- Bursaries are awarded automatically to eligible students
- Scholarships require a separate application
- An offer from Swansea University is normally required
- You do not need to pay a deposit before applying for a scholarship
- Awards are applied as tuition fee discounts
- Awards cannot be used as a deposit payment
- Scholarships and bursaries are shown on CAS documentation where applicable
- Award-specific Terms and Conditions apply
Frequently Asked Questions
- Courses and Entry Requirements for International Students
- Costs, Fees and Funding for International Students
- Application Guidelines
- Your Country/Region Information
- English Language Training Services
- Life in Swansea
- Visa Information and Support
- The College, Swansea University
- Study Abroad & Exchange
- Our International Agents
- Contact us
- Interactive International Students Guide
- International Student Experience Podcast
- International Schools and Colleges
Scholarships and Bursaries Key Facts
What is the difference between a scholarship and a bursary?
The terminology can be confusing, but scholarships and bursaries are both types of non-repayable financial support for students.
You have to submit an application for a scholarship. Scholarships are limited in number and are competitive.
Bursaries are automatically awarded to eligible applicants who meet certain criteria, so no application is necessary. It is important to read the Terms and Conditions of the bursary to confirm that you are eligible.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Is the International Excellence Scholarship specific to my course? Can I change my course and keep the scholarship?
The scholarship offer is not specific to your course. If you are able to change your course, you will retain your scholarship as long as the new course meets the eligibility criteria.
How are scholarships and bursaries paid?
Scholarships and Bursaries are applied as a tuition fee reduction. There is no cash equivalent.
Can I use my scholarship or bursary as a deposit payment?
Scholarships and bursaries are a discount on tuition fees and will reduce the overall fee charge. You must still pay the required deposit in full.
I am deferring my course entry to another academic year. Can the scholarship or bursary be deferred too?
Scholarships and bursaries can be deferred to a different intake in the same Academic Year, for example from September 2026 to January 2027 (if your course has a January entry point) but cannot be deferred to future years.
Students who defer to the next academic year will need to re-apply for the International Excellence Scholarship when applications open for that date.
A bursary cannot be automatically deferred to another academic year as eligible countries and the Terms and Conditions may change. If the bursary is still available for your new entry date, please check the Terms and Conditions for that year to see if you are still eligible.
Does Swansea University offer fully funded scholarships for international students?
Taught postgraduate students looking for their full tuition fees to be covered would need to apply for one of the more prestigious awards, such as Commonwealth or Chevening, that are supported by the University. These are highly competitive awards and applications for these scholarships open quite far in advance and have already closed for September 2026 entry.
Unfortunately, we do not offer any fully funded scholarships to international undergraduate students.
There may be other scholarships available, not offered by Swansea, that could support you through your study however, you would need to research such options yourself.
APPLYING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP
Do I have to accept my course offer before applying for the International Excellence Scholarship?
You will need to apply for your chosen course and have received an offer in order to apply for the International Excellence Scholarship.
You do not need to have accepted the offer.
Do I have to pay a deposit before I can apply for the International Excellence Scholarship?
No, you must have received an offer, but you do not need to pay your deposit before applying.
Can I apply for the International Excellence Scholarship if I am still awaiting my final academic results?
Yes, it is a good idea to apply for the scholarship in order to ensure your application is submitted on time.
Please note though that your application will not be considered until you have received your results.
If I am eligible to receive a bursary, can I apply for the International Excellence Scholarship and receive both?
As per the terms and conditions of the bursaries, students cannot be in receipt of more than one award from International Recruitment and Operations.
You can apply for the International Excellence Scholarship, however, if you are successful in being awarded the International Excellence Scholarship, this will replace the bursary.
In exceptional cases, the International Excellence Scholarship may be combined with a Collaborative Partnership Bursary where outstanding academic achievement has been demonstrated. Such decisions are made on a case-by- case basis.
How will I know if my application for the International Excellence Scholarship is successful?
You will be advised by email if you are successful. You will also be informed if you haven’t been successful.
Is there a deadline to accept the International Excellence Scholarship offer?
