University of Westminster International Undergraduate Excellence Award 2026

The University of Westminster’s International Undergraduate Excellence Award for September 2026 entry has moved past its application stage — the window closed on 15th June 2026 at 5 pm, and everyone who applied is waiting to hear back after 6th July. If that’s you, the wait is nearly over.

Don’t Miss: Top Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students 2026

The scholarship is designed to support international students who have demonstrated academic excellence and a strong passion for their chosen field of study. It provides financial support towards tuition fees for the first year of study. The award offers £2,500 towards tuition fees, paid directly to the university.

If you’re arriving here having missed it, this scholarship comes back around every year for Westminster’s September intake, so treat this as your blueprint for next time rather than a closed door. Below is everything the award actually involves, what it does and doesn’t cover, and what you’ll need lined up before the next round opens.

University of Westminster International Undergraduate Excellence Award Summary

About the Scholarship Award

Westminster built the International Undergraduate Excellence Award, known internally as the IEA, to give a financial nod to international applicants whose grades sit meaningfully above what their course actually demands — not just meeting the bar, but clearing it with room to spare. It’s a London-based university with campuses spread across the city, known for strong ties into creative industries, business, and the arts, and the IEA is one of several scholarship tracks it runs alongside a separate postgraduate equivalent.

What makes it worth understanding properly, rather than skimming, is what it’s specifically designed not to do: it’s a single-semester boost, not a multi-year safety net, and it comes with a fairly firm list of exclusions worth reading before you build your budget around it.

Must-Read: Top Fully Funded Masters Scholarships in Europe

Scholarship recipients are expected to:

• Act as ambassadors of the university
• Participate in events such as scholarship receptions
• Provide testimonials or student profiles when required

Students who wish to defer their scholarship must contact the scholarship office in advance. Any changes to the course or programme must also be approved

Eligibility Requirements

• You must be classified as an overseas fee-paying student.
• You must hold an offer for a full-time Bachelor’s degree starting in September 2026.
• You must be entirely self-funded — not sponsored by a government, employer, or other organisation.
• Your grades must sit clearly above the minimum entry requirement for your course, not merely meet it.
• You need to demonstrate genuine passion for your chosen subject, not just strong results.
• You’re excluded if you’re applying to a Bachelor’s programme with an integrated foundation year, an International Summer School, a Study Abroad Programme, or any short-term or non-degree course.
• You’re also excluded if you’re externally sponsored or if you already qualify for any other Westminster tuition fee discount or scholarship — this award can’t be combined with another.
• You must still satisfy every condition of your academic offer and meet the requirements for a UK student visa.

Don’t Forget To Read: Top Scholarships in Germany for International Students

Join Lucy’s Scholarship Mentorship Group

Get step-by-step guidance, live group reviews, and exclusive support to find, apply, and win global scholarships.

Join Now, Let's Waka Together →

Where the Money Actually Goes

The headline figure is £2,500, but how and where that lands matters more than the number itself:

• The award is paid directly to the university, not to you personally, and is applied against your tuition invoice for your first semester.
• It covers your first year of study only — from year two onward, you’re responsible for the full international tuition rate.
• Critically, it cannot be put toward your £5,500 CAS deposit, the payment required to secure your student visa confirmation. Budget for that separately and in full.
• You can only hold one Westminster scholarship at a time, so this isn’t stackable with the university’s other funding lines.
• Beyond the fee reduction, recipients take on a light ambassador role — attending scholarship receptions and occasionally providing testimonials or student profiles when the university asks.
• If your circumstances change and you need to defer your place or switch programmes, you’re required to contact the scholarship office in advance; unapproved changes can affect your award.

Building Your Application File Before the Next Cycle

• Your offer letter from the University of Westminster.
• Academic transcripts and certificates.
• A personal or supporting statement.
• Proof of your overseas fee status.
• Evidence of academic excellence — think results well above your course’s stated minimum, not just a passing offer.
• Material that shows genuine engagement with your subject, beyond grades alone.
• Any further documents the university specifically requests during the process.

Also Read: How to Write a Personal Statement for Scholarship | Tips and Free Template

How to Prepare While the Portal Is Closed

The application window won’t reopen for months, but the students who win this award tend to have done the groundwork long before the form goes live. Here’s where to put your time now:

1. Get your Bachelor’s application in early. You cannot apply for the IEA without an offer in hand, so this is the real starting line. Applying early also gives you room to fix anything in your file — missing documents, unclear transcripts — before the scholarship window even opens.
2. Push your grades as far above the course minimum as you can. Westminster isn’t looking for applicants who just meet the entry bar; the award goes to students who clear it comfortably. If you’re still finishing exams or a final qualification, this is the stretch where it counts most.
3. Start drafting your personal statement now, not in June. The statement needs to show genuine passion for your subject, not just strong grades — that’s harder to write well under deadline pressure. Give yourself time to redraft it once or twice.
4. Gather your documents ahead of time. Have your transcripts, certificates, and proof of overseas fee status ready to go, so that once the form opens, submission is a formality rather than a scramble.
5. Separately, start saving for your £5,500 CAS deposit. Since the IEA can’t be used toward this cost, it’s worth having that figure covered independently well before your visa application stage, regardless of whether your scholarship application succeeds.
6. Set a reminder to check Westminster’s scholarship page from around April 2027 onward, since that’s roughly when the equivalent window opened ahead of this year’s mid-June deadline.

When the next cycle does open, the actual submission step is simple: complete the online IEA form and attach your documents before the deadline. The preparation above is what actually decides whether that submission is competitive.

Must-Read: How to Prepare A Scholarship Application – 5 Tips to Succeed

Application Deadline

The 2026 cycle closed on 15th June at 5 pm UK time, with outcomes due after 6th July 2026 — a date that, as of this writing, is only days away for anyone who already applied. Westminster hasn’t published exact 2027 dates yet, but this scholarship runs every year in step with the September intake, and this cycle’s mid-June cutoff is consistent with how it’s run in past years. Expect the next application window to open several months ahead of a similar mid-June 2027 deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Westminster International Undergraduate Excellence Award still open for 2026?

No. The deadline was 15th June 2026 at 5 pm, and applicants are being notified of outcomes after 6th July 2026. The award is expected to return for the September 2027 intake with a similar mid-June deadline.

Can Nigerian or other African students apply for this award?

Yes. It’s open to international, self-funded students from any country who hold an offer for a full-time Bachelor’s degree at Westminster starting in September, provided they meet the academic excellence criteria.

Can I use the £2,500 award toward my visa deposit?

No. The award cannot be applied to the £5,500 CAS deposit required to secure your student visa. You’ll need to cover that cost separately, in full.

Does the scholarship cover my whole degree, or just one year?

Just the first year. From your second year onward, you’re responsible for paying full international tuition fees for the remainder of your degree.

Can I combine this award with another Westminster scholarship?

No. Students can only receive one scholarship or fee discount from the University of Westminster at a time, so holding another award or discount makes you ineligible for the IEA.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official University of Westminster International Undergraduate Excellence Award page before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the University of Westminster.

Official Application Portal