Best Scholarships for Indian Students in UK: eligibility, deadlines & tips for applying
Darshan Shah
05 Oct 2024
Universities in the United Kingdom are expensive. Before taking admission at your dream university, make sure to go through some of the best UK scholarships for Indian students. There are 20+ UK scholarships for international students offering a partial waive off in either the tuition fees or your living expenses during the study. Indian students shortly moving to the country can benefit greatly from a scholarship to study in the UK. So read more to find out which ones are the best suited for your specific needs. You can easily check the application eligibility and deadlines for applying.
Types of UK Scholarships for International Students
There are several different types of scholarships for international students wanting to study in UK:
Government Scholarships
The Indian government as well as the UK's government offers grants, loans, and scholarships to international students. Your family’s financial situation is taken into consideration in addition to your performance to award you a scholarship to study in UK. There are even some fully funded scholarships for undergraduate international students in UK, offered by governments.
Academic Scholarships
These scholarships are merit-based, awarded to the best candidates who portray excellence in academics. This is done with the motive that the money spent on a candidate will be worth it.
Athletic Scholarships
If you’re exceptionally good in a particular sport, athletic scholarships are a pathway to studying at a good university in the UK. But these are fiercely competitive being merit-based as well
There are several other UK scholarships for international students such as STEM scholarships, employer-sponsored tuition assistance, and graduate student funding.
Application Months for a Scholarship to Study in UK
It is a merit-based and need-based scholarship offered by the UK gov. Up to 18,59 Lakh INR is awarded for covering tuition fees, living costs, travel and visa expenses.
Enrolled in a 1 year Masters degree at a UK institution and must have 2 years of work experience. Your program should start by September or October. You will need to return to India for at least 2 years after your degree is completed. Minimum scores of IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79, or PTE 58 are also required.
5 November 2025
Commonwealth Scholarship UK
Over 7 different scholarships are offered by Commonwealth Scholarships. Check them out here. Your degree must start in September or October. You need at least 60-65% marks in your previous degree. You also need to be able to afford to study in the UK on your own. Complete tuition costs will be covered. Monthly stipend of 1.48 Lakh INR or 1.81 Lakh INR (for London metropolitan area universities) will be provided. Warm clothing allowance, one time airfare to the UK and back to India will be provided.Study-related travel costs will be covered.
17 October 2024
The Felix Scholarship
Tuition fees will be covered. Funds worth 75.25 Lakh INR will be provided.
You must be below 30 years of age and you must return to India after finishing the course.
December, January, May (depending on your course)
Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships
Grants are offered for PhD and research.
Must be 25-38 years in age. You must have a prior degree in your chosen field.
Depending on the University.
Rhodes Scholarship
56.76 Lakh INR is given to cover your tuition fees, living costs, and economic class air tickets.
19-25 years in age. And a previous degree with first class.
Yet to be announced for the year 2025.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Covers tuition fees and other allowances.
You must be enrolled in a full-time PhD or Msc/MLitt at a UK university.
Either 3 December or 7 January depending on your course.era
Erasmus Mundus
Tuition fees, library and laboratory costs, insurance, and monthly allowances are covered.
Bachelor’s degree with first class. You should graduate before your program in the UK starts.
15 January 2025
Edinburgh Global Scholarships
Covers tuition fees and an additional stipend is given.
Should be enrolled in on-campus research courses, either part-time or full-time.
Yet to be announced
Queen Mary University of London Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships
Up to 4.19 Lakh INR is offered.
You should be admitted to the Queen Mary University of London
Yet to be announced
Other Notable UK Scholarships for Indian Students
Clarendon Scholarship
Inlaks Scholarships
Scotland Saltire Scholarships
Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarship
Hornby Scholarships
Goa Education Trust Scholarships
The Global Study Awards
Bristol University International Office Scholarships
Carnegie PhD Scholarships
Chancellor’s International Scholarships
UAL Vice-chancellor’s Postgraduate International Scholarships
Castle Smart Scholarships
Vueville Future Technology Scholarship
Coventry University Scholarships
University of West London International Ambassador Scholarships
These are some of the best UK scholarships for Indian students. We hope you can get an idea about all the UK scholarships for international students that are currently available. A scholarship to study in the UK will open doors to some of the most prestigious universities around the globe.
Yes. Choosing a scholarship to study in UK will allow you to remove the burden of the country’s expensive universities. There are a lot of scholarships offered by the government as well as universities themselves.
How can I get a 100% scholarship in the UK?
These are some of the scholarships that offer a 100% tuition fee waiver to international students:
GREAT Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarships
Who is eligible for the UK scholarship?
Common eligibility criteria for being shortlisted for UK scholarships are:
Good IELTS scores
Good CGPA in your degree
Overall strong academic image
A good letter of purpose
Strong recommendations
Other scholarship specific criteria
How to study in the UK for free for Indian students?
Through various UK scholarships for Indian students mentioned above.
Is getting scholarship in UK hard?
Yes, getting a government scholarship in the UK is hard. But you can also try for a university scholarship at the institution you wish to study in UK and many universities offer a scholarship to study in UK.