Applications are open for the University of Bristol Think Big Scholarship 2027, which helps eligible international students reduce the cost of undergraduate and master’s study in the United Kingdom.
Bristol has invested up to £5 million in Think Big scholarships for students joining the university in 2027. Undergraduate awards provide £6,500 or £13,000 per year for up to four years, while postgraduate awards range from £3,000 to £26,000 for the first year of study.
Think Big provides tuition fee discounts. It does not automatically cover accommodation, travel or other living expenses, so applicants should plan for the remaining costs.
The application deadline is 19 March 2027 at 1 pm UK time. You must first apply for an eligible Bristol course and obtain an application ID. Although you can submit your scholarship application before receiving an admission offer, Bristol requires you to receive an offer before the scholarship deadline.
Think Big Scholarship 2027 at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Host institution | University of Bristol |
| Study destination | United Kingdom |
| Entry date | September 2027 |
| Study levels | Undergraduate and eligible master’s programmes |
| Intended applicants | Students with overseas tuition fee status |
| Undergraduate awards | £6,500 or £13,000 per year |
| Undergraduate funding duration | Up to four years, subject to the conditions |
| Postgraduate awards | £3,000, £6,500, £13,000 or £26,000 |
| Postgraduate funding duration | First year only |
| Main funding type | Tuition fee discount |
| Applications opened | 27 October 2026 |
| Application deadline | 19 March 2027, 1 pm UK time |
| Outcome notification | Expected from early May, with applicants contacted by the end of May 2027 |
What Is the University of Bristol Think Big Scholarship?
Think Big is Bristol’s flagship international scholarship scheme. It supports eligible students who have applied for undergraduate or master’s study and qualify for overseas tuition fees.
Through one application form, students can receive consideration for participating international scholarships for which they meet the requirements. These include central Think Big awards and opportunities supported by faculties, alumni and external partners.
However, one application does not mean every applicant qualifies for every award. Some scholarships have additional conditions, and selection remains competitive.
How Much Funding Can You Receive?
Award values depend on the level of study and the scholarship Bristol offers you.
| Study level | Available award values | How Bristol applies the funding |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | £6,500 or £13,000 per year | Tuition fee discount for up to four years, subject to eligibility and renewal conditions |
| Postgraduate | £3,000, £6,500, £13,000 or £26,000 | Tuition fee discount in the first year only |
Undergraduate Funding
Undergraduate recipients can receive £6,500 or £13,000 annually towards eligible tuition fees.
For example, a £13,000 annual award could provide £39,000 over three qualifying years or £52,000 over four. The actual total depends on your course, eligible years and continued compliance with the scholarship conditions.
Bristol renews undergraduate awards subject to satisfactory progress. Its current terms specify an average mark above 50% each year.
Postgraduate Funding
Postgraduate awards provide £3,000, £6,500, £13,000 or £26,000 towards first-year tuition.
These amounts are alternative award values. Applicants should not assume they will receive the maximum simply because they meet the minimum eligibility requirements.
The current scholarship overview lists £3,000 as a postgraduate award value. Applicants should check the conditions attached to their specific award rather than assume it includes a particular career-development package.
Does Bristol Explain Who Receives Each Amount?
The published guidance does not provide a formula linking a particular grade, achievement or application score to each award value.
Instead, applicants answer the scholarship assessment questions and await Bristol’s allocation decision. Successful candidates will receive confirmation of the award Bristol offers them.
Is Think Big Fully Funded?
No. Think Big tuition scholarships do not provide a comprehensive funding package for every study and living cost.
Bristol applies the scholarship as a tuition fee discount and does not offer a cash alternative for that award.
You should therefore budget for:
- Tuition fees remaining after the scholarship.
- Accommodation and utilities.
- Food and local transport.
- Travel to the United Kingdom.
- Visa-related expenses and other applicable charges.
- Books, equipment and personal expenses.
The wider application scheme also includes associated bursaries, which can have different payment arrangements. Check the specific award conditions before treating all funding under the application scheme as identical.
Students comparing European funding options can also explore the Sciences Po Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027, which has a different funding structure and specific eligibility requirements for African applicants.
Who Can Apply for Think Big 2027?
Applicants must qualify for overseas tuition fees and apply for an eligible course beginning in September 2027.
Your nationality alone does not determine eligibility. Bristol’s assessment of your tuition fee status also matters.
Undergraduate Requirements
To qualify for undergraduate scholarship consideration, you must:
- Apply for an eligible full-time undergraduate course delivered in person at Bristol.
