Master’s Scholarships

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We are delighted to confirm that the Master’s Scholarship scheme is now open for 2025/26 entry.

We are committed to investing up to a total of £500,000 in this high value competitive scholarship scheme to support UK students who are planning to start an eligible Master’s programme in 2025/26.

The Scholarships are each worth £3,000 and will be awarded in the form of a tuition fee discount.

Eligibility

UK students are eligible to apply for the Scholarship. You normally need to have achieved at least a 2.1 or equivalent in your first degree to be eligible. You need to submit an application to study at Cardiff University and be made an offer to study, before your fee status can be confirmed.

Your fee status is determined in accordance with the Fees Regulations. Please consult the UKCISA website regarding fee status in Wales.

Eligible programmes

Only complete full-time and part-time postgraduate taught courses that lead to a Master’s degree are included within the scholarship scheme:

• Full-time course leading to a taught Master’s degree
• Part-time course leading to a taught Master’s degree
• MRes Biosciences
• MRes Stem Cell Neurobiology

If you are studying your course part-time, you will receive 50% of the scholarship in the first year and 50% of the scholarship in the second year.

If you are studying a full-time course which lasts longer than one year you will not receive funding for additional years from this Scholarship scheme or its successor.

Courses not included

The following courses are not included in the scheme so aren’t eligible for a Master’s Scholarship:

• Distance learning programmes
• Architectural Studies (MArch)
• Taught programmes leading to a graduate diploma (GDip), postgraduate certificate (PgCert) or postgraduate diploma (PgDip)
• Research degrees that lead to a Master in Philosophy (MPhil).

If you already possess a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma and are now progressing onto the Master’s stage of the degree, you would also not be eligible.

Other than the MRes in Biosciences or Stem Cell Neurobiology, postgraduate research programmes that lead to the award of an MPhil, are not eligible for scholarship.

Other funding

You can be eligible for a Master’s Scholarship even if you receive:

• funding for master’s study from Student Finance Wales or England
• Welsh Government bursaries for Master’s students
• any loan-based funding, such as the Postgraduate Loan distributed by Student Finance Wales and England.

If you are awarded a £3,000 Cardiff University Master’s Scholarship then you cannot also receive the alumni discount.

You will not be eligible to receive the Master’s Scholarship if you are also receiving full funding for your tuition fees from any other scholarships, bursaries or sponsorship body (such as your home country’s Government, charity or a private organisation).

Deferred entry

Scholarships are to be used for entry in academic year 2025/26 only and cannot be used for 2026/27 entry or beyond.

If you are awarded a scholarship and wish to defer your entry to the University, you will lose your scholarship and will need to re-apply again in the following year. It can also not be used by those already on a postgraduate course.

You can browse our programmes by A-Z.

If you are not sure about your eligibility for these scholarships or have any queries, please email for advice at studentconnect@cardiff.ac.uk.

Key dates

The key dates for applications for the scholarships for 2025/26 are as follows:

Applications received after the first deadline will not be considered until after the second deadline. Applications received after the second deadline will not be considered.

You must also ensure that we receive your course application, including references and transcripts, by the same deadline date in order to be eligible to apply for the scholarship.

How to apply

Applications are made through the Online Applicant Portal. Once your application to a course has been accepted a link to the application form for the Master’s Scholarships will be available on the SIMS Online Applicant Portal.

New applicants will get login details for the Online Applicant Portal emailed to them. Current and previous students will be able to login using their existing login details and can find the scholarship application link in the ‘My Application’ screen of SIMS.

Please note that it may take up to 48 hours after submitting your course application before you get full access to the Applicant Portal. We therefore advise you to apply for your course well in advance.

The Application form will remain accessible until the second scholarship application deadline. If the application form is not available, please email studentconnect@cardiff.ac.uk so that we may advise.

We will only consider one application per applicant which will be the last one submitted.

There are guidance notes for completing the application form below.