No, you are not required to accept your International Excellence Scholarship offer.
However, you must ensure to meet any other deadlines associated with your offer to study at Swansea University.
If I apply for the International Excellence Scholarship but am not successful, can I still receive a bursary?
If you are not successful in being awarded the International Excellence Scholarship, you can still be eligible to receive the bursary subject to meeting the terms and conditions of the relevant bursary.
Can I apply for more than one Scholarship?
You cannot be in receipt of more than one award from International Recruitment and Operations. If you are successful in being awarded the £5,000 International Excellence Scholarship, this will replace the bursary.
Students can receive the International Excellence Scholarship or a bursary in addition to a scholarship or bursary awarded by another department in the University, subject to those eligibility, terms and conditions also allowing. The combined scholarship amounts cannot exceed £7,000.
If you are in receipt of another scholarship/bursary from another department, please reach out to them to confirm the criteria for combining the awards.
My country is not listed on the 'My Country' pages; can I still apply for the International Excellence Scholarship?
Only a limited number of countries have dedicated 'My Country' pages. These pages are provided for countries from which Swansea University receives a high volume of applications and allow us to offer more detailed information on entry requirements, visas, and the application process.
We accept applications to study and for the International Excellence Scholarship from students worldwide so, it is not a problem if your country is not on the list.
I am applying for a course starting in the next academic year, can I submit an application for the International Excellence Scholarship now?
You can only submit an application when the International Excellence Scholarship application web page has been updated to show that applications are open for your entry date. Applications for September entry usually open in spring and applications for January entry open in the autumn.
ELIGIBILITY AND AWARDS
How will I know if I am eligible for a bursary?
If you have stated in your application that you are resident in a Thrive eligible country, Nepal or Sri Lanka, you will receive an email from us regarding the respective bursary after you have received an offer and a second email when you have accepted your offer.
Please note that receiving this email does not confirm that you will receive the bursary. It is important that you read through the Terms and Conditions to make sure that you meet all the other criteria.
Thrive Bursary Terms and Conditions - Swansea University
Nepal Bursary Terms and Conditions - Swansea University
Sri Lanka Terms and Conditions - Swansea University
If you are still unsure, please email iro@swansea.ac.uk
Swansea University has collaborative partnerships with a number of institutions around the world. If you are joining a pathway programme through one of these partnerships, you may be eligible for a Collaborative Partnership (CP) Bursary. If you qualify, you will receive confirmation of your bursary by email after you have received your offer.
What do you mean by ‘Country of Domicile’ or ‘Country of Residence’?
This is the country where you usually live, provided you have lived there for at least 5 years. Do not select a country if you are living there primarily to attend school, college, or university.
If you have lived in your current country for less than 5 years, or if you are there primarily for education, please contact us so that we can determine your country of residence for bursary purposes.
STUDENT RECORDS AND CAS
Why is my bursary or scholarship not shown on my offer letter?
Bursaries and scholarships will not be shown on your offer letter but will be stated on your CAS statement.
If you are eligible to receive a bursary or have been awarded a scholarship, it will be added to your CAS record once all CAS requirements have been met and the necessary documentation has been received.
The bursary will be automatically added to your account prior to your enrolment and deducted from your overall tuition fees.
Why is my scholarship or bursary not shown on my student record?
The scholarship or bursary will not show on your Learner Gateway account but will show on your enrolment account once you have paid your deposit, received your CAS and are ready to enrol.
If you are trying to enrol and your scholarship or bursary is not shown on your record, please contact us at iro@swansea.ac.uk.
Will the International Excellence Scholarship or Bursary be shown on my Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) when I apply for my visa?
Yes, the scholarship amount will be shown on your CAS.
If you have received confirmation that you have been awarded the International Excellence Scholarship and it isn’t shown on your CAS, it might be that the scholarship was awarded after the CAS was prepared.
If you are eligible to receive a bursary, this will also be shown on your CAS.
Please email us at iro@swansea.ac.uk if the scholarship or bursary is not shown on your CAS statement.