Skip to main content

 

 

Summary

The Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship is an invitation to International Students to achieve excellence at Durham. Scholarship applications will open in October 2026; you may register your interest by completing the Inspiring Excellence Scholarship 2027 - Expression of Interest Form.

Each scholarship is a competitive partial scholarship award worth up to £10,000 in tuition fee discounts towards the original tuition fee for an eligible postgraduate programme starting in September 2027.

The scholarships are available to all self-funded international applicants to Durham who meet all the eligibility criteria listed below. This scholarship cannot be held in conjunction with any other scholarships, funding or awards.

 

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 2027.
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 the Durham Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship, applicants must:

  • Be self-funded and not in receipt of any other scholarship, funding award, or sponsorship from Durham University or any external organisation.
    • Durham alumni are welcome to apply for the Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship; however, the scholarship cannot be combined with the Durham University Alumni Discount. Successful applicants will be asked to choose from one of these awards.
  • Be classified as Overseas student for tuition fee purposes.
  • Hold a valid Durham Student ID
  • 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
  • Meet or exceed the entry requirements for the programme applied for at Durham University.
  • Commence postgraduate studies at Durham University in September 2027.
  • Not be progressing to Durham University via the Durham University International Study Centre.
  • Submit Durham 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 application deadline: 7 December 2026 (23:59 GMT)

    2nd round application deadline: 15 March 2027 (23:59 GMT)

    Final round application deadline: 1 May 2027 (23:59 GMT)

     

    Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship Application Form (Application will open on 1 October 2026)

     

    Selection is based on the applicant's scholarship application responses, academic achievements and potential to make a positive impact after completing a postgraduate degree at Durham University. In addition, nationality diversity and balance across programmes will also be considered in the selection process.

     

    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 next round selection. You do not need to submit the scholarship application form again.

Guidance

A gold coloured divider with a white tapestry at the edge

Terms and Conditions

  1. The Durham Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship applies to eligible one-year, full-time (in-person) taught MSc, MA, LLM or MDS courses commencing in September 2027 only.
    1. MBA, MSW programmes and MA in Theology and Ministry are excluded from this scholarship scheme.
  1. The Durham Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship will be applied as a tuition fee discount 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.
  1. The Durham Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship is valid only for the 2027/28 academic year and is neither transferable nor deferrable. Any recipient who defers their enrolment will forfeit the scholarship, and the award will be withdrawn.
  1. The Durham Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship cannot be held in conjunction with any other scholarship, funding award, or sponsorship from Durham University or any external organisation.
    1. Applicants and scholarship recipients are required to disclose any scholarship, funding award, bursary, or sponsorship received from Durham University or any external organisation.
    2. Where an applicant or scholarship recipient fails to disclose any other scholarship, funding award, bursary, or sponsorship, Durham University reserves the right to withdraw the scholarship offer and recover, on a pro rata basis, any scholarship fee discount already made.
  1. The Durham Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship is available only to students who are classified as Overseas fee status. Applicants with Home fee status are not eligible for the scholarship.
    1. Applicants and scholarship recipients must promptly notify the Inspiring Excellence Scholarship Team of any change to their tuition fee status.
    2. Where an applicant or scholarship recipient is initially classified as Overseas fee status but subsequently has their fee status changed to Home, they will no longer be eligible for the scholarship. Durham University reserves the right to withdraw the scholarship and recover, on a pro rata basis, any scholarship fee discount received to which the recipient is no longer entitled.
  1. Selected applicants will be notified by email on 18 December 2026, 29 March 2027, or 15 May 2027 and will receive a conditional scholarship offer. Confirmation of the scholarship is subject to the recipient meeting all conditions set out below:
    1. The scholarship recipient must respond to the scholarship offer and complete the Scholarship Response Form by the set deadline stated on the conditional scholarship offer email.
    2. The scholarship recipient must make the tuition fee deposit payment by the set deadline stated on the conditional scholarship offer email.
    3. The scholarship recipient must meet all academic conditions, secure an unconditional place on their chosen postgraduate degree programme, and enrol at Durham University to commence their postgraduate studies in September 2027.
    4. The scholarship offer will be withdrawn if any of the above conditions are not met.
  1. Applicants who progress to Durham University via the Durham University International Study Centre are not eligible for the Durham Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship.
  1. Scholarship recipients must obtain prior approval from the International Office before making any changes to their programme of study, including course transfers, programme changes, or interruptions to study.
    1. Scholarship recipients who suspend their studies will have all future scholarship fee discount withdrawn. Durham University reserves the right to withdraw the scholarship and recover, on a pro rata basis, any scholarship fee discount received to which the recipient is no longer entitled.
    2. In exceptional circumstances, such as medical conditions, they must notify the Inspiring Excellence Scholarship Team as soon as reasonably practicable. Any exception will be considered on a case-by-case basis and at the sole discretion of the Inspiring Excellence Scholarship Team.
  1. Scholarship recipients are expected to participate in and support marketing and communications activities on behalf of their faculty and/or Durham University ("Scholarship Commitments"). These activities may include providing testimonials, participating in public relations opportunities, attending Open Events and webinars, acting as a student ambassador, or serving as a student representative.
    1. Scholarship recipients who fail to fulfil their Scholarship Commitments may have future scholarship fee discount withdrawn. Durham University reserves the right to withdraw the scholarship and recover, on a pro rata basis, any scholarship fee discount received to which the recipient is no longer entitled.
    2. In exceptional circumstances, where a scholarship recipient is temporarily unable to fulfil their Scholarship Commitments, they must notify the Inspiring Excellence Scholarship Team as soon as reasonably practicable. Any exception will be considered on a case-by-case basis and at the sole discretion of the Inspiring Excellence Scholarship Team.

A gold coloured divider with a white tapestry at the edge

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.