Scholarships for international students wishing to study in the United Kingdom are usually awarded on the basis of merit or need. International students can apply for a variety of scholarships and financial aid from the UK government, including bursaries, fellowships, loans, and grants. Furthermore, universities and private organisations provide overseas students with a variety of financial aid options. Some of the UK's leading institutions have annual endowments of more than a billion pounds.
India is one of the largest sources of international students in the United Kingdom, and UK funding for Indian applicants runs across three tiers: UK Government awards, university scholarships and private trust grants. India has produced 4,000 Chevening awardees since 1983, the largest Chevening programme in the world, and Indian students also feature strongly among Felix, Commonwealth and Gates Cambridge scholars.
- Chevening applications for 2027 to 2028 opened on 4 August 2026 and close on 6 October 2026, and India has produced 4,000 Chevening awardees since 1983
- Commonwealth Master's Scholarships now pay a stipend of £1,712 a month, rising to £2,000 in the London area
- GREAT Scholarships offer 12 awards of at least £10,000 to Indian students for 2026 to 2027
- Indian students applying for a UK Student visa must still show 9 months of living costs, at £1,529 a month for London and £1,171 outside London.
What Are the Types of Scholarships to Study in UK?
Indian students can apply for three main types of UK scholarships in 2026: government awards such as Chevening and the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship, university awards such as Gates Cambridge, the Clarendon Fund and Imperial's President's PhD Scholarship, and private trust awards such as Felix and the Charles Wallace India Trust. Many are fully funded.
International students can apply for a variety of merit-based and need-based scholarships in the United Kingdom. Scholarships provided by the government are very popular among international students. Scholarships granted by other colleges, on the other hand, play a significant role in international students' financial help. International students are also eligible for a number of department-specific scholarships offered by UK universities.
Students from non-EU countries can also apply for country-specific scholarships granted by various universities and private organisations in the UK. The international applicant's home country may also offer a limited number of financial aid opportunities to study in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, a number of non-governmental organisations provide scholarships and other financial aid to deserving international students.
Scholarships for Indian students studying abroadRead →What Are the Eligibility Criteria for UK Scholarships?
Eligibility for UK scholarships in 2026 usually means a strong undergraduate degree, often an upper second-class or first-class result, proof of English through IELTS at 6.5 or 7.0, and a confirmed offer from a UK university. Chevening also requires two years of work experience and a return to India for two years.
To apply for scholarships in the United Kingdom, international students must meet strict eligibility requirements. Although each scholarship has its own set of requirements, the following are the most typical requirements for applying to scholarships in the United Kingdom:
Academic Achievements: Applicants must have a strong GPA and excellent academic scores in their previous studies. Although average scores are required for admission to programmes at UK universities, students must have a 60-80% score in their previous academic programmes to be eligible for scholarships in the UK.
English Language Competency: To be eligible for specific scholarships, students with non-English main languages must demonstrate proficiency in English. To be eligible for significant scholarships in the United Kingdom, students must have an IELTS score of 6.5 or comparable in other examinations.
Extracurricular Activities: Students who participate in a variety of extracurricular activities are eligible for a variety of scholarships. Some of the greatest scholarships go to students with leadership experience and significant social welfare activities. Sports and athletic achievements may potentially qualify you for a number of scholarships to study in the United Kingdom.
IELTS for UKVI explainedRead →Which Are the Best Master's Scholarships in UK for Indian Students?
The strongest Master's options for Indian students in 2026 are the fully funded Chevening award, Commonwealth Master's Scholarships, the Felix Scholarship at Oxford, Reading and SOAS, GREAT Scholarships worth at least £10,000, the UCL Global Master's Scholarship of £15,000, and the Edinburgh India Merit Scholarship of £5,000.
