Study Abroad Content Writer | Updated On - May 18, 2024
Highlights:
- Eligibility criteria for getting a UK scholarship includes proof of 60-80% score in a student’s previous academic program, an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent in their ELP score, acceptance from a university, etc.
- Most UK scholarships like Great Scholarships, Bristol University International Scholarships, etc provide a sum of at least 10,000 GBP (10.54 lakhs INR) per annum to students.
- 100% coverage scholarships like Chevening Scholarship include payment of expenses like travel costs to and from the UK, visa application costs, tuition fees, monthly stipend, arrival allowance, and a homeward departure allowance.
- Students are eligible to work even if they receive a scholarship in the UK. But UK visa rules dictate that students can work for a maximum of 20 hours a week during sessions and full-time only during holidays.
Confused whether universities in UK provide scholarships to international students from India? You will be surprised to know that nearly all top universities in the UK have several scholarships curated especially for Indian students. India is the second highest contributor among the 679,970 international students in the UK. Some of the most popular scholarships that Indian students apply for their courses in UK are as follows:
| Scholarship | Eligibilty | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships | Doctoral or research program | Award up to 10,000 GBP (10.54 lakhs INR) |
| Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarships | Indian students below the age of 35 years with first class degrees in graduate and postgraduate courses. | Covers all expenses including fees, travel allowances, visa costs, and miscellaneous through monthly allowances. |
| The Felix Scholarship | First class degree in the bachelor’s program from a recognized university or college | 100% of course fees, a grant for living costs and one return flight. |
| Inlaks Scholarship | Eligible Indian students pursuing full-time master's, MPhil, and doctoral programs. | Award amount up to 100,000 GBP (1.05 crore INR). |
Scholarships are provided for both UG and PG courses. Remember, most scholarships are awarded to students who show exceptional merit, or potential in their chosen field, or have severe financial problems. Students who come to the UK for their MBA degree are also eligible for multiple scholarships. Some of the 100% coverage scholarships provided to students are as follows:
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarship | Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory. | 100% tuition fees and living expenses coverage. |
| Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships | Must be a citizen or permanent resident of a Commonwealth country. | Fully-funded and includes tuition fees, airfare and living allowance. |
| University of Westminster Scholarships for International Students | Students enrolled at the University of Westminster. | Study and living expenses coverage. |
| Gates Cambridge Scholarships for International Students | PG students enrolled at University of Cambridge | Tuition fee coverage for the full PG course. |
Learn more about Scholarship for Indian Students in UK:
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Table of Contents |
Types of Scholarships to Study in UK
UK offers a wide range of merit-based and need-based scholarships for international students. The government sponsored scholarships are quite popular among international students. However, the scholarships offered by different universities contribute majorly in the financial aid for international students. Also, numerous department-specific scholarships are awarded to international students by UK universities.
Students arriving in the UK from a non-EU nation can also avail the country-specific scholarships offered by different colleges and private organizations in UK. The home country of the international applicant also offers a limited number of financial aids to study in UK. Besides, several non-government organizations offer scholarships and other financial grants to the meritorious international students.
Eligibility Criteria for Applying to International Scholarships in UK
International students need specific eligibility criteria to apply to the scholarships in UK. Although every scholarship has certain eligibility criteria, the following are the common prerequisites for applying for scholarships in UK:
- Academic Achievements: The applicants must have excellent academic scores in their previous studies with a competitive GPA. Although admission to the programs in UK universities require average scores, the students need around 60-80% score in their previous academic programs to avail scholarships in UK.
- English Language Proficiency: Students with non-English primary languages need demonstration of proficiency in English to avail certain scholarships. Students need a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent in similar exams to study in UK to avail major scholarships.
- Extracurricular Activities: Students involved in different extracurricular activities are considered for specific scholarships. Students with leadership experience and active social welfare involvement are considered for some of the best scholarships. Sports and athletic achievements can also get you several scholarships to study in the UK.
- Confirmation of admission: Being accepted for an offer to a qualifying full-time undergraduate course in the UK.
- Low household income- Students who are coming from househilds, that have an annual income not suitable for an education in the UK are eligible to apply for scholarship.
