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Can you provide information about scholarships available specifically in my field of design in UK/Ireland for a Master's/Postgraduate?

04 Sept 2026 · Answered by Tamanna Jaisingh · 2 min read
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For a design master's in the UK or Ireland, look at Chevening, which fully funds tuition, a living allowance, and flights, alongside GREAT Scholarships and University of the Arts London awards worth around 10,000 pounds. Ireland's Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is open to all nationalities for research study.

Tamanna Jaisingh
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If you are pursuing a design master's in the UK or Ireland, your funding options range from tuition discounts at specific art schools to fully funded government scholarships. Your best strategy is to combine a school-specific award with a national scheme like Chevening, since many are not mutually exclusive.

Key Design Scholarships to Target

ScholarshipOffered ByValue
Chevening ScholarshipUK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeFull tuition, living allowance, and return airfares
GREAT ScholarshipsUK government and British Council, with schools like RCAAround £10,000, for select countries
UAL International Postgraduate ScholarshipsUniversity of the Arts LondonAround £10,000, plus home fee-waiver variants
Government of Ireland Postgraduate ScholarshipDepartment of Further and Higher Education, IrelandOpen to all nationalities for research based study

School Specific and Trust Funded Options

  • Royal College of Art offers entrance scholarships, alumni discounts, and country specific competitive awards.
  • Glasgow School of Art offers School of Design scholarships and International Merit tuition reductions across communication, product, and textile design.
  • National College of Art and Design in Dublin provides postgraduate scholarships for full-time master's and MFA programmes for EU and international fee payers.
  • External bodies like the Royal Society of Arts and the Design Council occasionally fund emerging design research and social innovation projects.

My Advice

Apply to Chevening and your target school's own scholarship in parallel rather than sequentially, since the deadlines rarely overlap and stacking improves your odds of covering the full cost. Shortlist RCA, UAL, or NCAD based on your specific design specialization, whether UX, graphic, industrial, fashion, or service design, and confirm your home versus international fee status before you submit.

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