Most Master's scholarships in the UK go to high-merit international students pursuing MSc, MA, MPhil, and MBA programmes in 2026. Below is a snapshot of leading UK universities and their Master's scholarships open to Indian students.
| Scholarship (2026-27) | Provider | Who Can Apply | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarship | UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | Indian citizens with two years of work experience and a UK offer | Full tuition, monthly stipend and return airfare |
| Commonwealth Master's Scholarship | Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for the FCDO | Indian citizens; India is on the CSC eligible country list | Full tuition plus £1,712 a month, or £2,000 in London |
| Felix Scholarship | Felix Trust with Oxford, Reading and SOAS | Indian nationals holding a first-class Indian bachelor's degree | Full international tuition plus about £17,894 a year at Reading |
| GREAT Scholarships | UK Government GREAT campaign and the British Council | Indian citizens on a one-year taught Master's at 12 partner universities | Minimum £10,000 toward tuition, 12 awards for India |
| UCL Global Master's Scholarship | University College London | Overseas fee payers from lower income backgrounds | £15,000; 85 awards with 5 ring-fenced for India |
| India Merit Scholarship | University of Edinburgh | Indian-domiciled holders of an unconditional taught Master's offer | £5,000 toward first-year tuition |
Which Are the Top MBA Scholarships in UK for Indian Students?
MBA funding in the UK for 2026 comes mainly from three routes: Chevening, which funds any one-year Master's including an MBA; Cranfield School of Management awards such as Inspiring Excellence and Transformational Leadership, worth up to 50 percent of tuition; and the merit and impact scholarships listed by Cambridge Judge Business School.
An MBA from a top UK business school remains one of the most popular postgraduate choices for Indian students. Business school award names and values change every intake, so the three routes below are the ones confirmed on official pages for the 2026 to 2027 cycle.
| MBA Scholarship (2026-27) | Provider | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarship | UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | Full funding for any one-year UK Master's, including an MBA |
| Inspiring Excellence and Transformational Leadership | Cranfield School of Management | Up to 50 percent of tuition fees in exceptional circumstances |
| Cambridge MBA scholarships | Cambridge Judge Business School | Multiple merit and impact awards, with values listed on the Judge scholarships page |
Which Are the Best PhD Scholarships in UK for Indian Students?
Leading UK PhD funding for Indian students in 2026 includes Imperial's President's PhD Scholarship, which pays full fees plus £26,500 a year, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, the Clarendon Fund at Oxford, Warwick's Chancellor's Scholarships and Royal Society grants. Note that India is not on the eligible country list for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships.
Beyond the government awards, Indian students heading into doctoral study in 2026 can apply to the university and research-council schemes below, each of which covers tuition and a research stipend.
- Imperial College London President's PhD Scholarship: full tuition, a £26,500 stipend at the 2026-27 rate and a £2,000 annual consumables fund, with 50 awards over 3.5 years
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship: around 80 full-cost awards a year covering fees, airfare, visa costs and a maintenance allowance of £22,050 for 12 months at the 2025-26 rate
- Clarendon Fund at Oxford: over 200 new fully funded awards each year covering course fees and a grant for living costs
- Warwick Chancellor's Scholarships: full academic fees, maintenance at the prevailing UKRI rate for 3.5 years and a one-off £5,000 research grant
- Royal Society grants: schemes such as the University Research Fellowship support early career scientists and collaboration between UK based and overseas researchers
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarships: India is not on the eligible country list, which covers 17 countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
- UKRI Doctoral Training Partnerships at participating UK universities
- Wellcome Trust PhD programmes for biomedical and health research
What Are the Top UK Scholarships for Indian Students in 2026?
The top UK scholarships for Indian students in 2026 are Chevening, which funds a full one-year Master's, Commonwealth Master's Scholarships, GREAT Scholarships of at least £10,000, the Felix Scholarship for Indian nationals, Charles Wallace India Trust grants for arts and heritage, and the Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarships at Cambridge.
Several UK government and trust-funded scholarships are open to Indian students in 2026, covering tuition, living costs, and travel. Below are the most prominent options with their key 2026 details.
- Chevening Scholarships: funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, giving full financial support for a one-year Master's at any UK university. The 2027 to 2028 round opened on 4 August 2026 and closes on 6 October 2026, and India has produced 4,000 awardees since 1983.
- Commonwealth Master's Scholarships: run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for the FCDO; full tuition, a stipend of £1,712 a month or £2,000 in the London area, return airfare and a study travel grant. The next round opens on 8 September and closes at 16:00 BST on 20 October.
- GREAT Scholarships: jointly funded by the UK Government's GREAT campaign, the British Council and partner universities; a minimum of £10,000 toward tuition, with 12 awards for Indian students in 2026 to 2027 across 12 participating institutions.