Government Scholarships to Study in UK
The UK Government offers a number of scholarships to international students. These scholarships are curated to help meritorius students get an affordable high-quality education in the UK. The following are some of the top scholarships for international students in UK:
Chevening Scholarship: Mostly, mid-career professionals are awarded with the Chevening Scholarship. It offers financial aid to students from over 160 countries and territories. It supports the scholars with professional development, dynamic training and research opportunities in the UK. The Chevening Scholarship for Indian students provides total fundings to free them from the financial pressure. This lets the student focus on achieving their academic goals. The award includes:
- Travel cost to and from the UK
- Visa application cost
- Tuition fees
- A monthly stipend
- An arrival allowance
- A homeward departure allowance
- Travel grant to attend Chevening events in the UK
Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships: The eight different types of scholarships are offered to the outstanding postgraduate and professional development students with potential to make social changes. Most of the Commonwealth Scholarships in UK are fully-funded and include tuition fees, airfare and living allowance. Depending upon the type of the scholarship, you can apply through a university, a national nomination agency or a non-government organization.
The yearly application deadlines for the scholarships are generally in December. The selection process is dependent on factors like the programs and the student’s merit. The application process requires a scanned copy of your passport, university degree certificate, academic transcripts, two LOR and an admission letter, if available.
GREAT Scholarships: GREAT Scholarships are offered to the meritorious students of specific countries, seeking admission to master’s universities in UK. UK Government’s GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council jointly offer these scholarships to study in UK. International students from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, China, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico or Thailand can avail various GREAT Scholarships. There are 60 scholarships across various subjects for the Indian students studying across 27 universities in the UK. Each scholarship provides at least 10,000 GBP (10.54 lakhs INR) for tuition and fees to the international students taking admission to a 1-year postgraduate program.
University Scholarships to Study in UK
Most of the universities offering admission to international students provide a number of scholarships. The award value varies from university to university. Most scholarships offer up to GBP 10,000 (INR 10.54 lakhs) to stduents. Here are some of the scholarships in UK offered by top universities:
| University | Scholarships | Grant Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Cambridge | Gates Cambridge Scholarships for International Students | Full cost of a postgraduate degree |
| University of Birmingham | University of Birmingham International Scholarships | Up to 10,000 GBP (INR 10.54 lakhs) |
| Imperial College London | Imperial College London Bursaries and Scholarships | 1,000 (INR 1.5 lakhs) to 54,000 GBP (INR 56 lakhs) |
| University of Bristol | Bristol University International Scholarships | Up to 10,000 GBP (INR 10.54 lakhs) |
| Kingston University | Kingston University International Scholarships | 5000 GBP (INR 5.2 lakhs) |
| University College London | University College London Scholarships | Living and tuition expenses |
| Cardiff University | Cardiff India Scholarships | 5,000 GBP (INR 5.2 lakhs) for Indian students |
| Aberystwyth University | Aberystwyth University International Scholarships | 10,000 GBP (INR 10.54 lakhs) |
| University of Oxford | Clarendon Scholarships at University of Oxford | Course fees and accommodation costs |
| University of Westminster | University of Westminster Scholarships for International Students | Study and living expenses |
Scholarships in UK for Indian Students
International students are offered several scholarships to study in UK for their respective countries. Indian applicants often face the challenge of financing the high-end tuition fees imposed by universities in UK. Following are some of the scholarships offered to the Indian students pursuing various programs in UK.
- Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships: Students pursuing doctoral or research programs are eligible for receiving these scholarships. The different types of grants in Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships offer accommodation and even international fares. Also, final year doctoral students receive up to 10,000 GBP (10.54 lakhs INR).
- Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarships: The initiative of covering total expenses of meritorious students is taken by St. John’s College of University of Cambridge. The fully-funded scholarship covers all expenses including fees, travel allowances, visa costs, and miscellaneous through monthly allowances. Indian students below the age of 35 years with first class degrees in graduate and postgraduate courses can avail the scholarships.
- Saltire Scholarships: These scholarships are offered by the Scottish Government and the Scottish universities. International students studying in science, technology, renewable & clean energy, creative industries, healthcare and medical sciences can avail this scholarship. The scholarships are limited for certain countries including India, Pakistan, USA, Japan, China and Canada. In an academic year, 50 individuals can avail the Saltire Scholarships, each worth 8,000 GBP (8.4 lakhs INR) on condition of studying postgraduate master’s programs in any of the registered Scottish higher educational organisations.
- The Felix Scholarship: The sole purpose of this merit-based and need-based scholarship is to provide full-financial support to the underprivileged students in UK from 21 developing countries including India. Every year, approximately 20 individuals from the University of Oxford, the University of Reading and the School of Oriental and African Studies receive these scholarships. The basic requirement for availing the Felix Scholarship is to achieve a first class degree in the bachelor’s program from a recognized university or college and a recommendation from that institution.
