Fully Funded Nursing Scholarships For International Students In The UK

Are you aspiring to make a career in nursing? Is the UK your destination for pursuing an education in nursing? While it is a great choice, pursuing nursing in the UK can be financially daunting. However, the UK offers a wide range of fully funded nursing scholarships for international students. This article explores the top fully funded nursing scholarships in the UK, its benefits, and more.

Why Choose Nursing In The UK?

• There has been a significant increase in nurse participation in the UK. According to NMC, a total of 826,418 nurses have registered in the NMC in 2024. This is an increase of 37,723 nurses compared to last year.
• A nursing degree in the UK is the most employable degree. As per data, 94% of nursing degree holders get a job within 6 months after completion.
• Nursing is the UK’s largest healthcare profession with 4.7 million registered nurses. According to reports, the number will keep on increasing as the federal government is gearing up to create more than 203,000 new nursing jobs from 2021 to 2031.
• According to QS World Rankings, many of the UK nursing universities have made it to the top 200 list. In that list, King’s College London ranks second as the best university in the world for studying nursing.

Top Fully Funded Nursing Scholarships For International Students

Here are some of the fully funded scholarships offered in the UK:

Chevening Scholarship

The Chevening Scholarship is a prestigious international scholarship offered and funded by the federal government. It is given to those individuals who have excellent academic and professional background. The scholarship allows the students to pursue a one-year master’s program at a UK university. It covers tuition fees, airfare, and a living stipend.

Application Timeline:

The application will open on the 6th of August every year, with the deadline to apply by the 5th of November every year.

Countries Eligible For Chevening Scholarships:

The scholarship is available for applicants from more than 160 countries across Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe. The list also includes India.

Application Process:

• You can apply via the official Chevening website.
• The applications will be reviewed based on the eligibility criteria.
• After initial scrutiny, independent reading committees will assess all the eligible applications. They are scored and ranked and sent to the local British embassies.
• Applicants are shortlisted for interviews.
• Shortlisted candidates should submit two references and educational certificates before the interview.
• The interview takes place and results are announced within a month.
• The selected candidates should submit the acceptance offer from the university to get the scholarship.

Commonwealth Scholarship

Commonwealth scholarships are given to students who come from low-income and middle-income countries. These are given to students who cannot afford to study in the UK. Nursing is included in the Commonwealth scholarship. You can pursue a master’s degree in nursing or a PhD in nursing.

Application Timeline

The application will open on the 10th of September every year, with the deadline to apply by the 17th of October every year.

Countries that are eligible for Commonwealth Scholarship:

Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Barbados, Jamaica, and Fiji to name a few.

Benefits:

The scholarship includes tuition fees, travel expenses, and a living allowance, and covers other expenses

Financial Assistance:

• Full tuition fees.
• A stipend of 1,347 pounds per month.
• Warm clothing and study-related travel allowance.

Application Process:

• Apply through the Commonwealth Scholarship website.
• Enter your personal details like name, email, phone number, and other information.
• List all your academic qualifications.
• Provide up to 10 publications and prizes.
• Provide details of your employment (if applicable).
• Upload a copy of your passport.
• Provide three references. One should be your current employer (if applicable) and the other two can be of your professors at your university. Get the references in PDF format, signed, and on a letterhead.
• In the last section of the application, you’ll be asked to write something about yourself and how you see your future in the nursing field.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The scholarship is designed for outstanding students with excellent academic backgrounds. It allows students to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in various courses including nursing at Cambridge University.

Application Timeline:

The application will open on the 15th of July every year, with the deadline to apply by the 15th of September every year.

Countries eligible for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship:

Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, India, China, Japan, USA, Canada, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, and many other countries.

Application Process:

• You need to apply via the university graduate application portal.
• In the admission section of the application, fill out your details such as details about yourself, your academic background, and plans for the proposed course.
• In the funding section, select the Gates Cambridge funding. When applying for Gates Cambridge funding, you must write a statement of not more than 3000 characters explaining why you are applying for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
• If you are applying for PhD courses, upload your research proposal as part of the funding.
• You are required to submit two academic references. In addition to this, you need to have another reference who can submit a reference on how you meet the scholarship criteria. You can check the Gates Cambridge website for further information about the reference.

Gates Cambridge Funding Details:

• Mode of study: Masters and PhD.
• Award value: 35,000 pounds to 65,000 pounds.
• Full-tuition fees.
• The scholarship includes maintenance fees, student visa costs, student immigration health surcharge, and other expenses.

The Royal College Of Nursing (RCN) Scholarship

The RCN scholarship is aimed at skilling nurses and midwives. It aims to provide advanced training to nurses and midwives through education, research, and leadership development programs.

Application Timeline:

The application will open tentatively in March every year, with the deadline to apply in May every year.

Countries eligible for RCN scholarship:

While the RCN scholarship is specific to nurses and midwives in the UK, some scholarships apply to those international students who have a connection with the UK. Indian students are eligible for the RCN scholarship.

Overview of Scholarship:

The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, and research costs to name a few. However, the amount may vary depending on the type of grant or scholarship you choose.

Application Process:

• Visit the RCN official website.
• On the website, under the “Grants and Funding” section, click “Apply for Funding”.
• There will be three options. Click on the one that suits your requirements.
• The website will indicate if the grant is currently available. If it is available, select the grant.
• Next, download the application form.
• In the form, provide personal details, details of educational activity for funding, details of the cost of the proposed activity, employment details, qualifications, and other information.
• Attach references along with the application form and send a scanned copy of the form to grants@rcnfoundation.org.uk

Common Requirements For Fully Funded UK Scholarships:

• Must be a citizen of your country such as India.
• You must complete an undergraduate degree to be eligible for a postgraduate degree. The degree must be equivalent to an upper-second-class 2:1 honors degree in the UK.
• You must not hold a British passport or have dual citizenship.
• For PhD courses, you need to have a master’s degree with good research experience.
• Proficiency in the English language may be asked depending on the course you select. You can submit either IELTS or TOEFL scores.
• For specific requirements of each scholarship, check out their websites.

Benefits Of Fully Funded Scholarships

• Covers total study expenses including tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs.
• Gives access to top universities.
• Provides access to top leadership development programs, enabling students to prepare for leadership roles in the nursing field.
• Connects you with academics and professionals in the nursing field.

Conclusion

Fully funded scholarships open doors to many students who have the passion to study but face financial constraints. By taking advantage of these scholarships, students can take the first step toward making a career in the nursing field without worrying about the burden of financial stress.

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