- Felix Scholarship: for Indian nationals holding a first-class Indian bachelor's degree; full international tuition plus a living stipend of about £17,894 a year at Reading, allowances for books and clothes, and return flights. Tenable at Oxford, Reading and SOAS.
- Charles Wallace India Trust grants: for Indian citizens aged 28 to 38 working in the arts, heritage conservation or the humanities; covers UK accommodation and living costs plus £600 toward international travel.
- Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarships: launched in 2007 at St John's College, Cambridge, supporting outstanding Indian students taking doctoral degrees in science, technology, economics and the social sciences.
- Scotland's Saltire Scholarships: Scottish Government awards toward tuition for a one-year Master's in Scotland. The scheme has not run in every recent cycle, so confirm the current round with British Council Scotland before counting on it.
Which UK Universities Offer Scholarships for Indian Students?
Most UK universities fund international students in 2026. Confirmed awards include Gates Cambridge, around 80 full-cost places a year, Oxford's Clarendon Fund with over 200 awards, Imperial's President's PhD Scholarship with 50 places, the UCL Global Master's Scholarship of £15,000, Bristol's Think Big awards and Edinburgh's India Merit Scholarship.
Most UK universities that accept international students fund Indian applicants in 2026. The schemes below are confirmed on each university's own scholarship page, and are applied for through the university's admissions or international office.
| University Scholarship (2026-27) | University | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gates Cambridge Scholarship | University of Cambridge | Postgraduate | Full cost of study, with £22,050 maintenance for 12 months at the 2025-26 rate; about 80 awards a year |
| Clarendon Fund Scholarship | University of Oxford | Master's and DPhil | Course fees plus a living grant; over 200 new awards each year |
| President's PhD Scholarship | Imperial College London | PhD | Full fees, £26,500 a year and £2,000 consumables; 50 awards |
| Global Master's Scholarship | University College London | Taught Master's | £15,000; 85 awards with 5 for India |
| Think Big Scholarships | University of Bristol | Undergraduate and Master's | £6,500, £13,000 or £26,000 for postgraduates |
| India Merit Scholarship | University of Edinburgh | Taught Master's | £5,000 toward tuition |
| Chancellor's Scholarships | University of Warwick | PhD | Full academic fees, UKRI-rate stipend for 3.5 years and a £5,000 research grant |
What International Organisation Scholarships Help You Study in UK?
EURAXESS UK, part of the European Commission's researcher mobility network and run in Britain by the Careers Research Advisory Centre and Vitae, lists research jobs and funding across the UK. The Royal Society funds UK based and overseas scientists through schemes such as the University Research Fellowship for early career researchers.
International students can apply for a variety of scholarships from a variety of international organisations to study in the United Kingdom. Some of the most desired scholarships granted by international non-governmental organisations are listed below:
Euraxess UK
EURAXESS UK is part of the EURAXESS network created by the European Commission to support researcher mobility and career development. In the UK it is run by the Careers Research Advisory Centre, which manages Vitae, with funding from the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. It offers a free funding database, research job listings and practical guidance on visas, accommodation, healthcare and tax.
The Royal Society Grants
The Royal Society runs a range of grant schemes that support the UK scientific community and foster collaboration between UK based and overseas scientists. Early career researchers are a specific priority, notably through the University Research Fellowship for outstanding scientists in the early stages of a research career, and the full portfolio can be filtered by career stage and location.
What is the Sir Ratan Tata Postdoctoral Scholarship?
The Sir Ratan Tata Post-doctoral Fellowship is hosted by the LSE India Observatory within the International Inequalities Institute. It runs for six months in each academic year, pays up to £1,750 a month, and supports early career researchers from SAARC countries working on South Asian social science.
The Sir Ratan Tata Post-doctoral Fellowship is hosted by the LSE India Observatory, part of the International Inequalities Institute, and is offered for six months in each academic year. It pays a subsistence allowance of up to £1,750 a month and provides shared workspace, access to LSE research facilities and help toward travel costs. Applicants must already hold a PhD and be in permanent employment at an institution in the SAARC region, and the current round closes on 30 June 2026.