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United Kingdom Open for September 2026 entry — applications close 12 March 2026

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.

University College London

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

£10,400 / yr × 3 yrs (~LKR 12.5M)

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Duration

3 Years (Renewable)

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Awards

1 per Year

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.