If you are an international student eyeing the United Kingdom for September 2027, Bristol just opened one of its biggest doors. The university’s Think Big Scholarship scheme is now live, and it covers both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants with awards that genuinely move the needle on tuition. Here is everything you need, straight from Bristol’s own pages, with no guesswork padding out the numbers.
What the Think Big Scholarship Actually Is
Think Big is the University of Bristol’s flagship scholarship scheme for international students. It gives funding toward tuition fees for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and the university has invested up to £5 million into the scheme for students starting in 2027. One application form covers several linked awards at once, so you are not filling out five separate forms for five separate scholarships.
This is a tuition fee reduction, not a full ride. Think of it as a serious discount on your biggest bill, while you still plan separately for accommodation, food, and other living costs.
Key Dates You Need to Know
- Applications opened: 27 October 2026
- Application deadline: 19 March 2027, at 1 p.m. UK time
- Outcome notification: By the end of May 2027
- Intake: September 2027 entry only
That gives you almost five months to apply, which is generous by scholarship standards. Still, do not treat March as far away. Course applications, English test bookings, and document collection all take longer than people expect, so start early.
How Much Can You Actually Get
Award values differ by study level, and Bristol sets them in fixed bands rather than a sliding scale. Here is the breakdown, straight from the university’s international scholarships page:
| Study level | Award values | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | £6,500 per year or £13,000 per year | Up to four years, subject to maintaining required grades |
| Postgraduate taught or master’s by research | £3,000, £6,500, £13,000, or £26,000 | First year of study |
Which band you land in depends on your course, your academic profile, and sometimes partnership agreements between Bristol and specific regions or faculties. A master’s in International Development, for example, has historically carried a different award tier than a general MA or LLM, so check your specific programme page once you have applied. If you are leaning toward a research-focused postgraduate route instead, a scholarship like Imperial College London’s President’s PhD Scholarship is also worth comparing.
Looking for a fully funded route instead of a fee discount? You may also want to check the Martingale Foundation Scholarships 2027, which fund Masters and PhD study in the UK in full.
Who Can Apply
Here is what makes you eligible:
- You must hold overseas fee status, meaning you are classified as an international student for tuition purposes.
- You must have already applied to start an eligible course in September 2027. You do not need an offer in hand yet, applying for the course is enough to start your scholarship application.
- Your course must be delivered in person. Distance learning, online programmes, and part-time study do not qualify.
- Undergraduate applicants need a course of up to four years, studied full-time.
- Postgraduate applicants need a one-year, full-time taught master’s or a master’s by research programme.
Notice that last point about not needing an offer yet. That is a genuine advantage over scholarships that make you wait for admission before you can even apply for funding. Bristol lets you run both processes side by side.
Applying as an undergraduate? You may also want to check the University of Leeds Undergraduate International Excellence Scholarship, another UK tuition fee award worth comparing.
What Courses Do Not Qualify
Keep these exclusions in mind before you get your hopes up for a specific route:
- Part-time programmes of any kind
- Distance learning and fully online courses
- Courses outside the standard four-year undergraduate or one-year postgraduate structure
If your target course falls into one of these categories, Think Big will not apply to you, so check your course page on Bristol’s site before you build your budget around this scholarship.
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Apply for your course first. Submit your application to the University of Bristol through the standard admissions process for your undergraduate or postgraduate programme.
- Complete the international scholarships application form. Use the official form at the link below. One submission gets you considered for Think Big, GREAT Scholarships, the Mr. and Mrs. M S Siriwardena Memorial Scholarship, and the Michael Wong Pakshong bursary, wherever you meet the criteria.
- Submit before 19 March 2027, 1 p.m. UK time. Late applications are not accepted, so build in a buffer rather than submitting in the final hour.
- Wait for your outcome. Bristol contacts applicants with results by the end of May 2027.
- Accept your place and your award. If successful, your scholarship is applied automatically as a tuition fee reduction once you confirm your place. If this is your first time navigating a UK offer, it’s worth reading up on what to do after receiving admission to a foreign university before you accept.
🔗 Official Think Big Scholarships Page: Read the full scheme details on Bristol’s official site
🔗 Online Scholarship Application Form: Apply for Think Big and the bundled awards
One important caveat: deferral is not permitted. If you are awarded a Think Big Scholarship and decide to defer your course start to a later year, you lose the award entirely. Plan your start date carefully before accepting any offer.