- Inlaks Scholarship: The scholarship is provided to the meritorious international students studying in a variety of disciplines. You should be below the age of 30 years to avail Inlaks Scholarship. This scholarship covers tuition fees, living cost, airfare and travel expenses. The award amount is variable and can range up to 100,000 GBP (1.05 crore INR).
- Rhodes Scholarships: Every year, five awards are offered to the outstanding Indian students. Being one of the oldest international scholarships, the awards are provided to students pursuing 1-2 years long postgraduate prrograms. The award amount of the scholarship is 18,180 GBP (19 lakhs INR).
International Organization Scholarships to Study in UK
Numerous international organizations offer a plethora of popular scholarships to study in UK to international students. Following are some of the coveted scholarships offered by international non-governmental organizations:
- Euraxess UK: This is a career development portal formed in collaboration with British Council, offering different types of funds to the international students. The portal gives access to various funding opportunities based on location, programs and research fields across the UK.
- The Royal Society Grants: The Royal Society supports international students, currently at an initial stage of their research career and involved in fields like research opportunities in UK. 37 types of grants and financial aid are offered to the international students through the Royal Society Grants.
- Sir Ratan Tata Post-Doctoral Fellowship: The fellowship program is focused on the early career postdoctoral researchers working on south-Asian social science. The selected fellows are awarded with a monthly allowance of 1,750 GBP (1.84 lakhs INR) and research facilities for six months. The applicant must have a Ph.D. and should be in permanent employment with an institution in SAARC region.
MBA Scholarships in UK
MBA is one of the highly enrolled programs around the world. Students choosing to study MBA in UK are provided with a plethora of merit-based and need-based scholarships. Along with the international organizations, the universities in UK also provide program-specific scholarships to the MBA students. Following are some of the top universities in UK and MBA scholarships offered by them:
| Universities | Scholarships | Eligibility Criteria | Grant Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | Saïd Business School Foundation Scholarships | Academic achievements, potentials and GMAT or GRE scores | Up to 25,000 GBP (INR 26 lakhs) |
| University of Birmingham | Claire and Sean Henry Scholarship | Outstanding Indian student, genuine need determined by the university, relevant experience and clear future perspective | Full tuition fee |
| Cranfield University | Exceptional Student Scholarship | Academic and professional excellence, GMAT score of 730 | Up to 40,175 GBP (INR 42 lakhs) (100% tuition fees). |
| University of Cambridge | The Cambridge MBA Beyond Profit/Social Impact Scholarship | Outstanding applicant working on a non-profit organization or social enterprise | 25,000 GBP (INR 26 lakhs) |
| Imperial College London | Imperial College Business School Full Time MBA Scholarships | Upper second class bachelor’s degree and competitive GRE or GMAT | 20,000-50,000 GBP (INR 21 lakhs- 52.74 lakhs) |
MS Scholarships in UK
Meritorious international students pursuing various masters of science programs in UK are awarded in bulk with most of the scholarships offered in UK. Most of the scholarships for MS programs are need-based or merit-based. Some of the ranked universities offering MS in UK and the program specific scholarships are tabulated below:
| Universities | Scholarships | Eligibility Criteria | Grant Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| University College London | Thomas Witherden Batt Scholarship | Financial need determined by the university | 10,000 GBP (INR 10.54 lakhs) |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | LSE Scholarships for Indian Students | LSE Graduate Financial Support application, demonstrated need | Fully funded program |
| University of Manchester | Master’s Degree Bursaries | Any master’s school applicant with an offer can apply | 4,000 GBP (INR 4.21 lakhs) |
| University of Warwick | WMG Excellence Scholarships | Self-funded, full time M.Sc. student | 10-50% tuition fee discount. |
| University of Oxford | Oxford Funding | Accepted students are automatically considered | Course fees and accommodation fees |
Work While Study in UK
As an international student, you can apply to work while studying programs offered by different universities in UK. You are allowed to work for a maximum of 20 hours a week during sessions and full-time during holidays. There are a couple of eligibility requirements for working as a student, one from the university and the other from the state-run official institutions.
Students must be over 16 years of age and have a tier 4 UK student visa to be eligible to work in part-time jobs. Some colleges have restrictions on working outside the college, however, there are various options available for the overseas students. Indian passport holders must have work eligibility mentioned in the passport stickers to work while studying in UK.
