Best Scholarships for International Students to Study in the UK

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Any student who has done even a little bit of research about studying in the United Kingdom will know that it doesn’t tend to come cheap. With flight tickets, health insurance, visa and processing charges, increasing tuition costs, as well as sky-rocketing living expenses, you’re going to need a decent-sized bank account for that much desirable overseas stint.

However, studying in the UK can be made affordable if you plan well in advance and apply to a range of scholarships offered by the British government and universities before deadlines. Open to meritorious overseas students to help them fund their studies, these scholarships can be partial or fully paid, depending on the criteria, course, and the university you choose to study in.

So, don’t give up on the dream just yet, we’ve got the list of scholarships you could be eligible for.

Chevening Scholarships

It is an international scholarship scheme funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and partner organizations. It helps international students with leadership qualities and exceptional performance in their respective fields, to undertake postgraduate study or courses in universities in the United Kingdom.

The scholarships provide full or part funding, which includes airfare, living expenses and tuition fees for full-time graduate programs in any subject. Although these scholarships are awarded for a one-year Master’s degree, it can be extended after 1 year under the special case that will be approved by FCO.

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship

Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships are intended for students from developing Commonwealth countries who have the potential to make a change. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and cover airfare to and from the UK, tuition and examination fees, personal maintaining allowance, thesis grant (if applicable), an initial arrival allowance, among others. Indian students applying for a master’s degree or a PhD in the UK can take advantage of this scholarship to fund their education.

GREAT Scholarships

The UK Government and the British Council have jointly funded this scholarship under the Study in UK campaign. As the name suggests it is a great opportunity for international students wishing to access a UK university education. This program includes around 99 postgraduate scholarships from 36 UK universities in a wide range of subjects.

However, for Indian students, there are only 12 UK higher education institutions offering 13 postgraduate scholarships. The amount of each scholarship is equivalent to one year’s tuition of a postgraduate (taught) degree. Just keep in mind that the application deadline varies from institution to institution, so you need to check the university’s website for the same.

Scotland Saltire Scholarships(SSS)

It is a substantial programme of scholarships, offered by the Scottish government in association with Scottish Higher Education Institutions. There are 50 scholarships up for grabs every year for one-year full-time graduation program in the field of science, healthcare, technology and more. The value of each scholarship is £8,000, which will cover tuition fees for any one year of full-time study in the postgraduate master’s programme at any of Scotland’s university.

Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships (CWIT)

If you’re in the early or mid-stage of your career and experienced in arts, heritage conservation or the humanities then these scholarships are best for you. It provides fully-funded awards; visiting fellowships in certain subjects at specific institutions; grants for doctoral study; grants for research and professional visits; and grants to attend the Scottish Universities Summer School.

Don’t worry if you miss any of these scholarships because many UK universities and colleges have their own list of scholarships for international students. Also, if you are having trouble finding a student accommodation in the UK, our accommodation experts will be more than happy to help you out.