Besides education loans, applying for relevant scholarships is a great way to fund higher studies abroad. You can pursue bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degrees in any field of your interest. Some of the best UK scholarships are offered by the government, universities, and third-party institutions. These can be partial or fully-funded scholarships depending on the course and institution. Let’s explore some of the scholarships for Indian students to study in the UK.
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Also Read: Planning to pursue higher studies in the US? Check out the Best International Scholarships to study in the US.
Popular Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in the UK
There are many scholarships for Indian students who wish to study in the UK and fund their education. Before knowing about these scholarships, it is important to check their intake period and eligibility criteria. There are two major intake periods for universities- the autumn/ fall intake (September to December) and the spring intake (January to April). Some universities also offer summer intakes which are from April to June.
Chevening Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships are one of the most popular scholarships to study in the UK given by the UK government to exceptional students. These are usually provided for a one-year Master’s degree programme. A minimum of 2 years of work experience is required along with an unconditional offer letter from at least one university. Some of the universities participating in Chevening Scholarships are Cambridge University, London School of Economics, Coventry University, Durham University, Brunel University and Cranfield University.
GREAT Scholarship
The GREAT Scholarship to study in the UK is jointly funded by the Great Britain Campaign and the British Council which includes 99 post-graduate scholarships from 36 renowned UK Universities in different subjects. However, for Indian students, 13 postgraduate scholarships are available in 12 higher education institutions in the UK. GBP 10,000 (INR 10.49 lakhs) is offered to deserving meritorious students.
Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarship
The Charles Wallace India Trust (CWIT) scholarships are for Indian students living in India in the early stages of their careers or either working or studying in the fields focusing on heritage conservation, arts, or humanities. There are three types of grants under CWIT Scholarships: long-term grants, short research grants, and grants for the final year of doctoral study in the UK.
Scotland Saltire Scholarship
Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships are supported by the Scottish Government and universities that offer up to 50 awards of £8000 each. This covers tuition fees for one year of a full-time postgraduate master’s program in areas like science, technology, healthcare, creative industries, and renewable energy at Scottish universities.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are available for Indian citizens with a strong academic record. These scholarships cover tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs and allow you to pursue a master’s degree by supporting development-related fields.
The application process is simple, however, you must apply carefully. The selection is based on the responses provided while filling out the application form. A wide range of expenses are covered which makes it easier to pursue a master’s degree in the UK without any worries.
Students must have an undergraduate honours degree of at least upper second class and must be pursuing a postgraduate degree. Nottingham Trent University, Northumbria University, Plymouth University, and Aston University are some of the universities participating in the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowship. These are the types of Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships to study in the UK-
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
- Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships
- Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
- Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
- Commonwealth Professional Fellowships
British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM
The British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM offers financial support for female students from select countries, including India, to study STEM subjects at UK universities. This initiative promotes gender equality in STEM fields.
A total of 95 scholarships are available which are awarded based on the academic achievement and financial need of the applicant. It is important to belong to one of the listed countries to apply for this scholarship. You must apply before the deadline to pursue Master’s degree courses in STEM in the UK.
Also Read: How about targeting Australian scholarships for Indian students? Learn about these scholarships to cover your tuition fees and other living expenses while studying in Australia.
University-Specific Scholarships in the UK
Besides the government-funded scholarships in the UK, many universities have their own set of scholarship grants for international students to study in the UK. Below provided is the list of top universities providing scholarships and bursaries. Here’s how you can prepare for international scholarships.
Bristol University- Think Big Scholarships
The Think Big Scholarships offered by Bristol University aim to attract the brightest and most meritorious students from all over the world including Indian students. The students studying full-time undergraduate courses at the university (except medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses) are eligible for this scholarship to study in the UK. Students are entitled to EUR 7,500 and EUR 15,000 (INR 6.73 lakhs and INR 13.47 lakhs), only towards tuition fees. An additional EUR 3,500 (INR 3.14 lakhs) is also provided as a bursary during the first year of study.
Lancaster University- Peel Trust Studentship
Lancaster University offers around 20 scholarships every year with partial funding of up to EUR 4,600 (INR 4.13 lakhs). It is available to both EU and Indian students for all subjects offered by the University. The scholarship award is available to students for one academic year, however, students may re-apply for the same in the next academic session. The applicant must be at least 21 years old and hold an excellent academic record as the selection criteria are based on academic merit and financial needs.
University of Oxford- Rhodes Scholarship
This is one of the popular scholarships for Indian students to study in the UK by the University of Oxford. It is offered to outstanding students who excel in academics and show exceptional character, leadership and achievement in extra-curricular activities. Students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, or a PhD course are eligible to apply for the same.
University College London Scholarships
Indian students pursuing UG courses who come from a low-income background are eligible for University College London Global Undergraduate Scholarships. Under this, the university grants 10 awards for full tuition fees and maintenance allowance, and 20 awards for full-time tuition fees.
The UCL also provides Denys Holland Scholarships worth EUR 10,000 per year (for a total of 3 years of an undergraduate programme). Students who hold full-time undergraduate studies in any department at University College London are eligible for this scholarship. This is a need-based (financial need) scholarship which is subject to satisfactory academic progress.
University of Dundee Scholarships
The University of Dundee offers a Global Excellence Scholarship to study in the UK worth EUR 7,000 per year (INR 6.28 lakhs). It is offered for only certain courses listed on the official website of the University. Besides, it also offers a Global Citizenship Scholarship award of EUR 5,800 (IN 5.21 lakhs) to students pursuing full-time, on-campus courses. Also, students must not hold any other scholarships from the University of Dundee.
University of Manchester Scholarships
The University of Manchester Scholarships provide various funding opportunities for international students, including merit-based scholarships and specific awards for Indian students. These scholarships aim to attract talented individuals to enhance their educational experience in the UK.
FAQs in Scholarships to Study in the UK
Yes, some scholarships like the Chevening scholarships are fully-funded scholarships that help international students to study in the UK at 100% funds.
There are many strategies on how to prepare for international scholarships in the UK. The major ones include paying detailed attention to maintaining an excellent academic and professional background and working on building language proficiency.
Some of the top scholarships to study in the UK are Chevening Scholarships, GREAT Scholarships, Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarship, Bristol University Scholarships, University of Oxford Scholarships, and many more.
Yes. The UK is one of the most sought destinations to study abroad and the competition among students applying for scholarships and grants is exceedingly high. The students must excel in academic and professional spheres and fulfil other eligibility criteria to avail scholarships to study in the UK.
A minimum of 65% marks are required for a scholarship in the UK for a master’s or a PhD course.
This was all about the top scholarships for international students to study in the UK. Before applying for any of these scholarships and bursaries, students must consider looking at the eligibility criteria, amount of scholarships granted, which are the eligible courses, and the level of the programme.
To know more about the education loan application process, the best bank accounts for students, forex and banking experience for global students or international money transfers, reach out to our experts at 1800572126 to help ease your study abroad experience.
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