ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Postgraduate Scholarships to the USA
Interested in studying for a master's degree or PhD in the USA? You’re not alone: every year, thousands of students from the UK choose the USA for their graduate studies.
All Postgraduate Awards offer:
- Generous financial packages and fully funded awards
- Sickness and accident coverage
- J-1 visa sponsorship and pre-departure support & orientation
- Visit UK cultural sites and areas of scenic beauty
- Support in the USA from the Institute of International EducationÌý(IIE)
- Access to a global alumni network of collaborative engagement and cultural diplomacy, with over 300,000 academically and professionally accomplished members
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Postgraduate Awards to the USA for academic year 2025-26
All Disciplines
Postgraduate academic work in any subject at any accredited US university
Alistair Cooke
Master's degree in journalism at any accredited US university
Elsevier Data Analytics
Provides funding for UK graduates to pursue any postgraduate degree.
ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë BAFTA Scholarship
Master’s degree in film or related discipline.
Nursten Food Security at The University of Florida
Master's degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition.
American University
To pursue an on-campus master’s degree from American University’s six schools.
The New School
To pursue a master's degree in any discipline available at the institution.
University of Maryland School of Public Policy
Covers a master’s degree at the School of Public Policy
How to apply
Postgraduate Awards application instructions
Choosing an Award
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There are a number of postgraduate awards available each year, applicants can only apply for one award at a time so be sure to check the description of each to make sure you’re applying for the Award that best suits your interests and discipline.
Applications for academic year 2025-26 are closed.
Application instructions
Ìý
1. Review the UK-specific application information:Ìý
- Review the eligibility criteria for the award for which you are applying (where applicable)Ìý
- Read the UK-specific application instructions for academic year 2025-26.
- Read the UK-specific terms and conditionsÌý
- Review the ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Privacy NoticeÌý
2. Complete your online application.ÌýThe application portal is linked on the first page of our application instructions.
3.ÌýComplete the separate onlineÌýUS-UK ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Supplemental Form. You can access the formÌý. The link is also available in the Application Instructions.
This is a required part of the application for all applicants, and your application will be considered incomplete without it.
3a.ÌýIf you are submitting an application with a 2:2 undergraduate result, you must additionally complete theÌý. The link is also available in the Application Instructions.
We may accept applications from individuals with a 2:2 overall result in some exceptional cases. We will evaluate these applications separately and on a case by case basis will determine if the application will be included in the competition.
Ìý
4.ÌýYou must make a separate application to your chosen US institution(s), the timeline and deadlines for which will vary from the ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë application unless you select the IIE placement track. In this case you will work with an IIE Advisor should you be successful at the interview stage.
If you have chosen the self-placed track, University and graduate programme application guidance is available from ourÌýEducationUSA advising centre. You do not need to have applied to a US university before submitting your ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë application, but must receive an offer of admissions from the institution(s) nominated in your proposal to receive your ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë grant if successful.Ìý
Application process
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a panel interview which will take place in August on Zoom.Ìý
All applicants for academic year 2025-26 will be informed of their application outcome by early September 2024. The ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë cannot comment or provide feedback on individual applications.Ìý
UK Postgraduates Application Timeline
Please note that candidates who are not using the IIE Placement Model will need to make their own independent applications to US institutions.Ìý
For academic year 2025-26
February 2024
Applications open
6 May 2024, 5 PM GMT
Deadline for applications. Please note that we do not consider late applications. All applications have to be submitted online, and we do not accept applications via e-mail.
May-July 2024
Initial screening and review of applications are done by review panels. You should not expect to hear from the Commission during this time, and staff will be unable to comment on the process or an individual application’s status.
Early/Mid-August 2024
If shortlisted, successful candidates must be available for interview. It is the responsibility of the applicant to be available for an interview on the date and at the time allocated and to cover associated costs. We have a tight schedule and are therefore unable to reschedule interviews. Candidates who have not been selected for interview will be notified via e-mail by the end of August 2024. Please check your spam folder for the message.
