Scholarships

Fully Funded Scholarships in UK for Indian Students (2027-28 Intake)

Published

3 days ago

November 2, 2026

fully funded scholarships in UK for Indian students

A fully funded UK scholarship pays an Indian student’s tuition fees and living costs for a UK degree, and most awards add airfare and visa costs. Only a small group of awards meets that standard, and nearly all of them fund postgraduate study. This guide explains which awards exist, which windows are open today, who should apply, and how selection works.

Key facts (28 October 2026)

Chevening 2027-28 closed on 6 October 2026. Rhodes India closed on 23 July 2026.

The Commonwealth Master’s deadline at the Commission level was reported as 20 October 2026.

Gates Cambridge closes on 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on the course.

Clarendon and Felix at Oxford follow the course deadline in December 2026 or January 2027.

GREAT Scholarships are partial awards, not fully funded.

What Does “Fully Funded” Mean for Indian Students in the UK?

Fully funded means the scholarship pays tuition and living costs together. A partial award pays one part, usually tuition. Compare every award against the cost list below before counting it as full funding.

Cost	Fully funded award	Partial award (GREAT example)
Tuition fees	Paid in full	Minimum GBP 10,000 (about USD 13,300) toward tuition only
Monthly living stipend	Included	Not included
Return airfare	Usually included (Chevening, Felix)	Not included
Visa application	Chevening pays for one application	Not included
Health surcharge	Varies by funder; confirm in the award letter	Not included

A GREAT award works as a tuition discount applied by the university. The student does not receive the money as cash.

Fully Funded UK Scholarships for Indian Students at a Glance

Scholarship	Funder	Level	Main coverage	Route from India	Status on 28 Oct 2026
Chevening	UK government (FCDO)	One-year master’s	Tuition, stipend, travel, arrival and departure allowances, one visa application	Direct online application	Closed 6 Oct 2026
Commonwealth Master’s	Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC)	One-year taught master’s	Tuition, stipend, airfare	CSC form plus Ministry of Education nomination	Commission deadline reported 20 Oct 2026
Rhodes	Rhodes Trust	Postgraduate at Oxford	Full cost of study	Direct application to the India constituency (5 places)	Closed 23 Jul 2026
Gates Cambridge	Gates Cambridge Trust	Master’s and PhD at Cambridge	Full cost of study	Cambridge graduate application	Open until 8 Dec 2026 or 6 Jan 2027
Clarendon Fund	University of Oxford	Graduate degrees at Oxford	Fees and living grant	Automatic with the course application	Open until the course deadline
Felix	Felix Trust with Oxford, Reading and SOAS	Master’s and PhD	Tuition, living grant, airfare	Automatic at Oxford; separate form at SOAS and Reading	Open; SOAS deadline falls in early March

Which Scholarship Windows Are Open, Closed, or Coming Next?

Indian applicants face a split calendar. Some windows are open today, and others reopen in 2027. The table shows the action for each.

Status	Scholarship	What to do now
Open now	Gates Cambridge, Clarendon, Felix (Oxford)	Choose a course and submit before its funding deadline
Open soon	Felix at SOAS and Reading	Finish the admission application, then file the separate Felix form
Closed, next cycle	Chevening	Document your work hours and leadership; expect the next window around August 2027
Closed, next cycle	Commonwealth Master’s	Watch the Ministry of Education and CSC pages for the next call
Closed, next cycle	Rhodes India	Prepare essays and referees for a window expected around June 2027
Partial fallback	GREAT Scholarships	Apply to participating universities; each sets its own deadline

The next-cycle timings above follow the pattern of earlier years. Confirm each date on the official page.

Scholarship Profiles

Chevening Scholarships

Chevening is the UK government’s flagship international scholarship programme. India runs the largest Chevening programme in the world, with more than 3,900 scholars and fellows since 1983. The GOV.UK announcement for 2027-28 Chevening applications confirms the 4 August to 6 October 2026 window for Indian students.

