University of Chester Scholarships for International Students 2026

The University of Chester’s scholarships page describes international and merit-based scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate study (typically as tuition-fee reductions), but it does not list a separate set of scholarships specifically for fully online-only programmes.

Many University of Chester scholarships are not restricted to a single subject area and are considered as part of your application, which means students across business, engineering, STEM, humanities, and health-related programmes can be considered (subject to each scholarship’s terms). From the recipient side, Zohaib Safdar studied MSc Public Health Nutrition and described choosing the field because of his interest in “nutrition, disease prevention, and community wellbeing.” For medicine: the University’s Graduate Entry Medicine (MBChB) explicitly accepts applications from international students, so international students are eligible to apply for medicine at Chester; however, scholarships may not be offered for medicine.

The University offers scholarships and discounts that can be available to both UK and international students, and it also highlights “international scholarships” that are considered automatically when you apply. Some opportunities are nationality- or status-specific: for example, the University’s Commonwealth Scholarship eligibility requires you to be a citizen of (or have refugee status in) an eligible Commonwealth country and be resident in an eligible Commonwealth country. A real example is Zohaib Safdar from Pakistan, who completed his MSc at Chester on a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship and explained that it supported tuition and living costs.

Often yes, if English is not your first language (or you don’t qualify for an exemption). The University lists accepted English tests and typical minimums (for example IELTS/TOEFL options are accepted, with score requirements depending on level and course). In the recipient story, Zohaib Safdar said, “Yes, I took the IELTS as required by UK institutions.” Note that some courses have higher requirements; for example, Graduate Entry Medicine (MBChB) requires an English test equivalent to IELTS 7.0 with limits on low component scores.

There isn’t one single universal minimum grade because entry depends on your course and level, but the University is clear you must meet both the academic entry requirement and the English language requirement for your chosen programme. As an example at postgraduate level, Chester notes applicants usually need an appropriate first degree with at least a second class honours (or equivalent), though some cases may consider relevant work experience. From a scholarship recipient perspective, Zohaib Safdar highlighted strong prior results, including “achieving a CGPA of 3.71/4.00” in his previous degree.

It depends on the scholarship, but a strong academic record plus clear motivation and evidence of impact/leadership is a common theme. In his story, Zohaib Safdar described the Commonwealth award as aimed at people with “strong academic merit and leadership potential,” and he said he tailored his application to show academic excellence and long-term development impact. For a concrete minimum example, Chester’s Commonwealth Scholarship criteria include holding at least a 2:1 degree (or a 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, typically a Master’s), meeting the University’s English criteria, and submitting supporting documentation in the required format.

Chester’s international application guidance lists core documents such as academic transcripts/marksheets and certificates, proof of English (e.g., IELTS or accepted alternatives), an academic reference, a statement of purpose, and a copy of your passport, plus UK visa/CAS history if you previously studied or worked in the UK. In the recipient story, Zohaib Safdar also emphasized polishing the narrative side: he said he prepared “strong references” and “refined my personal statement multiple times.” If you’re applying for specific scholarships, extra documents may be required; for example, Chester’s Commonwealth Scholarship document list includes items like a statement (minimum word count), signed reference on letterhead, transcripts/certificates, and copies of English qualifications.

Chester states it is “free to apply” via its own application route. However, some programmes (including Graduate Entry Medicine/MBChB) are applied for through UCAS, and UCAS charges an application fee (for 2026 entry, UCAS lists £28.95 for up to five choices). So, you may pay a fee depending on whether you apply directly to Chester or via UCAS for your course.