Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students in UK

Fully funded scholarships for Indian students in UK are Chevening Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarships, Gates Cambridge Scholarships, Rhodes Scholarships, Felix Scholarships and more. Fully funded scholarships in UK cover tuition fee, living expenses and international airfare for international students - for one time arrival and departure. 

UK has many prestigious universities which attract students from around the world to do a course here. However, studying at any of these top universities in UK can be very costly for Indian students. And when the cost of studying gets coupled with the living costs, students might feel the required budget equivalent to a mountain. Hence, fully funded scholarships for Indian students in UK come into place. 

Fully funded scholarships for Indian students in the UK come with complete tuition fee coverage, coverage of living expenses including accommodation rent, utility bills, daily travel, other miscellaneous charges, travel airfare for the arrival and departure from the country, English test fee, a stipend (if any) and more. Whether you're looking for fully funded scholarships for Indian students in UK for masters, postgraduate programs, or even undergraduate degrees, this article presents the best opportunities fully funded scholarships for Indian students in the UK.

Why Choose the UK for Higher Education?

Before diving into UK scholarship details, it's important to understand why the UK continues to attract Indian students. Below is the list of top reasons for Indian students to choose UK as their study destination.

• UK is home to prestigious universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and LSE
• It has shorter course duration. Most master's programs are completed in one year
• UK degrees are valued worldwide by employers and academic institutions
• UK offers access to world-leading research facilities and expert faculty
• UK has a multicultural environment with a significant Indian diaspora

Top Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students in UK 2026

Check out the details on the top UK scholarships below. 

1. Chevening Scholarships

The Chevening Scholarship is the UK government's flagship international awards program, designed to identify and nurture future leaders from around the world. Approximately 1,500 Chevening Scholarships are awarded globally each year, with India being one of the largest recipient countries. The Chevening scholarship covers:

• Full tuition fees
• Monthly living allowance (£1,452 per month or £1,781 for London-based universities)
• Economy class return airfare to the UK
• Additional grants for thesis, travel, and other expenses

The eligibility criteria for these scholarships are:

• Indian citizens with at least 2 years of work experience
• An undergraduate degree that will enable entry to a postgraduate program at a UK university
• Applying for a one-year master's degree program

Application Timeline: Applications for 2026-27 are now closed. The next cycle typically opens in early August for the following year.

2. Commonwealth Scholarships

Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Scholarships support talented individuals from Commonwealth countries who cannot afford to study in the UK. Over 30,000 students have received Commonwealth Scholarships since 1960, with approximately 700-800 scholarships awarded annually. Commonwealth scholarships cover: 

• Full tuition fees
• Living stipend (£1,378 per month or £1,690 for London universities)
• Approved airfare from India to the UK and return
• Thesis grant and study-related travel costs
• Additional child and spouse allowances (where applicable)

The following are eligibility criteria for this scholarship:

• Indian citizenship or refugee status in India
• A first-class or upper second-class undergraduate degree (or master's degree for PhD applications)
• Unable to afford UK studies without scholarship support
• Commitment to development-focused fields

Application Timeline: Applications for 2026-27 typically close in October (14th October deadline). Indian students must apply through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.

Available Programs:

• Commonwealth Master's Scholarships
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
• Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships

3. Rhodes Scholarships

One of the world's oldest and most prestigious international scholarship programs, the Rhodes Scholarship enables exceptional students to study at the University of Oxford. Six Rhodes Scholarships are awarded to Indian students annually. The scholarship typically covers 2 years, with possible extension for DPhil programs. Here is what the scholarship covers:

• Full Oxford University and college fees
• Annual living stipend (£20,400 per annum)
• Two economy-class return flights (to and from Oxford)
• University application fee
• Student visa fee and International Health Surcharge

Eligibility for Indian Students:

• Indian citizenship (PIO/OCI holders not eligible)
• Aged 18-23 years on October 1, 2025 (or under 27 with specific conditions)
• Completed at least 4 years of formal study in India during the last 10 years
• First-class undergraduate degree or equivalent

Application Timeline: Applications for 2026 entry closed on July 23, 2025, with reference deadline of August 5, 2025.