Please contact the Admissions Office should you experience any problems with submission.

Accepting an offer

Scholarships need to be accepted within a week of formal notification. Scholarships not accepted will be reallocated. Please ensure you check your contact email regularly.

Terms and conditions

Offer conditions

• The Scholarship offer is contingent upon completed enrolment onto the course specified in the scholarship application. If your offer to study is not accepted by Friday 29 August 2025 then scholarship offers may be withdrawn.
• The Scholarship offer is also contingent upon any additional conditions outlined in your scholarship offer email.
• Acceptance of these terms and conditions is required before the scholarship will be awarded.
• The Terms and Conditions must be accepted by the date specified in your scholarship offer email.
• You will be expected to have arrived and enrolled at Cardiff University by the start date set out in your offer to study letter, or the date specified by your academic School.
• The scholarship is only applicable to the course specified in your scholarship application form. Scholarships are not transferable between individuals and can only be used for a taught Master’s degree or a Master of Research (MRes) degree at Cardiff University.
• All decisions made by the Panel shall be considered as final and are not subject to appeal. Due to the large number of applications received, no feedback will be made available.

Your scholarship

• The scholarship will take the form of a tuition fee discount and no monies will be paid directly to you. The scholarship will reduce the amount payable to the University. The remainder of the tuition fee is then payable according to our tuition fee policy.
• The scholarship amount is £3,000 for a 180 credit taught Master’s degree.
• If you are awarded a £3,000 Master’s Scholarship then you cannot also receive the alumni discount.
• You are expected to fund the remaining balance of your studies from other sources.
• The Master’s Scholarships are available for a maximum of one academic year for full-time courses, and two academic years for part-time students. Students studying a course which lasts longer than one year full-time or two years part-time will not receive any further funding for or in additional years.
• For part-time courses, the scholarship outlined in 2.2 is applied pro-rata over two years of study.
• There is no cash substitute, transfer facility or any other variation from the tuition fee discount for the scholarship.
• You are liable for all other costs associated with your study that are not expressly covered in your scholarship offer letter.
• The scholarships are only available to self-funded students. If you are in receipt of full or partial tuition fee funding from another sponsorship body (such as your home country’s government or a private organisation) you will be required to refund the scholarship to Cardiff University up to the amount covered by your sponsorship body. This does not include funding in the form of a loan.

Your responsibilities

• You are expected to commence your studies at Cardiff University in the 2025/26 academic year. This scholarship cannot be deferred to future years. If you are unable to attend in the 2025/26 academic year, a new scholarship application will be required for consideration for any future scholarship.
• You are expected to complete your course within the standard advertised duration. In the case of an interruption to your studies, the scholarship cannot be transferred to future years.
• You will be subject to, and must comply fully with, Cardiff University’s rules and regulations, together with all academic and other terms and conditions associated with your study programme.
• You will need to pay the remainder of your tuition fee according to our tuition fee policy.
• You will be expected to participate in public relations and ambassadorial activities on a voluntary basis during your time at Cardiff University. These may include (but are not limited to) interviews, photo opportunities and attendance at events, but will not interfere with your studies. It is anticipated that voluntary activities will not exceed 50 hours throughout the duration of your studies.

Termination

• Cardiff University shall have the right at any time, and at its sole discretion, to terminate your scholarship in the event that you:
  • Are found to be in breach of any Cardiff University rules or regulations including, but not limited to, the University’s Academic Regulations.
  • Engage in improper conduct which is deemed by Cardiff University to be inconsistent with its operation and ethos.
  • Are found to be in material breach of the scholarship terms and conditions as set out in this agreement.
  • Fail to progress your academic studies at a satisfactory level.
• Any such termination shall be at Cardiff University’s sole discretion and without liability to the University.

By completing the online acceptance form provided in your offer email, you will be deemed to have understand and accepted these terms and conditions in their entirety.

Further guidance