UK Scholarships for Indian Students in 2026: Eligibility & Deadlines

Around 270,000 international students choose the UK for higher studies every year, with a significant share coming from India. As tuition fees in the UK are relatively high, typically ranging from GBP 13,000 to GBP 35,000 per year (₹15.6-42 lakh), applying for well-known UK scholarships such as GREAT and Rhodes can significantly help in funding education.

There are three types of scholarships to study in the UK. These scholarships are offered by the UK government, universities, and private organisations. 

1. Government-funded Scholarships

These scholarships offered by the UK government are highly competitive for students from Commonwealth countries. Most scholarships offer significant tuition fee coverage, and some even go beyond to cater to living and travel costs. The GREAT scholarships are specifically very popular among Indian Master's students.

2. University Specific Scholarships

Many UK universities offer merit-based and need-based scholarships according to the level of study and course specifications. The most popular institutional scholarships are the Clarendon Fund (University of Oxford), Gates Cambridge Scholarship, and Imperial College London President’s Scholarships.

3. Private Scholarships

Several private bodies, such as the Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarship, Rhodes Trust, and Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust, offer significant financial support to International Students. The specific focus is on short-term research, professional training, and artistic projects.

Out of all the popular scholarships for studying in the UK, Chevening and the Commonwealth Scholarship receive the highest number of applications.

Here’s a list of scholarships for Indian students to study in the UK:

• Chevening Scholarships
• Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship
• GREAT Scholarship
• Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships
• Scotland’s Saltire Scholarship
• Rhodes Scholarship (University of Oxford)
• Clarendon Fund Scholarship
• Erasmus Mundus
• Gates Cambridge Scholarship
• Felix Scholarships

Let’s dive deep into each of these UK scholarships:

Chevening Scholarships

Chevening Scholarships are very tough to get since they application from around 60K student from all over the world and only 1500 scholarships are given. So, the success rate of this UK scholarship for Indian students is 2-3%.

• Type of Scholarship: UK Government fully-funded international postgraduate scholarship (1-year master's program)
• Coverage: Full tuition fees, monthly stipend, return airfare, visa costs, arrival & departure allowances, and other grants
• Key Eligibility: Citizens of Chevening-eligible countries with a bachelor’s degree, at least 2 years’ work experience, and English proficiency. 
• Availability: Annual cycle (application opens in August and closes in October/November each year)
• Official Website: https://www.chevening.org/

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship

The Commonwealth Scholarship has supported over 31,000 students since 1960, making it one of the oldest and most trusted UK scholarships. It focuses on areas like science, healthcare, global growth, peace, crisis support, and equal opportunities.

• Type of Scholarship: Government-funded postgraduate and PhD scholarship scheme for Commonwealth citizens.
• Coverage: Full tuition fees, living stipend, travel allowance, airfare, and thesis/research grants (varies by specific award). 
• Key Eligibility: Citizens of Commonwealth countries with strong academic records; must meet specific level requirements (e.g., at least 2:1 for Master’s) and have an offer in place. 
• Availability: Annual Cycle (Sept to November)
• Official Website:https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/

GREAT Scholarship

The GREAT Scholarship offers 140 scholarships for the 2026-27 intake across UK universities. It is available for one-year taught postgraduate courses only. Students from 18 eligible countries, including India, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, and Indonesia, can apply.

• Type of Scholarship: UK-wide scheme in partnership between the British Council and UK universities for PG study
• Coverage: Minimum £10,000/ ₹12L towards tuition fees (varies by university) 
• Key Eligibility: Students from selected countries (including India) with a strong academic profile and an offer to study a one-year taught PG programme
• Availability: Early Spring (Participating institutions set their own application timelines)
• Official Website: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/scholarships-funding/great-scholarships

Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships

The Charles Wallace India Trust has awarded over 3,000 grants in more than 40 years to Indian students and professionals. Its long-term MA scholarships are very competitive, with only around 2 awards given each year for 10-month courses in arts and heritage. It also offers 15–20 short research grants every year.

