£3,000 off a UK master’s degree is a real saving. It is not a full scholarship.
That distinction matters enormously for international students planning their finances around this award — so this article leads with it rather than saving it for the small print.
The University of Westminster’s International Postgraduate Excellence Award reduces tuition fees by £3,000 for eligible international students beginning a qualifying full-time master’s degree in January 2027. Applications are open now, with a deadline of November 30, 2026.
University of Westminster Scholarship Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Award | International Postgraduate Excellence Award |
| University | University of Westminster, UK |
| Award Value | £3,000 tuition fee reduction |
| Entry | January 2027 |
| Eligible Programs | Full-time, one-year master’s degrees |
| Who Can Apply | Overseas-fee paying students |
| Application Deadline | 30 November 2026 |
| Fully Funded | No |
What the £3,000 Actually Covers
The award is applied directly as a tuition fee reduction. It is not paid as cash and cannot be transferred to other expenses.
It does not cover:
- The £5,500 CAS deposit required to secure your UK Student visa
- Accommodation or living expenses
- Flights and relocation costs
- Visa application charges or Immigration Health Surcharge
- Books or personal expenses
This is a critical point for applicants to understand before they apply. The £5,500 Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies deposit must be arranged independently — the award cannot be used toward it. Students who haven’t secured funds for the deposit and remaining tuition should not rely on this award to bridge that gap.
The award works best as a supplementary reduction for students who are already financially prepared to study in the UK.
Also See: Government of Mauritius Postgraduate Scholarships 2027 (Fully Funded)
Who Qualifies
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be classified as an overseas-fee paying student
- Hold a confirmed offer for an eligible full-time master’s program at Westminster starting in January 2027
- Meet the equivalent of a UK 2:1 honours degree from their previous undergraduate qualification
- Not be receiving any other tuition discount, including alumni or partner-student reductions
The 2:1 equivalent varies by country. Westminster provides country-specific grade equivalency guidance — check that page before assuming your GPA or CGPA meets the threshold.
Meeting the minimum academic requirement does not guarantee selection. The number of awards is variable and selection is based on academic excellence, so competition exists even among eligible applicants.
Programs That Are Not Eligible
The award does not apply to:
- Doctoral programs (PhD, MPhil)
- Online or distance-learning courses
- Postgraduate certificates or diplomas
- Professional programs such as RIBA Part III
If your program falls into any of these categories, this award is not available to you.
You Need an Offer First
The scholarship application comes after admission, not before.
Applicants must already hold a confirmed offer for a qualifying January 2027 master’s program at Westminster before they can apply for this award. Students who haven’t yet applied for their course should do so as early as possible to leave enough time to receive an offer before the November 30 deadline.
Don’t leave the course application until October or November. Admissions decisions take time, and arriving at the scholarship deadline without a confirmed offer means missing it entirely.
Is This Award Worth Applying For?
For the right applicant, yes.
If you are an academically strong international student who already has the CAS deposit, visa costs, living expenses, and remaining tuition covered, a £3,000 reduction is a genuine financial benefit that costs nothing but a completed application form.
If you are searching for funding that will make an otherwise unaffordable UK master’s degree affordable, this award will not do that on its own. Students in that position should explore fully funded UK master’s scholarships alongside this application rather than treating this award as a primary funding solution.
The award’s value is real but specific. It rewards students who are already in a strong financial position, not those who need comprehensive funding support.
Official Link
University of Westminster International Postgraduate Excellence Award