University of Bristol Think Big Undergraduate Scholarships

Studying abroad is a major financial commitment, and the University of Bristol has created a scholarship scheme to help international undergraduates with the cost. Think Big is the university’s flagship international scholarship scheme, giving tuition fee funding to overseas students on eligible undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The university invested up to £5 million in Think Big scholarships for students starting in 2026. This article covers the undergraduate awards.

About the University of Bristol Think Big Undergraduate Scholarships

Think Big is a tuition fee scholarship scheme for applicants who are classed as overseas students for fee purposes. Bristol is a research-intensive university in the UK, and the scheme is designed to attract talented students from around the world.

Applicants complete one scholarship application form. The form is matched with the applicant’s study application, and they are considered for every scholarship they are eligible for. This includes the central Think Big undergraduate awards, plus additional awards funded by faculties, alumni and external partners.

Scholarship holders also gain access to the Think Big Development Programme, which offers guidance, support and a framework for personal and professional growth beyond their studies.

Scholarship Coverage

The central Think Big undergraduate scholarships are worth £6,500 or £13,000. These are tuition fee awards, meaning they reduce the cost of tuition rather than providing a living allowance.

Bristol also offers subject-specific undergraduate awards through the same application:

Think Big about Business: £6,500 awards for eligible programmes in the Business School
Think Big about Economics: £6,500 awards for eligible programmes in the School of Economics
Think Big about Policy Studies: a £13,000 award for one student on an eligible programme in the School for Policy Studies
Think Big about Science and Engineering: £6,500 awards for students on Chemistry (BSc) and Physics (BSc)
Think Big about Veterinary Science: a £6,500 award for a student on Veterinary Science (BVSc) or the Veterinary Science Accelerated Graduate Entry Programme (BVSc), introduced for 2026

Duration

Undergraduate awards are available for up to four years of study, depending on the length of the programme. The exception is the Veterinary Science award, which is available for three years of full-time study only.

Eligible Fields of Study

Think Big undergraduate scholarships are open to a wide range of full-time undergraduate programmes across the university’s faculties. Eligible subject areas include:

Engineering and computing: Aerospace, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic, and Design Engineering; Computer Science; Artificial Intelligence; Data Science
Sciences: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Psychology, Pharmacology, Geology, Zoology and others
Business and economics: Accounting and Finance, Business and Management, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Management
Social sciences and law: Law (LLB), Politics, Sociology, Criminology, Social Policy, Education Studies
Arts and humanities: English, History, Philosophy, Modern Languages, Film and Television, Music, Theatre, Theology

Courses in the Bristol Medical School and the Bristol Dental School are not eligible for Think Big undergraduate scholarships. The university publishes a full list of eligible courses on its Think Big webpage, with an asterisk marking courses that have more than one scholarship available.

Eligible Countries

The scholarship is open to international students from any country, provided they are classed as overseas students for fee-paying purposes. Bristol sets no country-specific quota for the central Think Big undergraduate awards. Some separate scholarships, such as the GREAT Scholarships and the R. Senathi Rajah Memorial Scholarship, are tied to specific countries, but these are postgraduate awards.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for a Think Big undergraduate scholarship, an applicant must:

Have overseas fee status
Have applied to start an eligible undergraduate course at Bristol
Have received an application ID, which can be a Student ID, Kaplan ID or UCAS ID

An applicant does not need to hold an offer of admission before submitting the scholarship application.

How to Apply for University of Bristol Think Big Undergraduate Scholarships

Apply to study at Bristol. Submit your course application and wait for your application ID.
Prepare your answers. The form has three sections: personal details, application questions, and terms and conditions. Draft your answers in a separate document first.
Use consistent personal details. Enter the same details you used on your study application so the scholarship system can match the two.
Complete the online form. Answer three questions, each with a maximum of 1,000 characters including spaces. You can save your progress and return later.
Accept the terms. Agree to the data statement, terms and conditions, and academic integrity statement.
Submit before the deadline. Applications cannot be edited after submission. A confirmation email is sent once your application is received, so check your junk folder if it does not arrive.

For September 2026 entry, applications opened on 21 October 2025 and closed at 10:00am UK time on 10 April 2026. Outcomes were shared in late May 2026, and award letters went to successful applicants in July 2026. Deadlines for later intakes are published on the official website. Scholarship queries can be sent to [email protected].

Selection Criteria

Applications are assessed through the three application questions:

Achievements: Skills and accomplishments beyond your academic studies that show your ambition and the difference you have made.
Ambassadorial potential: What you might do to benefit your community, or how you have built relationships and networks.
Studies at Bristol and future plans: What attracted you to Bristol and what your ultimate career goals are.