Eligibility criteria
You must meet all of the below eligibility criteria:
- be a national of the United States of America or reside there permanently
- hold an offer for a full-time course and meet all academic and non-academic conditions
- be an international-fee status student
- be a self-funded student (if you have a loan you are eligible, but externally sponsored students are not eligible)
- be a new student who has not studied at the University of Brighton before
- be starting your course in September 2026 or January 2027.
You will not be eligible if:
- your course is a PGCert, PGCE, PGDip, MPharm, MRes, MPhil or PhD
- your course is one of the following MSc courses where the postgraduate Future STEM Scholars' Awards apply:
- Advanced Manufacturing MSc
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning MSc
- Artificial Intelligence and Robotics MSc
- Building Information Management MSc
- Cyber Security MSc
- your course is the Pharmacy OSPAP PGDip or MSc
- your course is a diploma level qualification eg Diploma in Professional Studies in [subject]
- you are joining a course at a University of Brighton partner college or affiliate institution eg East Sussex College Group
- you are progressing to the University of Brighton from a pre-masters course at the University of Brighton International College (UBIC)
- you are an applicant for Brighton and Sussex Medical School
- you are receiving funding from an external sponsor such as government, charity or private organisation
- you are joining us from a partner institution where an existing fee discount agreement is in place
- you are a graduate of the University of Brighton – please see our alumni postgraduate scholarships.
Terms and conditions
The following terms and conditions apply to the postgraduate USA Scholars' Awards:
- These awards are only for USA nationals or students that reside there permanently.
- The USA Scholars' Awards cannot be combined with:
- alumni postgraduate scholarships
- postgraduate Future STEM Scholars' Awards
- Agent Channel Awards
- Overseas Partner Awards
- external university scholarships
- any scholarships/discounts granted by other University of Brighton departments.
- The USA Scholars' Awards can be combined with:
- These awards are granted as a £1,000 reduction on tuition fees in the first year of study.
- These awards can only be applied as a reduction to your tuition fees. They cannot be used for accommodation, living costs, travel or any other non-tuition fee purposes.
- Individual final eligibility assessments are made after registration and payment deadlines. The university will not confirm eligibility to any student before the official assessment.
- Awards will not be reflected in fee accounts, invoices or payment plans prior to the payment deadline.
- Where a student has an instalment payment plan in place, the Finance team will update the payment schedule after the award has been applied, and will issue a revised schedule showing any reduction to the final instalment.
- The university reserves the right to request additional documentation to verify domicile, fee status, funding source and application channel (agent or direct). Failure to provide evidence may result in withdrawal of the award.
- Scholarships and awards cannot be deferred to a later intake or academic year. However, applicants may be eligible for consideration when reassessed, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the next academic cycle.
- Awards may be withdrawn if:
- The student withdraws or suspends studies
- The student is withdrawn by the university (eg for non-payment or non-attendance)
- The student is reassessed as home fee status
- The student becomes eligible for the alumni scholarship.
- Tuition fee refunds follow the university's standard refund policy.
- The university reserves the right to amend, suspend or withdraw scholarships and awards schemes at its discretion.
Need support?
Please refer to our frequently asked questions (FAQs) in the first instance. If you cannot find the answer, you can contact our International Office by email on: InternationalOffice@brighton.ac.uk.
Contact our International Office
If you have any issues with taking your next steps, please email our International Office on InternationalOffice@brighton.ac.uk with your 8-digit student number and the details of your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use these USA Scholars' Awards for other means? eg housing
No, these awards can only be applied as a reduction to your tuition fees.
I'm a USA national currently residing outside of the USA. Am I eligible for these awards?
If you are a national of the United States of America or have permanent residency there, but are temporarily residing in the UK or another country, you may receive a USA Scholars' Award (provided you meet all other eligibility criteria). We may request additional documents to confirm your eligibility.
Can these awards be combined with other scholarships or awards?
The postgraduate USA Scholars' Awards can be combined with the Vice-Chancellor international postgraduate scholarships, the postgraduate Deans' Global Talent Awards and the postgraduate early-bird confirmation discount.
They cannot be combined with the alumni postgraduate scholarships, postgraduate Future STEM Scholars' Awards, Agent Channel Awards, Overseas Partner Awards, any scholarships external to the university, or any scholarships/discounts granted by other University of Brighton departments.
I have deferred my registration, can I use my award for next year?
You will not be able to defer these awards to a different intake or academic year.
I've already completed a degree at the University of Brighton, am I eligible for these awards?
The USA Scholars' Awards are for new students to the university only, but as an alumni you may be eligible for our alumni postgraduate scholarships.
When will I see the award deducted from my tuition fee?
If you are joining us in September 2026, the scholarship will be applied after 31 October, provided you have successfully enrolled at the university.
If you are joining us in January 2027, the scholarship will be applied after 28 February, provided you have successfully enrolled at the university.
You will not see your scholarship reflected in your fee anywhere before the first tuition fee payment deadline (31 October/28 February). If you have a payment plan in place to pay your tuition fee by credit/debit card, the Finance department will update your plan with the new figures after the first tuition fee payment deadline and email a new schedule to you where you will be able to see that your final payment instalment has been reduced.