Quick Read
- UCL’s Global Master’s Scholarship offers £15,000 (₹19.28L), with 5 awards ring-fenced for India.
- UCL India Excellence Scholarship gives 33 Indian students £5,000 (₹6.43L) toward Master’s fees.
- The UCL-GREAT Scholarship excluded Indian applicants for the 2026/27 cycle.
- UCL undergraduate tuition for overseas students runs from £26,200 to £47,000 (₹33.67L–₹60.40L) a year.
Does UCL Offer Scholarships for International Students?
Yes. University College London runs multiple scholarships for international students, and three are reserved specifically for Indian applicants.
UCL scholarships for international students for 2026/27 fall into three groups: need-based global awards open to any nationality, India-specific awards created after UCL’s 2023 commitment to Indian students, and niche subject-specific funds. More than 900 Indian students study degree programs at UCL today, and India-specific funding has expanded since 2023.
None of these require a separate scholarship exam. Most are triggered automatically once you submit a complete UCL admission application, which is the first thing to get right before you plan your funding.
UCL Scholarships for International Students: Full Comparison Table
The main UCL scholarships for international students differ considerably in value, eligibility and application deadlines.
| Scholarship | Degree Level | Value (GBP, with INR) | India-Specific? | 2026/27 Deadline |
| UCL Global Master’s Scholarship | Postgraduate Taught | £15,000 (₹19,27,650) | 5 of 85 awards ring-fenced | 7 May 2026, 5pm BST |
| UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship | Undergraduate | Full tuition ± maintenance (value varies by course) | 3 of 33 awards ring-fenced | 27 April 2026, 5pm BST |
| UCL India Excellence Scholarship | Postgraduate Taught (Master’s) | £5,000 (₹6,42,550) | Yes, India-only | 26 February 2026, 5pm BST |
| Mukul Madhav Foundation Scholarship | Postgraduate Taught (Global/Child Health Master’s only) | Full tuition fees (value varies by course) | Yes, India-only | 7 May 2026, 5pm BST |
| UCL-GREAT Scholarship | Postgraduate Taught | £10,000 (₹12,85,100) | No: India dropped for 2026/27 | 7 May 2026, 5pm BST |
Exchange rate used: £1 = ₹128.51 as of August 2026. Verify the current rate before finalizing your budget.
Note: The Denys Holland Scholarship is not included in this guide because the application deadline for the current cycle has already passed. Please check UCL’s official website for details of the next application cycle and its updated deadline.
Counselor insight: Students often apply to the wrong scholarship first because the names sound similar. The Global Master’s Scholarship is open to every nationality with 5 India seats built in; the India Excellence Scholarship is India-only with a harder NIRF and GPA filter. Apply to UCL first; you’re screened for both automatically.
UCL Global Master’s Scholarship: Value, Eligibility, Deadline
This is the largest need-based award among UCL scholarships for international students at the postgraduate level.
| Attribute | Detail |
| Value | £15,000 (₹19,27,650), paid first toward tuition, remainder toward maintenance in three installments |
| Awards available | Up to 85 for 2026/27, with 5 ring-fenced for India and 1 for Japan |
| Eligible programs | All postgraduate taught Master’s degrees; distance-learning is not eligible |
| Selection basis | Financial need, not academic merit alone |
| Deadline (2026/27) | 5pm BST, Thursday 7 May 2026 |
There’s no separate scholarship exam or personal essay; UCL’s Student Funding Office reviews eligible applicants directly.
See LeapScholar’s guide to the UCL Global Master’s Scholarship for a deeper walkthrough.
