UK Scholarships for Indian Students 2025-26

Top 10 UK Scholarships for Indian Students

Studying in the UK for higher studies can be expensive, however, scholarships funded entirely allow students from India to pursue studies free of tuition fees, accommodation charges, and others. The top fully or partly funded UK scholarships for Indian students are listed below:

1. Chevening Scholarship

Funded by the UK government, the Chevening Scholarship is awarded to students with demonstrable leadership potential and a strong academic background. They offer fully funded scholarships for Indian students in UK, providing full financial support for a one-year master’s degree in any subject at any of the top institutes in the UK. Moreover, to get more information take a look below:

Offered Amount: £30,000 (INR 32,04,870 approx) yearly.

Coverage: Tuition Fees, Flight Fare, a monthly stipend for living expenses and accommodation, visa application fee, and excess baggage allowance.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian Citizenship
• Holds an undergraduate degree for PG admission
• Have at least 2 years of work experience
• Have an unconditional offer letter from at least one university

Note: English proficiency requirements were removed for the Chevening Scholarship 2020. But, you must meet university-specific English requirements to secure an offer letter from them.

2. Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships

Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships is offered for a Masters degree in the field of Arts and Heritage Conservation. This scholarship is for artists and usually covers 10 months. The awards are generally from 2-3 months up to a maximum of a year. Moreover, to get more information take a look below:

Offered Amount: £30,000 (INR 32,04,870 approx) yearly

Coverage: Accommodation and living costs in the UK, tuition fees, and a contribution to international fares.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian citizen living in India
• Be aged between 28 and 38
• Have not received a CWIT grant within the last five years
• Have a first degree, diploma, or professional qualification in their specialization.
• Applicants must not have received a CWIT grant in the past five years.
• Have significant working experience

3. Commonwealth Scholarships

This scholarship is offered by the UK Department for International Development, 3. Commonwealth Scholarships are aimed at students from developing Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. These scholarships cover master’s and PhD programs. Moreover, to get more information take a look below:

Offered Amount: Fully covers tuition fees, living allowance £1,347, or £1,652 (181,277.10 INR or 147,768.19 INR approx) yearly.

Coverage: Tuition fees, airfare, living allowances, and other expenses for studying in the UK.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Be a citizen or permanent resident of a Commonwealth country. 
• Hold an undergraduate degree with at least an upper second class (2:1). 
• Own an appropriate master’s degree for PhD studies. 
• Lack the financial means to study in the UK without a scholarship. 
• Exhibit academic merit. 
• Demonstrate potential to positively impact your home country. 
• Be sufficiently fluent in English to pursue your intended course of study.

4. The Felix Scholarship

Felix scholarships are available for academically outstanding and disadvantaged students from India and other developing countries. In addition, should be less than 30 years of age, and hold a first-class Bachelor's degree from a renowned Indian university. A maximum of six scholarships are offered to the students to pursue their PG education at the University of Reading & School of Oriental and African Studies each year by the Felix Scholarship Trust. Moreover, to get more information take a look below:

Offered Amount: Around £17,800 (1,553,020 INR approx)

Coverage: Full Tuition fees, living allowances, and other expenses for postgraduate studies in the UK.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be applying to start a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Reading.
• Have to show your academic excellence
• Financial need proof
• Be committed to returning to your home country after completing your studies
• Have an offer of admission to the program

Additional requirements for Indian citizens, the following eligibility criteria apply:

• You must be an Indian national and not currently living or studying outside of India.
• You must have not previously studied for one year or more outside India.
• You must have at least a first-class bachelor's degree from an Indian University or a comparable institution.
• You must not hold a degree from a university outside of India.

Note: Candidates who already possess a master's degree are not eligible to apply for a master's degree scholarship.

5. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, these scholarships are awarded to outstanding candidates from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time PG degree in any subject at the University of Cambridge. This is one of the best fully funded scholarships for Indian students in the UK for PhD students. Moreover, to get more information take a look below:

Offered Amount: £21,000 (2,300,760 INR approx) yearly, health insurance, academic development funding up to £2,000 (219,075.80 INR approx) and family allowance up to £16,548 (1,812,560.36 INR approx).

Coverage: The full cost of tuition, maintenance allowance, and one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course. In addition, inbound visa costs and the fee of the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Apply to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses: PhD, MSc/MLitt, or a one-year PG course.
• Demonstrate academic achievements, leadership potential, and a commitment to improving the lives of others.

6. Erasmus Mundus

The Erasmus Mundus joint Masters Degree Scholarships offer students globally the chance to pursue a fully funded, high-quality Master’s degree. Moreover, to get more information take a look below:

Offered Amount: Around €1,400 (INR 126,821.80 approx) monthly.

Coverage: Full cost of tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, travel insurance, and sometimes extra costs like travel expenses.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Have a bachelor’s degree or be in your last year of bachelor's studies
• Graduate before the master’s program starts

7. GREAT Scholarships

Funded by the UK government's GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council, in partnership with UK higher education institutions. These scholarships offer are among the best one-year Master’s fully funded scholarships in UK for international students. Moreover, to get more information take a look below:

Offered Amount: Around £10,000 (INR 1,094,333 approx) towards tuition fees.

Coverage: Full tuition fees for a one-year master's program. It also covers the first year of the two-year master's program.

