The Hatfield Lioness Scholarship at Durham University for Women is a postgraduate funding opportunity designed to help women from eligible developing countries pursue a master’s degree in the United Kingdom. The scholarship was established to support talented women who have the academic ability to succeed at university but may not have the financial resources to study abroad.
For eligible applicants, the scholarship has historically covered major study expenses, including full tuition fees, living costs, accommodation, international travel and certain visa-related expenses. This support can make studying in the UK more accessible to women who want to develop their professional skills and contribute to their communities after graduation.
However, there is an important update for prospective applicants. Durham University’s official scholarship page states that the Hatfield Lioness Scholarship is suspended for the 2026–2027 academic year until further notice. Therefore, applicants should not assume that applications are currently open or that a new deadline has been announced.
In this guide, you will learn about the scholarship’s benefits, eligible countries, academic requirements, application process and the steps to take while waiting for an official announcement about future applications.
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What Is the Hatfield Lioness Scholarship at Durham University for Women?
The Hatfield Lioness Scholarship is a postgraduate scholarship associated with Hatfield College at Durham University in England. It was launched in 2018 to celebrate 30 years of women students at Hatfield College.
Its primary purpose is to enable a woman from a developing country where access to higher education may be limited to undertake a full-time taught master’s degree at Durham University.
The scholarship is intended for academically capable women who demonstrate personal potential, financial need and a commitment to using their education positively. Scholars are expected to benefit from their studies and become ambassadors for their home countries, applying their knowledge and skills to support development in their communities.
Unlike scholarships that provide only a partial tuition discount, the Hatfield Lioness Scholarship has historically offered comprehensive financial support to its successful recipient.
Nevertheless, the scholarship is highly competitive, and meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award. Prospective applicants must also secure admission to an eligible master’s programme and follow the college’s scholarship application requirements when applications are available.
Current status: Durham University has announced that the scholarship is suspended for 2026–2027 until further notice. The information below describes the published eligibility requirements and benefits from the previous 2025–2026 award cycle, not a confirmed open application for 2026–2027.
Hatfield Lioness Scholarship at Durham University for Women: Benefits
One of the most attractive features of this scholarship is the range of expenses it has historically covered. Studying in the UK can involve substantial tuition, accommodation, travel and living costs. Comprehensive funding can reduce the financial pressure on a successful student.
The published 2025–2026 scholarship terms listed the following benefits:
1. Full university tuition fees
The scholarship covers the full tuition fees for an eligible master’s programme. This means the successful scholar does not have to fund the standard tuition charge from personal savings, subject to the scholarship’s applicable terms.
2. Living expenses
The award includes a stipend to support living costs during the study period. This assistance can help the scholar pay for everyday necessities such as food, local transport, study materials and personal expenses.
The exact stipend amount should be confirmed in the terms of any future award. Applicants should not assume that a specific cash figure has been guaranteed for a new application cycle.
3. University accommodation
The published terms include fully funded accommodation at Hatfield College, with self-catered or fully catered arrangements depending on the accommodation provided.
The scholarship accommodation is intended for the award holder. It does not provide accommodation for dependants.
4. International travel
The scholarship has historically covered one return economy-class air ticket between the scholar’s home country and the UK. It also covers the cost of return travel between the UK airport and Durham.
This support can make the initial journey to the university more affordable for students travelling from Africa, Asia and other eligible regions.
5. Visa and health-related charges
The published award includes the cost of the UK visa and the Immigration Health Surcharge. These expenses can otherwise add considerably to the cost of international study.
6. Arrival assistance
The scholarship also includes a settling-in allowance to help the successful student manage initial expenses after arriving in Durham.
The precise amount and conditions of this allowance should be checked against the official terms applicable to any future award.
Summary of Scholarship Benefits
| Scholarship component | Published benefit |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Full university tuition fees |
| Living expenses | Stipend |
| Accommodation | Funded accommodation at Hatfield College |
| International flights | One return economy-class ticket |
| Airport transfers | Return travel between the UK airport and Durham |
| Visa expenses | UK visa costs |
| Health surcharge | UK Immigration Health Surcharge |
| Arrival support | Settling-in allowance |
| Dependants | Their costs are not covered |
These benefits relate to the previously published scholarship terms. They should not be interpreted as confirmation that a new award is available for 2026–2027.
Who Can Apply for the Hatfield Lioness Scholarship?
The Hatfield Lioness Scholarship has specific eligibility requirements. Prospective applicants should understand these conditions before spending time preparing a scholarship application.
1. Applicants must identify as women
The scholarship is designed for women from eligible developing countries. Applicants must meet the gender eligibility condition specified in the official scholarship rules.
2. Applicants must be nationals of an eligible country
The previous scholarship cycle included eligible countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the Pacific.
Eligible nationalities included Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and several other countries.
The complete country list should be checked against the official scholarship page because eligibility conditions may change in a future application cycle.
3. Applicants must meet the academic requirements
Candidates must hold a relevant honours degree of a standard sufficient for admission to their selected master’s programme at Durham University.
Applicants must also satisfy the programme’s other entry requirements, which may include academic prerequisites, English-language proficiency and supporting documentation.
4. Applicants must seek a taught master’s degree
The previous scholarship was intended for full-time taught master’s programmes.
It excluded MBA programmes, PhD programmes and research master’s programmes. Applicants therefore needed to select an eligible taught master’s course rather than assume that every postgraduate programme qualified.
5. Applicants must demonstrate financial need
The scholarship was designed to support women who did not otherwise have the financial means to undertake a master’s degree in the UK.
Applicants should be prepared to explain their circumstances honestly and provide any financial information requested under the applicable rules.
6. Applicants must not already hold a master’s degree
Under the published criteria, candidates must not already have a master’s degree.
Applicants with existing postgraduate qualifications should carefully review the eligibility requirements before considering a future application.
7. Applicants must not receive another scholarship for the same studies
The previous terms stated that candidates must not be receiving another scholarship to fund their postgraduate studies.
Anyone receiving external financial assistance should check the relevant conditions and disclose it accurately if required.
Eligible Countries for the Hatfield Lioness Scholarship
The previous scholarship eligibility list included numerous countries, particularly those where access to higher education can be limited.
Examples include:
| Region | Examples of eligible countries in the previous cycle |
|---|---|
| West Africa | Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Togo |
| East Africa | Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda |
| Southern Africa | Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini |
| Central Africa | Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo |
| South Asia | Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan |
| Southeast Asia | Cambodia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste |
| Middle East | Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen |
| Pacific | Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu |
This table provides examples, not the complete eligibility list. Nationality alone is not enough to qualify: applicants must also satisfy the academic, financial and programme requirements.
For women in Nigeria and other eligible African countries, the scholarship has historically provided an opportunity to pursue postgraduate education in the UK without personally paying the full cost of tuition and related expenses.
