The Hatfield Lioness Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship offered by Hatfield College at Durham University, UK, for women from developing countries who want to pursue a postgraduate degree. It was established in 2018 to help women from countries where access to higher education is limited complete a master’s degree, with the goal of nurturing people who will return home and contribute to their communities after graduating.

Important notice: Applications for the 2025-26 cohort are now closed, and recruitment for 2026-27 is currently on hold. Please check the Durham University official scholarship page for the latest updates before making any plans.

What the Scholarship Covers

This is a fully funded scholarship, meaning it covers a wide range of costs you would need for both study and daily life.

  • Full tuition fees for Durham University and Hatfield College
  • Hatfield College accommodation (you can choose self-catered or catered)
  • A living cost stipend
  • UK visa application fees and the UK Health Surcharge
  • Return economy-class flights between your home country and a UK airport (one trip)
  • Travel costs from the UK airport to Durham city
  • A settling-in allowance to help you get on your feet right after you arrive

Eligibility

You need to meet all of the following criteria.

  • Gender: Women only
  • Nationality: From a developing country where access to higher education is limited. Countries that have been included are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, and Yemen, among others. Please check the official page for the exact current list.
  • Academic background: A relevant undergraduate degree that meets the entry requirements for a master’s programme at Durham
  • Admission offer: You must already hold an offer of admission to a Durham University master’s programme
  • English language: Evidence of English proficiency (such as an IELTS score)
  • Financial need: Priority is given to applicants who do not have another source of funding for postgraduate tuition
  • Excluded programmes: MBA, PhD, and research master’s degrees are not eligible. All other full-time taught master’s programmes qualify.

How to Apply

The application process has two stages.

Stage 1: Apply to a Durham University master’s programme

Apply for your chosen master’s programme through the Durham University website. When you do, indicate that you wish to be considered for the Hatfield Lioness Scholarship.

Stage 2: Submit your scholarship application to Hatfield College

Once you have received your offer of admission, gather the documents below, complete the scholarship application form, and submit everything by email before the deadline.

  • Your Durham University offer letter
  • Academic transcripts
  • References
  • English language certificate (e.g. IELTS)

Send to: hatfield.development@durham.ac.uk

The address hatfield.trust@durham.ac.uk, which appeared in older guidance, is no longer used for scholarship enquiries. Please use only the address above.

When You Will Hear Back

After the application deadline, results are typically announced in mid-June each year.

2026-27 Recruitment Status

According to the Durham University official page, recruitment for the 2026-27 cycle is currently on hold. There is no confirmed date for when it will reopen, so if you are interested, bookmark the official page and check it regularly.