Scholarships for a third class degree are harder to find, because many awards set a minimum such as an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree. A few schemes look at the whole profile instead. The Chevening eligibility page asks for an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master’s programme, plus two years of work experience, and does not name a degree class. The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships page does name one: a 2:1, or a lower second-class degree together with a relevant postgraduate qualification.
Third class is a UK classification. If your degree was awarded in another country, read how each scheme treats grades from other systems before you rule it out, and ask the university which equivalent it applies.
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How two UK-funded schemes treat degree class
| Scheme | What the scheme page asks for on your degree | Other core requirements | What it means for a third class degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarship | An undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master’s programme, finished at least two years before the application deadline | At least two years (2,800 hours) of work experience after your undergraduate degree; citizenship of a Chevening-eligible country; a commitment to return home for at least two years; three eligible UK course choices, with an unconditional offer from at least one by the deadline | The page sets no degree class. The entry rule of each course you choose still applies, so ask each university how it treats a lower class. |
| Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships | A first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a master’s) | Citizen of, or refugee in, an eligible Commonwealth country and permanently resident there; unable to afford UK study without the award; applications go through a nominator, not directly to the commission | A third class degree is below both stated routes. The page lists a separate nomination route for disabled applicants through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum. Each intake has its own closing date, so check the page for the current round. |
Seven steps to build a stronger application
- Read the rule on the scheme’s own page. Blog summaries often skip the degree wording that decides eligibility.
- Ask each university in writing whether work experience or a postgraduate qualification can offset a lower degree class. Entry rules for master’s courses are set course by course.
- Log your work experience in hours. Chevening counts a total, and several shorter periods can be added together.
- Collect evidence of leadership and influence. The Chevening eligibility page says applicants should have many examples of leadership and influencing skills.
- Consider a pathway qualification, such as a postgraduate diploma or an accredited short course, to show recent academic ability. For the Commonwealth route the qualification must be postgraduate and relevant.
- Read the eligibility page of every funder you shortlist. Some set no class, some do, and some leave it to the university.
- Line up references and a plan of study that explain how your degree result sits within your wider record.
What counts as work experience for Chevening
Chevening describes full-time employment, part-time employment, voluntary work and paid or unpaid internships as eligible, and several periods can be combined. Experience that was a mandatory part of your degree does not count. The total must reach 2,800 hours, which is roughly two years of full-time work, and it must have been gained after you completed your undergraduate degree.
Checklist before you apply
- Degree certificate and full transcripts
- Work experience log showing employers, dates and hours
- Referees who can speak about your leadership or academic ability
- A shortlist of courses with each university’s entry rule noted
- Written replies from admissions teams on how they treat your degree class
- An English test result, if the university asks for one
- The closing date of each scheme and of each university application
Where to go next
- Study in the USA with a 2:2, third class or HND for admissions and funding in the United States
- How to apply for scholarships: steps and a 12-month timeline
- Fully funded international scholarships and how to compare them
- Graduate assistantships abroad for funding through teaching or research roles
- Best countries to study and work abroad compared
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