Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust Masters Scholarships – Fully Funded Postgraduate Support at the University of Sheffield
The Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust Masters Scholarships are fully funded postgraduate awards offered by the University of Sheffield in partnership with the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust and the Sheffield Institute for International Development. They are designed to support academically strong international students from developing countries who wish to pursue a full‑time master’s degree in the UK.
Scholarship Benefits
‑ Full tuition fee waiver for the selected master’s programme.
‑ A £12,500 maintenance stipend to help with living costs during the academic year.
There are three scholarships available in 2026 for eligible applicants entering this programme.
Eligible Programmes (2026‑27)
To qualify, applicants must hold an offer by 8 May 2026 for one of the following courses at the University of Sheffield:
• MSc in International Development
• LLM in International Law and Global Justice (selected pathway)
• MA in International Political Economy
• MA in Global Journalism
• MA in International Public and Political Communication
Who Can Apply
Applicants must:
• Be classified as overseas (international) students for tuition fee purposes.
• Hold an offer for one of the eligible programmes.
• Be self‑funded (no other government or external funding).
• Not already hold a qualification at the same or higher level than their intended master’s course.
• Not have studied outside their country of residence before.
• Study full‑time beginning in September 2026; deferrals are not permitted.
• Be permanently domiciled in one of the World Bank’s low or lower‑middle income countries listed on the official scholarship page.
• Meet all conditions of their course offer and secure a student visa for the UK before the start of studies.
Selection Process
Shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a formal scholarship application. Selection is competitive — a panel reviews academic achievement, clarity of purpose for postgraduate study, relevant experience, and future ambitions related to the chosen field. Priority may be given to under‑represented groups among applicants of equal standing.
How to Apply & Timeline
• Hold an offer to study an eligible master’s course by the indicated scholarship deadline.
• If selected for further consideration, applicants receive a scholarship application form and must submit it by the stated deadline (typically early June).
• Outcomes are usually communicated by early July.
This scholarship opens doors for high‑potential students from developing economies to access world‑class postgraduate education in areas linked to international development, policy, and global communication at a leading UK university.
