Excellent choice! Studying law in the UK is a prestigious path, and while it can be
expensive, a wide range of scholarship opportunities exist for international students.
Hereʼs a comprehensive guide to navigating them.
1. University-Specific Scholarships (The First Place to Look)
Most UK universities offer their own scholarships for outstanding international
students. These are often merit-based, but some are needs-based or targeted.
Examples:
University of Oxford: The Clarendon Fund, Oxford Law Faculty Scholarships,
and various college-specific awards.
University of Cambridge: Gates Cambridge Scholarship (highly prestigious, for
all subjects), Cambridge Trust Scholarships.
London School of Economics (LSE): LLM Scholarships (e.g., the Sir John Hicks
Fund).
Kingʼs College London: The Dickson Poon School of Law Scholarships.
University College London (UCL): UCL Laws Scholarships.
University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh Global Legal Skills Scholarships.
How to Find: Go to the website of your chosen university’s Law Faculty and look
for “Funding,” “Scholarships,” or “Fees and Funding” for international students.
2. UK Government & Public Body Scholarships
These are highly competitive and prestigious.
Chevening Scholarships: The UK governmentʼs global scholarship programme,
funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Itʼs for future
leaders and offers a fully-funded masterʼs degree (LLM) in any subject at any UK
university. Requires work experience (typically 2+ years) and a clear
leadership/impact profile.
Commonwealth Scholarships: For students from Commonwealth countries, for masterʼs and PhD study. Funded by the UK government.
GREAT Scholarships: A joint initiative by the UK government and British Council
with individual universities. Often country-specific.
3. External & Charitable Trust Scholarships
Many trusts and organizations fund legal education.
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple: One of the four Inns of Court, offers
major scholarships (Queenʼs Scholar, Princess Royal Scholar, etc.) for the Bar
Professional Training Course (BPTC) to become a barrister. Highly competitive
and prestigious for aspiring barristers.
Other Inns of Court (Middle Temple, Lincolnʼs Inn, Grayʼs Inn): All offer
substantial scholarships for the vocational stage of barrister training.
The Law Society of England and Wales: Provides scholarships for the Solicitors
Qualifying Exam (SQE) courses for aspiring solicitors.
Professional Law Firms: Many large commercial law firms (Magic Circle, Silver
Circle, international firms) offer training contract sponsorships. They often pay
for the SQE courses and sometimes even a PGDL or LLM. This is a route to being
hired, not just a scholarship.
4. Country/Region Specific Scholarships
Many scholarships are dedicated to students from particular regions (e.g., Africa,
Asia, Latin America) or specific countries. Check with the British Council in your
home country and the international office of UK universities.
5. Subject-Specific & Research Scholarships
For research degrees (PhD, MPhil), funding is often attached to specific research
projects. Look for university law department pages on “Research Funding” or
contact potential supervisors.
Some scholarships focus on specific areas like human rights law (e.g.,
scholarships from the University of Nottinghamʼs Human Rights Law Centre),
commercial law, or international law.
Key Application Tips & Strategy
1. Start Early: Scholarship deadlines are often 6-12 months before the course
starts, sometimes even earlier than course application deadlines (e.g., Oxford and
Cambridge).
2. Target Your Search:
Course: Are you applying for an LLB (undergraduate), LLM (master’s), or a
research degree?
Career Path: Are you aiming to be a solicitor (look at SQE/law firm funding) or a
barrister (focus on Inns of Court)?
3. Academic Excellence is Crucial: Most merit-based scholarships require a first
class or high upper-second-class degree equivalent.
4. Craft a Compelling Narrative: For scholarships like Chevening or prestigious
trusts, you need more than grades. Demonstrate leadership, a clear career plan,
and a commitment to contributing to your home country or field.
5. Apply Broadly: Donʼt rely on one scholarship. Apply for multiple university
specific awards and external ones.
6. Check Eligibility Meticulously: Ensure you meet nationality, residency, academic,
and course requirements.
Recommended Action Plan
1. Shortlist 5-8 Universities: Based on course content, reputation, and location.
2. Scour Their Scholarship Pages: Make a spreadsheet with deadlines, amounts,
and requirements.
3. Identify -2-3 Major External Scholarships you are eligible for (e.g., Chevening,Inner Temple).
4. Prepare Core Materials:
Academic transcripts and references.
A strong personal statement (adaptable for different applications).
A clear career plan and motivation letter for scholarship applications.
5. Meet All Deadlines: Submit applications well in advance.
Studying law in the UK is a significant investment, but with diligent research and
strong applications, securing funding is very possible. The key is to start your
scholarship search at the same time you start your university search.
Best of luck with your applications