Funder: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with partner organisations.
Covers: full tuition, a monthly stipend, economy travel, arrival and departure allowances, and the cost of one visa application. The total value runs roughly USD 40,000 (GBP 30,000) for a one-year master’s, depending on course and city.
Eligibility: Indian citizenship, a bachelor’s degree equal to a UK 2:1, at least two years (2,800 hours) of work experience, and a commitment to return to India for at least two years.
Course rule: applicants choose three eligible UK courses and need one unconditional offer by 8 July 2027.
MBA note: Chevening caps MBA tuition funding, so MBA applicants may face a gap.
Selection: eligibility screening, independent reading committees, then interviews at the British High Commission or regional centres.

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship is a fully funded one-year taught master’s offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission to students from eligible Commonwealth countries, including India. Indian applicants complete two applications: the CSC Online Application System and the nomination process on the Ministry of Education’s SAKSHAT portal. The Ministry of Education scholarships page publishes the Indian notice and dates for each round.

Eligibility: the Commission expects a UK 2:1 equivalent. The Ministry reads that as 60% in graduation. Candidates with 50 to 59% qualify only with a relevant postgraduate degree. MBA courses are excluded.
Financial need: the scheme treats need as a formal eligibility rule.
Nomination: the Ministry nominated 39 candidates to the CSC in the previous round. Nomination does not guarantee selection, because the CSC makes the final decision.
Stipend: one aggregator reports about GBP 1,452 per month (about USD 1,930), and GBP 1,781 in London (about USD 2,370). Confirm the figure in the CSC award terms.
Other routes: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships and Distance Learning Scholarships skip the Ministry stage and run through their own deadlines.

Rhodes Scholarship (India)

The Rhodes Scholarship funds postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. The India constituency awards five places each year, so candidates compete only against other Indian applicants. The 2027 round opened on 1 June 2026 and closed at 23:59 IST on 23 July 2026, with references due on 6 August 2026. Selected scholars start in October 2027, and the award cannot be deferred. Selection weighs academic achievement, character, leadership and commitment to service, not financial need.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a full-cost award for international postgraduate students at the University of Cambridge. The Trust selects about 80 scholars each year, and roughly two-thirds study for a PhD. Applicants submit one Cambridge application that covers admission and funding. Selection looks for outstanding intellectual ability, leadership potential and a commitment to improving the lives of others. Check the Gates Cambridge eligibility page and the Cambridge Course Directory, because some courses, including MBA and MFin, fall outside the award.

Deadline: 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 (23:59 UK time), set by the course.
Timeline (international round): departmental ranking from December to February, outcomes by 8 March 2027, panels on 22 and 23 March 2027, offers by early April, and 72 hours to accept.
Warning: a salary or another large scholarship can reduce or remove the maintenance allowance. Disclose it.

Clarendon Fund (University of Oxford)

The Clarendon Fund is Oxford’s flagship graduate scholarship programme and welcomes all nationalities. Oxford considers every eligible graduate applicant automatically, so no separate form exists. The award covers university and college fees plus a living grant. Submit a complete course application by the December or January deadline to enter consideration.

Felix Scholarships

Felix Scholarships fund Indian students, and a limited number of other developing-country students, for postgraduate study at Oxford, Reading or SOAS. The process differs by university.

University	Separate Felix form?	Timing
Oxford	No	Automatic with the course application (December 2026 or January 2027)
SOAS	Yes	Through the admissions portal; the 2026 cycle closed on 2 March
Reading	Yes	After the admission offer; dates published in late 2026

The award covers tuition, a living grant of about GBP 18,000 to 19,000 a year (roughly USD 23,900 to 25,300) and return airfare. The Trust weighs financial need and intent to return to India alongside merit. Sources disagree on how many awards exist each year, so this guide does not quote a number.

Other awards worth checking

Reach Oxford (undergraduate): supports students from low-income countries. Verify India’s eligibility on Oxford’s page before relying on it.
Hinduja Foundation PhD scholarship: the British Council lists a fully funded PhD for Indian students at King’s College London.

Who Should Apply and Who Should Not Apply

Match your profile to the award before you invest weeks in an application.

