Overseas Research studentships

The Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme (ORS) grants awards on a competitive basis to international postgraduate research students of outstanding merit and research potential. The Scheme is funded by the UK Department for Education and Skills. It is administered by Universities UK (earlier known as the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals or CVCP), and supports approximately 800 - 850 new Awards each year in the UK.

Who is eligible

To apply for this scheme you need to be:

			a full-time student
			studying at a postgraduate level
			registered as a research student at a UK university

Selection

Selection of candidates is based solely on academic merit and research potential. Awards cover the difference between the home (UK) and overseas level of tuition fees only, and do not cover maintenance costs. They are initially only for one year, but if your progress is satisfactory, you can continue it for a second or third year.

Applying

To apply, you need to obtain an application form from the registrar or secretary of the UK institution you're currently enrolled at (or which has given provisional acceptance). Your application must be submitted, again through the university itself, usually by the beginning of the February before the next academic year.

Further information

General information only can be obtained by writing to:

The Executive Secretary
ORS Office
Universities UK
Woburn House
20 Tavistock Square
London, WC1H 9HQ.  

If you'd like a list of academic institutions where the awards are available, go to your nearest ORS office or check the ORS website http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/ors/. You can also contact the British higher education institution that has accepted you (or provisionally accepted you) for your course, the ORSAS office at the Universities UK or email: ors_scheme@UniversitiesUK.ac.uk