Early September 2024
All candidates will be notified of the interview outcome.
From late September 2024 onwards
Selected grantees on the IIE placement track will begin working with ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë and the IIE on their submission plan.
March-July 2025
ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë and J-1 visa paperwork.
From late July 2025 onwards
Independent departures, your ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë exchange begins. In exceptional cases, earlier departures may be permitted if no alternative grant dates can be arranged.
Placement types
You can choose between two placement types for our ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Postgraduate Awards - the IIE placement model, or the Independent Placement Model
IIE Placement Model FAQ's
By choosing IIE Placement, you will be in a stronger position to find a university that is the right academic and personal fit.
- IIE Placement staff members are field of study experts
- The IIE’s approach is individualised
- IIE has a strong track record of securing admissions and cost-sharing
IIE will create a submission plan of up to five programmes (depending on your level of study) with a selection of institutions that are some of the strongest in your field, and you won’t have to independently complete applications for these US institutions, as they will largely use the materials you provided in your ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë application.Ìý
The IIEÌýwill also place you in a better position to negotiate financial packages with your host university, to help you manage the cost of your education. The IIE will handle financial package negotiations on your behalf with all institutions in your submission plan, and will cover the cost of yourÌýapplication and test fees.Ìý
Conversations regarding IIE submission plans shall begin in early Autumn for the successful candidates, after the ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë finalise the selection process.Ìý
The ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Opportunity Fund will be available to selected candidates for the IIE Placement. This fund is designed to provide financial support for students who are selected to receive a ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Award, but who cannot afford to fully fund their US study after exhausting all options to find funding.ÌýFind out more about the ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Opportunity Fund.
Please note, if you choose the IIE placement track you must choose one of the universities offered within your submission plan. If you decide to accept an offer for a different university that you’ve applied to independently, you will forfeit your ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë award.
Yes, you can apply for an All Disciplines Award with this model. Visit ourÌýhow to apply pageÌýfor details on the application process.
You cannot apply for an institution-specific Partner Award through IIE Placement. However, if the Partner Award isÌýnotÌýspecific to a particular US institution, then you can apply through IIE Placement. Please review each Partner Award page for details on whether the Award can be applied for through IIE Placement.
In your online application, you must select the award you are applying for. Your Award selection willÌýindicate whether the Award is IIE Placement or Independent Placement.
Independent Placement Model FAQ's
Yes, you can apply for an All Disciplines Award with this model.
You can apply for any Partner Award through the Independent Placement.Ìý
In your online application, you must select the award you are applying for. Your Award selection willÌýindicate whether the Award is IIE Placement or Independent Placement.
Ask our alumni
ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Opportunity Fund
As part of our commitment to increasing participation of under-represented groups and continuing fair access, we welcome applications to the ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Opportunity Fund.Ìý
Opportunity Fund FAQ's
To be eligible to apply for the ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Opportunity Fund, you must:Ìý
- Have been awarded a ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë scholarship in the current application cycleÌý
- Have selected  trackÌý
- Provide evidence of specific financial needÌý
- Provide evidence that you have applied to other external funding bodies
The ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Opportunity Fund is available in the event that ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Award recipients are unable to take up their ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë opportunity due to financial challenges.Ìý
We expect students to exhaust all other options for funding before applying for the ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Opportunity Fund, such as making applications to external funding bodies. In addition to the Opportunity Fund, we have introduced several support mechanisms to help students find financial resources that will enhance their ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë scholarship.Ìý
The final decision to award Opportunity Fund funding rests with the ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë Opportunity Fund Committee.Ìý
2025-26 ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë UK Postgraduate Awards to the USA
Submitting a Competitive Application and Understanding Placement Models
Hear more about the experiences of some of our recent UK ÈÕ±¾ÎÞÂë grantees and alumni as they navigate the application process and life in the USA.