University of Reading Scholarships for International Students 2026

There are no scholarships for online courses at the University of Reading at the time of this writing.

The University of Reading offers scholarships across a wide range of subjects rather than only one faculty. The scholarship and international-student pages show funding tied to undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral study across areas such as engineering, business, finance, agriculture, climate science, biomedical and life sciences, computer science, social sciences, and humanities subjects like English, classics, ancient history, archaeology, art, and creative writing.

For business, Henley Business School has its own scholarships. For STEM, there are university-wide scholarships plus subject-focused options such as the Climate Stripes Scholarship for climate-related master’s courses. For humanities and social sciences, the international PhD studentship page explicitly includes arts and humanities and social sciences. For medicine, there’s no MBBS-specific scholarship, but Reading does offer health-related subjects such as Medical Science, Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences, and related medical sciences, and international students can study those areas.

Nationality rules depend on the scholarship. Some are very broad while others are country-specific.

The verified Global Scholarships stories also show the range of countries that can end up at Reading through external funding routes: Tausi studied at Reading as a Tanzanian Chevening scholar, and Janet Mtali studied there as a Malawian Chevening scholar.

Not always in the sense of IELTS specifically, but you normally do need to satisfy the university’s English-language requirements. Reading accepts IELTS and other approved proofs, and many courses use an IELTS-equivalent level around 6.5 overall with minimum component scores, although some postgraduate courses can ask for 7.0 or some subject-specific variations. So IELTS can be necessary for many students, but it is not the only accepted route.

The verified Reading recipient stories make that practical. Tausi said Reading allowed her to use her secondary school certificate as proof of English proficiency, which saved time and money. Janet Mtali said she took IELTS because Chevening required it at the time, but also noted that applicants now need to meet the English requirements of their chosen university.

There is no single university-wide minimum GPA or grade that covers every programme. For undergraduate admission, Reading says applicants normally need good general education, including English and Mathematics at GCSE-equivalent level, and some courses have extra subject requirements. For postgraduate admission, requirements vary by programme and country, so you need to check the specific course and country-equivalency page.

For scholarships, one clear benchmark is the University of Reading Excellence Scholarship for master’s students, which requires at least a UK Lower Second Class degree or equivalent. The recipient stories are encouraging too: Tausi entered with a second class degree equivalent to a UK 2:1, and Janet Mtali said she graduated with a GPA of 2.8 and still emphasized that leadership, impact, and admission eligibility mattered, not just very high grades.

There are no age limits on major University of Reading scholarships. These scholarships focus on whether you have an offer, your academic background, your fee status, and whether your course is eligible. Reading’s doctoral funding pages also state an equal-opportunities policy that applies regardless of age.

That said, some separate bursaries elsewhere at the university can have age-related rules, so the safest approach is always to read the exact terms of the award you are applying for.

A good academic background for Reading means more than just grades. At undergraduate level, you normally need strong school qualifications plus the required English and Mathematics foundation. At master’s level, you usually need a recognized bachelor’s degree, the course-specific academic standard, and the required English level. For scholarship competitiveness, stronger academic results help, but fit with the programme and your profile also matter.

The verified Reading stories make that clear. Tausi matched her MSc in Communication for Development to both her undergraduate degree and four years of professional experience, and she said Reading stood out because of its module structure and academic reputation. Janet Mtali said she built her profile through volunteering, writing workshops, essay reviews, and mock interviews, and that Chevening prioritizes leadership and impact over grades alone. For highly selective scholarships, requirements can be much higher; for example, the Felix Scholarship expects academic excellence and financial need, and in some cases a first-class bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

For undergraduate applications, Reading says your UCAS application should include required information such as your qualifications, a personal statement, and a reference. For master’s applications, Reading says you should upload full transcripts, an English-language certificate if needed, contact details for two academic or professional references, a statement of purpose, and a passport copy if you are an international student.

For undergraduate applications, there is usually a small one-off UCAS application fee rather than a separate Reading application fee. For master’s applications, Reading explicitly says it does not charge an application fee.