Are you looking for some financial aid while you are studying in the United Kingdom? There are indeed some available UK scholarships for Indian students. They are offered to guarantee Indian students’ study and daily life in the UK. In this blog, we’ll explore the scholarships for Indian students to study in UK, including their types, eligibility criteria, and how to apply for them. Let’s get started!
Why Study in the UK
The United Kingdom has some of the world’s best universities, and such rich educational resources and environment attract millions of Indian students yearly to come to the UK. Studying in the UK offers a wide range of benefits for Indian students, they can give Indian students:
Top-tier university and world-class educational resources
Guaranteed career prospects
Multi-cultural perspectives
Experience different cultures
Strong and supportive alumni network
Immersive experience of history and cultural heritage
What do UK Scholarships Cover?
Studying in the UK is a cheerful thing, however, many students feel daunted when facing such a high tuition fees and living expenses. And that’s what scholarship is for. UK scholarships for Indian students are offered to support Indian students’ studies, they are based on different criteria: merit-based, need-based, student-specific, course-specific, etc. Generally, the scholarships for Indian students to study in UK cover the whole or part of the tuition fee, some other scholarships may also cover part of the living expenses, airfares, and even visa fees. With the fund of UK scholarships, Indian students can have a smoother study experience.
Types of Scholarships for International Students
There are various types of scholarships in the UK for international students. Generally, they can be categorized into three broad types: government scholarships, non-government scholarships, and university-specific scholarships. They are set up for different purposes and have different criteria. Here is the breakdown of the types of UK scholarships for Indian students.
1. Government-Funded Scholarships
2. University-Specific Scholarships
3. Private Organization and Non-Governmental Scholarships
4. Merit-Based Scholarships
5. Need-Based Scholarships
6. Subject-Specific Scholarships
7. Research and Specialized Scholarships
8. Regional Scholarships
Government UK Scholarships for Indian Students
Government-funded scholarships are among the most popular scholarships for Indian students to study in UK. Such scholarships offer large amounts and are usually fully covered, making them the top choice for many Indian students.
| Scholarship | Level of Study |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth Masters Scholarship | Master’s |
| Chevening Scholarship | Master’s |
| British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM | Master’s & Doctoral |
| Scotland Saltire Scholarship | Master’s |
| GREAT Scholarships India | Master’s |
| Global Study Awards | Bachelor’s & Master’s |
| National Overseas Scholarship | Master’s & Doctoral |
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship
- Scholarship for Masters in UK for Indian students.
- Cover tuition fees, airfare, living costs, and allowances, etc.
- Exclusively for students from Commonwealth countries.
- Have major limit.
- Age under 40 years old
- Must not receive any other scholarships or employment
- The application period is typically from December to January
Chevening Scholarship
- Fully funded scholarships for Indian students, covering tuition fees, living expenses, etc.
- For students seeking one-year Master’s courses in the UK.
- Have at least 2 years of work experience in your field of study.
- Have plans for return to the home country after study.
- Application typically opens in August and closes in November each year.
British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM
- For women pursuing a STEM Master’s degree in the UK.
- Admission to any of the participating 21 universities.
- Have work or research experience in a relevant field.
Scotland Saltire Scholarships
- Study in the Scotland region.
- Scholarship for Masters in UK for Indian students.
- Have a plan to return to your home country after studies.
- Proof of English proficiency is required when applying.
GREAT Scholarship India
- A scholarship amount of ₤10,000.
- Have an undergraduate degree in a relevant field of study.
- Have relevant work experience.
- Proof of English Proficiency is required.
- Application period typically runs from October to April.
Global Study Awards
- For both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
- Have a valid International Student Identity Card (ISIC) or International Youth Travel Card (IYTC)
National Overseas Scholarship
- For students in the Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Laborers, and Traditional Artisans categories.
- Get admission to universities under the 500 QS ranking
- Age under 35 years old
- Total family income must be less than INR Lakhs per year.
Non-government UK Scholarships for Indian Students
Except for the government-funded scholarships, there are also many individuals, organizations that fund scholarships for Indian students. These organizations provide merit-based or need-based scholarships to support Indian students’ study and make their study experience smoother in the UK.
| Scholarship | Level of Study |
|---|---|
| Felix Scholarship | Master’s |
| Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarship | Bachelor’s, Master’s & Doctoral |
| Amber Scholarship | Bachelor’s & Master’s |
| Inlarks Scholarship | Master’s & Doctoral |
| Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship | Master’s & Doctoral |
| Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship | Master’s |
| JN Tata Endowment Scholarship | Master’s, Doctoral, & Postdoctoral |
| Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust Scholarship | Master’s, Doctoral, & Postdoctoral |
Felix Scholarship
- Coverage includes full tuition fees, accommodation, living costs, and airfare.
- Have exceptional academic achievements.
- Have a plan to return to the home country after study.
- Application period typically runs from October to January.
Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarship
- Cover living expenses, travel, and fees for specific courses or fellowship programs.
- Age must range from 25 to 45 years old.
- Must not have received the scholarship in the last 5 years.
- Application from August to November.
Amber Scholarship
- Scholarship for both Master’s and Bachelor’s.
- Need an SOP when applying
Inlaks Scholarship
- Merit-based scholarship
- The coverage includes tuition fees, living expenses, airfare, and health insurance.
- Have limit in the field of study.
- Age under 30 years old.
- Application from February to March.
Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
- Scholarship for Master’s and Doctoral.
- Have excellent academic achievements.
- Secure admission for a course that is prescribed by the website.
Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship
- Age under 30 years old.
- Must be waiting to enroll in the Fall intake to a top-ranking university.