Your profile	Verdict	Reason
Graduate with 2+ years of work experience and a leadership record	Apply to Chevening	Chevening scores leadership and impact, and it requires the work hours
Fresh graduate with no work experience	Skip Chevening	The two-year rule ends the application before review
Graduate with 60%+ and documented financial need	Apply to Commonwealth	Need and the Ministry’s 60% threshold both apply
Graduate with 50 to 59%	Apply only with a relevant postgraduate degree	The Ministry sets this condition
MBA aspirant	Do not rely on these awards	Commonwealth excludes MBA, Chevening caps MBA tuition, and Gates Cambridge excludes it
Research-focused candidate with a first-class record	Apply to Gates Cambridge, Clarendon, Felix	These awards fund PhD study
Candidate with an employer salary or other major funding	Disclose before applying	Gates Cambridge may reduce maintenance
Undergraduate-level applicant	Plan for postgraduate funding	Few fully funded undergraduate awards exist
Applicant who does not plan to return to India	Reconsider	Chevening requires a two-year return, and Felix weighs return intent

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Pick your track. Use the profile table above to choose two or three awards that fit.
Shortlist courses. Chevening needs three courses. Oxford and Cambridge need one course whose funding deadline you can meet.
Confirm deadlines on official pages. Aggregator sites disagree on several dates (see the research notes).
Gather documents. Start with transcripts, passport, referees and English-language evidence.
Request references early. Referees must submit before the system deadline, not your personal one.
Write your essays or statement. Lead with results and impact. Our guide to writing a scholarship statement of purpose explains the structure.
Submit the right application. For Oxford and Cambridge, submit the course application by the funding deadline. For Chevening, complete the online form and four essays. For Commonwealth, finish the CSC form, save it as a PDF and upload it to SAKSHAT.
Prepare for interviews or panels. Chevening interviews run at British High Commission centres. Gates Cambridge panels meet in March 2027.
Accept on time. Gates Cambridge allows 72 hours. Other funders set their own windows.
Apply for your visa. Your award letter states what the funder covers.

Planning calendar

Window	Action
Now to December 2026	Fix your Oxford or Cambridge course, secure referees, book an English test if required
8 Dec 2026 and 6 Jan 2027	Gates Cambridge and Oxford course funding deadlines
Early 2027	SOAS Felix form (early March) and Reading Felix form
March to April 2027	Gates Cambridge panels and offers
About June 2027	Rhodes India window expected to open
About August 2027	Chevening and Commonwealth windows expected to open

Required Documents Explained

Document	Why funders ask	Needed for	Common problem
Valid passport	Proves citizenship and identity	All awards	Name differs from other documents
Degree certificate and transcripts	Prove the 2:1 equivalent or the 60% rule	All awards	Final transcript missing
Work experience proof	Shows the 2,800 hours Chevening requires	Chevening	Hours not stated clearly
English-language evidence	The university requires it for admission	Most courses	Test expired or wrong course rule
Referee reports	Prove leadership and academic ability	Chevening, Commonwealth, Rhodes, Gates Cambridge	Referee misses the system deadline
Statement or essays	Show goals, leadership and impact	All awards	Generic text copied from a course page
CV	Summarises achievements	Oxford, Cambridge, Felix	Duties listed instead of results
Offer letter	Proves admission	Chevening (unconditional by 8 Jul 2027), Felix	Only a conditional offer
Financial need evidence	Commonwealth and Felix weigh need	Commonwealth, Felix	Need stated but not documented
Research proposal	Shows a PhD plan	Doctoral applications	Vague research question

Selection Process Explained

Each award filters applicants in stages. Knowing the stages tells you where to focus.

Award	Stages
Chevening	Eligibility screening, independent reading committees (mid-October 2026 to January 2027), interviews at British High Commission centres (expected February to April 2027), final selection, and an unconditional offer by 8 July 2027
Commonwealth	Ministry of Education shortlisting and nomination (reaches the CSC by December), CSC assessment into early 2027, results from mid-June to July
Rhodes India	Application with references, shortlisting, interviews for shortlisted candidates
Gates Cambridge	Departmental ranking, panels in March 2027, offers by early April
Clarendon and Felix (Oxford)	Course admission decision first, then scholarship consideration
Felix (SOAS, Reading)	Admission, then a separate Felix application

Chevening scores leadership, networking and career plans more than raw marks. Commonwealth adds financial need and development impact. Gates Cambridge weighs intellect, leadership and service to others.

