- University-specific undergraduate scholarships like Reach Oxford and Cambridge Trust offer £5,000–£30,000 annually plus living expenses and airfare.
- MBA scholarships at Durham and Birmingham Business School provide up to £15,000 tuition discounts for candidates with managerial experience.
- Postgraduate excellence awards from UCL, Imperial, and Nottingham range from £4,000–£8,000 for Indian master’s students with strong academic records.
- Why Study in the UK?
- Types of Scholarships in the UK for Indian Students
- University Scholarships in the UK for Indian Students - Undergraduate
- University Scholarships in the UK for Indian Students-Postgraduate
- MBA Scholarships in the UK for Indian Students
- University Scholarships For Indian Students-Postdoctoral
- Privately Funded Scholarships For Indian Students
- Required Documents
- FAQs
To afford higher education in any country, including UK, scholarships are an important resource for overseas students. Scholarships provide several benefits, such as tuition fee coverage, living expenses coverage, airfare reimbursement, waiving visa fees, etc.
In this blog, we have discussed the scholarships for the Indian students to study in the UK, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, application process and application deadlines.
Why Study in the UK?
Below are some of the reasons to pursue studies in the UK:
Home to World-Renowned Universities: UK is home to the several best universities which are world-renowned, such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester, Imperial College London, etc.
Closer Proximity to European Countries: One of the attractive reasons for studying in the UK is its proximity to other European countries, which provides endless academic and employment opportunities to Indian students.
Tie-up with World-Renowned Industries: UK also provides several academic benefits to international students as it offers exposure to the world’s top industries, such as Amazon, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, DHL, PwC, etc, for internships, training and industry projects in various disciplines.
Recognition of Degrees
According to the QS World University Rankings 2025, four of the top ten global institutions are UK-based. Degrees from the United Kingdom are highly valued credentials for future employment prospects, acknowledged and highly regarded by employers worldwide.
Types of Scholarships in the UK for Indian Students
There are various types of UK scholarships for Indian students, such as government scholarships, university scholarships and privately funded scholarships. Below, we have listed and discussed these scholarships which can be helpful for Indian students desiring to study in the UK.
Government Scholarships in the UK for Indian Students
The top government scholarships in the UK for Indian students are described below:
Chevening Scholarships
Indian students committed to becoming future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers in their respective industries are given Chevening Scholarships by the UK government.
| Benefits | • Full tuition fee coverage • Departure allowance • Arrival allowance • TB testing fee coverage (approx. ₹2,500 in India) • Monthly living allowance (stipend) • Travel costs to and from the UK |
| Eligibility Criteria | Must be a citizen of India • Must return to India for at least 2 years after course completion • Must have an unconditional offer letter from a UK university • Have work experience of at least 2,800 hours (equivalent to 2 years) • Strong command of the English language |
| Application Process | Apply through the Chevening Portal on the official website |
| Application Deadlines | Opens: Early August 2026 Closes: Early October 2026 (typically first Tuesday of October at 12:00 UTC) |
National Overseas Scholarship Scheme 2024
The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme is a Government of India-sponsored program in India that provides financial assistance to deserving Indian students of backward and scheduled castes to pursue higher education in UK Universities in any course of study.
| Benefits | • Annual maintenance allowance: £9,900 for UK (USD 15,400 for USA and other countries) • Annual contingency and equipment allowance: £1,100 for UK (USD 1,500 for USA and others) • Tuition fees covered on actual basis • Visa fees covered |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Applicants must be Indian citizens • Applicable only for SC, ST, Denotified & Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Laborers, Traditional Artisans, etc. • Excellent academic record (at least 60%) • Age limit: not more than 35 years |
| Application Process | Apply on the official Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment portal |
| Application Deadlines | Opens: February 2026 (tentative) Closes: March 2026 (tentative) |
Commonwealth Scholarship 2024
The Commonwealth scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for Indian students in the UK, offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) to Indian students.
| Benefits | • Full tuition fees coverage • Living expenses covered • Airfare to and from the UK |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Applicants must be Indian citizens • Undergraduate honours degree of at least upper second class (2:1) • For PhD programs: relevant master's degree required |
| Application Process | Apply through both the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's online portal AND the Ministry of Education India's SAKSHAT portal |
| Application Deadlines | Opens: August 2026 (tentative) Closes: Mid-October 2026 (typically around 14th October) |
GREAT Scholarships
GREAT is another type of scholarship in the UK for Indian students that offers financial assistance to Indian students desiring to enroll in the 1-year post-graduate courses taught there. Different UK universities offer GREAT scholarships for various courses.
| Benefits | Covers £10,000 towards their tuition fees |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Applicants must be Indian citizens • Applicants must have an undergraduate degree • Must meet the required English language proficiency criteria (varies by university) |
| Application Process | Apply directly to individual UK universities offering GREAT Scholarships |
| Application Deadlines | Varies by institution (typically February 2026 - June 2026). Check individual university websites for exact deadlines |
University Scholarships in the UK for Indian Students – Undergraduate
Following are the university scholarships in the UK for Indian students consisting details of benefits, eligibility criteria, application process and deadlines.
