Top 5 Scholarships to Study in the UK

Studying abroad may sound challenging at first. However, it isn’t if you are clear about your goals. Students who want to study in the UK need to do thorough research. They need to find the best universities that offer the program they wish to pursue, what is the fee structure, and above all, what are the chances of securing scholarships. There are plenty of scholarships in the UK for Indian students offered by governments and private organisations.

Typically, scholarship programs cover tuition fees. However, some also cover related expenses like travel, residential, and visa fees. The government of India, the British Council and affiliated organisations manage the respective scholarships eligibility, financial aid, and grants.

Let us take a look at the top 5 scholarships to study in the UK

1. Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship

The Commonwealth commission offers scholarships to Master’s and PhD students from low and middle-income countries. The selection happens on the basis of academic performance and the potential of candidates. Students can fund their studies in the UK by using this scholarship program to cover their tuition fees, airfare and other relevant maintenance costs.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) funds the majority of the scholarships. You can find more information here.

2. Chevening Scholarships for International Students

Chevening scholarship is a unique scholarship. The UK government offers scholarships and grants to exceptional talents in their fields. The Chevening scholarships are fully funded. Hence, in addition to tuition fees, the students also get airfare, visa fee, on-arrival allowances, monthly stipend, and grants for travel to Chevening activities in the UK.

Candidates can apply for this 12-month scholarship by visiting the Chevening scholarship’s official website. The scholarship is valid for courses for up to 12 months in the UK. However, one can apply for an extension if required.

3. GREAT Scholarships – India

The UK government and British Council fund the GREAT scholarships. Indian students can avail 13 postgraduate scholarships from 12 universities offering higher education. Each scholarship covers the entire year’s tuition fees for a postgraduate program. The universities provide these grants based on previous academic performance and the financial needs of the candidates.

You may find more information by visiting the official website of the British Council and respective universities. Please note that the application dates will vary. Hence, you must check the details from the university you wish to apply to.

4. Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships

The CWIT scholarships provide excellent support and opportunities to exceptional Indian candidates in their early and mid-level careers. The scholarship focuses on specific areas of study and research, including arts and conservation. The students can avail of fully funded grants that cover living costs, accommodation, and airfare. The duration can be between 2 to 12 months. Short-term visiting fellowship grants allow writers, researchers, and academic scholars to support their work. Doctoral grants focus on funding gaps for the final year of PhD studies in arts, heritage and other areas of humanities.

You can find more details on CWIT or the British Council of India’s official website.

5. Rhodes Scholarships

Oxford University offers five scholarships to Indian students under the Rhodes Scholarships program. The students with an exceptional academic record, leadership qualities and dedication to service are the suitable candidates for this fully funded scholarship. Rhodes scholarship covers entire college and university fees, a stipend to cover personal expenses, airfare to travel to Oxford, and return home upon completion of the course.

In addition to these top 5 scholarships, other scholarship programs exist for students who wish to study in the UK. Erasmus Mundus Scholarships, Dr Manmohan Ship Scholarships, Sir Ratan Tata Scholarships, and Goa Education Trust Scholarships are some of the other scholarships.