SCHOLARSHIPS IN OVERSEAS RESEARCH STUDENTS AWARDS SCHEME
OVERSEAS RESEARCH STUDENTS AWARDS SCHEME (ORSAS)
Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme is funded by the Department for Education and Skills (earlier known as Department for Education and Employment)
These grants are for postgraduate students undertaking full-time study for a higher degree as registered research students at UK universities. Selection of candidates is based solely on academic merit and research potential. Awards meet the difference between the UK and overseas level of tuition fees only, and do not cover maintenance costs. They are initially made for one year but can be continued for a second or third year, subject to the satisfactory progress of the award-holder.
The scheme, which is administered by the Universities UK (earlier known as the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals or CVCP), supports approximately 800-850 new awards each year in the UK.
Application forms should be obtained from the registrar or secretary of the institution at which the student is enrolled (or which has given provisional acceptance). Applications for an ORS award must be submitted, again through the university itself, usually by the end of the April preceding the year of entry. General information only can be obtained from the Secretary, ORS Office, Universities UK, Woburn House, 20 Tavistock Square, London WC1 H 9HQ. A list of academic institutions where the awards are tenable is available from the ORS Office or can be checked on the ORS website. You may contact the British higher education institution which has accepted you, or provisionally accepted you, for your course, or the ORSAS office at the Universities UK.