University College London (UCL), one of the UK’s most globally recognized Russell Group institutions, continues to expand financial access for high-achieving overseas students. For the 2026/27 academic year, UCL has announced a wide portfolio of scholarships ranging from merit-based tuition awards to fully funded master’s and doctoral opportunities. Awards such as the UCL India Excellence Scholarship provide £5,000 towards tuition, while flagship programs like the Chevening/UCL Scholarship and Commonwealth Shared Scholarship deliver full fee coverage, living stipends, and additional allowances for eligible students.
Larger schemes, including the UCL Global Master’s Scholarship and Global Undergraduate Scholarship, support candidates from low-income backgrounds. They offer full tuition funding, maintenance grants and visa-related costs, and research students may receive full fee remission plus an annual stipend of £22,780 (27.72 lakhs INR) under the Research Excellence Scholarship.
Stay updated with UCL admission deadlines and requirements.
UCL India Excellence Scholarship
The UCL India Excellence Scholarship supports outstanding Indian students pursuing a full-time Master’s degree at UCL. The award is a £5,000 (6.08 lakhs INR) tuition fee discount for one year, with 33 scholarships available for the 2026/27 academic year.
Eligibility Criteria
- Be permanently domiciled in India
- Be eligible to pay overseas tuition fees
- Hold or be completing a bachelor’s degree from a Top 100 NIRF-ranked institution
- Have a first-class equivalent GPA (65%+)
- Submit a complete UCL Master’s application (including references) by 5 pm BST, 26 February 2026
- Apply for a full-time, in-person Master’s program (no distance-learning)
Scholarship Value and Duration
- Award amount: £5,000 (6.08 lakhs INR)
- Tenure: 1 year (for 2-year programs, split 50% each year)
- Can be held alongside other funding (award may be adjusted)
- Applied to tuition first, with the remaining amount paid in three instalments
No separate scholarship form is required to apply. Applicants are automatically considered once they submit a complete UCL admission application. Successful students will be notified between April and June 2026.
India Chevening/ UCL Scholarship
The India Chevening / UCL Scholarship is part of the UK Government’s prestigious Chevening Scholarships, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) with partner universities. It supports outstanding Indian students pursuing a one-year Master’s degree at UCL, combining global leadership training with full academic sponsorship.
Key Highlights
- UCL provides 100% tuition fee coverage
- Awarded to three Indian scholars each year
- Part of a global cohort of 600+ Chevening leaders annually
- Scholars join a worldwide network of 43,000+ alumni across 160+ countries
Eligibility Criteria
- Strong academic background
- Proven leadership qualities
- Professional potential across sectors such as:
- Politics and government
- Business and entrepreneurship
- Media and communication
- Civil society and NGOs
- Academia and research
- Religion, public health, and more
- Indian nationality and eligibility for UK study
Note: Students must apply through the Chevening Scholarship portal. Selection is based on academic merit, leadership potential, personal achievements, and professional vision. Scholarship recipients must meet UCL’s master’s admission requirements.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS) is a joint program between UCL and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. It is designed to support academically strong students from developing Commonwealth countries who otherwise cannot afford to study in the UK. The scholarship enables students to pursue taught Master’s degrees linked to the social, technological, and economic development of their home nations.
Eligibility Criteria
- Be a Commonwealth citizen, refugee, or British Protected Person
- Be permanently resident in an eligible developing Commonwealth country
- Hold at least a 2:1 (60%+) undergraduate degree, or 2:2 (55%) + relevant Master’s
- Show financial need and inability to study in the UK without support
- Not have studied or worked for 1+ years in a high-income country
- Be available to start studies in Sept/Oct 2026
- Have applied to UCL for one of the approved programs*
- Apply via both UCL admissions and the CSC portal
Selection Process
- Selection is jointly administered by UCL and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
- Academic panels review and shortlist candidates
- Final approvals issued by the CSC
- UCL informs successful and reserve nominees in mid-April 2026
- Final confirmation is sent in July 2026 after CSC completes eligibility checks.
*List of approved programs:
- Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering: MSc Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management
- Risk and Disaster Reduction: MSc Risk and Disaster Science
- Development Planning Unit: MSc Urban Economic Development
- Division of Medicine: MSc Clinical Drug Development
- Institute for Global Health: MSc Global Health and Development
- Global Prosperity: MSc Prosperity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Epidemiology & Health Care: MSc Humanitarian Policy and Practice
- IOE (Education): MA Education, Gender and International Development
More details: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
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Other Scholarships Offered by UCL
Apart from the India-specific scholarships, UCL extends its scholarship offerings to all international students. It also offers departmental, course-specific scholarships and bursaries. Some popular options are in the table below.
| Scholarship |
Eligibility |
Award Details |
Key Dates |
| Undergraduate International Excellence scholarship |
International applicants with outstanding academics applied to study BSc/ MSci Business & Health in Sept 2026 |
£5,000 (6.08 lakhs INR) per year of study during full undergraduate program duration |
31 March 2026 (500-word essay submission) |
| UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship |
International students from a low-income household, applying for a full–time UG course in Sept 2026 |
- 10 awards: Full tuition + maintenance allowance + fixed additional-cost allowance(covers visa fees, Immigration Health Surcharge, etc.)
- 20 awards: Full tuition fees only
- 3 awards: Full tuition fees exclusively for students from India |
27 April 2026 (scholarship application deadline) |
| UCL Global Master’s Scholarship |
International students from a low-income background who applied for Master’s admission for entry in 2026/27, including references |
Up to 85 total awards of £15,000 (18.25 lakhs INR) each (5 reserved for Indians) |
7 May 2026 |
| Research Excellence Scholarship (UCL-RES) |
Candidates with 65%+ honors bachelor’s degree with the strength and feasibility of the proposed research |
40 scholarships offering full tuition fees + annual stipend of £22,780 (27.72 lakhs INR) per year + research expenses up to £1,200 (1.46 lakhs INR) per year |
Closed now |
Must read: UK Scholarships for Indian Students
UCL scholarship application routes vary by award, with some requiring standalone submissions through Chevening or the Commonwealth portal. Others, such as the India Excellence Scholarship, automatically consider candidates once they submit a complete UCL degree application before the specified deadlines, which run between December 2025 and May 2026.
FAQs
Ques: What various financial support pathways exist for Indian students entering UCL in 2026?
Ans: Indian students can access multiple funding routes, including:
- UCL-specific merit scholarships (e.g., India Excellence Scholarship – £5,000)
- Fully-funded UK government awards (Chevening, Commonwealth Shared Scholarship)
- Global UCL scholarships (UG & Master’s Global Scholarships)
- Research funding (Research Excellence Scholarships with stipend)
Ques: How do academic merit and financial need determine eligibility across different scholarship categories?
Ans: Eligibility varies by scholarship type:
- Merit-based awards: Require strong academics (typically 65%+ or first class). Selection focuses on grades, profile, and potential.
- Need-based awards: Ask for proof of financial hardship; grades are important but financial background plays a key role.
- Fully funded awards: Need both excellent academics + leadership, and often require applicants to show that they cannot self-fund.
Ques: Do I need a separate application for all UCL scholarships?
Ans: No. Some scholarships automatically assess eligible applicants when they submit their UCL admission application (e.g., India Excellence Scholarship). Others require separate applications, including:
- Chevening (via Chevening portal)
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (via CSC portal + UCL application)
- Some UG and PG merit awards
Ques: Can I combine multiple scholarships at UCL?
Ans: Yes, many UCL scholarships allow stacking, although funding may be adjusted. Chevening and Commonwealth awards cannot be combined with other major funding.
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