UCL Denys Holland Scholarship
The UCL Denys Holland Scholarship was established in memory of Denys Holland, a former UCL Solicitor and active member of the Students' Union. It supports international undergraduates who would otherwise be unable to afford UCL — a £10,400 maintenance award paid annually for the full three-year duration of the degree, totalling around £31,200 (LKR 12.5 million). Selection weighs financial need alongside extracurricular leadership, so this is genuinely accessible to ambitious Sri Lankan A-Level / IB graduates from middle-income families who can demonstrate community involvement.
The round for September 2026 entry closed on 12 March 2026. The award runs on an annual cycle tied to admission, so expect a comparable deadline in mid-March for the following year. Confirm the current date with University College London before planning around it.
University College London
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
£10,400 / yr × 3 yrs (~LKR 12.5M)
Duration
3 Years (Renewable)
Awards
1 per Year
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
University College London — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.
What it covers
£10,400 per Year (3 Years). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.
Where we come in
We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Offer for a UCL Undergraduate Degree
You must hold a UCL undergraduate offer (conditional or unconditional) for September 2026 entry by the scholarship deadline. The award covers any UCL Bachelor's programme. Sri Lankan applicants typically need A-Level AAA-A*A*A or IB 38-40+ depending on programme.
Demonstrated Financial Need
You must show you would be unable to fund the full cost of a UCL undergraduate degree without this scholarship. UCL asks for parental income figures and a statement explaining your financial circumstances — middle-income Sri Lankan families have been successful in the past.
Overseas Fee Status
Open to international applicants paying overseas tuition fees. Home (UK) fee students are not eligible. Sri Lankan citizens applying directly from Sri Lanka are squarely eligible.
Extracurricular Engagement
A central selection criterion. Examples: leadership in school societies, Duke of Edinburgh, debating, voluntary work, community projects, sports captaincy. Document specific roles + outcomes rather than listing memberships.
account_tree Application Process
Apply to UCL via UCAS by January
Submit your UCAS application for UCL by the standard UCAS undergraduate deadline (29 January 2026). Receive your conditional offer before applying for the scholarship.
Complete the Denys Holland form by 12 March
Apply via the UCL scholarships portal. The form requires personal statement, financial circumstances, and a separate scholarship statement (max 4,000 characters) covering your extracurricular contribution and how the award would change your trajectory.
Shortlist + interview
A faculty panel shortlists in April. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for a short online interview (about 20 minutes) in May, conducted from Sri Lanka by Zoom.
Outcome and renewal
The single annual winner is notified in June. The award is renewed each year subject to satisfactory academic progress (typically 60%+ in first-year exams). The stipend is paid in three instalments per academic year.
Why UCL?
University College London is consistently ranked in the global top 10 (QS #9 in 2026) and is the UK's largest postgraduate destination. UCL's central London location, multidisciplinary structure, and 50,000-strong student community make it one of the most international universities in the world. Sri Lankan alumni hold senior roles across finance, medicine, and policy.
#9
QS World Ranking 2026
1 / yr
Denys Holland Award
£31,200
Total Over 3 Years
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
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