Reach Oxford Scholarship – University of Oxford
Reach Oxford Scholarship scheme is offered by the University of Oxford to those coming from low-income countries. It grants 2-3 awards per year to newly admitted students. The University of Oxford does not provide this scholarship directly but through participating colleges.
| Benefits | • Full tuition fees for undergraduate courses (except Medicine) • Grant for living expenses • One return airfare per year |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Applicants must be Indian citizens • Good academic record • Intent to return to India after course completion |
| Application Process | Apply through UCAS portal after receiving an offer letter from the university |
| Application Deadlines | February 2026 - March 2026 (typically mid-February deadline) |
Cambridge Trust Scholarship – University of Cambridge
Cambridge Trust UK offers this scholarship program to students who have enrolled in the undergraduate program at the University of Cambridge.
| Benefits | • Average award worth £30,000 per year (amount varies based on need) • Covers tuition fees and living expenses on need-basis |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Applicants must be Indian citizens • Excellent academic record • Must have an offer letter from the University of Cambridge |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the relevant college upon admission |
| Application Deadlines | January 2026 - March 2026 (varies by course; typically mid-January for most courses) |
Edinburgh Global Undergraduate Mathematics Scholarships – University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh offers this scholarship program to Indian students who have showcased outstanding academic potential, especially in Mathematics.
| Benefits | It covers the living costs of a student worth £5,000 |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Applicants must be Indian citizens • Excellent academic record • Must have an offer letter from the University of Edinburgh for Mathematics programs |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the university |
| Application Deadlines | March 2026 (typically mid-March) |
University Scholarships in the UK for Indian Students-Postgraduate
Following are the university scholarships in the UK for Indian students, which include details including benefits, eligibility criteria, application process, and deadlines.
UCL India Excellence Scholarship – University College London
University College London (UCL) offers the UCL India Excellence Scholarship to help Indian students with exceptional academic records to pursue full-time master’s degrees.
| Benefits | £5,000 is awarded to eligible master’s students per year |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Full-time master's program • Bachelor's degree from an institution in top 100 of NIRF • GPA equivalent to a first-class degree |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the UCL |
| Application Deadlines | February 2026 - March 2026 (typically late February) |
India Future Leaders Scholarship – Imperial College London
It is a merit-based scholarship scheme administered by Imperial College London. It provides financial assistance to deserving Indian students seeking a master’s degree in business, engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, and medicine.
| Benefits | £5,000 is awarded to eligible master’s students per year to cover tuition fee expenses |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Full-time master's program in business, engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, or medicine • Good academic record |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the college |
| Application Deadlines | April 2026 - May 2026 (typically late April) |
South Asia Postgraduate Excellence Awards – University of Nottingham
South Asia post-graduate excellence award is offered to academically strong Indian students committed to showcasing their potential in their field of study.
| Benefits | £4,000-£8,000 is awarded to eligible master’s students per year to cover tuition fee expenses |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Must be a citizen of India • Must have an offer letter from the University of Nottingham |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the university |
| Application Deadlines | April 2026 - May 2026 (typically end of April) |
MBA Scholarships in the UK for Indian Students
MBA is a prestigious course pursued by most Indian students desiring to develop expertise in the business and management field. Below, we have described some scholarships for MBA in the UK for Indian students.
Durham MBA Scholarships – Durham University
A full-time MBA applicant can apply for this scholarship scheme, which provides tuition fee assistance to all eligible Indian students.
| Benefits | Up to £15,000 discount is awarded to cover tuition fee expenses |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Significant work experience in a managerial role • Impressive academic record |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the university |
| Application Deadlines | Rolling basis throughout the year (typically March 2026 - July 2026 for September intake) |
MBA Scholarships – Birmingham Business School
MBA scholarships awarded by the Birmingham Business School are awarded to curious and thoughtful young people who desire to demonstrate extraordinary examples of leadership through its MBA program.
