The University of Bristol Spärck AI scholarships will provide full funding for master’s degrees at leading UK universities specializing in artificial intelligence and STEM subjects.
The University of Bristol is set to welcome future tech innovators with exceptional talent in AI-related disciplines through a prestigious new scholarship programme announced by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
📅 When is the Application Deadline?
Applications open: Spring 2026
Programme starts: October 2026
📌 About the Scholarship
The Spärck AI Scholarships are a new, prestigious, fully funded UK government initiative designed to support the next generation of AI pioneers. Backed by £17.2 million in funding and led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), this scholarship covers full tuition and living costs for eligible master’s students from the UK and abroad.
Named after legendary British computer scientist Karen Spärck Jones, the programme aims to rival Rhodes, Fulbright, and Marshall Scholarships in prestige and opportunity.
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🌍 Who Can Apply?
- UK and international students
- Must be applying for a master’s in Artificial Intelligence or related STEM fields
- Students from low-income backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply
🎯 Eligible Fields at the University of Bristol
For the 2026–27 academic year, Bristol will offer four brand-new MSc programs eligible under the Spärck AI Scholarship:
- MSc in Artificial Intelligence
- MSc in Engineering with Artificial Intelligence
- MSc in Artificial Intelligence for Business
- MSc in Artificial Intelligence for Medicine and Health
💼 What You’ll Get
- ✅ Full tuition coverage
- ✅ Living expenses covered
- ✅ Industry placements with UK tech leaders (e.g., Darktrace, Faculty, Quantexa)
- ✅ Mentorship from top AI experts
- ✅ Hands-on research with the UK AI Security Institute
- ✅ Access to the UK’s most powerful AI supercomputer – Isambard-AI (at Bristol)
🧠 Why the University of Bristol?
- Named AI University of the Year
- Host of the UK’s most powerful supercomputer
- Home to the Bristol Centre for Supercomputing, two AI Research Hubs, and a Centre for Doctoral Training in AI
- Anchor partner for the Spärck AI Scholarships
🤝 Partner Universities
Alongside Bristol, the scholarship is offered at:
Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial College London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle, and Southampton.
🖥️ Where to Apply
🔗 University of Bristol Scholarship Page
(Full application details to be released in Spring 2026)