Sources: UCL Global Master’s Scholarship, official page
UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship for Indian Applicants
The UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship aims to enable international students from low-income backgrounds to pursue full-time undergraduate study at UCL. This is the main route for undergraduate UCL scholarships for international students, and it includes a dedicated India allocation.
| Attribute | Detail |
| Awards for 2026/27 | Up to 33 total: 10 covering full tuition plus maintenance and a fixed allowance for costs like the Immigration Health Surcharge and visa fees, 20 covering full tuition only, and 3 covering full tuition specifically for students from India |
| Eligibility | Open to any country outside the UK, UCL treats household income of £42,875 (₹54,49,999) or less as its low-income guide, though higher-income applications are still considered |
| Deadline (2026/27) | 5 pm BST, Monday 27 April 2026 |
| Results | Notified by 3 June 2026, before the UCAS offer reply deadline |
Counselor insight: This application is assessed on financial evidence, not your Class 12 marksheet. A strong academic record doesn’t guarantee selection here. Keep income documentation (ITR and salary slips) ready before UCL requests it in mid-May.
Sources: UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship, official page
UCL India Excellence Scholarship: NIRF & GPA Requirements
This is the flagship India-only award among UCL scholarships for international students, launched as part of UCL’s three-year, 100-scholarship commitment to Indian applicants, announced in November 2023.
| Attribute | Detail |
| Value | £5,000 (₹6,42,550) for one year |
| Awards for 2026/27 | Up to 33 |
| Eligibility | Permanently domiciled in India; bachelor’s degree (or final year) from an institution in the Top 100 of the NIRF; GPA equivalent to a UK first-class degree |
| Application | Complete Master’s admission application, including references, by 5pm BST on Thursday, 26 February 2026 |
| How you’re selected | No separate form; shortlisted by bachelor’s GPA and your institution’s NIRF ranking |
Counselor insight: If your college isn’t in the NIRF Top 100 overall, university, or college categories, you won’t clear the first filter here, even with an excellent GPA. Check your college’s current standing on the NIRF portal rather than assuming based on reputation.
See LeapScholar’s India Excellence Scholarship guide for the full walkthrough.
Sources: UCL India Excellence Scholarship, official page, UCL Strengthens Commitment to India with 100 New Master’s Scholarships, UCL News, NIRF India Rankings, Government of India
Mukul Madhav Foundation Scholarship: A Niche UCL Award Worth Knowing
| Attribute | Detail |
| Value | Full tuition fees (value varies by course) |
| Who it’s for | Indian nationals only, one-year taught Master’s in the Institute of Global Health or Institute of Child Health |
| Deadline (2026/27) | 5pm BST, Thursday 7 May 2026 |
This award is narrow-eligibility but genuinely fully funded, and most competitor guides miss it entirely since it was only founded in 2025.
Sources: Mukul Madhav Foundation Scholarship, official page
Is the UCL-GREAT Scholarship Still Open to Indian Students?
No, not for 2026/27, and this correction matters because several listings for UCL scholarships for international students still show India as eligible for this specific award, which is now outdated.
| Attribute | Detail |
| Value | £10,000 (₹12,85,100) for one year |
| Eligible countries, 2026/27 | Nigeria and Pakistan only |
| Eligible countries, earlier cycles | India, Bangladesh, and Malaysia were included |
| Deadline (2026/27) | 5pm BST, Thursday 7 May 2026 |
Counselor insight: This doesn’t mean Indian students have lost GREAT Scholarship funding altogether. The wider British Council GREAT Scholarships program still offers Indian students postgraduate awards worth a minimum of £10,000 (₹12,85,100) at other UK universities, including Bristol, Surrey, and Dundee, for 2026/27, just not through UCL. If UCL is your target, check UCL’s scholarships finder directly rather than assuming India eligibility.
Sources: UCL-GREAT Scholarship, official page, British Council GREAT Scholarships 2026-27 for Indian Students, Careers360
UCL Fees for International Students: What You’re Funding Against
Before choosing among UCL scholarships for international students, it helps to know what each award actually offsets. UCL’s international tuition fees for 2026/27 vary widely by course.
| Degree Level | Fee Range (GBP, with INR) |
| Undergraduate | £26,200 – £47,000 (₹33,67,762 – ₹60,39,970) |
| Postgraduate Taught (Master’s) | £26,200 – £57,700 (₹33,67,762 – ₹74,15,227) |
| PhD/Doctoral (Research) | Varies by faculty; check individual program pages |
Note: UCL PhD fees aren’t published as one range; each faculty sets its own, so check the department’s fees page directly rather than relying on a generic figure.
