Top Scholarships for Indian Students Who Wish to Study in The UK
The topmost problem faced by the students who wish to study abroad is 'finance'. There are many options to finance your studies abroad. Scholarships are the main source of funding options for many students. In this article, we'll discuss in detail the different scholarships in the UK to Indian students.
Introduction:
'Finance' is the main hitch which students generally face when they decide to go abroad for studies. Some Indian students opt for bank loans, some arrange for private funds whereas the others prefer to opt for scholarships. Before we jump into the different scholarships available to the Indian students; here's a brief classification of the scholarships.
For simplicity, scholarships are classified into two parts, viz, category-wise and university-wise. Within each category, I've mentioned the Universities that do it.Category Wise Classification of Scholarships:
Category Wise classification of scholarships is done based on:
Residential status
Subjects opted for studies (arts, science, medicine)
Course level (graduate or postgraduate)
Duration of courses (short or long)
Persons belonging to a special category (professionals, women, minority)
Type (Need-based, Merit-based)
Applicability (Specific college/University, Applicable to all)
Accordingly, they can be classified as under:Commonwealth Scholarships:
This is used for funding postgraduate studies. If you are pursuing a Master's degree or Ph.D. from a UK university then you become eligible for this scholarship.
The Commonwealth Scholarships funded by FCDO are offered under the following themes and chances of getting the scholarship to depend pretty much on the fact whether you are studying the relevant subject.
The areas or the themes for Commonwealth Scholarships are:
Science and Technology for development
Strengthening Health Systems and Capacity
Promoting Global Prosperity
Strengthening Global Peace, Security and Governance
Who is Eligible for Commonwealth Scholarships?
Commonwealth scholarships are available to all residents of Commonwealth countries.
You qualify for this scholarships if:
You are a Citizen of Commonwealth countries
Permanent Resident of Commonwealth countries or
A Refugee or British protected person(BPP)
What is the Procedure to Apply for Commonwealth Scholarships?
To apply for Commonwealth scholarships you need to submit your applications through the National Nominating agency. Each country has its own nominating body. In the case of India you can apply to:
Mr. Santosh Kumar
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Ministry of Education
West Block -1, Wing -6, 2nd Floor
R.K. Puram, New Delhi – 110066
India
Tel: +91 11 261 72917
Email: santoshkumar73@nic.in
www.education.gov.in/en/scholarships
It is to be noted that you can't directly apply for scholarships; it needs to be routed through the Nominating agency.
Supporting Documents for Commonwealth Scholarships Application
Documentation required:
Scanned copy of your passport
Academic transcript
Existing University Degree Certificate
Admission letter
Two references
Which Universities/Educational Institutions in the UK offer CommonWealth Scholarships?
There are around 90 universities in the UK that offer Commonwealth Scholarships. But some universities have a tie-up with the Commission.
As per this MOU, the universities fund 20% of the tuition fees on their own.
The following is the list of universities that have signed MOU with the Commission. For a complete list, you need to visit the official website- cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk
Aberystwyth University
Aston University
Bangor University
Bishop Grosseteste University
University of Glasgow
University of Greenwich
University of Hertfordshire
University of Huddersfield
University of Leeds
University of Leicester
University of Westminster
University of West London
University of Wolverhampton
University of Worcester
University of York
How can you know whether you qualified for the Scholarship?
The CSC will inform you through an email if you have been selected for the CommonWealth Sponsorship. It not only covers your tuition fees but also airfare, and maintenance expenses in the UK.Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships (CWIT)
Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships are given to the students who have opted for a career in arts, humanities, and heritage, researchers. These scholarships are usually allotted for one year only.
Which areas are covered for CWIT grants?
CWIT Long-term grants:
These grants are made for a duration of 2 to 3 months or a maximum of up to 1 year. It is extremely difficult to get this grant because it is competitive.
It covers the accommodation, living costs, fees, and contributions to the international fares. For international travel, it covers you up to GBP 600. Generally, it is for the students who opt for a full-time MA course.
Visiting fellowships:
It covers a broad spectrum of 10 fellowships. It includes writers, academicians, and translators to opt for the Scholarship. Accordingly, they can spend almost 3 months at a specific university and learn to carry out specific activities.
