Scholarships in the UK for Indian Students
The United Kingdom occupies an enviable the position being amongst the best study abroad destinations in the world! Universities in London and several other public and private organizations provide thousands of scholarships to International students to ease their stress on finances
Scholarships in the UK are offered to international students based on merit-based, need-based, student-specific or course-specific grants. Besides scholarships, most Universities in the UK provide concession in the tuition fee if initial deposits are submitted within a stipulated deadline. The merit-based scholarships are highly competitive and require a focused application and noteworthy statement of purpose.
The amount of university-specific UK Scholarships varies depending on the student’s profile, ranging from £ 1,000 up to £ 6,000. Doctoral degrees in the UK are generally fully funded.
These scholarships are given to the ones who have successfully passed through the competitive application assessments set by the educational institutions.
1. UK Government-Funded Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships
- Eligibility: High-achieving professionals with leadership potential
- Covers: Tuition fees, living allowance, airfare, and other essential costs
- Level: Master’s degree (one year)
- Website: www.chevening.org
Commonwealth Scholarships
- Eligibility: Students from Commonwealth countries (including India)
- Covers: Full tuition, airfare, living expenses
- Level: Master’s and PhD programs
- Website: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
GREAT Scholarships
- Eligibility: Indian students pursuing postgraduate studies in the UK
- Covers: Minimum £10,000 towards tuition fees
- Partner Universities: Over 30 UK universities participate
- Website: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/
2. University-Specific Scholarships
University of Oxford – Rhodes Scholarship
- Covers: Full tuition, living stipend, visa, and airfare
- Eligibility: Exceptional academic and leadership record
- Level: Postgraduate
- Website: www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk
University of Cambridge – Cambridge Trust Scholarships
- Covers: Full or partial tuition, depending on course and student profile
- Level: Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD
- Website: www.cambridgetrust.org
University of Edinburgh – Global Scholarships
- Covers: Partial funding or up to full tuition
- Level: Undergraduate and Master’s
- Website: www.ed.ac.uk
University of Bristol – Think Big Scholarships
- Covers: £5,000 to £20,000
- Level: Undergraduate and Postgraduate
- Website: www.bristol.ac.uk
University of Warwick – Chancellor’s International Scholarships
- Eligibility: Outstanding international PhD applicants
- Covers: Tuition fee and maintenance stipend
- Website: warwick.ac.uk
3. Private and External Scholarships
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships
- Eligibility: Indian students under 30 years old, accepted at top UK universities
- Covers: Tuition, living costs, and travel expenses (up to USD 100,000)
- Field: Humanities, social sciences, fine arts, etc.
- Website: www.inlaksfoundation.org
JN Tata Endowment Scholarship
- Eligibility: Indian citizens pursuing postgraduate studies abroad
- Covers: Loan scholarship from INR 1 to 10 lakhs
- Additional: May include a gift scholarship based on performance
- Website: jntataendowment.org
British Council Women in STEM Scholarships
- Eligibility: Indian women with a background in STEM
- Covers: Tuition, stipend, travel, visa, and health coverage
- Website: www.britishcouncil.org
How to Apply
- Research Early – Start looking at scholarship options at least 8–12 months in advance.
- Meet Eligibility Criteria – Academic excellence, leadership potential, and English proficiency are key.
- Prepare Strong Documents:
- SOP (Statement of Purpose)
- LORs (Letters of Recommendation)
- Academic transcripts
- IELTS/TOEFL scores
- Apply Through:
- Official university portals
- Scholarship-specific websites
- External funding bodies