- Qualify as an overseas student for tuition fee purposes.
- Receive an admission offer before 19 March 2027.
- Meet or exceed the conditions in your formal UCAS offer before 31 August 2027.
- Confirm Bristol as your firm choice in UCAS.
You can apply for the scholarship while your course application remains under review. Nevertheless, you must secure the admission offer within the required timeframe.
Postgraduate Requirements
To qualify for postgraduate scholarship consideration, you must:
- Apply for an eligible full-time master’s programme delivered in person at Bristol.
- Qualify as an overseas student for tuition fee purposes.
- Receive an admission offer before 19 March 2027.
- Meet or exceed the entry requirements for your programme.
The main scholarship page identifies eligible postgraduate study as one-year taught master’s programmes or master’s by research programmes delivered in person.
Do not assume a PhD or a different postgraduate qualification falls within this scheme.
Which Courses Are Eligible?
| Course type | Published eligibility position |
|---|---|
| Full-time undergraduate study delivered in person | Eligible, with scholarship support for up to four years |
| A one-year master’s degree was delivered in person. | Eligible |
| Master’s by research delivered in person | Eligible under the published course guidance |
| Part-time study | Not eligible |
| Online or distance learning | Not eligible |
Always check your exact course and any additional conditions attached to a named scholarship.
If you hold more than one admission offer, Bristol requires you to select one course for your scholarship application. Failing to choose by the deadline may affect your eligibility.
Applicants seeking doctoral funding can instead review opportunities such as LSE Demography PhD Funding 2027, subject to its separate academic and funding requirements.
Do You Need an Admission Offer Before Applying?
You do not need an offer before submitting the scholarship form.
However, you must first:
- Submit your application for an eligible Bristol course.
- Receive the application ID needed for the scholarship form.
Bristol accepts the relevant student ID, Kaplan ID or UCAS ID, depending on your application route.
The important distinction is between applying and remaining eligible: you can apply while awaiting an admission decision, but Bristol’s terms require an offer before Friday 19 March 2027. Without one, the university will withdraw your scholarship application.
Consequently, apply for your course early enough to allow time for an admission decision.
Think Big Scholarship Application Questions
The scholarship form contains three assessment questions. Each answer has a limit of 1,000 characters, including spaces.
This is a character limit, not a 1,000-word allowance.
| Question theme | What your answer should explain |
|---|---|
| Achievements | Skills and accomplishments beyond academic study that show ambition and how you made a difference |
| Ambassadorial potential | How you contribute to your community, build relationships or develop networks |
| Bristol and future plans | Why you chose Bristol and how your studies connect with your career goals |
Make Your Examples Specific
Choose experiences that directly answer each question.
For an achievement, briefly explain the situation, what you did and the outcome. For community involvement, show your contribution rather than relying only on a title or membership.
Similarly, connect your chosen Bristol course with a clear academic or professional goal. Relevant details will communicate your motivation more effectively than broad praise of the university.
These are preparation suggestions, not a guarantee of selection or a published scoring formula.
Required Documents and Information
The scholarship application and the course admission application serve different purposes.
Scholarship Application
Before starting the scholarship form, prepare:
- Your application ID.
- Personal details that match your course application.
- Your responses to the three assessment questions.
- Any information requested by the live form.
- Confirmation that you have read the relevant terms and declarations.
Bristol’s public application guidance does not present a universal separate upload checklist for the scholarship form. Therefore, follow the live form and any subsequent requests from the university.
Course Admission Application
Your chosen course may require academic transcripts, qualification certificates, references, English-language evidence or other documents.
Check the programme’s admission page for the exact requirements. Do not assume that completing the scholarship form replaces any admission document.
How to Apply for the University of Bristol Think Big Scholarship 2027
Step 1: Choose an Eligible Course
Review Bristol’s courses and select a programme that matches your qualifications and goals.
Check its entry requirements, tuition fees, study mode and start date before applying.
Step 2: Submit Your Course Application
Apply through the relevant admission route. Undergraduate applicants normally use UCAS, while postgraduate applicants follow Bristol’s programme application instructions.
You must complete this step before submitting the scholarship form.
Step 3: Obtain Your Application ID
Wait for your Student ID, Kaplan ID or UCAS ID, as applicable.
Use accurate information so Bristol can match your scholarship application with your course application.
Step 4: Prepare Your Scholarship Answers
Draft the three responses in a separate document.
