Top Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in UK

Studying abroad can be an expensive affair and students look for various ways to mitigate the costs. Among the various choices which prospective international students have to lessen their financial burden, scholarships are the most preferred and sought after choice. There are various sources of scholarships for international students. They can be offered by the corresponding university, granted by the related state or national government, or can be sponsored by individual private, public or public-private organizations. While a lot of programmes, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, at most of the top universities across the world offer scholarship opportunities, the knowledge of the funding options is often not known to the prospective international students. Hence, we have prepared a list of some of the important scholarship programmes available for Indian students who wish to study in UK.

Top Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in UK

Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarships

The Dr. Manmohan Singh PhD Scholarships are offered by the St John’s College of the University of Cambridge for academically outstanding Indian students below 35 years of age wishing to pursue their doctoral degrees in subjects like Science & Technology, Economics and Social Sciences. The applications for the scholarships need to be submitted to the British Council by mid January every year for the September/October session of that year.

Cambridge University also offers Dr. Manmohan Singh Undergraduate Scholarships for Indian students planning to pursue their undergraduate programme.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You must be below the age of 35 years.

2. You must have a postgraduate degree from an affiliated Indian institution for the PhD scholarship.

3. You must have scored a first-class in your graduation as well as postgraduate degrees in the field you are applying for.

4. Your work experience and essays must highlight your leadership qualities.

5. You must have the required proficiency in the English language in the written and spoken criteria.

Commonwealth Scholarships

The Commonwealth Scholarships Commission offers the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan for students of Commonwealth countries who can make a significant contribution to their home country after the completion of a higher education programme in the UK.

The application period for the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan is generally between July/August and the first week of October every year.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You must be below 40 years of age and a resident of India
2. You must be shortlisted for the scholarship and you will have to attend a personal interview in New Delhi.

Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships

The Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships are awarded to deserving Indians in the early to mid stages of their careers, and provide them with an opportunity to spend time in the UK, and achieve artistic, academic and professional ambitions and to broaden their international contacts.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You must be of age between 25-38 years.

2. You must possess a graduate degree, or a diploma/certification in your field of interest.

Hornby Scholarships

The Hornby Educational Trust offers Hornby Scholarships for candidates wishing to pursue a one year full-time Master’s degree in an English Language Teaching related subject in the UK.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You must have a degree in English or teaching.

2. You must have the experience of working as a full-time teacher for at least three years.

3. You must fulfil the English language requirements as specified by the university.

Oxford and Cambridge Society of India Scholarship

The Oxford and Cambridge Society of India Scholarships are part cost awards meant for outstanding Indian students of not more than 30 years of age wishing to pursue an undergraduate, second undergraduate, graduate study, or research in any subject at the universities of Cambridge or Oxford, UK.

The application period for the Oxford and Cambridge Society of India Scholarships is generally between 1^st February and 30^th April every year.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You must be a citizen of India.
2. You must not be older than 30 years as of September 1 as per the year when you apply for the award.
3. You must have gained admission to Oxford or Cambridge university.
4. You must have proof that you are a resident of Oxford or Cambridge.

Inlaks Scholarships

Inlaks scholarships provide an opportunity to young Indian aspirants with exceptional talent in any field to broaden their vision through university courses or by pursuing specific programmes like research, training or professional improvement.

Applications for the scholarships are accepted between 10th January and 15th April every year.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You must be below 30 years of age.

2. You must have a first-class degree from a recognized institution in India.

3. You must be a resident of India for the last six months at the time of applying for the Inlaks Scholarship.

Felix Scholarships

The Felix Scholarship is offered to deserving underprivileged students from India and certain other developing countries wishing to pursue their postgraduate education at the University of Oxford, the University of Reading, or the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), part of the University of London in the UK.

The application deadline for the Felix Scholarships lies generally in the month of January every year.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You must be an Indian citizen.
2. You must not be studying or staying in India.
3. You must have a first class degree from a recognized Indian university.

Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships

The Scotland’s Saltire Scholarship Programme offers scholarships towards the tuition fees for a one-year full time Undergraduate, Masters or PhD programme at any of Scotland’s higher education institutions. The scholarships prioritize students from Canada, China, India and the USA wishing to pursue their studies in sectors like creative industries, life sciences, technology, financial services and renewable and clean energy.

The closing date for applications for the scholarships is generally 30th May every year.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You can be a citizen of any of these countries- India, Canada, Japan, Pakistan, the USA or China.

2. You must have enough finances to afford the cost of living in Scotland.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarships

Gates Cambridge Scholarships are full-cost scholarships awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK wishing to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge. The applications for the Gates Cambridge Scholarships are generally available from 1^st September to early December each year.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You must be a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
2. You must have applied to any one of the following courses at the University of Cambridge:

• PhD (full-time or part-time)
• MLitt (full-time)
• One year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions

The Rhodes Scholarships India

The Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards that support holistically outstanding students at the University of Oxford. The scholarships are meant for young women and men between the age of 18 and 28 who possess outstanding intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service pursuing a full-time postgraduate degree programme at the University of Oxford.

The applications for Rhodes Scholarships open during the spring and summer of the preceding year.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You must be a citizen of a Rhodes eligible country such as India, Australia, Germany, Singapore, etc.
2. You must have completed your education in your home country in a course of four years in the last 10 years.
3. You must be aged between 19 to 25 years, at the time of the scholarship application.
4. You must have completed or should have completed your UG degree with first class.

Erasmus Mundus - Scholarships and Academic Cooperation

The Erasmus Mundus Scholarships and Academic co-operation provides an opportunity to students from specific countries to pursue a joint master’s or doctoral programme in a consortium of European Universities, with a chance to complete the programme in at least two universities.

Applications for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarships are open in the last quarter of the previous year or January for course commencing in a specific year.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You must have completed your bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification from a reputed university.

Chevening UK Government Scholarships

The Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship programme. The scholarships are funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and partner organizations. The Chevening Scholarship programme is awarded to outstanding scholars, from across the world, who possess leadership potential and are wishing to pursue postgraduate courses at universities in the UK.

The applications for the Chevening Scholarship open generally during summer each year for the next academic year admissions.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

1. You must be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory.
2. You must return to your home country for a minimum period of two years after the period of your award has ended.
3. You must have completed an undergraduate degree or its equivalent.
4. You must have at least two years of work experience.
5. You must have applied to three different UK universities and must have an offer of admission from at least one of them.

List of scholarships to study abroad by country:

Royal Society grants

The Royal Society is the national Academy of science in the UK. It is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine. The Royal Society provides a range of grant schemes to support the UK scientific community and foster collaboration between UK based and overseas scientists.

The UK Government also offers a number of loans or financial supports to international students in UK on the basis of their nationality, need and academic merit.

Other Studentships and Scholarship Programmes

Apart from above mentioned scholarships for Indian students, there exist a number of scholarship and studentship opportunities which are administered by the universities or by external agencies. Studentship and scholarship programmes for postgraduate studies in UK are especially available in enough numbers.

Also Read:

• Accommodation in the UK

• Masters in UK for Indian students

• MBA in UK for Indian students

• Study in UK without IELTS