Common Mistakes Applicants Make

Counting GREAT as full funding. It pays at least GBP 10,000 toward tuition only.
Trusting one aggregator’s deadline. Sites disagree on Gates Cambridge and Commonwealth dates. Verify on the official page.
Skipping the Ministry stage for Commonwealth. A strong CSC form alone does not secure a nomination.
Listing job titles instead of results. Chevening readers look for impact, not role descriptions.
Copying course descriptions into essays. Show why the course fits your career plan.
Missing eligibility rules. The work-hours minimum, the degree timing and the MBA exclusions end applications before review.
Submitting the Oxford application after the funding deadline. Late applications lose automatic consideration.
Assuming every Felix university works like Oxford. SOAS and Reading require a separate form.
Leaving submission to the final hour. Chevening closes at 11:00 UTC, which is 4:30 pm IST.
Ignoring return-home conditions. Chevening treats the two-year return as a signed commitment.

Previous Years’ Trends

Signal	Earlier	Latest	What it tells applicants
Chevening window	5 Aug to 7 Oct 2025	4 Aug to 6 Oct 2026	The window opens in early August and closes in early October
Rhodes India window	3 Jun to 1 Aug 2024	1 Jun to 23 Jul 2026	The window opens in June and runs about seven to eight weeks
Commonwealth CSC deadline	14 Oct 2025	20 Oct 2026 (reported)	The deadline falls in mid to late October
Chevening India cohort from tier 2 and 3 cities	Over 60% (2025)	Over 75% (2026)	Smaller-city applicants win a growing share
Women in the Chevening India cohort	Not stated	68% (2026)	Women form most of the cohort
Chevening India scale	Over 3,500 alumni (2022)	Over 3,900 (2025)	The programme keeps growing
GREAT India awards	12 for 2026-27	Four Greater Manchester universities added for 2027	Partial options keep expanding

Co-funded Chevening awards also grew. The UK government reported 15 additional AI scholarships co-sponsored by the Adani Group over three years, and a Uttar Pradesh state scheme planned for 2026 to 2029.

Research Notes: What I Verified and Where Sources Disagree

I checked official pages, GOV.UK announcements and the Ministry of Education notice, then compared aggregator sites. Aggregators often disagree with official sources, so confirm any date before you plan around it.

Item	Conflicting claims	What this guide uses
Gates Cambridge deadline	Some sites list 2 or 3 December, others 7 January	8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, set by course
Commonwealth CSC deadline	15 October versus 20 October 2026	20 October 2026, reported; confirm on the CSC page
Felix awards per year	About 6 versus 20	No number quoted
Clarendon application route	One guide says through the Rhodes Trust	Automatic with the Oxford course application
Chevening health surcharge	Some sites say covered, the official cost list names only the visa	Confirm in the award letter
Chevening stipend	Figures differ by source	No figure quoted
Chevening odds for Indians	One consultancy estimates 8 to 10%	Unverified; treat as an estimate

All USD figures are approximate conversions and will drift with the exchange rate.

Partial Awards to Stack or Fall Back On

GREAT Scholarships give at least GBP 10,000 (about USD 13,300) toward tuition for a one-year taught master’s. The UK government’s GREAT Britain campaign, the British Council and participating universities fund them. You apply to the university, not to the British Council. Each university sets its own deadline, and the British Council lists 12 awards for India in 2026-27. For 2027, four Greater Manchester universities joined. A GREAT award reduces the tuition bill, so pair it with other funding. Our guide to partial scholarships in the UK lists more options.

FAQs

Which UK scholarship is 100% funded for Indian students?

