The Impact Scholarship: Eligibility, Deadline & How to Apply

The Impact Scholarship is a prestigious financial aid program designed to empower outstanding candidates applying to study the MSc Finance programme who come from low- or lower-income backgrounds and who may struggle to enrol in the programme without financial assistance. It aims to remove financial barriers and enable high-potential individuals to pursue a world-class education, focusing on those who demonstrate not just academic excellence but also a commitment to positive change.

For the 2025–2026 academic year, the application process is integrated with the programme's main admission cycle. This guide provides a complete overview for prospective students, detailing the eligibility criteria, the automatic application process, the scholarship amount, and key deadlines. If you have the academic merit and vision to excel in finance, this scholarship could be your gateway to achieving your goals.

The Impact Scholarship is exclusively for the MSc Finance programme at University College London (UCL). As a world-leading university, UCL offers a rigorous and transformative academic environment in the heart of London, a global financial hub.

The Impact Scholarship Awards

The Impact Scholarship provides significant financial support to ease the burden of postgraduate study costs at a top UK university. It is a merit and needs-based award that offers direct financial contribution towards your education and living expenses.

The scholarship offers a substantial award of £10,000. This amount is intended to be a major contribution towards your overall costs, which include tuition fees and living expenses in London.

The Impact Scholarship Benefits

Beyond the direct financial grant, receiving the Impact Scholarship comes with significant prestige and professional advantages that will benefit your career long after graduation.

The eligibility for the Impact Scholarship is based on a combination of financial need, academic excellence, and professional potential. Candidates must provide an excellent application to the MSc Finance programme, demonstrating academic merit, strong professional or community experience, leadership potential and a clear career plan.

Countries Eligible Under The Impact Scholarship

The Impact Scholarship is open to all international and home (UK) applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and have applied to the UCL MSc Finance programme. There are no geographic restrictions, aligning with UCL's global and inclusive ethos.

The application process is seamlessly integrated with your programme application. There is nothing additional for candidates to do. All applicants who apply to study MSc Finance at UCL in the 2025/26 academic year and who meet the scholarship criteria will be considered for scholarship funding.

The process is straightforward:

• Apply to MSc Finance: Submit your complete application for the MSc Finance programme via the UCL online portal.
• Automatic Consideration: Your application is automatically reviewed for both admission and scholarship eligibility by the admissions team.
• Notification: If you are selected, the UCL admissions team will contact you directly with the scholarship offer.

Application Timeline for The Impact Scholarship

Adhering to the programme application deadline is critical to be considered for this scholarship.

The Impact Scholarship Interview

Typically, scholarships of this nature do not have a separate interview round. The selection is based entirely on the strength and merit of your submitted MSc Finance application. The admissions team will assess your academic credentials, personal statement, references, and overall profile against the scholarship criteria.

A key benefit of this scholarship is that there is no separate documentation required for the scholarship itself. Your complete application for the MSc Finance programme at UCL will be used for assessment.

• Completed UCL MSc Finance online application.
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates.
• CV/Resume.
• Personal statement.
• Two academic or professional references.
• Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable).

FAQs about The Impact Scholarship

Who is eligible for the Impact Scholarship?

All applicants to the UCL MSc Finance programme for 2025 entry are considered. You must demonstrate academic merit, strong professional or community experience, leadership potential, a clear career plan, and come from a low- or lower-income background.

What does the Impact Scholarship cover?

It provides a financial grant of £10,000 to be used towards your tuition fees and living expenses while studying at UCL.

How do I apply for the Impact Scholarship?

There is no separate application. You are automatically considered for the scholarship when you submit a complete application for the MSc Finance programme at UCL by the deadline.

What is the application deadline for the Impact Scholarship?

You must submit your application for the UCL MSc Finance programme by 27 June 2025 to be considered for the scholarship for the Fall 2025 intake.