Student Loans to Study in UK
The UK Government reinforces international students on budget through Student Finances. If you are unable to grab a scholarship to study in UK, you can avail the student loan. The monthly repayment policy is also utterly dependent on the salary earned by the student after completion of the course. Students below the age of 25 can apply to the estranged program if they do not have any connection with their parents. Student finance requires supporting documents proving that the student is independent.
The increase in requirements of skilled professionals across various companies offering high-paying jobs in UK resulted in the colleges attracting more overseas students gradually. But as education in the UK is of high-cost nowadays, scholarships play a vital role in admission of international students. Although the competition for scholarships to study in UK is quite tough, students are always encouraged to apply for the scholarships if needed.
FAQs
Ques: Can Indians get a scholarship in the UK?
Ans: Yes, Indian students wishing to pursue their higher education in the UK can also apply for scholarships. UK universities and the government offer a variety of scholarships to Indian students seeking to study in the UK after completing their 12th grade or in their PG level. These scholarships enable students to pursue academic courses without concern about financial support.
Ques: Is there a 100% scholarship to study in the UK?
Ans: There are no tuition-free universities in the UK for international students. However, one can apply for fully funded scholarships, grants, or bursaries, which can cover or reduce tuition and other expenses. Students will receive 100% coverage if they are eligible for GREAT Scholarships, Chevening Scholarships, and Commonwealth Scholarships in the UK.
Ques: Who is eligible for scholarships in the UK?
Ans: The criteria you must meet for a scholarship in the UK usually include the following:
- You’ve accepted an offer for a qualifying, full-time course
- You meet the grade requirements and conditions that come with your offer
- Your household income
Ques: Is it difficult to get a scholarship in the UK?
Ans: Yes, it can be difficult getting a scholarship in the UK. Securing scholarships to study in the UK can vary in difficulty based on several factors, including your academic achievements, field of study, nationality, and the specific scholarship programs available.
Ques: Which country provides 100% scholarships for Indian students?
Ans: The UK, Germany, Australia, France, and Canada provide numerous scholarship opportunities, making study abroad free for Indian students. The United States, Canada, Germany, Singapore, Japan, the Netherlands, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom all offer part-time opportunities and various scholarships to international students.
Ques: Can I get a 50% scholarship in the UK?
Ans: University of Sheffield is an example of a university offering up to 50% coverage on scholarship. Depending on the course, the University of Sheffield offers international students scholarships ranging from GBP 2,000 to GBP 2,500. They provide 50 scholarships worth 50% of tuition fees for each year of your undergraduate degree, which is subject to a student achieving a score of 60% on average .
Ques: Can I get 2 scholarships in the UK?
Ans: Yes, you can apply for multiple scholarships. However, you may only apply for each scholarship once. No one is permitted to apply for two different scholarships in one term. If found eligible, you will only be awarded only one scholarship. Students can either apply for merit-based or financial help seeking scholarships.
Ques: Can I work in the UK with a scholarship?
Ans: Yes, students can work with a UK scholarship. There is no rule stating that scholarship awardees are prohibited from getting any job alongside their study in the UK. Students on full-time degree-level courses with a student visa are permitted to work in the UK. During the university term, you can work up to 20 hours per week.
Ques: What is the number 1 scholarship in the world?
Ans: Several countries offer some of the world's most prestigious scholarships to international students who meet the required criteria. Fulbright Scholarships, Chevening Scholarships, Australia Awards Scholarships, Gates Cambridge Scholarships, and others are among the most well-known or popular scholarships.
Ques: What is the eligibility for scholarship in the UK?
Ans: The eligibility requirements for each type of scholarship and fellowship vary. Most scholarships in the UK are awarded to students if they have exceptional merit, show great leadership skills, or have financial issues which makes them unable to afford to study in the UK without a scholarship. If students fall under any of these criteria then they are surely eligible to get a UK scholarship.
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Comments
11 Comments
What are the UK scholarships for Nigerian students?
Some UK scholarship options for Nigerian students, including those for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, like Chevening Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarships, GREAT Scholarships, etc.
What are the UK scholarships for Indian students for masters?
There are several scholarship options available for Indian students pursuing a Master's degree in the UK, including some fully-funded scholarships like Chevening Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarships, GREAT Scholarships, etc.
The ideal time to apply for UK scholarships varies depending on the specific scholarship program. For University Scholarships, it can be October or November, and for Government Scholarships, it can be August to September.