LeapScholar

Are there fully funded scholarships available for law programs in the UK, especially for criminology or criminal law for a MSc/Master's?

31 Aug 2026 · Answered by Komal Yadav · 2 min read
Quick Answer verified

Yes, funding exists, though full funding is most reliable through ESRC or UKRI studentships for research MSc or MRes programs, covering UK tuition and a tax free stipend. GREAT Scholarships for Justice and Law offer a minimum of £10,000 toward tuition for international students, while university awards vary by school.

Komal Yadav
Komal Yadav Verified
Leap Scholar's Counsellor
View Profile →

If you are targeting a criminology or criminal law Master's in the UK, you do have funding pathways available, though a fully funded outcome depends heavily on the type of program you choose. Research focused routes give you the strongest shot at full funding.

Main Funding Pathways for Law and Criminology

Funding RouteCoverageWho It Suits
ESRC / UKRI StudentshipsFull UK tuition fees plus an annual tax free maintenance stipendResearch MSc, MRes or 1+3 programs, mainly UK or home students
GREAT Scholarships for Justice and LawMinimum £10,000 toward tuition for a 1 year postgraduate courseInternational students from partnered countries
University specific awardsPartial to full fee awards, such as Edinburgh's Tercentenary AwardsTaught LLM or MSc applicants

Why Criminology Has an Edge

Criminology falls heavily under the ESRC remit, which makes it easier to find fully funded routes here compared to standard corporate law LLMs. If you are a home student or hold settled status, ESRC Doctoral Training Partnerships remain the gold standard for full funding on a research based Master's.

My Advice

Look closely at ESRC Doctoral Training Partnerships if your work leans toward socio-legal or empirical criminal justice research, check whether your home country partners with the GREAT Scholarships programme, and apply early since UK law school scholarship deadlines often fall between January and May.

Which UK scholarships can you actually get?

Matched to your CGPA, course and budget. Find out in 30 seconds.

4.7/5 Google 🎓 25K+ admits
Check Scholarship Eligibility

More Scholarships & funding questions

More UK questions

🎓 Which UK scholarships fit you? Check Scholarships