Scholarships to Study in the UK for Indian Students 2026: Chevening, Commonwealth & More
The top UK scholarships Indian students can actually win in 2026 — Chevening, Commonwealth, GREAT, and university-specific awards — with eligibility, what they cover, and how to apply.
▶ Free College Predictor & study-abroad toolsChevening Scholarship
The UK government's flagship fully-funded award covers tuition, living, flights and visa for a one-year master's. You need a bachelor's, about 2 years (2,800 hours) of work experience, and an offer from an eligible UK course. Selection rewards leadership and a clear post-study plan back in India.
Commonwealth Scholarships
Funded by the UK for students from Commonwealth countries including India, mainly for master's and PhD. Fully funded (tuition, stipend, travel). Many are aimed at development-related fields and candidates who could not otherwise afford UK study.
GREAT Scholarships
Jointly funded by the British Council and UK universities, GREAT Scholarships offer at least GBP 10,000 towards tuition for a one-year postgraduate course, with several reserved specifically for Indian students. Apply directly to the participating university.
University-specific awards
Most UK universities offer their own international/merit scholarships (e.g. partial tuition waivers worth GBP 5,000–15,000). These are often automatic on admission or via a short separate form — check each university's scholarships page and deadlines.
How to win one
Apply early, tailor every essay to the funder's mission, get strong references, and show measurable impact and a concrete return-to-India plan. A high IELTS band strengthens both admission and scholarship applications.
Find more, free
Use LandingPrep's free scholarship finder and SOP builder to shortlist UK awards you qualify for and draft winning essays — and take a free IELTS mock to hit the band your target course needs.