| Benefits | Up to £10,000 discount is awarded to cover tuition fee expenses |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Work experience in a managerial role • Excellent academic record |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the university if found eligible |
| Application Deadlines | The applicant must have work experience of a managerial role Applicant must have an excellent academic record Automatically considered by the university if found eligible |
| Application Deadlines | June 2026 - July 2026 (typically mid-June for September intake) |
University Scholarships For Indian Students-Postdoctoral
Following are the university postdoctoral scholarships for Indian students in the UK:
Shri Ratan Tata Fellowship – London School of Economics & Political Science
With the association of Tata Group, London School of Economics provides this scholarship scheme to deserving master’s students who desire to showcase exemplary leadership and innovative approaches in the field of Social Science.
| Benefits | • Monthly subsistence allowance of £1,750 • Shared workspace • Access to research facilities at LSE |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Must be engaged in employment • Work on social science with focus on South Asia's economic and social development |
| Application Process | Application can be submitted on the official website of LSE |
| Application Deadlines | December 2025 - January 2026 (typically early January) |
Privately Funded Scholarships For Indian Students
The most popular privately funded scholarships in the UK for Indian students are given below:
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship 2024
Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships are granted to Indian students who want to study at UK universities. It covers the full-time master’s programs in any UK university.
| Benefits | Up to £100,000 (amount varies by program) covering tuition fees, one-way travel allowance, and living expenses |
| Eligibility Criteria | • Must have an undergraduate degree with minimum B+ grade • For Social Sciences, Humanities, Law: minimum 65% or CGPA of 6.8, or GPA of 2.6 • For Mathematics, Sciences, Environment: minimum 70% or CGPA of 7.2, or GPA of 2.8 |
| Application Process | Apply on the official website of Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation |
| Application Deadlines | Opens: January 2026 Closes: March 2026 (typically end of March) |
Required Documents
We are giving a list of general documents that need to be submitted during the application process for the scholarship programs. However, sometimes universities/foundations consider course-specific documents before proceeding with the application. In that case, you can visit the official website of the university/foundation to which you are applying.
- Complete Application Form
- Copy of Passport and Identity Proof
- Academic transcripts
- Letter of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Standardised Test scores like TOEFL, IELTS, etc.
- Proof of Income
Key Takeaways
UK scholarships provide Indian students with access to world-class education at prestigious institutions. With four UK universities in the global top 10 according to QS World University Rankings 2025 (Imperial College London, Oxford, Cambridge, and UCL), degrees from the UK hold exceptional value worldwide.
Government scholarships like Chevening cover full tuition, monthly stipends ranging from £1,236 to £1,516, return airfare, and visa costs. The Commonwealth Scholarship offers similar benefits with an application deadline of 14th October 2025. University-specific awards range from £4,000 to £30,000, substantially reducing the financial burden for master’s and undergraduate programmes.
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FAQs
Why are scholarship opportunities highly competitive in the UK?
This is because the number of awards each year is limited, and most scholarship programs are based on merit in the UK.
Where can I apply for the scholarship in the UK?
Most of the scholarships awarded in the UK are funded by universities where you are applying for a specific course. So, an application for the scholarship can be submitted along with an admission application on the University’s website.
When should you apply for scholarships in the UK?
You can apply for scholarship programs just after receiving the course confirmation letter. Most of the application processes are online, and interested students get support from the university in submitting their nominations.
Is it easy to get scholarships to study in the UK?
Applicants must fulfill the specific criteria to become eligible for scholarships in UK universities. The most common eligibility criteria include:
It is easy to get scholarships to study in the UK if you are filling the following eligibility criteria:
- Applicants should be permanent citizens of their country
- Applicants should have excellent academic records
- Applicants should demonstrate to use their academic skills in the benefit of the community.
How do I get a scholarship to study at UK universities?
Scholarships can be obtained by applying to a specific university or private organisation with the required documents. Most universities automatically consider applicants for scholarships when they apply for the course.
What is the minimum work experience required for Chevening Scholarships?
Applicants need at least 2,800 hours of work experience, equivalent to two years full-time employment.
Are National Overseas Scholarships only for SC and ST candidates?
Yes, 115 slots are reserved for SC candidates, six for De-notified Nomadic Tribes, and four for Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans.
Are part-time work opportunities available for international students in the UK?
Yes, international students on Tier 4 visas can work up to 20 hours weekly during term time and full-time during holidays.
Can scholarship recipients bring dependents to the UK?
Most scholarships like Chevening do not cover dependent costs; recipients typically must fund family members’ expenses separately.
What are the popular postgraduate courses for Indian students in the UK?
Business Management, Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, and Finance are amongst the most popular choices for Indian postgraduate students.
If you are an aspirant looking to study at your dream university, book an appointment with AdmitX today and start your applications early to avail yourself of all the benefits.
