With over 100,000 Indian students flying to the UK each year, it is globally recognised for its education system and diverse culture. Despite these qualities making it an attractive study option for many, living and studying in the UK can be costly, but UK scholarships offer crucial support for Indian students who face financial hurdles when planning their studies in the UK. There are many types of scholarships, but many are generally provided by:
In this blog, we’ve provided you with a comprehensive list of scholarships aimed at both Indian and international students (which Indians are eligible for) under each category outlined above. We’ve also given you a list of key universities at which Indian students can apply for full or partial scholarships. Let’s begin by taking a look at the different types of UK scholarships.
When searching for a UK scholarship, you’ll likely run across three types of funders: UK universities, the UK government, or other private entities. Each of these types of funders offers scholarships with different eligibility criteria which provide opportunities for students with diverse backgrounds.
Now that you have an idea of the types of scholarships there are, you can also take a look at our comprehensive lists for each type of scholarship in the next few sections. You’ll be able to easily identify the basic requirements for each so you can determine which scholarship meets your needs the best.
UK universities offer support for students with high academic ability and potential, with some universities even having specific awards for international students. While Indian students can apply for these general international student scholarships as long as they meet the criteria, it can be more effective to start by looking at scholarships that are designated for Indian students only. Here’s a look at some prominent university-specific scholarships that are specifically for Indian students:
| Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development (OICSD) scholarships |
The OISCD offers a range of scholarships for Indian students who wish to follow Master’s and DPhil programmes at the University of Oxford. While most of the scholarships given by the centre are fully funded such as the Oxford Indira Gandhi Scholarship, a few such as the HSA Advocates Scholarship are only partially funded. The scholarships provided by the OISCD have a subject-specific component as the centre provides support for Indian students working on sustainable development challenges in India. |
| The Gates Cambridge Scholarship | This is one of the most prestigious scholarships sought after by international students who wish to pursue a postgraduate programme in any subject at Cambridge University. Eighty fully-funded positions are available and candidates are selected after a competitive application and interview round. |
| The Rhodes Scholarships for India | The Rhodes Scholarship – a fully funded opportunity for five Indian postgraduate students to study at Oxford University – is one of the oldest scholarships in the world. It’s competitive and requires high academic merit from its candidates; usually a First Class Honours from their first degree. |
| Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarship to St. John’s College, the University of Cambridge |
The Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarship allows outstanding doctoral students from India to study at St. John’s College, University of Cambridge. This is a fully-funded offer that covers both tuition and living costs. This is a subject-specific scholarship for students of science, technology, economics, and social sciences only. |
| King’s College, London Vice-Chancellor Scholarship awards for Indian postgraduate students | This award scheme offers up to 30 scholarships for Indian postgraduate students to assist with their tuition fee payment. With up to £10,000 in funding for each student, the programme aims to target the brightest minds in India. |
| University of Birmingham India Outstanding Achievement Scholarships |
This £4,000-value award is for Indian students applying for an undergraduate programme at the University of Birmingham. This is a subject-specific award limited to the arts and law, engineering and physical sciences, life and environmental sciences, nursing and physiotherapy, pharmacy, and social sciences subject areas. |
The above table highlights university-specific scholarships that are only for Indian students, but if you want to expand your search, check out the next table where we’ve listed UK universities that offer full scholarships for international students that Indian students can also apply for.
Fully funded university scholarships offer students with high potential an opportunity to fulfil their dreams in the UK without worrying too much about the finances involved as they usually cover both tuition fees and living expenses. We’ve listed out a few here.
| Fully funded university scholarships for international students |
|---|
| University of Bristol Think Big international scholarships |
| The London School of Economics and Political Science Carsten Stoehr Scholarship in Government |
| The London University of Nottingham Developing Solutions Masters Scholarship |
| University of Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship |
| University of Birmingham Dean’s Responsible Business Scholarships |
UK universities also offer partially funded scholarships, which we’ve shown in the next section.
Partially funded scholarships offer a range of benefits for Indian students – while some may only cover a portion of your tuition fees, others will look after your living expenses or health insurance coverage. Here’s a list of universities offering partially funded scholarships for international students.
| Partially funded university scholarships for international students |
|---|
| University of Westminster International Postgraduate Part Fee Scholarship |
| Queen Mary, University of London Global Talent Scholarship – Undergraduate |
| Anglia Ruskin University MBA Scholarship |
| University of Sussex Chancellor’s International Scholarships |
| University of Glasgow International Leadership Scholarship |
The above two tables outline university-specific scholarships that are either only for Indian students or for international students. If you’re looking for other types of funding, check out our next section where we’ve expanded on UK government support that is available for Indian students who plan to study in the UK.
