GREAT Scholarships

GREAT Scholarships are a partnership between the British Council, the UK government's GREAT campaign and individual UK universities. Each participating university offers a set number of awards to students from specific countries — India is a regular participant — as a contribution toward the tuition of a one-year taught master's.

Because the awards sit with the universities, everything practical happens at university level: the applicant applies to the university, then to that university's GREAT scholarship, on the university's own form and timetable. The British Council page lists which universities are participating for each country in the current cycle.

A partnership between the British Council, participating UK universities and their partners — smaller and much less crowded than the national schemes, which is its main attraction.

• Citizenship of one of the participating countries, which includes India. The list changes each cycle.
• An undergraduate degree qualifying you for the master's you are applying to.
• An application to a participating university and an eligible subject — both are specified, and the subject list is narrow.
• Selection by the university, not by the British Council. Each institution runs its own process and sets its own criteria.
• English proficiency to the university's requirement.

The award is tied to specific universities and specific subjects, and the combinations change annually. It is worth checking the current list before shortlisting universities, because a small adjustment to your choices can make you eligible.

A tuition contribution rather than a full award, and it is important to read it that way when budgeting.

• A contribution towards tuition for a one-year taught master's, at the amount the scheme publishes for that cycle.
• Paid as a fee reduction by the university, so it lowers what you owe rather than arriving as cash.
• Access to British Council alumni activity and, at some universities, additional support.

This does not cover living costs, travel, the visa or the health surcharge, and it rarely covers the whole fee. Treat it as a reduction on a bill you must still be able to pay — the funding plan has to work without it.

Requirements are set by the university, not centrally, so they vary — but the core is consistent.

• The university's scholarship application form, usually separate from the admission application.
• Transcripts and degree certificates.
• A personal statement or motivation letter, often addressing why the UK and this subject specifically.
• References, where the institution asks for them.
• Proof of nationality, and your English test result.

Because each university runs its own process, read that institution's scholarship page rather than a general description of the scheme. Two universities offering the same award can ask for quite different things.

Applied for through the university once you hold or have applied for a place, not through the British Council.

• Check the current list of participating universities and eligible subjects for your country.
• Apply for the master's at a participating university.
• Apply for the scholarship through that university, by its own deadline.
• University selection, with outcomes notified by the institution.

Dates move every cycle, so treat the British Council GREAT Scholarships pages and the participating university's own scholarship page as the authority on them rather than any second-hand summary — including this one. We will confirm the current timeline with you before you commit to a plan built around it.