University of Exeter Scholarships for International Students 2026

Yes, there are some scholarships that can apply to online study, but eligibility depends heavily on the specific award and programme. For example, Exeter has offered an online-specific scholarship for the PGCert/PGDip/MSc Medical Mycology Online programme (Stage 1/PGCert) for eligible candidates from low and middle income countries.

Broadly, Exeter scholarships span most subject areas, STEM, business, engineering, health-related fields, and humanities/social sciences, either through University-wide schemes (like Exeter Excellence) or targeted awards by department/country/entry cycle.

Business: Recipients studied business-focused programmes like Aryan More (MSc Business Analytics). Exeter also runs scholarships that explicitly include business areas (e.g., Business Analytics, Marketing, Management, Finance & Accounting).

Engineering & environment: Mouhamadou Bamba SAMB pursued an MSc tied to mining and environmental management, and Exeter’s scholarship lists commonly include areas like Engineering, Earth & Environmental Science, Geography, and Ecology & Conservation.

STEM more generally: Depending on the scheme, you’ll often see Computer Science, Maths/Stats, Physics, Data-focused degrees, and other science-based departments included.

Humanities & social sciences: Some scholarship routes also cover humanities and social sciences (e.g., History, Politics, Education, English/Creative Writing, Languages, Philosophy), though the exact eligible list can vary by scholarship round and intake.

Medicine (and eligibility for international students): Exeter does offer Medicine (BMBS), and international applicants can apply, but places are limited. Also, some major scholarship schemes exclude BMBS Medicine, so for Medicine you’ll need to look specifically for schemes that list it as eligible (or consider external funding routes).

Exeter scholarships include (1) awards open to many international students with “international fee status” and (2) awards restricted to specific nationalities/countries for a given intake. Exeter also hosts major external schemes used by international students (e.g., Chevening).

From recipient stories, you can see how different nationalities fund Exeter study in different ways: Aryan More is from India and described using a Government of Maharashtra overseas scholarship for his Exeter MSc, while Mouhamadou Bamba SAMB is from Senegal and attended Exeter on a fully funded Chevening Scholarship.

Often yes for international applicants, especially if your prior education wasn’t in English or doesn’t meet Exeter’s accepted exemptions, because Exeter needs proof you can succeed in an English-taught academic environment.

In recipient stories, both Exeter students highlighted IELTS as part of their process. Aryan More said, “Yes, I took the IELTS. I prepared using online practice tests, self-study materials, and mock exams.”

Similarly, Mouhamadou Bamba SAMB shared, “I took the IELTS test and scored a band 7.”

Yes, but the minimum grade depends on the programme and level (undergraduate vs Masters vs PhD). For instance, Medicine has very specific entry requirements and additional testing routes, while many Masters programmes focus on your undergraduate degree classification/equivalency plus relevant background.

In recipient stories, both Exeter students described strong academic outcomes rather than a single universal GPA cut-off. Aryan More reported a B.Tech “with distinction” and an Exeter MSc with a “predicted Distinction.” Mouhamadou Bamba SAMB also described graduating “with distinction” as a geological engineer.

For scholarships specifically, some Exeter awards publish typical academic expectations (for example, certain competitive undergraduate scholarships reference high A-level-equivalent performance), but you should always check your course entry requirements first and then the scholarship’s separate criteria.

Most scholarships that fund Exeter study require (1) an offer to an eligible programme and (2) strong academic merit, often alongside evidence of ambition, leadership, and fit with the scholarship’s goals. Some awards are merit-based through Exeter; others are external (like Chevening) but used to study at Exeter.

What “good background” looks like in practice: Aryan More paired strong academics with a clear sustainability direction and said he made sure his personal statement highlighted “my commitment to sustainability, my academic achievements, and how the scholarship would enable me to create impact.”

For external schemes used at Exeter, Mouhamadou Bamba SAMB summarized typical Chevening-style eligibility elements like needing a relevant undergraduate degree and work experience, and later emphasized being genuine: “being authentic” alongside clear goals and strong essays.

Document requirements vary by programme and scholarship, but common items include academic transcripts/degree certificates, proof of English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL or accepted alternatives), references, and a personal statement. Some scholarships add eligibility evidence (financial records, residency/community proof, etc.).

Examples from Exeter recipient stories: Aryan More said, “I gathered all required documents, including academic transcripts, proof of community and residence, financial records, and an unconditional offer letter from the University of Exeter.”

Mouhamadou Bamba SAMB described a very typical Exeter/UK Masters document set: he translated “transcripts and academic qualifications” into English, provided English proof (“I took the IELTS test and scored a band 7”), prepared “2 reference letters,” wrote a personal statement, and included a CV.

• Transcripts/degree certificates (sometimes translated if not in English)
• English proficiency proof (IELTS/TOEFL/etc., if required)
• References (often 1–2 academic/professional, depending on programme)
• Personal statement (programme-focused; sometimes scholarship-focused too)
• CV/Resume (common for many Masters programmes)
• Offer letter (often required for scholarship stages after admission)
• Scholarship-only extras (e.g., financial documents, residency/community proof)

It depends on the route and level. For many UK undergraduate applications you typically apply via UCAS, which charges an application fee for submitting your application.

For postgraduate taught applications, Exeter directs applicants to apply via its own online application portals. The application itself does not mention an application fee.