University of York Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most University of York scholarships are designed for on-campus study (for example, many awards require a full-time place and are applied as a tuition-fee discount), so “online-only” funding is less common and tends to be scheme-specific.

University of York scholarships span a wide range of subjects across STEM, engineering, business, and humanities/social sciences because many awards are tied to your level of study (undergraduate/masters/PhD) and fee status rather than one single department.

From real recipient stories on Global Scholarships: Yue Chern Lim pursued a PhD in Biomedical Science (STEM/health research) and shared that the MRC DiMeN DTP “covers my tuition fees, bench fees, and stipend,” which is typical of funded doctoral routes in lab-based research.

Also, Valentina Sanchez Orozco pursued an MA in Applied Linguistics for English Language Teaching (humanities/social sciences/education) and noted her Chevening award “fully funded my MA at the University of York.”

York has scholarships open broadly to international students (eligibility usually depends on being assessed at the overseas fee rate and holding an offer), plus some awards restricted to specific countries. From Global Scholarships recipient stories (real examples of nationalities represented at York): Valentina Sanchez Orozco is from Colombia (Chevening Scholar), and Yue Chern Lim is from Malaysia (MRC DiMeN DTP-funded PhD).

Often, yes, if English isn’t your first language (or you haven’t met York’s accepted alternatives), you’ll usually need an approved English-language qualification such as IELTS or TOEFL (York lists many accepted tests and versions). Some applicants can be exempt depending on prior education and the course’s rules.

In recipient stories, Valentina Sanchez Orozco described preparing specifically to meet this requirement: she “prepared for the TOEFL exam to meet language proficiency requirements, achieving a C1 level.”

Another example: Yue Chern Lim shared earlier evidence of English ability from school (“earned a B for English”), but your programme may still require an accepted test score depending on York’s policy for that course.

There isn’t one single minimum grade that applies to every applicant; requirements depend on the course, level (undergraduate/masters/PhD), and your qualification type. Competitive programmes may have higher expectations.

For a concrete scholarship-linked example (which also reflects the level of academic profile York expects for some international routes), York’s International Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship eligibility mentions predicted/achieved grades like A Level ABB or IB 34 points (or equivalent) for applicants being considered for that award.

From recipient stories (real academic profiles): Valentina reported a prior GPA of 4.2/5.0 (and also a 4.0/4.0 in a separate credential), while Yue described strong school outcomes (“eight A1 grades”) and later noted maintaining performance thresholds to retain funding in earlier studies.

In practice, a “good” scholarship profile at York usually combines (1) strong grades, (2) evidence you can thrive in the programme, and (3) a clear reason for your course and future impact because many awards are merit-based and competitive.

From recipient stories, you can see the academic + impact pattern clearly. Valentina Sanchez Orozco paired a strong GPA (4.2/5.0) with a mission-driven story and said she focused on the “why behind my work,” not just listing achievements. She also highlighted meeting language requirements via TOEFL (C1).

On the research side, Yue Chern Lim emphasized fit with supervisor/project and later funding that “covers my tuition fees, bench fees, and stipend,” which reflects what fully funded PhD routes often look for: clear research alignment and readiness.

Minimum eligibility varies by scholarship. For example, York’s GREAT Scholarship notes a strong preference for the strongest academic record (eg a UK first-class degree or equivalent), while other awards automatically consider all offer-holders who meet the overseas-fee criteria.

Exact documents vary by course and level, but typical York applications commonly require academic transcripts/certificates, a personal statement (or research proposal for PhD), references, and proof of English proficiency when applicable.

Recipient stories help make this more personal: Yue Chern Lim described submitting an “application statement highlighting my academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and long-term ambitions,” which is a strong model for personal statements and scholarship essays.

Similarly, Valentina Sanchez Orozco described scholarship applications built around essays and interview preparation; she sought feedback to refine her applications and said she practised extensively with mock interviews, which is especially relevant for awards like Chevening.

For postgraduate taught applications submitted directly to the University of York, York states you can “apply online for free,” meaning there’s no York application fee for that route.

For undergraduate applications, many students apply via UCAS, and UCAS charges its own application fee (separate from York). So the “fee” question depends on which application route you’re using.