Exchange rate used: £1 = ₹128.51. Verify the current rate before finalizing your budget.
Sources: UCL Fees and Funding, official page
Chevening, Commonwealth & Other Funding Routes Alongside UCL
UCL scholarships for international students rarely cover 100% of costs outside the fully funded niche awards above, so most Indian students combine a UCL award with an external one.
| Scholarship | Coverage | Eligibility Note |
| Chevening Scholarship | Fully funded (tuition, living stipend, travel) | UK government-run; requires roughly two years of work experience; can be held alongside a UCL offer |
| Commonwealth Shared/Master’s Scholarship | Tuition, living stipend, airfare | For eligible Commonwealth nationals, including Indian citizens, on development-focused Master’s programs |
Both are administered separately from UCL, so a UCL scholarship rejection doesn’t rule out Chevening or Commonwealth funding. See LeapScholar’s guide to scholarships for Master’s in the UK and top UK scholarships for Indian students for full eligibility.
Counselor insight: Recipients must inform UCL’s Student Funding Office of any other funding received, before or after the award is confirmed. This isn’t optional paperwork; failing to disclose can affect your total funding package.
Which UCL Scholarship Fits Your Profile?
Matching your profile to the right UCL scholarship for international students at the start saves weeks of misdirected applications.
- If you are a final-year B.Tech. student at an NIRF Top 100 college with a first-class-equivalent GPA, applying for a UCL Master’s: Your strongest match is the India Excellence Scholarship. Shortlisting is automatic, based on GPA plus your college’s NIRF rank; there’s no separate form to fill.
- If you are an undergraduate applicant from a household where the full £26,200+ (₹33.68L+) annual fee isn’t realistic without support: Look at the Global Undergraduate Scholarship first, specifically the 3 seats reserved for India. Have financial evidence, not just marksheets, ready by mid-May, since selection is need-based.
- If you are applying for an MSc in Global Health or Child Health with limited family income: The Mukul Madhav Foundation Scholarship is a full-tuition, India-only award most students never hear about. Confirm your target MSc is on UCL’s eligible program list first.
Documents You Need for UCL Scholarship Application
Every application for UCL scholarships for international students requires the same basic paperwork, plus a few additional requirements specific to India.
| Document | Required For | India-Specific Detail |
| Complete UCL admission application (with references) | All scholarships | Must be submitted, not just started, by the scholarship deadline |
| Marksheets and provisional certificate | All scholarships | Final-year students submit the provisional certificate; consolidated marksheet follows once available |
| Proof of NIRF ranking of your institution | India Excellence Scholarship only | Official listing from the NIRF portal, not a college’s own claim |
| Household income proof (ITR, salary slips) | Global UG/Master’s Scholarships (need-based) | UCL’s “low income” guide figure is £42,875 (₹54,49,999); above this is still considered case by case |
| Bachelor’s degree GPA/CGPA record | India Excellence Scholarship | Must convert to a UK first-class equivalent per UCL’s stated scale |
| Confirmation of Overseas fee status | All scholarships | Issued by UCL Admissions, scholarship access is often blocked until this is confirmed |
UCL Scholarship Deadlines: 2027-28 Planning Calendar
UCL had not published 2027/28 deadlines across its scholarships for international students at the time of writing. Based on the consistent pattern across the last three cycles, here’s how to plan, using verified 2026/27 dates as your reference point:
| Month (Indian academic calendar) | Action |
| December–January | Finalise UCL program shortlist; start your UCL application early, since scholarship consideration depends on a completed application |
| Late February (historically) | UCL India Excellence Scholarship deadline typically falls here; confirm the exact 2027/28 date on UCL’s official page closer to the cycle |
| Late April (historically) | UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship deadline typically falls here |
| Early May (historically) | UCL Global Master’s, Mukul Madhav Foundation, and UCL-GREAT Scholarship deadlines typically cluster around this window |
| June | Results for most need-based awards are typically communicated, usually before the UCAS reply deadline for undergraduate offers |
For the broader UK intake calendar, see LeapScholar’s UK intakes 2027-28 guide.
