A master's degree can open a lot of doors, but with tuition sometimes running into the tens of thousands and the postgraduate loan not always covering everything, funding one outright isn't easy.
The good news is there are more routes to a free (or seriously discounted) master's than you might think, from scholarships and employer sponsorship to genuinely tuition-free courses abroad.
Before you commit, it's worth reading up on what to consider before signing up for a master's — here's what's actually available if you're trying to keep the cost down in 2026.
Last updated: 22nd September 2026
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Is it possible to do a free master's degree in the UK?
Not entirely for free, in most cases — but there's more support than you'd think.
The Postgraduate Master's Loan can cover up to £13,206 for courses starting in the 2026/27 academic year, which goes towards tuition, course costs and living expenses.
It won't always stretch to cover everything, though: UK master's tuition fees typically fall somewhere between £8,000 and £12,000 for home students, though they can range from around £4,000 for classroom-based courses up to £30,000+ for specialist programmes like an MBA.
That's where scholarships, employer sponsorship and genuinely free courses abroad come in.
What is a master's degree?
A master's is a postgraduate qualification you take after completing an undergraduate degree, usually lasting one year if you study full-time (longer if you go part-time).
You don't have to stick to the same subject as your undergraduate degree, though many people do, especially if a master's is a requirement for the career or further study (like a PhD) they're aiming for.
Lets you specialise in a focused subject area
Can be studied at a different institution to your undergraduate degree
Often a requirement before starting a PhD
Sometimes required for specific career paths or promotions
How to do a free master's degree in the UK
If a fully-funded UK master's is the goal, there are three main routes worth chasing: free online study, scholarships, and employer sponsorship.
Free master's degrees online
Platforms like Coursera, edX and FutureLearn offer master's-level courses and even full postgraduate degrees, some of which are free to study (though you'll usually pay if you want an accredited certificate or degree at the end).
It's a flexible, self-paced option if you want to avoid taking on a loan altogether, though it's worth checking how a specific employer or industry views this route before you commit.
Scholarships for a free master's degree
Scholarships are non-repayable and are usually awarded based on financial need, academic merit, or both. Our round-up of the best scholarships for UK students is a good starting point, but a couple worth knowing about specifically:
Inspiring Success Scholarship (Loughborough University London): a 100% tuition fee waiver for master's applicants who hold a UK bachelor's degree (2:2 or above), live in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets or Waltham Forest, completed their GCSEs or A-levels in one of those boroughs, and are unemployed or working part-time earning under £581.30 a week. It's open for both September 2026 and January 2027 entry, with applications closing 31 July 2026.
John Crook Scholarship (St John's College, Cambridge): covers approved College and University costs, including tuition fees and a maintenance grant for first-generation university students with a strong academic record who are British citizens, to fund a second degree or a Master of Advanced Studies. Applications are submitted by UCAS, which has a deadline of October 15th
How much does a master's degree cost in Europe?
Post-Brexit, UK students studying in the EU are classed as international students, which usually means higher fees than EU nationals pay.
A genuinely free or low-cost master's is still possible in a handful of countries, but it's worth checking the current position carefully — some of what used to be reliably free no longer is.
Country | Typical cost for UK/international students
|
|---|---|
Germany | Free at most public universities — though Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria's Technical University of Munich are exceptions, and now charge non-EU students |
Austria | Around €1,500/year (roughly €730 per semester) |
Greece | Around €1,500/year |
Norway | No longer guaranteed free — universities can now set their own fees for non-EU students, and where charged, fees can run €15,000–€34,000/year |
Hungary | €6,000–€11,000/year for non-EU students |
If studying abroad is genuinely on the table, our guide on how to study abroad and what it actually costs covers the wider picture beyond tuition, like visas and living costs.
FAQs
How much does a master's degree cost?
UK home students pay £8,740 on average, though it varies a lot by course type. International students pay roughly twice as much, averaging £17,109 for classroom-based courses (more for lab-based courses or an MBA).
How long does a master's degree take?
Most full-time master's degrees take one year. Part-time study usually stretches this to two to four years.
What comes after a master's degree?
For those who want to keep going academically, the next step up is usually a PhD.
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