Scholarships for Indian Students in UK: Types, Eligibility and Application
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 in the UK for Indian students, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, application process and application deadlines.
- 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
- Conclusion
- FAQs
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 scholarships in the UK 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 | Complete financial support, including Full tuition fee Departure allowance Arrival allowance Payment of tuition fees Covers TB testing fee worth £72 Monthly living allowance (stipend) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Be a citizen of India Students must return to India for at least 2 years after course completion Student must have an unconditional offer letter Have work experience of at least 2,800 hours Strong command of the English language |
| Application Process | Apply through the Chevening Portal on their official website. |
| Application Deadlines | November 4th, 2024 |
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 of £15,400 and Annual contingency and equipment allowance of £1,500 are granted to students. Tuition fees will be covered on actual basis. It also finances Visa fees. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must be Indian citizens. Applicable for only SC, ST, Denotified & Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Laborers, Traditional Artisans, etc. Applicants should possess an excellent academic record, at least 60%. Applicant should be not more than 35 years of age. |
| Application Process | To apply, visit here |
| Application Deadlines | March-May every year (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 | Covers full tuition fees Covers living expenses Covers airfare to and fro from the UK |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must be Indian citizens Applicants need to have an undergraduate honours degree of at least upper second class (2:1) For PhD program, they must have a relevant master’s degree |
| Application Process | To apply, visit the official website of the Commonwealth scholarships |
| Application Deadlines | To be announced for 2025 |
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 Applicant must meet the required English language proficiency criteria, depending on the university |
| Application Process | To apply, visit the official website of British Council |
| Application Deadlines | Depend on the institute |
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 | Covers tuition fees of undergraduate courses except for medicine Cover grant for living expenses One return airfare per year |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must be Indian citizens Applicants must have a good academic record Applicant should intend to return to India after their course gets completed |
| Application Process | To apply, visit the UCAS portal after getting an offer letter from the university |
| Application Deadlines | February-March 2025 (tentatively) |
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 | The average award worth £25,000 is granted to students each year Cover tuition fees and living expenses on need-basis |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must be Indian citizens Applicants must have excellent academic record Applicant must have an offer letter from the university |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the relevant college |
| Application Deadlines | January-March 2025 (tentatively) |
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 Applicants must have excellent academic record Applicant must have an offer letter from the University of Edinburgh |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the university |
| Application Deadlines | March 2025 (tentatively) |
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 | The master’s program should be full-time Students must have a bachelor’s degree from an institution listed in the top 100 of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) The GPA must be equivalent to a first-class degree |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the UCL |
| Application Deadlines | February 2025 (tentatively) |
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 | The master’s program should be full-time Applicant must have good academic record |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the college |
| Application Deadlines | May 2025 (tentatively) |
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 | The applicant must be a citizen of India Applicant must have an offer letter from the University of Nottingham |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the university |
| Application Deadlines | May 2025 (tentatively) |
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 MBA scholarships for Indian students in the UK.
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 | The applicant must have significant work experience in a managerial role Applicant must have an impressive academic record |
| Application Process | Automatically considered by the university |
| Application Deadlines | Yet to be announced |
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 | The applicant must have work experience of a managerial role |
| 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-July every year (tentatively) |
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 £1750 Shared workspace Access to research facilities at the LSE. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants should be engaged in employment They should work on social science with a focus on South Asia’s economic and social development |
| Application Process | Application can be submitted on the official website of LSE |
| Application Deadlines | Yet to be announced |
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 | £78,850 covering tuition fees, one-way travel allowance, and living expenses |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicant must have: Undergraduate degree with minimum B+ grade For Social Sciences, Humanities, Law minimum 65% CGPA of 6.8, or GPA of 2.6 For Mathematics, Sciences, Environment and related subjects, minimum academic grade of 70% CGPA of 7.2, or GPA of 2.8 |
| Application Process | Apply on the official website of Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation |
| Application Deadlines | March 2025 (tentatively) |
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
Conclusion
Scholarships help reduce the financial burden on students who want to pursue their dreams in the UK’s top Universities. Indian students have various opportunities to get scholarships in the UK. Investing in education programs, universities, the government of the UK, and private establishments encourage students to participate in innovation and research so that real problems in the dynamic world can be handled with unity.
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.
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.
