UK to fund AI master’s at nine universities from 2026

Thinking about a master’s in AI? The Government has set out a route that removes the biggest barrier: money. On Monday 9 June 2025, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle announced the Spärck AI scholarships, named after British computer scientist Karen Spärck Jones. In a UK Government statement, the scheme is framed as part of the Plan for Change to grow jobs through innovation.

According to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), at least 100 students from the UK and overseas will have tuition and living costs covered. Alongside the degree, scholars will be matched with mentoring, work placements and research time in places such as the UK’s AI Security Institute and with companies including Darktrace, Faculty, Quantexa, PolyAI, causaLens, Flok and Beamery. This is designed to turn academic learning into demonstrable, job‑ready experience.

Where you can study matters as much as what you study. The universities named by DSIT are Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, Southampton, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester and Bristol. Courses will be co‑designed and co‑funded with these institutions, which should align modules and placements so you can specialise in areas from machine learning and robotics to AI safety and ethics.

Timing is clear. DSIT says applications open in Spring 2026, with the first cohort starting in October 2026. The scholarship programme is backed by £17.6 million and delivers on the AI Opportunities Action Plan. If you’re aiming to apply, plan for submissions in late spring and offers in early summer, and map your revision, testing and portfolio work to that window.

The announcement talks about “exceptional talent”, but it also aims to widen access by covering living costs as well as fees. If you come from a low‑income background, this could be a fully funded route into a high‑skill field. Exact eligibility, selection criteria and maintenance rates will be published closer to launch, so start gathering transcripts, proof of residence, and evidence of achievement now, and keep an eye on your target departments for updates.

Here’s how we would prepare between now and 2026. Close any gaps in linear algebra, probability and Python, then build a small project that shows end‑to‑end thinking: collect or clean a dataset, train and evaluate a model, and write a short note on risks and bias. Ask referees early, draft a personal statement that connects your skills to a real problem, and keep your code and write‑ups in a tidy public repository so selectors can see your progress.

For teachers and advisers, this is a chance to turn interest into pathways. Audit which students could be ready by 2026, pair stretch activities with data ethics discussions, and connect applicants to outreach days at the nine universities. Selection panels value clarity and responsibility as much as technical skill, so build in opportunities for students to present their projects to non‑specialists and reflect on what went well and what changed their approach.

Not everyone will take the student route. The Government is also expanding the Turing AI Fellowships with a new Pioneer stream for established professionals across science, the humanities, academia and industry. DSIT says applications open in mid‑July 2025, with fellows in post by Autumn 2026, backed by £25.2 million. Fellows will receive research funding and access to mentors and industry leaders to apply AI to specific challenges in their own fields.

Careers guidance should be practical. The named partners point to roles in cybersecurity, risk, data engineering and applied research, so build habits that employers trust: version control, testing, documentation and responsible data use. A convincing project with clean code and a clear read‑me often matters more than a flashy demo that can’t be reproduced.

International students can apply as well as UK candidates. If that’s you, line up degree certificates, English language evidence where required, and think early about visa timelines so you can accept offers without delay. Universities will publish course pages and any additional requirements once the scheme goes live, so check back with departments as details firm up.

This sits within a wider national skills drive announced by the Prime Minister at London Tech Week 2025, with millions set to gain digital and AI skills. For colleges and schools, the takeaway is to treat AI as a literacy: build confidence with data, encourage critical thinking about outputs, and keep ethics in view. A funded master’s helps the top end, but strong foundational teaching raises the floor for everyone.

If you remember one thing, remember the dates. Spärck AI scholarship applications open in Spring 2026 and courses begin in October 2026. Turing Pioneer Fellowships open in mid‑July 2025, with fellows due in post by Autumn 2026. Use this winter to choose your course, spring to finalise your application, and next summer to get interview‑ready so your skills are easy to spot. We’ll keep asking practical questions so you can make informed choices rather than rushed ones.