The scholarship, established in memory of Lord Leon Brittan, is designed to support students from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds who demonstrate academic potential and a commitment to advancing social justice and international development.
Scholarship Honours Legacy of Lord Leon Brittan
The Brittan Scholarship was created in honour of Lord Leon Brittan, who himself came from an immigrant and asylum-seeking family.
The scholarship reflects his longstanding commitment to education access and support for displaced individuals seeking academic and professional advancement.
Organisers state that the programme aims to uphold his legacy by enabling students from similar backgrounds to pursue higher education opportunities in the United Kingdom.
Financial Support of Up to £20,000 Available
The scholarship provides substantial financial assistance to successful applicants, with awards of up to £20,000.
Funding is intended to cover:
- University tuition fees
- A contribution towards living expenses
The scholarship is structured to ease financial barriers faced by asylum-seeking and refugee-background students pursuing postgraduate education.
Applicants must be enrolled in or applying to a master’s degree programme in one of the approved subject areas.
Eligible fields include:
- International Law
- Human Rights Law
- International Aid
- International Business
The scholarship prioritises academic disciplines that align with global development, justice, and humanitarian policy.
The scholarship is open only to students who meet specific residency, academic, and immigration-related requirements.
Applicants must:
- Be currently living in the United Kingdom
- Have applied or be applying to a UK master’s programme
- Hold an asylum-seeking background or similar immigration status resulting from an asylum claim
- Be pursuing an eligible course of study in the listed fields
Organisers emphasise that eligibility criteria are strictly applied to ensure the scholarship reaches its intended beneficiary group.
Application Timeline for 2026 Intake
The application process for the 2026 intake will open in spring 2026, with a structured timeline for submission and selection.
Key dates include:
- Application deadline: 29 May 2026 at 5:00 PM BST
- Interviews: Scheduled for July 2026
The selection process includes an interview stage for shortlisted candidates following initial application review.
Applicants are advised to carefully prepare their submissions before applying.
The scholarship administrators recommend:
- Reviewing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Reading official guidance notes
- Preparing answers in advance using application templates
- Submitting applications only through the official online form
The organisation noted that there is no advantage for early submission, encouraging applicants to prioritise quality and accuracy over speed.