What to Do If You Miss the UCL Scholarship Deadline
Missing a deadline for UCL scholarships for international students doesn’t mean losing your UCL offer, but it does close that specific funding option for the cycle.
- Your UCL offer stands independently. Scholarship and admission deadlines are separate; a missed scholarship window doesn’t affect your admission status.
- Check for a later-cycle reopening. These scholarships run annually, so a missed 2026/27 deadline means applying again for 2027/28, not permanent ineligibility.
- Pivot to external funding immediately. Chevening, Commonwealth, and India-based options like the J.N. Tata Endowment run on different timelines and are worth applying to in parallel.
- Email UCL’s Student Funding Office. In genuine hardship cases, ask whether any late consideration exists; it’s not guaranteed but worth trying.
- Reassess your financing plan. An education loan against a confirmed UCL offer is a realistic fallback most Indian families use; see LeapScholar’s guide on collateral-free education loans for UCL and similar universities.
For next steps, see LeapScholar’s UK student visa guide and Post Study Work Visa (Graduate Route) guide.
3 Takeaways on UCL Scholarships for International Students
- UCL runs three India-specific scholarships (Global Master’s India seats, India Excellence, and Mukul Madhav Foundation) alongside open-to-all awards, so the claim that “UCL doesn’t fund Indian students” is outdated and incorrect.
- The UCL-GREAT Scholarship dropped India for 2026/27; confirm current eligibility directly on UCL’s page rather than trusting older scholarship listicles.
- Applying to UCL scholarships for international students always starts with a completed admission application; apply to your program well before the scholarship deadline, not after.
Verified by: LeapScholar’s UK counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through UCL applications, scholarship shortlisting, and UK student visa documentation.
Have questions about UCL scholarships for international students? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions About UCL Scholarships for International Students
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Does UCL offer scholarships to international students?
Yes, UCL offers need-based global awards for undergraduate and Master’s applicants, plus India-specific awards like the India Excellence Scholarship and Mukul Madhav Foundation Scholarship. Most are automatic once you submit a complete admission application; none require a separate entrance exam.
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Does UCL give scholarships based on merit or financial need?
UCL’s Global Undergraduate and Global Master’s Scholarships are need-based, not merit-based. The India Excellence Scholarship is the exception; it shortlists by GPA and your institution’s NIRF ranking rather than household income.
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What are UCL’s scholarship requirements for international students?
Every award requires a complete admission application (with references) submitted before the deadline, confirmed overseas fee status, and eligibility for that program level. India-specific awards add NIRF ranking or India residency criteria on top.
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What UCL scholarships exist for postgraduate international students?
The UCL Global Master’s Scholarship (£15,000, ₹19.28L); the India Excellence Scholarship (£5,000, ₹6.43L, India-only); and the Mukul Madhav Foundation Scholarship (full tuition, India-only, Global Health and Child Health Master’s programs only).
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Is the UCL-GREAT Scholarship available to Indian students in 2027-28?
UCL’s GREAT Scholarship excluded India for 2026/27, restricting eligibility to Nigeria and Pakistan. Whether India is reinstated for 2027/28 hasn’t been confirmed; check UCL’s official GREAT Scholarship page before applying.
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Does UCL offer scholarships for PhD or doctoral international students?
UCL PhD funding is set per faculty rather than through one scholarship listed alongside undergraduate and Master’s awards. Check department-specific studentships and UK Research Council funding directly.
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Do UCL scholarships for international students appear on Reddit or student forums?
Threads about the Global Master’s and India Excellence scholarships appear periodically on Reddit and Quora, mostly around timelines and outcomes. Treat these as anecdotal starting points, not a substitute for UCL’s official pages.
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Does UCLA offer scholarships to international students, and is that different from UCL?
UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) is a separate US institution, unaffiliated with UCL (University College London). Search results sometimes conflate the two; every scholarship discussed in this guide applies only to University College London.
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What happens if I don’t get a UCL scholarship after applying?
Your admission offer stands regardless. Most students in this position combine self-funding with an external scholarship (Chevening, Commonwealth, or an India-based trust) or an education loan against the confirmed UCL offer letter.
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