How to Win the UCL Bartlett Promise Scholarship for Africans

Could you earn a master’s degree in London without carrying the full cost of tuition, rent, flights and visa expenses? The UCL Bartlett Promise Scholarship 2027 offers that possibility to eligible students from Sub-Saharan Africa. The scholarship supports students pursuing postgraduate study at The Bartlett, the Faculty of the Built Environment at University College London (UCL). It covers full international tuition fees and provides a living allowance of £18,348 for the normal duration of the eligible master’s programme.

The package also includes return air travel between the scholar’s home country and London, eligible visa costs, the Immigration Health Surcharge and certain other required expenses. This makes it a genuinely fully funded opportunity rather than a tuition discount. Read the official scholarship details here.

This scholarship is specifically for eligible nationals and residents of selected Sub-Saharan African countries. It is not open to every international student.

UCL Bartlett Promise Scholarship 2027 at a glance

The number of awards is limited, so meeting the requirements does not guarantee selection.

What does this Scholarship Cover?

The Bartlett Promise Scholarship is designed to reduce the financial barriers that prevent talented students from accessing postgraduate education. Successful scholars receive several forms of support.

1. Full international tuition fees

The scholarship pays the overseas tuition fees for the eligible master’s programme for its normal duration. This can remove one of the largest expenses associated with studying in the United Kingdom.

2. £18,348 for living and study expenses

Scholars receive a stipend of £18,348 towards living and study costs. This contribution can help with accommodation, food, local transport, learning materials and other everyday expenses.

3. Return air travel

The award includes one flight from the scholar’s country of domicile in Sub-Saharan Africa to London and back at the end of the visa period.

4. Eligible visa and health-related costs

The package also covers UK study visa fees, the NHS Immigration Health Surcharge, required health checks and any UCL-required English-language assessment test.

5. Additional support

Scholars can access mentoring, personal support and careers advice during their studies.

Taken together, these benefits make the award particularly valuable for applicants who could not otherwise afford a master’s degree abroad.

Who can Apply for the UCL Bartlett Promise Scholarship?

You must meet the scholarship’s nationality, residence, financial and admission requirements.

1. You must come from an eligible African country

Applicants must be nationals of an approved Sub-Saharan African country and resident in an eligible country.

The current list includes:

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

UCL states that applicants from Cameroon and Sudan cannot currently be considered under this scholarship because of UK study-visa restrictions. Always check the university’s latest eligibility list before applying.

2. You must not hold British citizenship

Applicants must not hold British citizenship or dual British citizenship.

3. You must meet the study-history requirements

You must not have completed undergraduate or postgraduate studies outside Sub-Saharan Africa. You must also meet the scholarship’s restrictions concerning previous or existing funding for a master’s degree or equivalent qualification at a university outside the approved African countries, as described on the official page.

Read these conditions carefully if you have previously studied abroad or received postgraduate funding.

4. You need an offer from The Bartlett at UCL

You must obtain an offer of admission to an eligible Bartlett master’s programme for the 2027 – 2028 academic year. Your offer must be unconditional or conditional only on meeting the English-language requirements. An offer that still depends on other conditions, such as providing an outstanding degree certificate, will not satisfy this requirement.

You do not necessarily need to accept the offer before applying for the scholarship.

5. Your assessed household income must be below £42,875

UCL sets an assessed household-income threshold of less than £42,875. Applicants should review the university’s guidance on financial assessment and provide accurate information about their circumstances.

The university also particularly encourages applications from people who are forced migrants or the first in their families to attend university at undergraduate or postgraduate level. These are encouraged backgrounds, not a replacement for the essential eligibility conditions.

Which Courses Qualify?

The scholarship supports eligible taught master’s programmes within The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment. The faculty offers postgraduate study across areas related to the built environment, including architecture, planning, sustainable development, construction, infrastructure and urban studies.

However, not every programme at UCL qualifies. You must select a master’s course offered by The Bartlett and confirm its eligibility before applying. Start with the university’s official Bartlett master’s course listings.

If you are interested in the additional Bartlett Promise Prescot Scholarship, there is a specific route for eligible female applicants to the MSc Infrastructure Investment and Finance programme. Those candidates can be considered through the same scholarship application process.

When does the Application Open?

The scholarship application period for September 2027 entry is scheduled as follows:

• 15 February 2027: Scholarship applications open.
• 31 March 2027, 23:45 BST: Scholarship application deadline.
• 26 April to 7 May 2027: Planned period for shortlisted applicants’ assessment dialogues.
• By 28 May 2027: Successful applicants are expected to be notified.

These dates relate to the scholarship application. Your application for admission to the master’s programme must be completed early enough to obtain a qualifying offer by the scholarship deadline.

UCL advises prospective applicants to apply for their master’s course early, ideally in November or December 2026, because admission decisions can take several weeks or longer.

