Durham University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Yes, Durham University Business School has scholarships for its Online MBA. However, most scholarships available at Durham University are for on-campus studies.

Durham scholarships and external scholarships used at Durham span a wide range of subjects, including business, STEM fields (including data and computing-heavy programs), engineering, social sciences, and humanities, often depending on the specific scholarship. The recipient stories show that range in practice: Shayan Rabbani studied Business Analytics, noting that “The MSc in Business Analytics offered a well-structured balance between technical rigor and business application,” while Maria Shawl pursued Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Literary Studies (humanities).

Medicine: Durham University does not currently have a Medical School, so scholarships for an undergraduate Medicine (MBBS) track at Durham are generally not applicable; however, Durham does have health-related study and research areas (for example, medical humanities and other health-focused disciplines). If you are specifically looking for an MBBS/MD route as an international student, you will likely need to target universities that actively run an accredited medical degree.

Many Durham-linked scholarships are open to international students from a broad set of countries, but nationality rules depend on the scholarship. In the GlobalScholarships.com Durham stories, Chevening funded students from Pakistan and India: Shayan Rabbani (Pakistan) and Maria Shawl (India).

Some funding is explicitly nationality- or region-specific (examples include scholarships aimed at eligible Commonwealth-country applicants), so the practical answer is: scholarships can be available for many nationalities, but you must filter by each scholarship’s eligibility rules.

Often, yes. Many applicants need to prove English proficiency, though waivers may apply depending on your prior education and program rules. In the Durham recipient stories, both students explicitly referenced IELTS: Shayan Rabbani said, “As part of the application process, I also took the IELTS exam,” and Maria Shawl shared, “I scored a 7.5,” adding that “since English was my academic background, I did not need to do extensive studying.”

Yes, but it is course-specific: Durham sets academic entry requirements by program, and some courses also require specific prior subjects. From the recipient stories, you can see the kind of academic profile that can be competitive: Maria Shawl reported a “GPA of 7.5” in her BA (Hons) in English before starting her MA at Durham, while Shayan Rabbani entered with a quantitative-and-business-oriented background (Economics plus analytics-relevant coursework) before starting his MSc in Business Analytics.

A strong academic record helps, but competitive scholarships are usually about more than grades: clear goals, fit with the program, and evidence you’ll create impact. Shayan Rabbani emphasized that “Chevening isn’t just about academics; it’s about demonstrating leadership potential, networking skills, and a vision for impact.”

In terms of “minimums,” treat them as scholarship-by-scholarship. For instance, Maria Shawl highlighted the importance of a compelling personal narrative and confidence, advising applicants to “Take chances with bolder choices and do not underestimate your potential.” A practical benchmark for scholarshisp especially is to aim for (1) meeting or exceeding your course’s entry requirements, and (2) producing scholarship materials that clearly connect your past work to your future plan.

Exact requirements depend on your course and whether you’re also applying for a scholarship, but common documents typically include academic transcripts/mark sheets, degree certificates (if completed), a personal statement or research proposal (where relevant), references, a CV (common for many postgraduate applications), passport ID details, and proof of English proficiency (if required).

The recipient stories underline how central the written materials can be: Maria Shawl said, “I worked hard on my essays,” and Shayan Rabbani described scholarship applications as requiring “careful reflection and precision” and recommended applicants “start your preparation early, build a strong and authentic story.”

It can depend on the level and department. Durham has an online payment portal specifically for postgraduate admissions application fees, and Durham guidance indicates some postgraduate routes (including certain Business School MSc programs) charge an application fee (for example, £60 is cited for Business School MSc applications in Durham’s postgraduate application guidance materials).

If you are applying for an undergraduate course, fees may also apply through the centralized application system used in the UK; always confirm the exact fee for your route and program before submitting.