JN Tata Endowment Scholarship
- Low-interest loan scholarship for Indian students.
- Age under 45 years old.
- Achieve at least a 60% score in a Bachelor’s.
- Secure admission to a renowned university.
Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust Scholarship
- Exclusively for Indian women.
- Obtain a Bachelor’s degree from a renowned Indian institution.
- Have excellent academic achievements.
- Have 2 years of work experience (not mandatory).
University-specific Scholarships
There are also many scholarships for UK universities for Indian students, which cover students’ tuition fee and other expenses, ranging from Bachelor’s, Master’s, to Doctoral. The amount varies across different universities, from partial tuition fee waivers to full coverage of tuition and living costs. And the application is typically from October to April. Below are some examples.
| Scholarship | Level of Study |
|---|---|
| Ms. Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship | Postdoctoral |
| Rhodes Scholarship at University of Oxford | Master’s |
| Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarship | Doctoral |
| Clarendon Scholarship | Master’s |
| University of Manchester Scholarships | Bachelor’s & Master’s |
| University of Westminster | Bachelor’s and Master’s |
| Coventry University | Bachelor’s and Master’s |
| Queen Mary University | Bachelor’s, Master’s, doctoral |
Ms. Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship
- Age must be between 30-40 years.
- Have graduate or postgraduate-level teaching experience of at least 3 years.
Rhodes Scholarship
- Fully funded scholarships for Indian students.
- For those pursuing an in-depth study at the University of Oxford.
- Have received a formal education in India for the last 10 years.
- Have an undergraduate degree.
- Applications are usually from June to August.
Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarship
- Exclusive for those study at St. John College, the University of Cambridge.
- Have an excellent academic achievements.
- Have relevant work experience.
Clarendon Scholarship
- Secure a full-time or part-time course admission to the University of Oxford.
- Have an excellent academic achievement.
University of Manchester Scholarship
- For Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.
- Enroll in a full-time course at the University of Manchester.
University of Westminster Scholarship
- Westminster Undergraduate Half-Fee Scholarship offers 50% tuition fee waiver.
- Westminster Full-Fee Scholarship offer 100% tuition fee waiver.
- High Achiever Scholarship grants ₤2,500 per the academic year.
Coventry University Scholarship
- Coventry Academic Performance Scholarship for full-time students.
- Postgraduates have at least two of three A-levels at grade A or equivalent qualifications.
- Postgraduates have at least a 2:1 or equivalent qualifications.
Queen Mary University Scholarship
- Has scholarships for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD.
- Has invested over ₤25million to support international students.
UK MBA Scholarships for Indian Students
There are also many exclusive UK scholarships for Indian students who are studying MBA. Except for those mentioned above, below are some UK MBA scholarships for Indian students.
| London Business School Scholarships |
|---|
| Chevening Scholarships |
| Imperial College Business School Scholarships |
| The University of Leeds-Leeds University Business School Scholarships |
| The University of Oxford-Saïd Business School Scholarships |
| The University of Manchester-Alliance Manchester Business School Scholarships |
| Commonwealth Scholarships |
| The University of Edinburgh Business School Scholarships |
| The University of Cambridge-Judge Business School Scholarships |
| The University of Bath-Bath MBA Scholarships |
How to Apply for Scholarships to Study in the UK
How can I get the UK scholarships for Indian students? Except for meet the specific requirements and eligibility, you also need to pay attention to the following steps.
Do a Research: there are so many scholarships available, each requires and different criteria and offer different financial aids, you need to research very well to find out what is the best option for you.
Check Eligibility: check very carefully about the eligibility of the scholarship you want to apply to, whether you meet the requirements, and what else you need to prepare.
Apply for the Scholarship: do not miss the deadline, always check the detailed and specific information about the scholarship, and submit your application.
Conclusion
As an expensive country with high-quality education, studying in the UK is an unimaginative dream for many students. However, studying in the UK without financial burden for Indian students is possible. There are so many UK scholarships for Indian students. With the funds from these scholarships, Indian students can pursue their academic interests more freely.
FAQs:
There are many scholarships for Master’s, for example, the Chevening Scholarships, Rhodes Scholarships, Felix Scholarship, Commonwealth Scholarships, Hornby Scholarship, WCIT, etc. Some of them are government scholarships while others are non-government scholarships. Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria of the one you are applying to.
The fully funded scholarships for Indian students include Commonwealth Master Scholarship, Chevening Scholarship, British Council Scholarship for Women in STEM, GREAT Scholarships India, National Overseas Scholarship, Rhodes Scholarship, etc.
Yes, there are also many scholarships for Indian students who are studying for an MBA, including the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship, Rhodes Scholarship, Chevening Scholarship, etc.
With the fund of scholarships, it’s possible for Indians to study in UK for free. You can apply for those fully funded scholarships which cover the whole tuition fee, even your living expenses, etc.
The application period varies across different universities, some start from October, others open from August, so, always check the specific time of the scholarships you want to apply for. And remember to prepare early, some scholarships are very competitive.
The eligibility criteria for scholarships vary among different universities. Firstly, you should at least choose one that aligns with your study level, whether it’s for bachelor’s, or Master’s, or both. Then you should look for the detailed requirements of this scholarship, including the age limit, English proficiency, field of study limit, and even nationality etc. Remember to look for the latest documents to prepare.
Yes, some scholarships allow you to apply for another scholarship while having the current one. Always go to the website to check the detailed and specific documents and requirements is recommended.
Yes, you can get a scholarship to study in the UK without IELTS. When you are applying for some scholarships, they don’t require you to provide proof of English proficiency like IELTS or TOEFL. However, there are some scholarships that require proof of English proficiency, so always check carefully the detailed and specific requirements.