How to Apply for the UCL Bartlett Promise Scholarship

The process has two main stages. First, you need admission to a qualifying master’s programme. Then you apply for the scholarship.

Step 1: Choose an eligible master’s course

Visit the official Bartlett master’s course directory.

Find a course that matches your academic background, career plans and interests. Read the course-specific entry requirements before preparing your application.

Step 2: Apply to UCL for admission

Submit your master’s application through the relevant course page. UCL’s admission process may require your academic transcripts, qualifications, personal statement and references. Prepare these documents early and ensure that any required translations are completed properly.

You should aim to secure an offer well before 31 March 2027.

Step 3: Check whether you qualify for an application-fee waiver

UCL charges a £90 application fee for a Bartlett master’s course, but the scholarship page states that up to 100 application-fee waivers are available for eligible applicants. The waivers are limited and issued on a first-come, first-served basis. You must complete the relevant course application before requesting a waiver through the university’s process.

Check the official scholarship page for the current fee-waiver instructions. Do not assume that a waiver will be available after the limited allocation has been exhausted.

Step 4: Apply for the scholarship

Once you have a qualifying UCL offer, complete the Bartlett Promise scholarship application when the form opens on 15 February 2027. The application asks about your educational, personal and financial circumstances. Answer honestly and provide clear information that helps the selection team understand your situation.

Step 5: Prepare for the selection process

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to take part in a dialogue with a representative from the Windsor Fellowship.

This gives candidates an opportunity to discuss their circumstances in greater detail. UCL says the scholarship assessment focuses on eligibility and applicants’ educational, personal and financial circumstances, rather than conducting a separate assessment of academic ability beyond the admission requirements.

Step 6: Monitor your email

Keep checking your inbox and spam folder for messages from UCL and the scholarship team. Follow all instructions carefully, submit any requested documentation by the deadline and make sure the university receives your admission offer letter by 31 March 2027.

Start here: Official UCL Bartlett Promise Scholarship page.

How to Improve your Chances

There are very few awards, so prepare a thoughtful application rather than waiting until the last few days.

• Apply for admission early. A scholarship application cannot overcome a missing qualifying offer.
• Choose your course carefully. Make sure it belongs to The Bartlett and supports your future plans.
• Explain your circumstances clearly. The scholarship considers educational, personal and financial circumstances.
• Prepare your supporting documents. Keep transcripts, references and financial information organised.
• Check every eligibility condition. Previous overseas study, citizenship and past postgraduate funding can affect eligibility.
• Use accurate information. Never exaggerate financial hardship or provide details you cannot support.
• Watch the dates. Your admission offer must meet the scholarship’s conditions by the stated deadline.

You can also prepare a clear personal statement for your course application. Explain why you want to study the subject, what you hope to contribute and how the programme fits your longer-term goals.

These products may help you organise your documents and prepare your application:

• Document organiser: Keep transcripts, certificates and references together.
• Academic planner: Track course applications, admission requirements and scholarship deadlines.
• Personal statement writing guide: Help structure and proofread your course application.

Frequently asked questions

• Is the UCL Bartlett Promise Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. For eligible scholars, it covers full overseas tuition fees, provides a £18,348 stipend towards living and study expenses, and includes return air travel and specified visa and health-related costs.

• Can students from Kenya apply?

Yes. Kenya is included in the approved list of countries. Applicants must also meet the residence, citizenship, study-history, financial and admission conditions.

• Can applicants from outside Africa apply?

No. This particular scholarship is restricted to nationals and residents of the approved Sub-Saharan African countries. Applicants from other regions should look for UCL’s other funding opportunities.

• Do I need to have an offer before applying?

You need a qualifying offer from a Bartlett master’s course. You may begin the scholarship application process, but UCL must receive your offer letter by 31 March 2027 for you to be considered for shortlisting.

• When is the deadline?

The scholarship deadline is 31 March 2027 at 23:45 BST. You should apply for admission much earlier because receiving an offer can take time.

• How many scholarships are available?

UCL lists up to three Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Master’s Scholarships and one additional Prescot Scholarship. The Prescot award is for an eligible female applicant studying MSc Infrastructure Investment and Finance.

• Does the scholarship guarantee admission to UCL?

No. You must first meet the entry requirements and obtain an offer for an eligible Bartlett master’s course. Scholarship selection is a separate process.

Final thoughts

The UCL Bartlett Promise Scholarship 2027 is worth considering if you want a master’s degree in the built environment and meet the specific eligibility requirements.

Its strongest feature is the combination of full tuition coverage, a substantial living allowance and support for travel and eligible visa expenses. That is a much more comprehensive package than a scholarship that only reduces tuition fees.

The main challenge is the limited number of awards. Start by identifying a suitable course and preparing your admission application now. Then work towards securing a qualifying offer before the scholarship application closes on 31 March 2027.

Official application and details: UCL Bartlett Promise Scholarship 2027.

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