Bristol Think Big Scholarships
Bristol's flagship international scholarship scheme runs across both undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts. Awards range from £6,500 partial discounts up to £26,000 full-tuition equivalents, and they are open to applicants from all backgrounds and disciplines. Selection is based heavily on a 500-word personal statement explaining what 'thinking big' means to the candidate — so the application is as much about voice and vision as it is about grades. Sri Lankan applicants are eligible at undergraduate, taught Master's, and PhD level.
University of Bristol
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
£6,500 / £13,000 / £26,000 Tiers
Duration
First Year (Renewable for UG)
Awards
100+ Combined per Year
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Offer Holder at Bristol
You must hold a conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible Bristol undergraduate or postgraduate programme. A handful of MBAs, professional doctorates, and partnership programmes are excluded.
Overseas Fee Status
Open to overseas fee-paying international students. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka qualify; UK and Irish home-fee students do not.
English Proficiency
Meet Bristol's standard English language requirements for your chosen programme — usually IELTS 6.5–7.5 depending on the discipline.
Strong Personal Statement
A 500-word personal statement is the heart of the application — explain how Bristol fits your aspirations and what 'thinking big' means in the context of your goals.
account_tree Application Process
Apply for your programme first
Submit your Bristol undergraduate (via UCAS) or postgraduate (via Bristol's portal) application by the standard programme deadline.
Complete the Think Big form
Once you hold an offer, complete the separate Think Big scholarship form on Bristol's website — upload a 500-word personal statement and confirm your offer reference.
Selection panel review
Bristol's scholarship panel reviews applications on academic merit, personal statement quality, and fit. Outcomes are issued 6-8 weeks after the deadline.
Accept and confirm
Successful awardees receive a tuition discount applied directly to their fee invoice. You must firm your place at Bristol within the published deadline to retain the award.
Why University of Bristol?
A Russell Group university ranked in the world's top 60, with particularly strong engineering, aerospace, life sciences, and humanities departments. Bristol's South Asian alumni network is active and the city itself is a more affordable alternative to London for Sri Lankan students.
#54
QS World Ranking 2026
Russell
Group Member
100+
Scholarships per Year
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