Let’s now look at the scholarships that are offered by the UK government for international students. As these scholarships usually provide a range of additional benefits such as health insurance coverage and airfare, they’re an attractive option for many Indian students.
| Commonwealth scholarships | Since India is part of the Commonwealth, Indian students are eligible to apply for most Commonwealth scholarships, including the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship and Commonwealth Professional Fellowship. They are awarded to postgraduate students based on both financial need and merit. |
| Chevening Scholarship | Chevening is the UK government’s international awards scheme for global leaders in the developing world, and its India programme is the world’s largest. It offers up to 65 fully-funded Master’s scholarships and fellowships respectively to qualifying Indian students on a yearly basis. Chevening aims to cover all associated costs of study in the UK for Indian students, including tuition fees, living expenses, and return airfare. |
While UK government scholarships offer generous benefits, their number is limited. If you’re still searching for a scholarship that suits your qualifications the best, check out our next section where we’ve highlighted those offered privately.
Private institutions like the British Council, trusts, and non-governmental entities also offer aid to Indian students looking to study in the UK. Some of these programmes are jointly funded with the UK government and are largely awarded based on financial need and academic performance.
| British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM |
This is one of the most prestigious programmes in the UK aimed at women in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Since research shows that only 30% of female students select STEM-related fields for their higher education, this scholarship aims to bridge that gap by offering fully-funded awards for high achieving female students. This is a subject-specific scholarship for female students studying STEM. |
| GREAT Scholarships India |
The GREAT Scholarships programme is jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain campaign and the British Council to offer about 25 postgraduate Indian students a scholarship to study in the UK. Indian students stand the chance of receiving a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition fees for a one-year postgraduate programme at one of the selected partner universities (which can be found here). Some of these universities limit the funding to subject-specific criteria, for example, the Bristol University and Queen’s University Belfast only provide the GREAT Scholarship to justice and law students. |
| Charles Wallace India Trust (CWIT) Scholarships |
The CWIT offers two fully-funded, long term awards each year for Indian artists and heritage professionals wishing to follow a one-year Master’s programme in the UK. The CWIT particularly supports students with significant work experience. This is a subject-specific award for visual arts, performance, film, photography, design, curating, and art history |
| Academy Asia Fellowship | The Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs offers ten fellowships each year to early and mid-career leaders interested in world affairs. Fellows get the chance to spend six months in London as part of the programme. |
| Education Grants by TATA Trust | This is a loan scholarship programme for high-achieving Indian students. Multiple grants under the programme target different students, either based on their financial needs or their academic and professional qualifications. |
| Felix Scholarships | Six Indian graduates are offered a chance each year to study at the University of Oxford, the University of Reading, or the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) each year under the Felix Scholarship Trust. |
| Inlaks Scholarships | The Inlaks Foundation provides scholarships, grants, and bursaries to Indians who want to develop their skills abroad. It offers up to $100,000 towards any particular programme. |
| Royal Society – Yusuf and Farida Hamied Foundation International Exchanges Award | This grant is for scientists from India wishing to pursue their studies in the UK. Up to £12,000 is provided by the foundation for a two-year research project. |
| The Global Study Awards | Up to nine awards are granted under this scheme for students who wish to benefit from intercultural exchange by studying abroad. Each award offers up to £10,000 towards tuition fees. |
| Goa Education Trust (GET) Scholarships | The GET scholarship is offered to selected Indian students annually to support them in a Master’s programme in the UK. Although it was initially conceptualised for only Goans, the scholarship has now been opened up to all Indian students applying for any Master’s programme at any UK university. |
Now that we’ve gone through the various funding opportunities available for both undergraduate and postgraduate Indian students applying to study in the UK, let’s look at eligibility criteria and the application process next.
Undergraduate scholarships in the UK are often aimed at offering initial support for international students coming to the UK for the first time. As such, they’re a good source of funding to cover a part of your tuition fees or living expenses while you get settled in the UK.
In addition to academic merit, universities also look for excellence in other areas – especially sports and extracurricular activities such as art and music, so don’t forget to include your additional achievements when filling out your applications.
Undergraduate scholarships are usually offered by the universities themselves. Here are a few key ones to keep an eye out for:
While these are the key aspects of undergraduate funding to keep in mind, if you’re applying for a Master’s scholarship, check out our next section where we’ve highlighted eligibility requirements for Master’s scholarships to the UK.
Master’s scholarships to the UK offer funding for either taught Master’s programmes or for research programmes. While both types of programmes are usually one-year long, taught Master’s programmes are assessed through coursework and assessments while research Master’s courses are assessed through independent research done by the student. Unlike undergraduate scholarships, Master’s scholarships usually offer fully funded support to international students – most awards even fund airfare, health insurance, and visa costs.