CWIT short-research grants:
As the name suggests, CWIT short-research grants are granted for a very short period of 3 weeks. The program includes ten to fifteen such grants of 1400 pounds.
It covers:
The costs of research or professional visits by research scholars or academicians
Professionals working in the fields of the arts, heritage conservation, and humanities.
You should be aware of the fact that it will cover your costs only up to 3 weeks and if you wish to stay longer then you need to make self arrangement for funds.
It does not cover the cost of fares and is payable upon arrival in the UK, not before that.
Grants for the final year of doctoral study:
If you are in the final year of your doctoral study and fall short of funds then this is going to help you out. If your area of research is arts, heritage conservation, and humanities then you can apply for it.
Artist Residencies:
CWIT supports two artists residencies by funding them and they are:
Gasworks International Residency Programme
Delfina Foundation
Museology - Curating, Museum Conservation or Archaeology:
This gives you a chance for placement in museology, archaeology, curating, or conservation at the Victoria and Albert Museum or other agreed institutions.
Who is eligible for CWIT Scholarships?
To qualify for CWIT you must meet the following criteria:
You must study in the fields covered by CWIT
Be an Indian citizen
Show willingness to return to India on completion of studies
Aged between 25 to 38
You must not have received a CWIT grant in the previous 5 years.
How to apply for CWIT Scholarships?
You can directly apply for this grant by sending an email to info@charleswallaceindiatrust.com. You'll need to include:
Your CV
Statement of Purpose
The reason explaining why you want to grant
References
Air tickets/proofs about a return to India after completion of the course.GREAT Scholarships India
This scholarship is jointly funded by the UK Government's GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council under the Study UK campaign. This program is wide in the sense that it covers 99 postgraduate scholarship programs from 36 different UK universities in a variety of subjects.
However, for Indian students, 12 of UK higher education institutions offer 13 graduate scholarships. The amount of each scholarship is at least £ 10,000, the equivalent of one year of enrollment in a postgraduate (taught) degree.
Which Universities are covered under GREAT Scholarships?
The following universities offer GREAT Scholarships.
Bishop Grosseteste University
Cranfield University
Edinburgh Napier University
Goldsmiths, University of London
Imperial College
Nottingham Trent University
Robert Gordon University
Royal Agricultural University
Sheffield Hallam University
Staffordshire University
Trinity Laban Conservatoire Music and Dance
Ulster University
University College London
University of Bath
University of Cambridge
University of Derby
University of Dundee
University of East Anglia
University of Edinburgh
University of Exeter
University of Hull *
University of Keele
University of Kent
University of Manchester
University of Newcastle
University of Northampton
University of Warwick
Who is eligible to apply?
To be eligible for a scholarship, you must fulfill the following criteria:
You must be an Indian citizen
Must have an undergraduate degree
Have work experience
Fulfill the English Language requirement of the University
How to apply for GREAT Scholarships?
You need to follow the following steps to apply for the GREAT Scholarships.
Find the correct university according to your choice.
Apply for the scholarships after studying websites of different universities
Once you are granted the scholarship you'll be intimated by the university.Scotland Saltire Scholarships
Scotland Saltire Scholarships are awarded for enrolling in full-time graduate programs in the fields of science, healthcare, technology, creative industries, and renewable and clean energy. It awards 50 students and the scholarship awarded is 8000 pounds. It covers the tuition fees for one year for studying postgraduate courses.Chevening Scholarship
Chevening Scholarships are awarded to professionals, persons who show exceptional leadership qualities. After you apply, the British Embassies decide whether you qualify for the same or not.
The Scholarships cover airfare, living expenses, and tuition fees and are valid for 1 year.University-based classification of Scholarships:
You'll find an exhaustive list of all the universities in the UK that offer scholarships at idp.com/india/study-in-uk/scholarships/ Conclusion:
I've tried to cover most of the scholarships that are awarded in the UK for a variety of subjects right from science and technology to the humanities and arts. You may need to check out the individual Universities' websites if you want to explore the scholarship options of that university.
I am the CEO of Edge International, Vadodara India and I own a visa consultancy firm. I love to guide students in helping them choose the destination of their dreams to study abroad. I wish you all the best for your bright future!
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