Loughborough University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Yes, some scholarships can cover programmes that allow distance learning. For example, Loughborough’s Business School Scholarship explicitly includes “distance learning” MA/MSc/PGDip/PGCert programmes (except MBA programmes), so it can be relevant if your course is offered online or in a flexible format.

Loughborough scholarships are often available across a wide range of subjects, depending on the award. Some (like certain external or partner scholarships) can apply broadly to taught master’s programmes, while others are school/department-specific (for example, business-focused funding within Loughborough Business School).

From scholarship-recipient stories, you can also see discipline-specific examples. For instance, Rohan Shane Pereira studied an MSc in Sport Management, Politics and International Development, so scholarships can clearly support sport, policy, and social-science pathways, not just lab-based fields.

In general, you’ll find scholarships supporting subjects such as engineering (e.g., aeronautical, mechanical, civil, chemical), business (management, finance, marketing), STEM (computer science, data/AI, physics, chemistry, mathematics, biosciences), and humanities/social sciences (English, history, international relations, communication/media, sociology, law, design/creative arts), plus sport sciences.

Medicine note: Loughborough’s undergraduate subject-area list does not show “Medicine” as a standalone subject area (as in an MBBS-style primary medical degree). However, it does offer medicine-adjacent and health-related routes (for example, medicinal/pharmaceutical chemistry and sport/exercise/health areas). International students are typically eligible for these health-related programmes and their scholarships when the scholarship criteria allow international applicants; always check the exact course and scholarship eligibility rules.

It depends on the scholarship. Some awards are open broadly to international students, while others are restricted to specific passport-holders or countries of residence/domicile.

Real examples include: (1) major external/government awards used at Loughborough, like Chevening, where recipients come from eligible countries (for example, Rohan Shane Pereira is from India); (2) nationality-restricted scholarships, such as Loughborough’s GREAT Scholarships; and (3) domicile-based scholarships like the Global Impact Scholarship, which requires you to be domiciled in a country on Loughborough’s published list for that award.

Often, yes, unless you meet Loughborough’s approved alternatives. Loughborough publishes standard English-language requirements (commonly IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component, or an accepted equivalent), and English tests typically must be recent to be valid for admission.

From a recipient perspective, Rohan Shane Pereira took IELTS and scored 8.5, and he described his prep simply: “I relied on YouTube tutorials and guidance videos.” If you’re applying for certain scholarships, meeting the English requirement by the scholarship deadline can matter and not just by the course start date.

Yes, but the minimum depends on your level and course. For undergraduate entry, Loughborough states baseline expectations such as minimum GCSE English Language at grade 4/C, and for most courses GCSE Mathematics at grade 4/C, alongside course-specific academic requirements.

For postgraduate entry, requirements are usually framed in UK degree classifications (e.g., First Class, Upper Second/2:1, etc.) and are listed on the individual programme page.

Scholarship selection can be even more competitive than admission. For example, some major Loughborough scholarships look for exceptional academic achievement (often around first-class-equivalent profiles) plus evidence of motivation and leadership potential. In his story, Rohan Shane Pereira didn’t share a GPA, but he did say his undergraduate education “helped me build a strong foundation in research and problem-solving,” which is the kind of academic narrative selectors respond to.

Minimum eligibility varies by scholarship, but common patterns include: (1) holding an offer for an eligible programme; (2) meeting academic thresholds (sometimes explicitly first-class-equivalent for top awards); and (3) showing clear motivation, initiative, and fit with the scholarship’s goals.

Exact requirements vary by course and level, but typical documents include: academic transcripts/mark sheets, proof of degree completion (or an official award/confirmation letter if you have finished but not yet graduated), proof of English (IELTS/TOEFL or an accepted equivalent), and at least one reference letter if required by your offer conditions.

For taught postgraduate applications, you should also expect to submit a personal statement explaining motivation, relevant skills/experience, and future goals. In a scholarship context, recipients often highlight the same pieces: Rohan Shane Pereira said, “I put significant effort into crafting strong motivation statements and securing relevant reference letters,” which is a useful checklist for both admission and scholarship competitiveness.

For postgraduate taught applications made through Loughborough’s online application portal, Loughborough states there is no application fee. For undergraduate applications, you usually apply through UCAS, and UCAS charges an application fee (paid to UCAS, not directly to the university).