Spärck AI Scholarships

Spärck AI Scholarships is sponsored by Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Provides full funding for AI master's degrees at nine leading UK universities, aiming to develop exceptional AI talent for the UK's tech sector.

Spärck AI Scholarship | UCL Scholarships and funding - UCL – University College London This UK Government award, named after pioneering computer scientist Karen Spärck Jones, supports the development of talented leaders in AI and its application across diverse disciplines.

Value: Full tuition fees plus £22,780 stipend (for one year) Available to: Prospective students Selection criteria: Academic Merit Other selection criteria: Strengths and motivations, prioritizing underrepresented groups. Eligible fee status: Home and Overseas Eligible programmes: Selected 1-year full-time Master's programmes Deadline: 17:00 (BST), Friday 1st May 2026.

Candidates must fulfil the following criterion: have submitted a complete admission application (including the submission of references) for a full-time Master's degree* at UCL starting in 2026/27, in one of the following programmes: MSc Architectural Computation MPA Digital Technologies and Policy MRes Artificial Intelligence Enabled Healthcare MSc Artificial Intelligence for Biomedicine & Healthcare MSc Drug Discovery and Pharma Management MSc Energy Systems and Data Analytics MSc Integrated Machine Learning Systems MSc Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies MSc Spatio-Temporal Analytics and Big Data Mining MSc Scientific and Data Intensive Computing Value, benefits, and duration There are up to 100 scholarships available across all nine participating UK universities in 2026/27.

UCL has 8 scholarships to award in total. The value of the scholarship is full tuition fees plus £22,780 stipend. The scholarship is tenable for one year only.

The Spärck AI Scholarship may not be held alongside other UK Government scholarships, studentships, awards, or bursaries. Bursary recipients are obliged to inform the UCL Student Funding Office immediately of any other funding they are awarded towards their UCL Master’s degree studies, before or subsequent to the Spärck AI Scholarship being awarded.

If selected, you will join a dynamic world-class cohort of high-achieving and adaptable individuals who demonstrate leadership potential, resilience, and a clear vision for the future of AI. You’ll be empowered to drive innovation and contribute meaningfully to the UK’s AI ecosystem—emerging as part of the next generation of AI leaders.

Through a wide range of research projects, industry exposure and structured cohort activities, you'll gain the skills and networks needed to shape responsible, high-impact AI development across research, government and industry.

Throughout the year, you’ll take part in a range of activities designed to build connections within your cohort and with professionals across the AI landscape, acting as a prestigious community of future AI leaders. Towards the end of your Master’s course, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for a work placement with one of our industry partners in an AI-related field.

Final decisions on awards will be made by the UCL Spärck AI Scholarship Leadership Group. They are looking to recruit candidates from a broad range of backgrounds, who can demonstrate how they meet some of the following characteristics.

Upon receipt of your application, assessors will consider these qualities as part of the selection process, recognising that candidates may demonstrate them in different ways and through varied experiences: Curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving Comfort with ambiguity and change Strong communication skills Entrepreneurial mindset and leadership potential What it means to be part of a government-funded scholarship and how you would make the most of this opportunity Your motivation to contribute to the AI ecosystem in the UK We will ensure selection processes actively promote equality, diversity and inclusion and support widening participation by prioritizing underrepresented groups.

Step 1 - Before you apply, you should already have received an offer of admission from one of the participating programmes listed above. Step 2 - Complete the Sparck AI Scholarship application form. Download the word document below and save it to your computer: Sparck AI Scholarship Application Form Step 3 - Obtain a reference letter from someone who knows your work and can endorse your suitability for a scholarship.

For example, this could be a tutor or manager. Reference Guidance - Sparck AI Scholarship (part 4 of form) Step 4 - Your completed application form and reference must be emailed to the designated email for the programme you are applying to, by 17:00(BST), Friday 1st May 2026. Application submission email address MSc Architectural Computation bartlett.

pg-bsa@ucl. ac. uk MPA Digital Technologies and Policy steapp.

admissions@ucl. ac. uk MRes Artificial Intelligence Enabled Healthcare MSc Artificial Intelligence for Biomedicine & Healthcare csc.

mscscholarship@ucl. ac. uk MSc Data Science stats.

pgt-admissions@ucl. ac. uk mgmt-di@ucl.

ac. uk MSc Drug Discovery and Pharma Management MSc Energy Systems and Data Analytics bartlett. pg-bseer@ucl.

ac. uk MSc Integrated Machine Learning Systems biosciences_pgt_admissions@ucl. ac.

uk MSc Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies MSc Spatio-Temporal Analytics and Big Data Mining cege-pg-admissions@ucl. ac. uk MSc Scientific and Data Intensive Computing The closing date for complete applications and references: 17:00 (London time), Friday 1st May 2026.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates are expected to be held in early June 2026. Scholarship offers mid to late June 2026. Offers must be accepted by mid-July 2026 at the latest (date confirmed on offer).

Scholarships are for study only in the academic year 2026-27 and cannot be deferred. Essential information for all funding scheme applicants