Worried about which scholarship in the UK is a right fit for you? Or is it even possible to attain overseas education with an international scholarship at your fingertips? If these are the questions running in your mind, fret not, there is an opportunity for all Indian students who are aspiring to study in the land of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

UK scholarships are the silver lining for students who are aspiring to study abroad with the intension to not dig holes in their pockets. However, it can often get quite confusing how to achieve the fully funded scholarships in the UK, or to know your eligibility for the need-based scholarships.

Nonetheless, in this blog we will walk you down the different types of exciting international scholarships, along with their eligibility, deadlines, benefits, and much more. So, lets dig deep, and I assure you by the end of this blog all your questions and confusion will puff in thin air!

Understanding tuition fees of the most popular UK universities

Before knowing more about the types of scholarships and their eligibility, it is important to be well aware about the tuition fee structure. Most of the top UK universities that are mentioned below are a part of the Russel Group list, which is a collection of 24 universities that are renowned for their research-intensive nature, and academic standards, similar to Ivy League Universities.

Shall we begin?

University	Tuition Fee (INR)
Coventry University	₹2,82,000
University of Bristol	₹27,40,000
University of Birmingham	₹6,60,000
Queen Mary University of London	₹4,70,000
Brunel University London	₹1,88,000
University of Bath	₹1,88,000
Aston University Birmingham	₹6,60,000
Cranfield University	₹10,55,000
University of St. Andrews	₹10,55,000
University of Exeter	₹10,55,000
University of Glasgow	₹10,55,000
King’s College London	₹10,55,000
University of Edinburgh	₹10,55,000
University of Leeds	₹28,45,000

Now that we got a good idea, let’s get to the most awaited topic, SCHOLARSHIP!

Top scholarships for Indian students in the UK

1. Chevening Scholarships

Overview: The scholarship is funded by the UK government, and are awarded to outstanding emerging leaders to pursue a one-year of master’s degree in any subject at any UK university.

Benefits: Fully-funded tuition, living expenses, and return airfare.

Eligibility: Minimum 2 years of work experience with key leadership qualities.

Deadline: Aug – Nov (previous year)

Official Website: https://www.chevening.org/

2. Commonwealth Scholarships

Overview: These scholarships are aimed at students from Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK. India is a part of the Commonwealth countries.

Benefits: Full tuition, airfare, and a living allowance.

Eligibility: Must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country, hold a first degree of at least upper second class, and show financial need.

Deadline: November – December

Official Website: https://www.gov.uk/commonwealth-scholarships

3. GREAT Scholarships

Overview: The scholarship is partnered with the British Council, offering students from India £10,000 towards their tuition fees for a wide range of one-year taught postgraduate courses.

Benefits: £10,000 ( 9,41,490 INR) tuition fee coverage.

Eligibility: For taught postgraduate courses at selected universities.

Deadline: University-specific

Official Website: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/scholarships-funding/great-scholarships/india

4. Rhodes Scholarships

Overview: One of the oldest and most prestigious international scholarship programs, the scholarship allows outstanding students from around the world, including India, to study at the University of Oxford.

Benefits: Fully funded Oxford education, airfare, and stipend.

Eligibility: Exceptional intellect, leadership, and character.

Deadline: June – August

Official Website: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/applications/

Click here for another scholarship opportunity for University of Oxford (MBA students).

5. Felix Scholarships

Overview: The scholarship offers Indian students who are in dire need of financial assistance and have an excellent academic performance, the opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies in the UK.

Benefits: Full tuition, living expenses, and travel grants.

Eligibility: Indian citizens with financial need and excellent academic record.

Deadline: University-specific

Official Website: http://www.felixscholarship.org/

Top 8 popular university-specific scholarships

1. University of Bristol – Think Big Scholarships

Overview: The University of Bristol offers the Think Big Scholarships to support ambitious and talented international students who are pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate studies in 2025.

Benefits: Scholarships valued at £5,000, £10,000, and £20,000 are available for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Eligibility:

They must be classified as an overseas student for fee purposes
Have applied to start a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate course at the University of Bristol

Application Process: Applications are submitted online through the university’s official portal.

2. University of Birmingham – 125th Anniversary Scholarships

Overview: In celebration of its 125th anniversary, the University of Birmingham is offering scholarships to outstanding international postgraduate students from selected countries, including India.

Benefits: About £5,000 scholarships are offered for postgraduate international students from select countries, including India.

