£23,000 University College London (UCL) Excellence Scholarship 2025

Thinking about studying at UCL in 2025? Imagine this: you’ve applied for your dream programme, and there’s an incredible £23,000 Excellence Scholarship, designed to help deserving students cover tuition and living costs. While UCL doesn’t officially advertise a scholarship by that exact name or amount, many of its existing awards offer similar levels of support—like full tuition, generous stipends, and research allowances—making the concept feel entirely plausible.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the idea of this scholarship as though it exists, based on the Research Excellence Scholarship (UCL-RES) and other real opportunities. You’ll get a conversational overview, key eligibility details, application tips, and FAQs to guide your journey. Let’s dive in!

What Makes This Hypothetical £23,000 Scholarship So Appealing?

UCL is one of the most prestigious universities globally, and any scholarship offering £23,000 in support would be a significant help—especially for international students.

Here’s why such a scholarship would be valuable:

• Substantial Financial Impact: A £23k award would likely cover a sizeable portion of tuition and living expenses, easing financial burdens.

• Academic Recognition: Receiving an “Excellence Scholarship” signals to others that you’re among the top tier of global applicants.

• Competitive Edge: UCL scholarships are highly competitive. Securing such funding would set you apart in future academic or career pursuits.

What Real UCL Scholarships Offer Similar Support?

Let’s look at actual UCL scholarships that closely mirror the imagined £23k Excellence Scholarship:

1. Research Excellence Scholarship (UCL-RES)

• Offers full coverage of tuition fees (Home or Overseas), a maintenance stipend (for full-time study, it was £21,237 for 2024/25; 2025/26 rate is TBD), plus up to £1,200/year for research costs. University College Londonstudyinuk.com

• Ideal for MPhil/PhD and EngD students (full- or part-time), excluding most professional doctorates. University College London

• Requires academic excellence (at least a 2:1 UK honours or equivalent) and strong research potential. University College London

• Deadline: 10 January 2025. University College London

2. UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship

• Offers up to 33 awards: ten cover full tuition and a maintenance & additional cost allowance; twenty-three cover full tuition only. University College London

• Tailored for international undergraduate students from low-income backgrounds. University College London

• Deadline: 28 April 2025. University College London

3. LLM Academic Excellence Scholarship

• For the UCL Laws LLM, this scholarship requires a first-class equivalent degree and application by mid-Dec 2024, with scholarship deadline of 29 January 2025. University College London

Imagining the “£23,000 UCL Excellence Scholarship”—By Bridging the Real Programmes

Here’s how the hypothetical scholarship fits within the scope of existing UCL funding:

In effect, a student receiving full fees, a living stipend, and research support would easily benefit to the tune of around £23k—especially if tuition is somewhat lower for postgraduate taught degrees or integrated programmes.

Who Could Be Eligible?

Depending on the programme type:

1. Postgraduate Research (PhD/MPhil/EngD): UCL-RES applicants — anywhere in the world, full/part-time, with strong academic records and research potential. University College London

2. Undergraduate Incoming International Students: UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship — low-income backgrounds, full-time undergrad programmes. University College London

3. LLM Applicants: Must not already hold a Master’s, must have first-class marks, and apply by the relevant deadlines. University College London

How to Apply (Step by Step)

1. Submit your programme application early:

   • For PhD/research: Submit by 10 January 2025. University College London

   • For undergraduate global scholarships: Apply by 28 April 2025. University College London

   • For LLM: Complete your programme application by 18 December 2024 and scholarship application by 29 January 2025. University College London

2. Notify the department (Research Scholarships):

   • For UCL-RES, send your documents—cover sheet, research summary (~200 words), transcripts, CV, references—to your academic department by 10 January 2025. University College London

3. Prepare a standout research proposal:

   • Make it concise, accessible, and engaging across disciplines. University College London

4. Submit via Portico (Undergraduate):

   • Access funding options through your application portal. University College London

5. Ensure completeness:

   • Incomplete or late applications aren’t considered, period. University College London

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is there really a “£23,000 Excellence Scholarship” at UCL?

Not officially. But combining UCL’s real funding—like stipends (~£21,237), tuition coverage, and research costs—totals around £23k in overall value.

2. Who qualifies for the Research Excellence Scholarship (UCL-RES)?

Anyone applying for full-time or part-time MPhil/PhD/EngD with at least a UK 2:1 or equivalent—but not professional doctorates. You must apply by 10 January 2025. University College London

3. What if I want funding for undergraduate studies?

The UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship covers full tuition (and in some awards, maintenance and extra costs) for international students from low-income backgrounds. Deadline: 28 April 2025. University College London

4. What are the main criteria for selection?

Academic excellence and potential—shown through transcripts, proposal quality, achievements, and referee comments. Financial need matters only in certain schemes (e.g., undergrad global scholarships) but not UCL-RES. University College London+1

5. Is funding guaranteed for the full programme?

Yes—UCL-RES covers standard duration (usually 3 years full-time), excluding writing-up years, and awards start in October 2025. University College London

Final Thoughts

While the £23,000 Excellence Scholarship doesn’t formally exist, UCL offers funding packages that equate in value—particularly for research students and undergraduates from low-income backgrounds. These awards are transformative, recognizing both past achievement and future potential.

If you’re determined, proactive, and academically strong, this hypothetical scholarship scenario becomes a very achievable reality. Want help crafting your research summary or streamlining your application? I’m here to help—just say the word!

Safe travels on your journey to UCL.