GREAT Scholarships 2027 for Indian Students — £10,000+ Toward Postgraduate Tuition at Four Manchester Universities

About the programme

The GREAT Scholarships programme is an international education initiative jointly funded by the UK government's GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council and participating UK higher education institutions.

For the 2027–28 academic year, four universities in Greater Manchester have been announced as participants offering scholarship opportunities for Indian students who plan to study in the United Kingdom.

The announcement was made during the Northern England India Mission in October 2026, which brought together universities and regional representatives to strengthen academic, cultural and economic relationships between the UK and India.

The scholarships are designed to reduce some of the financial barriers associated with international postgraduate education and give eligible students access to UK universities across a range of academic and professional disciplines.

Participating universities

1. Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University is participating in the GREAT Scholarships 2027 initiative for Indian students.

The announcement confirms its participation, but detailed information about the eligible courses, award value, application procedure and deadline should be confirmed on the university's official scholarship pages.

Official website: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/

Applicants should check the university's international postgraduate funding pages for the dedicated 2027 scholarship instructions.

2. Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)

The Royal Northern College of Music is offering a GREAT Scholarship to an eligible student from India applying for a one-year postgraduate music programme.

The college's published scholarship information identifies eligible programmes including:

• Master of Music (Intensive).
• Master of Performance (Intensive).
• Postgraduate Diploma: Advanced Studies.

Applicants must be Indian passport holders and permanent residents of India. Selection is linked to the college's admissions and audition process, with candidates assessed on the ability and potential demonstrated at audition.

The award provides at least £10,000 toward tuition fees.

Official scholarship page: https://www.rncm.ac.uk/study-here/make-an-application/fees/great-scholarships/

3. The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is also included among the four Greater Manchester universities participating in the GREAT Scholarships 2027 initiative for Indian students.

The university offers postgraduate programmes across numerous academic areas. However, its dedicated GREAT Scholarships page has not yet confirmed the precise eligible courses, award amount and application deadline for the newly announced 2027–28 Indian scholarship.

Prospective applicants should monitor the university's official scholarship and India information pages for the relevant award details.

Official university website: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/

Scholarship information: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/finance-and-scholarships/funding/great-scholarships/

Applicants should not assume that the eligibility criteria or deadlines for previous scholarship years will automatically apply to the 2027–28 award.

4. University of Salford

The University of Salford has published specific details of its GREAT Scholarship for Indian students entering in September 2027.

One scholarship is available to an eligible Indian applicant for either of the following one-year Master's programmes:

• MSc Managing AI in Business.
• MSc Diabetes Care.

The award is a £10,000 tuition-fee reduction.

The published tuition figures after the scholarship are £7,460 for MSc Managing AI in Business and £8,000 for MSc Diabetes Care, based on the fees listed by the university.

Official scholarship page: https://www.salford.ac.uk/international/scholarships/british-council-great-scholarships

Who can apply?

The general GREAT Scholarship eligibility requirements for Indian applicants include:

• Be an Indian citizen and permanent resident of India.
• Hold an undergraduate degree relevant to the proposed postgraduate programme.
• Meet the academic and English-language entry requirements of the university.
• Demonstrate motivation and a genuine interest in the chosen subject.
• Meet any additional course-specific requirements.
• Be willing to participate in the GREAT Scholars networking activities and maintain contact with the British Council and the university as an alumnus.

Applicants must also secure an offer of admission for an eligible programme. Individual universities may apply additional selection criteria.

The scholarship is competitive, and meeting the basic requirements does not guarantee an award.

What does the scholarship cover?

Each GREAT Scholarship announced under this initiative is worth at least £10,000 toward tuition fees for an eligible one-year postgraduate course.

The award is intended to reduce the amount the student must pay to the university. It should not be treated as a fully funded scholarship.

Recipients may still need to pay for:

• Any remaining tuition fees after the scholarship is deducted.
• Accommodation and other living expenses.
• Travel to and from the United Kingdom.
• Visa application costs and related expenses.
• Books, personal expenses and any other costs not covered by the award.

Applicants should prepare a realistic budget before accepting an offer and confirm whether their scholarship can be combined with other funding.

How to apply

There is no single application form or common deadline for all four universities. Applicants must apply through the institution offering their preferred scholarship.

Step 1: Choose a university and confirm that your intended postgraduate course is eligible.

Step 2: Review the programme entry requirements, tuition fees and the university's scholarship-specific criteria.

Step 3: Submit an application for admission to the eligible postgraduate course.

Step 4: Follow the scholarship application process specified by the university. Some institutions require a separate scholarship form, while others may consider eligible applicants through the admissions process or an audition.

Step 5: Prepare any requested supporting documents, such as academic transcripts, degree certificates, a personal statement, references and English-language evidence.

Step 6: Submit all required applications by the institution's published deadlines.

University-specific application information

Manchester Metropolitan University: Visit https://www.mmu.ac.uk/ and check for the GREAT Scholarships 2027 instructions for Indian students.

Royal Northern College of Music: Visit https://www.rncm.ac.uk/study-here/make-an-application/fees/great-scholarships/ and follow the postgraduate admissions and audition instructions for eligible music programmes.

The University of Manchester: Visit https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/finance-and-scholarships/funding/great-scholarships/ and monitor the page for the 2027–28 Indian scholarship details.

University of Salford: Visit https://www.salford.ac.uk/international/scholarships/british-council-great-scholarships, apply for one of the eligible Master's courses and follow the separate scholarship application timeline.

Documents required

The exact document requirements depend on the selected university and course. Applicants should be prepared to provide:

• A valid Indian passport.
• Evidence of permanent residence in India, where requested.
• Undergraduate degree certificate and academic transcripts.
• An offer of admission for an eligible postgraduate programme.
• Evidence of meeting the university's English-language requirements.
• A CV or résumé, if required.
• A personal statement or scholarship application responses, where required.
• References or audition materials for courses that require them.

Applicants should consult the individual university's instructions, because not every institution requires the same supporting documents.

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Important dates

For all four universities:

• October 2026: The participating universities were announced.
• Autumn 2027: Expected start period for eligible postgraduate courses.
• Scholarship deadlines: Vary by university and course. There is no common deadline for all four institutions.

University of Salford's published timeline:

• 14 March 2027: Deadline to apply for an eligible Master's programme.
• 1 April 2027: Deadline to have received an offer of admission.
• 1–14 April 2027, by 5 p.m. GMT on 14 April: Scholarship application period.
• 1 May 2027: Expected notification of scholarship decisions.
• 14 May 2027: Scholarship acceptance deadline.
• 20 September 2027: Teaching is scheduled to begin.

These dates apply to the University of Salford's published award and should not be treated as deadlines for the other three institutions.

Applicants should confirm the latest information on their chosen university's website before applying.

Official links

Regional announcement: https://www.investmanchester.co.uk/news/great-north-india-mission-delivers-new-jobs-investment-and-lasting-partnerships-for-northern-england/

British Council GREAT Scholarships information: https://www.britishcouncil.in/study-uk/scholarships/great-scholarships

Manchester Metropolitan University: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/

Royal Northern College of Music: https://www.rncm.ac.uk/study-here/make-an-application/fees/great-scholarships/

The University of Manchester: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/finance-and-scholarships/funding/great-scholarships/

University of Salford: https://www.salford.ac.uk/international/scholarships/british-council-great-scholarships/