universities now offer scholarships exceeding £10,000, pushing the ceiling of what international students can expect.
  • The upward trend in value demonstrates intensifying competition to attract top global talent.

Graduate Route changes: why timing matters

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From 1 January 2027, the UK Government Home Office will reduce the Graduate Route visa for international graduates from two years to 18 months.

Students starting in January 2026 who complete their course and receive a visa before 31 December 2026 will still qualify for the full two-year route. Any delays that push visa approval into 2027 will instead trigger the 18-month cap.

That makes the January 2026 cohort the last intake for whom the two-year route is realistically available. Combined with more generous scholarship offerings, the upcoming cycle is uniquely strategic for international candidates.

What this means for international students
  • This is a rare alignment of value and visa opportunity with more scholarships, higher amounts and a final chance at two-year post study work rights.
  • Clear deadlines and expanded automatic awards reduce barriers to applying.
  • Prospective applicants should plan carefully to finish and file for their visa before the January 2027 cut off.

New January 2026 scholarships finder: compare and plan

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To help prospective students navigate this evolving landscape, Scholarship Scanner is launching a new January 2026 Scholarships Finder.

This tool lets you:
  • Search the full list of January 2026 scholarships
  • Directly compare offers from institutions you are interested in
  • Filter by value, application type, eligibility, cost, deadlines and more
Visit https://www.scholarshipscanner.com/postgraduate-january-2026 to explore and compare today.

Source: Scholarship Scanner
Filed Under: Education

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