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Postgraduate Inspiring Excellence Scholarships
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Summary

The Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship is an invitation to International Students to achieve excellence at Durham.

Each scholarship is a competitive award worth up to £10,000 in tuition fee discounts towards the original tuition fee for a postgraduate programme starting in September 2026.

The selection will be based on an individual’s achievements and potential for positive impact upon completion of a postgraduate degree at Durham University.

The scholarships are available to all new international students to Durham who meet the eligibility criteria.

Amount

The scholarship is offered in two award types:

Inspiring Excellence £5K - £5,000 in tuition fee discount

Inspiring Excellence £10K - £10,000 in tuition fee discount

Year of Entry Scholarships are available for programmes commencing in 2026.
Number of awards available Limited
Level of study Postgraduate Taught
Eligible programmes One-year, full-time (in-person) taught MSc, MA, LLM or MDS qualification (MBA, MSW programmes and MA in Theology and Ministry are excluded).
Duration One-year

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for Durham Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship, applicants must:

  • have applied to a one-year, full-time (in-person) taught MSc, MA, LLM or MDS qualification (MBA, MSW programmes and MA in Theology and Ministry are excluded).
  • start postgraduate studies at Durham University in September 2026.
  • be classed as an overseas student for fee-paying purposes.
  • self-funded and not already be in receipt of any other scholarship, fundings or from the university or any external institutions.
  • meet or exceed the entry requirements for the programme applied for at Durham University
  • complete the Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship Application Form.

 

How to apply

  1. Apply for an eligible postgraduate programme via Durham's Applicant Portal

    To apply for the Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship, you must provide a valid Student ID, which is generated once you have submitted a complete postgraduate programme application.

     

    However, you are not required to hold an academic offer at the time of your scholarship application.

     

    Postgraduate Applicant Portal

  2. Complete and submit the scholarship application form by the below deadlines

    In addition to submitting the academic application above, complete the Durham Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship online application by:

     

    1st round selection: midnight (GMT) 16 January 2026

    2nd round selection: midnight (GMT) 29 May 2026

     

    Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship Application Form

     

    Please note: if you fail to receive an academic offer before the deadline for the 1st round selection, or you are unsuccessful in the 1st round selection, you will be automatically considered for the 2nd round selection. You do not need to submit the scholarship application form again.

Guidance

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Funding

  1. The Durham Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship applies to courses commencing in September 2026. The scholarship award is not transferable, not deferrable and will be applied as a tuition fee waiver directly to the postgraduate programme tuition fees. No cash alternative is offered. The tuition fees will be adjusted at the time of enrolment at Durham University.
  2. If an awardee of the Durham Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship fails to meet the academic conditions of the course for which they originally applied, the scholarship offer will be withdrawn.
  3. Awardees must obtain approval from the International Office before making any changes to their programme of study, including course transfers or interruptions to study.
  4. Awardees will lose eligibility for the award if they are no longer classified as overseas students for fee purposes, or receive other scholarships, funding, or sponsorship from Durham or external institutions during their degree.
  5. Applicants must be willing to participate and cooperate in marketing and communications activities (Scholarship Commitments) for their Faculty/Durham University. This may include testimonials and public relations opportunities, as well as being involved in and attending Open Events, Webinars or being a class representative.
  6. Awardees who suspend their Scholarship Commitments or academic studies will have all future scholarship discounts cancelled. Please note that only under exceptional circumstances e.g. medical reasons, and at the sole discretion of the Faculty Executive Dean, approval may be given for discounts to recommence after suspended studies continue.

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Durham University makes every effort to ensure that the information published or contained on its website is accurate.

However, the University cannot guarantee the information may not subsequently be altered owing to circumstances beyond the University's reasonable control.

Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) changes in Government policy or change of law.

Whilst any changes will be incorporated into the University's website any person wishing to clarify the details of a particular scholarship/s should contact the University at inspiring.excellence@durham.ac.uk

 

 

 

Get in touch

If you have any questions about whether you are eligible for a scholarship or the application process, get in touch with our International Office.