Chevening, Commonwealth Master’s, Rhodes, Gates Cambridge, Clarendon and Felix cover tuition and living costs for eligible Indian students. Each targets different levels and profiles. Chevening and Commonwealth fund one-year master’s degrees, while Rhodes, Gates Cambridge, Clarendon and Felix mainly fund Oxford or Cambridge postgraduate study.

Can Indian students get a fully funded UK scholarship without work experience?

Yes, but not through Chevening, which requires at least two years of work experience. Commonwealth Master’s, Gates Cambridge, Clarendon and Felix do not set a work-experience minimum, though competition favours strong academics. Check each scholarship’s current rules, because eligibility details change between cycles.

Is Chevening only for master’s degrees?

Chevening Scholarships fund one-year master’s degrees at UK universities. The programme also runs separate Chevening Fellowships for mid-career professionals, such as the India cyber security fellowship. Undergraduate and PhD study fall outside the standard scholarship, so applicants seeking those levels should consider other awards.

What percentage do I need for the Commonwealth Scholarship from India?

The Commission expects the equivalent of a UK upper second-class degree. India’s Ministry of Education reads that as 60% in graduation. Candidates with 50 to 59% qualify only with a relevant postgraduate degree. Confirm the percentage in the current Ministry notice, since the Ministry sets its own limits each year.

How many Indian students receive Chevening each year?

The sources checked give no single official yearly figure. One consultancy estimates 100 to 110 awards from 1,000 to 1,200 applicants, which remains unverified. Officially, India has produced over 3,900 Chevening scholars and fellows since 1983, making it the largest Chevening programme worldwide.

Do fully funded scholarships cover visa and health surcharge fees?

Chevening officially covers the cost of one UK visa application. Sources disagree on whether it also covers the Immigration Health Surcharge, so confirm this in your award letter. Other scholarships have their own terms. Always read the funder’s cost list before budgeting for visa and insurance expenses.

Can I apply for more than one UK scholarship at once?

In general, yes. Oxford, for example, considers you for Clarendon and Felix automatically with a single course application. Disclose other funding when asked, because a salary or another large scholarship can reduce or remove a Gates Cambridge maintenance allowance. Check each funder’s terms before accepting overlapping awards.

Is IELTS compulsory for UK scholarships?

UK universities set English-language requirements for admission, and scholarships depend on admission. Requirements vary by course, and some universities accept alternatives such as a medium-of-instruction letter. Check your chosen course’s page before booking a test, because the rule differs between universities.

Are there fully funded PhD scholarships in the UK for Indians?

Yes. Gates Cambridge gives about two-thirds of its roughly 80 awards to PhD students. Oxford’s Clarendon and Felix scholarships also fund doctoral study, and the Rhodes Scholarship covers postgraduate degrees at Oxford. Each requires a strong research profile and an admission offer.

Can undergraduates get fully funded UK scholarships?

Options are very limited. Nearly all fully funded UK awards for Indian citizens target postgraduate study. Reach Oxford supports undergraduates from low-income countries, but India’s eligibility needs checking on Oxford’s official page. Most undergraduates should plan for partial awards and look at postgraduate funding later.

Do I have to return to India after the scholarship?

Chevening requires scholars to return to their home country for at least two years after the award. Felix weighs financial need and return-home intent during selection. Commonwealth selection also values development impact at home. Read each award’s terms before accepting, because these conditions bind you.

What if I miss this year’s deadline?

Wait for the next cycle and use the gap to strengthen your profile. Chevening opened in early August in both 2025 and 2026, so expect a similar window in 2027. Rhodes India opens around June. Oxford, Cambridge and Felix windows recur each December and January, so prepare course applications early.

Conclusion

Fully funded UK scholarships for Indian students are few, competitive and mostly postgraduate. Chevening, Commonwealth and Rhodes have closed for the 2027-28 intake, while Gates Cambridge, Clarendon and Felix remain open through December 2026 and January 2027. Choose your track by profile, verify every date on the official page, and start next cycle’s documents now. Next, read our guide to scholarships for MBA students in the UK, since most fully funded awards exclude or cap MBA funding.