Other Scholarships Bundled Into the Same Application
Because one form covers multiple awards, it is worth knowing what else you might qualify for alongside Think Big:
- GREAT Scholarships: Available to eligible students from specific partner countries, run with the British Council.
- Mr. and Mrs. M S Siriwardena Memorial Scholarship: A smaller, named award tied to specific eligibility criteria.
- Michael Wong Pakshong bursary: Another named award considered automatically through the same application.
You do not need to track down separate forms or deadlines for any of these. Submitting the main international scholarships form puts you in the pool for all of them at once.
Curious what else bundled award schemes look like elsewhere? You may also want to check the University of Portsmouth Chancellor’s Global Academic Merit Scholarship, worth £5,000 off January 2027 tuition.
Why This Matters for Applicants From Outside the UK
Bristol sits consistently among the United Kingdom’s top research universities, and the Think Big scheme is specifically built for people who do not hold UK or EU fee status. Whether you are applying from Lagos, Nairobi, Manila, Dhaka, or São Paulo, the eligibility criteria treat you the same way, there is no country-specific quota built into the core Think Big award itself, though the linked GREAT Scholarships do carry country eligibility rules.
The scheme has run for several years now, and the university has steadily expanded the pot available to international applicants, reaching up to £5 million for the 2027 entry cycle. That scale makes it one of the larger tuition fee scholarship schemes offered by a single UK university outside of fully funded government programmes like the Chevening Scholarship, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, or Commonwealth awards. Other UK universities run similarly generous schemes too, from Imperial College London’s scholarships worth up to £15,000 a year to the University of Reading’s Frank Palmer Award for MA Applied Linguistics and MA TESOL applicants.
Comparing other UK tuition fee discounts? You may also want to check the Royal Holloway GREAT Scholarship 2027, worth £10,000 off a Master’s in the UK.
What to Prepare Before You Apply
Get these ready well before the March deadline:
- Your course application reference number from Bristol’s admissions system
- Academic transcripts and certificates from your most recent qualification
- English language proficiency evidence, if your prior study was not conducted in English
- A valid passport, since you will need it later for visa processing once your offer and scholarship are confirmed
- Any personal statement or supporting documents your specific course requires. If you are not sure how to approach yours, this guide on what a statement of purpose is and how to write one is a useful starting point.
Looking at other scholarship options for African applicants specifically? You may also want to check the University of Manchester Global Futures Scholarships 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an offer of admission before I apply for Think Big?
No, you do not. You only need to have already submitted your course application. Bristol considers your scholarship application alongside your course application, so you can run both processes at the same time without waiting for an admission decision first.
Can I defer my scholarship if I need to delay my start date?
No, deferral is not permitted under Think Big. If you accept an offer and then decide to push your start date to a later intake, you forfeit the scholarship entirely. Confirm your start date is realistic before accepting any award.
Is Think Big a full scholarship that covers living costs?
No, Think Big is a tuition fee reduction, not a full scholarship. It does not cover accommodation, food, or other living expenses. Budget for those separately, and treat the award as a significant discount rather than complete funding for your time in Bristol.
What happens if I apply for a part-time or online course?
You will not be eligible. Think Big only covers full-time, in-person undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Distance learning, online programmes, and part-time study are explicitly excluded, so confirm your course delivery mode before applying for this scholarship.
Where to Apply and Learn More
- Official Think Big Scholarships page: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/support/finances/scholarships/think-big-scholarships/
- International scholarships overview and award values: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/fees-finance/scholarships/
- Online scholarship application form: https://internationalscholarships.fillout.com/thinkbig2026
- Scholarship terms and conditions: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/support/finances/scholarships/bristol-international-scholarship-terms/
- Application guidance: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/fees-finance/scholarships/application-guidance/
- Contact for scholarship questions: international-scholarships@bristol.ac.uk
About the Author
Damilare Abogunrin
Content Writer | FundedAbroad.com
Damilare Abogunrin writes about international career opportunities, scholarships, internships and visa-related jobs. Through his work at FundedAbroad.com, he helps readers discover opportunities abroad, understand application requirements and find official application channels.
He focuses on making opportunity listings clear, practical and easy to understand, so readers can assess eligibility and prepare stronger applications. He encourages applicants to verify job details and immigration requirements directly with employers and official sources.