• Type of Scholarship: Trust-funded grants and fellowships for Indian nationals focusing on arts, heritage, conservation, humanities, and research
• Coverage: Grants that may include tuition support, living costs, accommodation, and travel contributions (depending on the grant type)
• Key Eligibility: Indian nationals, early to mid-career in arts, heritage, humanities or related fields
• Availability: Follows the annual cycle, but deadlines vary by categories like (long-term, short-term, visiting fellowships
• Official Website:https://www.charleswallaceindiatrust.com/

Scotland’s Saltire Scholarship

Every year, around 50-100 Scotland’s Saltire scholarships are awarded to international students. It is open to students from countries like India, the USA, Canada, China, Japan, and Pakistan, mainly for courses in science, technology, healthcare, creative fields, and clean energy.

• Type of Scholarship: Scottish Government merit scholarship for international PG students
• Coverage: £8,000 (₹9.6 L) towards tuition fees
• Key Eligibility: Citizens of eligible countries (including India) intending to study a full-time programme at a Scottish higher-education institution with a strong academic background strictly.
• Availability: Annual cycle
• Official Website:https://www.scotland.org/study/scholarships

Rhodes Scholarship (University of Oxford)

The Rhodes Scholarship in UK for Indian students has an acceptance rate of only 0.7 to1%. Each year, it selects around 100 students from about 60 countries for fully funded postgraduate study at Oxford. Around 5 scholars are selected every year from India.

• Type of Scholarship: PG scholarship to study at the University of Oxford
• Coverage: Full tuition and living stipend, plus travel costs and other allowances
• Key Eligibility: Outstanding academic record, leadership and character; age limits apply (18 to 24), and a bachelor’s degree completion is required
• Availability: Annual cycle around mid-year deadlines
• Official Website: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/

Clarendon Fund Scholarship

The Clarendon Fund awards over 200 new scholarships every year at the University of Oxford. At any given time, around 450–500 Clarendon scholars are studying at Oxford, making it the university’s largest scholarship scheme.

• Type of Scholarship: Merit-based PG scholarships at Oxford University
• Coverage: Full tuition fees and a living stipend for eligible Master’s and DPhil candidates
• Key Eligibility: All nationalities with an offer to study at Oxford, but with good academic scores
• Availability: Single application considered for Clarendon with your Oxford graduate course application
• Official Website:https://www.ox.ac.uk/clarendon

Erasmus Mundus

Erasmus Mundus has supported nearly 50,000 students since 2004. In recent years, around 2,600-2,700 scholarships have been awarded every year to students worldwide. These scholarships go to students from many countries, including India, Brazil, China, and Pakistan.

• Type of Scholarship: EU-funded international PG scholarship for joint European Master’s programmes (including UK institutions as partners where applicable)
• Coverage: Tuition fees, travel, installation costs, and monthly living allowance for the duration of the programme
• Key Eligibility: Selected for an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree, competitive selection. 
• Availability: December to January 
• Official Website: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/opportunities-for-individuals/students/erasmus-mundus-joint-masters

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship awards around 80 full scholarships every year. It is highly competitive, with only 75 students selected from over 6,000 applicants in one recent year. Scholars come from more than 112 countries, and about two-thirds of the awards go to PhD students.

• Type of Scholarship: Full-cost international PG scholarship at the University of Cambridge funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Coverage: Full tuition, maintenance allowance, travel costs, visa fees, and other developmental support
• Key Eligibility: Under 30, outside of the UK, first-class or high second-class UG degree, applying for a full-time PhD, MLitt, MPhil, LLM, or other 1-year PG courses except MBA, MFin, etc.
• Availability: December 3, 2025, or January 7, 2026 (based on course)
• Official Website: https://www.gatescambridge.org/

Felix Scholarships

The Felix Scholarship has been supporting students since 1991-92. Every year, it awards around 20 scholarships, with over 428 scholarships given so far. Most Felix scholars come from India, along with students from 19 other developing countries.

