by Last verified: 12 October 2026. We checked these University of Manchester scholarships against the university’s official funding pages.
The university has opened its Global Futures Scholarships for September 2027, and for Masters applicants from Africa the award is worth £19,000 (nineteen thousand pounds) off tuition. South Asian applicants can get £12,000 (twelve thousand pounds). In this guide, we explain who qualifies, the 2027 deadlines, what you would still pay and the other Manchester awards worth watching.
University of Manchester scholarships for 2027 at a glance
First, here are the Masters-level awards that matter most to our readers.
| Scholarship | Value | Who can apply | 2027 deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Futures (Africa), Masters | £19,000 (nineteen thousand pounds) fee discount | Applicants domiciled in Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa or Zimbabwe | Unconditional offer and form by 20 April 2027 |
| Global Futures (South Asia), Masters | £12,000 (twelve thousand pounds) fee discount | Only Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka | Offer and form by 25 April 2027 |
| Global Futures, undergraduate | £12,000 (twelve thousand pounds) a year for three years | Africa (7 countries) and South Asia (including India) | 8 April 2027 (Africa round two) or 30 March 2027 (South Asia) |
| Equity and Merit | Full tuition plus flights, living costs and visa | Resident citizens of Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda or Zimbabwe | Check the official page |
University of Manchester scholarships for African Masters students
For readers in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, this is the headline award. According to Manchester, it offers more than 250 Masters scholarships worldwide, and the African award is £19,000 (nineteen thousand pounds).
Eligibility checklist
- You must be domiciled in Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa or Zimbabwe. In practice, that means you have mainly lived there for the last three years.
- You must hold an unconditional offer for a full-time, on-campus Masters starting September 2027 by 20 April 2027.
- You must be self-funded, not sponsored.
- Your Bachelor’s degree must be from Africa. Applicants who studied their first degree elsewhere are not eligible.
Some courses are excluded, including the MBA, MPhil, MArch, PGCE, and clinical medicine and dentistry degrees. Blended and distance learning programmes also do not qualify.
The university notifies successful applicants by 24 May 2027.
University of Manchester scholarships for South Asian Masters students
For Masters study, the South Asian award covers Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Notably, India is not on the Masters list, although Indian students can apply for the undergraduate award.
- Value: £12,000 (twelve thousand pounds) off overseas tuition.
- Offer type: by contrast with Africa, a conditional or unconditional offer is enough.
- Deadline: offer and online form by 25 April 2027.
- Results: by 1 June 2027.
In addition, your Bachelor’s degree must be from South Asia, and you must be self-funded.
Worked example: what a Nigerian Masters student would still pay
To make this concrete, imagine Tunde from Ibadan gets an unconditional offer for an MSc. Suppose the overseas fee were £30,000 (thirty thousand pounds). This is a hypothetical figure, so check your course page for the real fee.
- Tuition fee (hypothetical): £30,000 (thirty thousand pounds)
- Minus Global Futures (Africa): £19,000 (nineteen thousand pounds)
- Therefore, tuition left to pay: £11,000 (eleven thousand pounds)
On top of that, Tunde still needs living costs and visa costs. Our UK student visa financial requirements guide explains how much money you must show, and the UK student visa fee guide covers the application charge.
Global Futures undergraduate awards
For undergraduates, Manchester offers up to £36,000 (thirty-six thousand pounds), paid as £12,000 (twelve thousand pounds) a year for three years. To keep it, you need 60% in your exams each year.
- Africa: open to Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe. You must be taking A-levels, the IB, South African NSC or IEB, the NCUK International Foundation Year or the Bridge House College Foundation.
- South Asia: open to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with A-levels, the IB or listed Indian Standard XII boards.
- You must make Manchester your Firm UCAS choice by 15 May 2027.
Medicine, Dentistry, Architecture and courses with an integrated foundation year are not eligible. Likewise, students who have already studied in the UK cannot apply.
Equity and Merit Scholarships
These are Manchester’s fully funded Masters awards. They cover full tuition and, for on-campus students, return flights, living expenses and visas. However, they are only for resident citizens of Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe, with at least two years of relevant paid work experience.
According to the page, the course list for 2027/28 will be confirmed in October 2026. So check back before you apply.
What about GREAT and Women in STEM?
Manchester also offers GREAT Scholarships and British Council Women in STEM Scholarships. However, as of 12 October 2026 its pages still show the 2026 cycle, so we have not listed 2027 details. We will update this guide when the university publishes them.
How to apply for University of Manchester scholarships
- Apply for your course. Submit your programme application, because the university emails the scholarship form only after it makes you an offer.
- Meet your offer conditions early. African Masters applicants need an unconditional offer by 20 April 2027, so send transcripts and English test results quickly.
- Watch your email. Look out for the scholarship form from the International Office.
- Write a strong application. Selection is based on academic excellence and the quality of your form. Our scholarship application guide can help.
- Read the full terms. Download the terms and conditions PDF on your country page before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
Are University of Manchester scholarships fully funded?
Most are not. Global Futures awards are tuition discounts. Only the Equity and Merit Scholarships are fully funded, and they are limited to six countries. For other options, see our list of fully funded Masters scholarships.
Can Indian students get the Global Futures Masters award?
No. For 2027 Masters entry, the South Asian award covers Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka only. Indian students can, however, apply for the undergraduate award.
Can sponsored students get University of Manchester scholarships?
No. Global Futures awards require you to be self-funded.
Official sources
- University of Manchester – Global Futures Scholarships
- University of Manchester – Scholarships for Nigeria (Africa awards)
- University of Manchester – Scholarships for Pakistan (South Asia awards)
- University of Manchester – Equity and Merit Scholarships
- University of Manchester – Funding, scholarships and bursaries
Scholarship terms change. Always confirm details on the official pages before you apply.