Eligibility:

They must be a national of one of the eligible countries.
Have received an offer for a taught master’s degree at the University of Birmingham.

Application Process: Detailed information is available on the University of Birmingham’s scholarships page.

3. Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) – Global Talent Scholarships

Overview: QMUL offers the Global Talent Scholarships to reward high-achieving international students joining undergraduate or postgraduate programs in September 2025.

Benefits: Awards worth £3,000 for undergraduate students and £5,000 for postgraduate students starting in September 2025.

Eligibility:

Must be classified as an overseas fee payer.
Have an offer for an eligible program at Queen Mary University of London.

Application Process: Scholarships are awarded automatically to eligible students.

4. University of Glasgow – World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship

Overview: The University of Glasgow offers the World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship to new International and EU students for 2025 entry.

Benefits: £7,000 tuition fee discount per year of study, subject to satisfactory progress.

Eligibility:

Classified as an International or EU (non-UK) fee status.
Hold an offer for an undergraduate program for 2025 entry.
Meet specified academic qualifications.

Application Process: Applicants are automatically assessed based on academic merit during the admission process; no separate application is required.

Click here to know more about a fully-funded UK scholarship for MBA students.

5. University of Leeds – International Masters Regional Scholarships

Overview: The University of Leeds has announced the International Masters Regional Scholarships for 2025, offering a £6,000 fee reduction for Indian students enrolling in taught Master’s courses.

Benefits: £6,000 tuition fee reduction.

Eligibility:

Be a national of an eligible country, including India.
Hold an offer for a full-time taught master’s program at the University of Leeds.

Application Process: Eligible applicants are automatically considered; no separate application is necessary.

6. King’s College London – Vice-Chancellor’s Awards

Overview: King’s College London has introduced the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for postgraduate study, offering a £10,000 fee reduction for India-domiciled students.

Benefits: £10,000 tuition fee reduction.

Eligibility:

Domiciled in India.
Applying for an eligible postgraduate program.

Application Process: Specific application details and deadlines are provided on the university’s funding page.

7. University of Edinburgh – India Merit Scholarship

Overview: The University of Edinburgh is offering the India Merit Scholarship to academically outstanding Indian students enrolling in on-campus postgraduate taught master’s programs for the 2025/26 academic year.

Benefits: £5,000 towards tuition fees, tenable for the first year of study.

Eligibility:

Citizen of India.
Applied for a full-time, on-campus postgraduate taught master’s program at the University of Edinburgh.

Application Process: Applicants must complete an online scholarship application by the specified deadline.

8. University of Exeter – Exeter Excellence Scholarships

Overview: The University of Exeter offers Exeter Excellence Scholarships to support international fee-paying students, including those from India, commencing studies in 2025/26.

Benefits: Scholarships ranging from £3,000 to £10,000 as a tuition fee discount for the first year of study.

Eligibility:

Classified as an international student for fee purposes.
Hold an offer for an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate taught program at the University of Exeter.

Application Process: Applicants are automatically considered based on academic merit; no separate application is required.

The following bar chart compares the approximate tuition fees for selected UK universities:

Fully Funded vs. Partial Scholarships

Fully funded scholarships are truly a dream come true. However, in order to secure such a rare yet requisite blessing, it is important to be well aware about the scholarship coverage. Everything from tuition fees, living expenses, airfare, to health insurance is under the umbrella of fully funded scholarships. Few examples of the same include Chevening and Rhodes Scholarships, which have been explained in the above sections.

However, partial scholarships may only cover tuition or a percentage of it. So, it is crucial to review what each award has in store for you before applying!

Documents Required for UK Scholarships

Academic Transcripts
IELTS/TOEFL Scores
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Letters of Recommendation
Proof of Financial Need (for need-based scholarships in the UK)
Updated CV/Resume

Conclusion

Now that you are well aware of the renowned UK scholarships, and popular university-specific scholarships, it is imperative to make sure your study abroad journey is not hampered by the misinformation flooding the internet.

And so, an experienced counsellor and a genuine overseas consultancy are the two crucial wheels to move your aspiration to its rightful destination.

As only a few scholarship achievers can bag the prestigious and generous scholarships by acing their SOP, LOR, financial proofs, CV/resume, and IELTS/other English proficiency scores, it is important to seek help from someone who can understand you and your dreams.

Truly so, this can only be possible through reliable and experienced overseas education specialists. We, BNPS International, are driven to be just that for you – a catalyst who is dedicated to shape your dreams into a fruitful reality!