• Type of Scholarship: Scholarship awards for Indian and other eligible nationals to study in the UK at partner institutions (Oxford, Reading, SOAS)
• Coverage: 100% tuition, living-cost grant (approx £19,000/₹22.7L), and one return flight from India to the UK
• Key Eligibility: Applicant for a full-time master's or DPhil course, a national/ordinary citizen of India, a first-class UG or PG degree from an Indian university, and expected to return to India after studies. 
• Availability: Annual application cycle
• Official Website:https://www.felixscholarship.org/

Some of the most well-known scholarships for pursuing Bachelors in the UK include the Chevening Scholarship and the Commonwealth Scholarship, covering full or partial tuition fee coverage and additional financial support for living expenses.

Here is the list of popular scholarships for Bachelors in the UK:

(Conversion Rate: £1 = ₹120)

Most universities offer scholarships for Master's in the UK, including the Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships offered by Cardiff University and the Global Scholarships for postgraduate courses at Lancaster University.

Below are some of the most famous scholarships for Master's in the UK for Indian students:

(Conversion Rate: £1 = ₹120)

An MBA in the UK costs between £10,000 and £20,000 per year (₹12-₹24 lakhs), but opting for scholarships for an MBA in the UK, such as the Bath MBA Scholarship, can reduce tuition costs and ease the financial burden for Indian students.

Here is the list of popular MBA scholarships to study in the UK:

(Conversion Rate: £1 = ₹120)

To get a scholarship for studying in the UK, you need a conditional or unconditional offer letter from a UK university and good academic scores, around 60 to 70% in your previous degree or school certificates. Most UK scholarships are merit-based, which means higher marks increase your chances.

Here is the basic eligibility criteria for scholarships in the UK for Indian students:

• Offer Letter: You must have an offer letter from a UK university before applying for most scholarships.
• Good Academic Scores: Most scholarships require 60-75% or higher in your last qualification.
• Statement of Purpose (SOP): There are SOPs for scholarships where you explain your study goals and why you chose the UK.
• Letters of Recommendation (LOR): 1-2 letters from teachers or employers who know your work well.
• English Language Proficiency Test: You need an English test score like IELTS, usually 6.5 or above.
• Work Experience (if required): Some scholarships for MBA courses ask for work experience of at least 1-1.5 years.
• Extra Activities: Leadership, volunteering, or achievements outside of class can help your application.
• Financial Details: Need-based scholarships in the UK ask for income or funding documents.

Applying for UK scholarships requires careful research and attention to detail. Different universities, government bodies, and private organisations offer various options based on your merit, need, and subject of study. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

• Research: Look into scholarships offered by UK universities, the government, and third-party organisations that match your course and nationality.
• Check Eligibility: Read the criteria closely. Some scholarships are merit-based, while others depend on financial need or chosen subject.
• Prepare Documents: Academic transcripts, a personal statement, reference letters, and proof of English proficiency.
• Note Deadlines: Scholarship deadlines often differ from university application dates, so plan accordingly.
• Secure Admission First: Many scholarships require you to have an offer from a UK university before applying.

Finding the right UK scholarship can be confusing for Indian students, as each university has different rules and deadlines. Many students miss opportunities due to late applications or unclear eligibility. Starting early and keeping documents ready can improve your chances.

With Yocket Premium, students get step-by-step guidance for university and scholarship applications. From tracking deadlines to improving SOPs and applications, it helps reduce stress and saves time. This makes the entire study-abroad process smoother and more organised.

Source: 270,000 international students choose the UK

Can Indian students get scholarships in the UK?

Yes, Indian students can apply for many UK scholarships offered by the government, universities, and private organisations. Most of these scholarships are merit-based and available for undergraduate, MS, and MBA programmes.

Do I need an offer letter to apply for UK scholarships?

Yes, most UK scholarships require a conditional or unconditional offer letter from a UK university before you can apply.

What academic score is required for UK scholarships?

Most scholarships require 60-75% or higher in previous studies. Top or competitive scholarships may need 70-80%+, depending on the university.

Are UK scholarships fully funded?

Some government scholarships, like Chevening and Commonwealth, are fully funded. Most university scholarships offer partial tuition fee waivers.

What documents are needed to apply for UK scholarships?

Common documents include an offer letter, academic transcripts, SOP, LORs, English test scores, and sometimes work experience proof.