University of Exeter Excellence Scholarship 2026/27

Only the programmes listed by the University for this round are eligible.

Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, Degree Apprenticeships, fully online programmes and distance-learning programmes are not eligible.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Have International fee status.
• Hold a conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible postgraduate taught Master's programme at the University of Exeter.
• Be starting the eligible programme in January 2027.
• Meet the academic requirements for their chosen programme.
• Demonstrate strong academic achievement.
• Have not already applied in Round 1 or Round 2 of the 2026/27 Exeter Excellence Scholarship scheme for September 2026 entry for the same programme.

The University states that successful applicants will typically be expected to have achieved, or be able to achieve, the equivalent of a UK upper-second-class degree (2:1).

Applicants should also demonstrate clear academic and career ambitions, a plan for making the most of their study opportunity, social responsibility and willingness to engage with the Exeter community.

How to Apply

Applicants must first apply for an eligible Master's programme at the University of Exeter.

Once they have received an offer, they can apply separately for the Exeter Excellence Scholarship using the University's scholarship application form.

The scholarship application requires a personal statement of no more than 300 words addressing three questions:

1. What are your ambitions for the future and how will your studies at Exeter help you achieve them?

2. What will you contribute to the study experience and environment on campus at Exeter?

3. As a scholar, how might you act as an ambassador for the University?

The short word limit means applicants need to be highly selective about the evidence they use.

What Exeter Looks For

The scholarship selection process considers three important areas beyond the basic academic requirement.

Academic Merit

Applicants should demonstrate strong previous academic performance and the ability to succeed at postgraduate level.

Future Ambitions

Applicants need to explain what they want to achieve after the Master's and how their chosen Exeter programme contributes directly to those plans.

A strong response should connect the applicant's previous education or experience with the skills and knowledge they intend to gain at Exeter.

Contribution and Social Responsibility

Exeter also wants to see how scholarship recipients will contribute to the university community and demonstrate social responsibility.

This could involve previous leadership, volunteering, professional activities, community involvement, student organisations, research, entrepreneurship or other meaningful activities.

The important point is to provide evidence rather than simply describing yourself as a leader or someone who wants to make a difference.

Application Timeline

• January 2027 programme intake: January 2027
• Scholarship deadline: 26 November 2026
• Scholarship decisions: Rolling notifications, with all Round 4 applicants notified no later than 10 December 2026
• Award duration: 1 year

Applicants should apply well before the scholarship deadline because they need an offer for an eligible programme before submitting the scholarship application.

Important Financial Considerations

The scholarship is a tuition-fee discount, not a full-cost scholarship.

Even the highest £10,000 award does not necessarily cover the complete international tuition fee.

Students should therefore calculate the remaining tuition balance together with accommodation, living expenses, visa costs, travel and other expenses before committing to study in the UK.

The University also states that the scholarship is not recurrent for subsequent years.

For some nationalities, the Exeter Excellence Scholarship may be combined with specified University of Exeter postgraduate scholarships, but the combined value is subject to the University's stated limits. Applicants should check the current terms and conditions before assuming that awards can be combined.

Applicant Tip

The biggest mistake would be to use the 300-word statement simply to praise the University of Exeter.

Instead, use the three questions to build one connected argument:

What have I achieved? → What do I want to achieve next? → Why is Exeter the right step? → What will I contribute in return?

For the first question, choose one or two achievements that demonstrate your ability rather than listing everything you have ever done.

For your career ambitions, be specific. Instead of saying that you want to "be successful" or "help society", identify the area you want to work in and the problem you hope to address.

Then connect your ambitions directly to the Master's programme. Mention the knowledge, technical skills or professional preparation you expect to gain and explain why those things matter for your plans.

For the final part, provide evidence of how you have contributed to a community before. This could come from volunteering, leadership, research, professional work, student activities, entrepreneurship or another meaningful experience.

Because the statement is limited to 300 words, every example should support one of the University's selection criteria.

Important Note for Nigerian Applicants

The University currently has a separate £10,000 automatic postgraduate taught scholarship for eligible Nigerian students entering in September 2026 or January 2027.

The University states that Nigerian students receiving the maximum £10,000 award do not receive additional funding through the Exeter Excellence scheme.

Applicants from Nigeria should therefore check which funding route applies to their programme and circumstances rather than assuming that the £3,000–£10,000 Exeter Excellence award will be added on top of another £10,000 award. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Why This Scholarship May Be Useful

This scholarship is particularly useful for students who want a January 2027 start and are interested in business, finance, computer science, data science or engineering.

It is also relatively straightforward to understand: applicants need an eligible Exeter Master's offer, meet the academic requirements and submit a focused 300-word scholarship statement.

However, applicants should not treat the scholarship as fully funded because the award only reduces first-year international tuition fees.