Check that each answer stays within 1,000 characters, including spaces. Remove repetition and make sure each response addresses its own question.
Step 5: Complete the Online Scholarship Form
Open the international scholarship application through Bristol’s official website.
Enter your details and responses. The university allows applicants to save their progress and return before submission.
Step 6: Review and Submit
Check your application ID, course information and written answers carefully.
Read the data statement, scholarship terms and academic integrity declaration before submitting.
Submit before 19 March 2027 at 1 pm UK time. Bristol does not allow changes after final submission.
Step 7: Check Your Email
Bristol sends an email confirming receipt of the scholarship application.
Check your spam or junk folder if it does not arrive. Continue monitoring your email for admission decisions, scholarship outcomes and acceptance instructions.
Academic Integrity and AI Rules
Bristol expects applicants to prepare their own scholarship responses.
Its current terms restrict the use of AI and translation tools, with limited exceptions for basic spelling and grammar checks and occasional short phrases within a sentence.
Write your answers yourself and ensure they reflect your own experiences. Read the full declaration before submitting, as non-compliance may make an application ineligible for funding.
Important Dates for Think Big 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 27 October 2026, 10 am UK time | Scholarship applications opened |
| Before 19 March 2027 | Applicants must receive an eligible admission offer under the scholarship terms |
| 19 March 2027, 1 pm UK time | Scholarship application deadline |
| Early May 2027 | Bristol expects to begin sharing outcomes |
| End of May 2027 | Published scholarship acceptance deadline for offer holders |
| July 2027 | Scholarship award letters expected |
| Before 31 August 2027 | Undergraduate recipients must meet their UCAS offer requirements |
| September 2027 | Eligible studies begin |
Bristol’s main scholarship page states that applicants will hear their outcome by the end of May. Follow any individual deadline in your scholarship offer promptly.
Can You Combine Think Big with Other Funding?
Restrictions apply.
Bristol generally does not combine Think Big with another university-funded tuition fee discount; it applies the higher-value award. The current terms provide an exception for the Alumni Discount.
Living-cost stipends and bursaries can accompany a Think Big scholarship. External tuition funding may also be possible, but combined tuition support must not exceed your fees. An external award covering full tuition makes you ineligible for Think Big.
Tell Bristol about other funding and confirm the position before accepting multiple awards.
Conditions Successful Applicants Should Understand
Think Big awards apply to September 2027 entry only. If you defer your place, the scholarship does not transfer automatically; you must apply again for the relevant year, without a guarantee of success.
Other conditions also matter:
- Undergraduate renewal depends on satisfactory progress.
- Postgraduate tuition support applies to the first year only.
- Bristol does not fund repeat or supplementary study under these awards.
- Funding does not apply during a suspension of studies.
- Changing course may affect the award and requires consideration by Bristol.
- Recipients must uphold the university’s values and represent it positively.
Read your award letter alongside the current terms before accepting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Think Big Scholarship 2027 deadline?
The deadline is 19 March 2027 at 1 pm UK time.
How much can undergraduate students receive?
Undergraduate awards provide £6,500 or £13,000 annually, for up to four eligible years, subject to the conditions.
How much can master’s students receive?
The published postgraduate award values are £3,000, £6,500, £13,000 and £26,000, applied towards first-year tuition.
Does Think Big cover living expenses?
The main Think Big awards are tuition discounts. They do not automatically cover living expenses. Associated bursaries may have separate arrangements.
Can I apply without an offer?
Yes, after applying for an eligible course and receiving an application ID. However, Bristol requires an offer before 19 March 2027 to retain scholarship eligibility.
Is IELTS compulsory?
The scholarship does not set one universal IELTS requirement. You must meet the English-language requirements of your course using evidence Bristol accepts.
Can one form cover several scholarships?
Yes. Bristol uses one form to consider applicants for participating international scholarships for which they qualify. Additional eligibility and funding-combination rules still apply.
Can I edit my application after submission?
No. You can save your progress beforehand, but Bristol does not allow changes after final submission.
When will results arrive?
Bristol expects to begin sharing outcomes in early May and contact applicants by the end of May 2027.
Can I defer the scholarship?
No. Awards apply to September 2027 entry. A later start requires a new scholarship application for the relevant year.
Official Guidance and Application Access
Apply for your course early, prepare your own scholarship answers and check the conditions before submitting.
- University of Bristol: Think Big funding, timeline and application access
- University of Bristol: Think Big application guidance
Last reviewed: 31 October 2026.