If you’re planning on applying for a Master’s scholarship, the most important factors to keep in mind are your academic score and your work experience. Typically, scholarships are offered based on both academic merit and outstanding professional experiences but the emphasis placed on either differs depending on the programme.
Master’s scholarship applications also place a heavy emphasis on your letters of recommendation, as they’re a great way of assessing a student’s drive and attitude in academic and professional settings.
Here are a few popular Master’s scholarships that are popular with Indian students:
A popular Master’s programme for business students is the MBA, which we will look at next.
Pursuing an MBA in the UK opens up many opportunities for developing your professional skills, networking, and getting first-hand experience working in industries you want to build a career in. That’s why over 5,000 Indian students are enrolled in MBA programmes across the UK.
To fund these opportunities, the UK provides many scholarship opportunities for international students who want to pursue an MBA. MBA scholarship applicants are usually judged based on academic merit, practical experience, and recommendation letters.
Consider these scholarships to fund your MBA programme in the UK:
In addition to Master’s and MBA programmes, qualified postgraduate students can also apply for a PhD programme in the UK. PhD funding is different to other types of postgraduate funding, and we’ll be looking at this in the next section.
Pursuing a PhD programme with a scholarship or grant usually means that you’re required to contribute with your research capabilities in exchange for funding that would cover your tuition fees and living expenses. Most PhD funds also allocate a specific amount for research costs that you would incur when finalising your own thesis as well.
If you’re looking for a scholarship to aid in your PhD studies in the UK, take a look at these:
Now that we’ve covered the differences between undergraduate and postgraduate funding in the UK, let’s take a look at eligibility criteria for Indian students applying for UK scholarships.
Scholarship eligibility requirements vary depending on the specific scholarship programme. Standard requirements include solid academic records and demonstrating financial need or merit while some scholarships may also have additional eligibility criteria, such as being from a specific region or studying a particular subject.
Many scholarships also require supporting documents such as letters of recommendation and personal statements. It's important to carefully review the eligibility requirements for each scholarship before you apply so that you stand a good chance of getting it.
Additionally, Indian students who apply for scholarships designed to specifically assist those from India may have to prove additional circumstances, such as residing in the country or having completed high school or an undergraduate degree in India. We’ve covered more about the application process for UK scholarships next.
While each programme differs, there are some common factors to consider when applying for UK scholarships, be it for an undergraduate or postgraduate one. Here’s what you have to keep in mind:
Knowing about intake cycles ahead of time will help you prepare early for both your university and scholarship applications. Although applications for scholarships usually open at the same time as those for universities, scholarship deadlines usually close well ahead of the closing date for university applications, so make sure you check with your programme before starting your scholarship application.
We recommend that you start your scholarship applications a year ahead of your desired intake date. We’ve outlined the key intake dates down below.
| Intake | Applications open | Applications close |
|---|---|---|
| September intake | December | July |
| January intake | September | November |
| May intake | October | November |
Once you’re sure of the key dates and have decided on the intake you want to apply for, it’s time to get started on your application. We’ve outlined how we can help you in this process below.
UK scholarships for Indian students are a great way to obtain additional financial support to work toward a course in the UK, and the UK government, many UK universities, and private institutions provide funding opportunities for high-achieving Indian students to study in the UK. Navigating these scholarship application processes can seem challenging at first, but determining which ones you're eligible for and being sure of your timeline is a great way to start.
SI-UK can help international students interested in UK studies secure scholarships, bursaries and funding by:
If you want to learn more about scholarships at UK universities and how to pick a scholarship that suits your goals, arrange your free consultation with SI-UK India today.
Yes, Indian students can apply for a range of scholarships either designed specifically for them such as the Dr. Manmohan Singh award or for other UK scholarships for international students.
Common eligibility criteria include a good academic track record, great letters of recommendation, and committed work experience. Typically, the UK government offers fully-funded awards for deserving students.
Scholarship eligibility requirements vary depending on the specific scholarship programme. Standard requirements include solid academic records and demonstrating financial need or merit.
All scholarships are competitive, but figuring out which ones best fits your achievements will help your chances of getting one. Start by looking at awards given for specific subjects and only for Indian students and then expand your search to other categories based on your needs and how you fit the specific requirements of each scholarship.
The UK usually checks the GPA for postgraduate programmes, and scholarships that are given based on academic merit need a 3.0 GPA or above. For undergraduate applications, academic qualifications are determined by GCE A/L results or their equivalent in India.
I sincerely thank SI-UK for getting me accepted to UCL. The MSc in Urban Development and Planning is extremely competitive, but the right guidance provided by SI-UK made my dream of studying at University College London a reality. The services were exceptional from beginning to end.
Rashmi Lakshanya Urban Development and Planning at University College London
