IDS and Sussex scholarships
We want to ensure that the most able students have the opportunity to study at IDS and go on to effect global change.
We are delighted to offer a number of full-time scholarship places on our international development masters degrees. These include:
IDS Graduate Scholarship 2023
***APPLICATIONS FOR 2023 HAVE NOW CLOSED***
At least one IDS Graduate Scholarship is available to encourage high achieving scholars from the Global South to study for a master’s degree commencing in 2023. IDS Graduate Scholarships are supported by a number of generous funders including IDS Alumni, the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust, the Dr Purna Chander Kotagiri Fund and the Albertina Fund. The scholarships are available to international students from low or lower-middle-income countries who have accepted a full-time place on an IDS master’s degree. Preference for one scholarship will be given to female students from Africa or Asia. Priority for all scholarships will be given to those who have the greatest potential to make a difference in their home countries after completing the degree. Find out more
World Bank Scholarships
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is open to citizens of certain developing countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to a master degree program in a development-related topic. Eligible IDS masters programmes include MA Food and Development, and MSc Climate Change, Development and Policy. Find out more
South-East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) Scholarship
You may be eligible for a SeNSS scholarship (funded by the Economic Social Research Council) if you’re taking one of 12 pathways in Social Sciences. Studentships are available in these pathways either for a 1+3 PhD (one year Masters and three year PhD degree) or +3 PhD (three year PhD degree), and can be held on a full-time or part-time basis. Find out more
For more details of IDS and Sussex scholarships see the University of Sussex website for funding advice where you can also search the University of Sussex’s database of scolarships.
National postgraduate loans
Loans are available from the Student Loans Company if you’re from the UK or are an EU national studying for a Masters course. If you are a UK national considering a PhD, you may be eligible for a loan of up to £25,700. Find out more
Alternative funding sources
Many philanthropic foundations, charities and trusts provide alternative funding for postgraduate study. The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding Online provides a wealth of information about alternative sources of funding – especially charities – which can make awards to any student regardless of subject or nationality.
The Guide includes an extensive database of funding opportunities, comprehensive guidance written by successful applicants, and tools to help you prepare a winning grant application.
The Guide is password protected. If you are a prospective postgraduate student who has applied to IDS via the University of Sussex, use the following authentication PIN to register for the Guide: 6789. Register for the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding Online.
Many IDS students have successfully secured alternative funding from alternative sources including some of the following:
- Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program
- Association of Commonwealth Universities Scholarship
- Canon Research Fellowships
- Chevening Scholarship
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states)
- Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships (for low and middle income countries)
- Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
- Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for high income countries)
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología Scholarship (for Mexican students)
- Don Carlose Antonio Lopez Scholarships (for Paraguayan students)
- Friedrich-Ebert-Stiflung Scholarships
- Fulbright Postgraduate Student Awards
- Government of India Scholarships
- Insitute of Ismaili Studies Scholarship (PhD)
- OFID Scholarship award
- MBI Al Jaber Foundation
- Mandela Scholarship (closed for 2023)
- Marshall Scholarship
- MastersCompare Postgraduate Scholarships Programme
- Dorothy Marchus Senesh scholarships
- Prospect Burma Scholarships (for Myanmar students)
- Ramón Areces Scholarships (for Spanish postgraduates)
- Rotary International Scholarships
- Santander Scholarships
- Sussex-India Scholarships
- Sylff Scholarships
- UNESCO Japan Research Fellowships
- US Federal Student Aid Grants and Scholarships
- UNITAR LDCs Tuition-Fees Discounts
- VSBfonds Scholarships
- Wadsworth International Fellowships (for PhD anthropology students)
- World Bank Joint Japan Scholarship Program
- World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program