4. Gates Cambridge Scholarships

Established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Cambridge Scholarships support outstanding students from outside the UK to pursue postgraduate degrees at Cambridge University. Approximately 80 scholarships awarded annually, with about 55 available in the international round. Two-thirds of awards go to PhD students. Here's what the scholarship covers:

• Full university composition fees
• Maintenance allowance (£21,000 per annum for 12 months)
• One economy-class return airfare
• Visa costs and Immigration Health Surcharge
• Academic development funding (up to £2,000)
• Dependent children allowance (up to £16,548 for two or more children)

Eligibility:

• Citizens of any country outside the UK (Indian students eligible)
• Applying for a full-time postgraduate degree (PhD, MSc, MLitt, or one-year postgraduate course)
• Outstanding intellectual ability
• Commitment to improving lives of others
• Leadership potential

Application Timeline:

• For international students: December 3, 2025, or January 7, 2026 (depending on course)

5. Felix Scholarships

Felix Scholarship enables outstanding students from India to pursue graduate studies at the University of Oxford, University of Reading, and SOAS, University of London. Felix Scholarships are highly competitive, with a focus on candidates who demonstrate financial need and academic excellence. Coverage:

• 100% of course fees
• Living costs grant (approximately £19,000)
• One return flight from India to the UK

Eligibility:

• Indian citizens with valid passport (PIO/OCI not eligible)
• First-class undergraduate degree
• Must not hold a degree from a university outside India
• Expected to return to India after studies

Application Timeline: Applications must be submitted by the relevant December/January deadline for the chosen Oxford course.

6. GREAT Scholarships

Jointly funded by the UK government's GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council with participating UK universities. For 2026-27, 12 postgraduate scholarships are available to Indian students across various UK universities including Anglia Ruskin University, Norwich University of the Arts, Queen's University Belfast, University of Kent, University of Reading, University of Surrey and University of the West of England. Here are its coverage:

• Minimum £10,000 towards tuition fees for one-year postgraduate courses

Eligibility:

• Indian citizenship
• Relevant undergraduate degree
• Meet the English language requirements of the UK university

Application Timeline: Applications for 2026-27 are currently open.

7. Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarships

Launched by St. John's College, Cambridge, in honor of former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, these scholarships enable academically outstanding Indian students to pursue doctoral degrees.

Coverage:

• Fully funded (academic fees, international airfare, monthly stipend for living expenses, UK visa)

Eligibility:

• Indian students
• Doctoral programs in Science & Technology, Economics, and Social Sciences
• Preference given to Aerospace Engineering and Energy Studies

Application Timeline: Follow St. John's College application deadlines.

Comparison of Top 100% UK Scholarships

Students can make a better decision if they have a clear picture of what's included in all of these scholarships and have a comparative figure. So, the below table presents the differences in what's included in each of the scholarship listed above. 

Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students in UK for Undergraduate Courses

There are many fully funded scholarships for postgraduate courses in the UK. We can say - more than 70% of them are offered for master's courses. So, this makes finding a 100% scholarship for your UG course in the UK very very difficult. But there are some scholarships which are fully funded and are offered for UG courses. These scholarships are the ones awarded by the university. Many UK universities offer their own fully funded scholarships for Indian students in UK undergraduate programs, including:

• University of Bristol Think Big Scholarships: Cover full tuition fees and living costs
• University of Westminster Full International Scholarships: Full tuition fee waivers plus accommodation
• University of East Anglia International Development Scholarships: 50-100% tuition fee reductions

Documents Required to Apply for Fully Funded Scholarships in UK

Most scholarship applications require the following documents:

• Valid Indian passport
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates
• Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
• Two to three letters of recommendation
• Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement
• Detailed CV highlighting academics, leadership, and community service
• Research proposal (for PhD applicants)
• University admission letter 

UK Scholarship Deadlines for the 2025-2026 Cycle

The application dedalines of the top fully funded scholarships in UK are given below.  

• July 2025: Rhodes Scholarship applications (closed July 23, 2025)
• October 2025: Commonwealth Scholarship applications (typically October 14)
• October 2025: Gates Cambridge US round (October 15, 2025)
• December 2025: Gates Cambridge International round and many university deadlines
• January 2026: Final deadlines for Oxford and Cambridge programs

This was all about the fully funded scholarships for Indian students in the UK. For assistance for studying abroad, reach out for Shiksha's Counselling Services for free.