Eligibility Criteria:

• A passport holder of India, Nigeria, and Vietnam
• Undergraduate degree from the home country
• Relevant work experience or a strong interest in your chosen stream of study
• Be proficient in English, as proven by a test like TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE
• Have an admission letter from the university you want to study at
• Have a valid passport and UK student visa

8. Inlaks Scholarships

The American, European, and United Kingdom institutes grant these scholarships to fund the brightest students to meet all the necessities including tuition fees. These scholarships are provided basically for university courses and specific courses. It is a fully funded scholarships for Indian students in UK. Now, read below to get more information take a look below:

Offered Amount: Up to USD 100,000 (INR 8,664,925 approx)

Coverage: Tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs

Eligibility Criteria:

• Be an Indian citizen living in India at the time of application
• Holds a good bachelor's degree from an Indian University. If your degree is from a foreign university, you must have lived in India for at least two years since graduation.
• Start your PhD within nine months of receiving the scholarship
• Be 30 years old or younger on the application date (born on or after January 1, 1995, for scholarships 2025)

9. Rhodes Scholarship

This is one of the oldest UK scholarships for Indian students. The Rhodes Scholarship enables outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. If you are searching for a fully funded LLM scholarship in the UK, this could be an excellent choice, as it covers law studies at Oxford. Moreover, to get more information take a look below:

Offered Amount: $75,000 (INR 6,498,694 approx) yearly to up to $250,000 (INR 21,662,313 approx) over four years.

Coverage: Tuition fees and living expenses for graduate students studying at Oxford University.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Be an Indian citizen
• Prove your academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to service
• Be between 19 and 25 years old
• Have completed a bachelor’s degree by the time of application

10. Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarships

This scholarship is named after India’s former Prime Minister, these grants are awarded to Indian students applying for doctoral studies at St. John’s College, University of Cambridge. This is an excellent option for students seeking a fully funded PhD scholarship for international students in the UK.

Offered Amount: INR 40 Crore for the 2025 session. 

Coverage: Full cost of tuition fees, college fees, and monthly living stipend for the duration of the postgraduate course.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Be an Indian national with a valid passport.
• You should be 35 years of age while submitting your application.
• Have a master’s degree from a reputed or popular Indian institution.
• Prove your leadership qualities and potential.

These were the top 10 UK scholarships for Indian students you can apply as per your preference. Now look at the next section for a list of fully-funded scholarship for Indian students in UK based on university, public and private.

Also Read:UK Universities for Masters to Study in 2025

Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students in UK

Here is a list of popular public, private, and university-based fully funded scholarships in UK, look below:

UK Scholarships Offered by UK Government Based

The three main UK government scholarships on offer are:

1. Chevening Scholarship
2. Commonwealth Scholarships
3. GREAT Scholarships

UK Scholarships Offered by Private Trust Funds

Some fully funded scholarships for Indian students in the UK are offered by private trust funds.

1. Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships
2. British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM
3. Edinburgh Global Undergraduate Scholarships
4. The Felix Scholarship
5. Inlaks Scholarships
6. Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme
7. Rhodes Scholarship
8. Gates Cambridge Scholarships
9. The JN Tata Endowment Scholarship

UK Scholarship Offed by Universities

Here is a list of some UK scholarships for Indian students offered by universities:

1. University of Exeter PhD Scholarship
2. Clarendon Fund Scholarships
3. Cranfield University Athena Scholarship
4. Solutions Masters Scholarship 
5. Global Excellence Scholarship
6. Gates Cambridge Scholarships

Also Read: Top Universities in UK for International Students

These are some of the scholarships for Indian students to study in the UKoffered by UK government, private trust funds and universities.

Conclusion

Summing up, we discussed the top scholarships for Indian students in the UK to study in the academic year 2025-26. Also, we have a tool scholarships to study in UK that will help you look briefly at the grants for both bachelor’s and master’s courses. These awards make students' journeys easy and affordable. However, if you are planning to fulfill your study abroad journey in the UK, then we are here for you! Connect with our consultant and convert your dreams into reality.

FAQs:

1. Is it Possible to Get a Full Scholarship to Study in UK?

Yes, it is possible to get a full scholarship to study in UK, with the most prominent option such as the Chevening Scholarship, Rhodes, offering full coverage for tuition fees, living expenses, travel expenses, and more.

2. When Should I Apply for the Scholarships in UK?

To maximize your chances of securing a scholarship in UK, you should start researching and applying for a scholarship as early as possible. Ideally several months before the application deadline for your chosen university courses and often even a year in advance, as deadlines can vary between university courses and often even a year in advance.

3. Which Universities in UK Offer 100% Scholarships?

The University of Westminister and the University of Nottingham are among the universities in the UK that offer full-tuition scholarships.

4. Is IELTS Required for a UK Scholarship?

Yes, an IELTS test is generally required to apply for a UK scholarship for Indian students. Since, most scholarships in the UK demand proof of English Language proficiency, IELTS is widely accepted as a reliable way to show this ability.

5. Which Scholarship is Easy to Obtain for Indian Students in the UK?

There are some scholarships for Indian students in UK that are considered easier to apply for are listed below:

• Chevening Scholarships
• Commonwealth Scholarships
• University-Specific Scholarships

6. Can Indian Students Get a Scholarship in UK?

Yes, Indian students can get scholarships to study in the UK, including fully funded scholarships.

7. How Much Percentage Is Required to Study in UK with a Scholarship?

To study in UK Scholarship, you typically need a high percentage, usually ranging between 60% to 80%. However, it fully depends on the scholarship, university, and course.