GREAT Scholarships can reduce the cost of a one-year taught postgraduate degree in the UK, but they are not a general “fully funded UK scholarship.” The current programme offers eligible students from selected countries £10,000 toward tuition fees at participating UK universities.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the British Council says more than 140 GREAT Scholarships are available across more than 60 universities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The award is jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council and participating universities.
Official source: use the British Council GREAT Scholarships page to check the current participating countries, universities, eligible courses and university-specific deadlines.
The practical question is not simply “Am I from an eligible country?” It is whether your nationality, chosen university, course, admission timing and financial plan all fit the specific GREAT Scholarship offered by that institution.
What the scholarship actually pays
The standard GREAT Scholarship contributes £10,000 toward tuition fees for an eligible one-year taught postgraduate course. It is a substantial tuition reduction, but it does not automatically pay your full tuition bill, living costs, visa fees, flights, accommodation or other expenses.
It is not a fully funded scholarship
This distinction matters. A £10,000 award can still leave a large remaining tuition balance, especially at higher-fee universities. You should calculate the amount you would still need to pay before treating the scholarship as financially sufficient.
Use StepOut’s Proof of Funds for International Students guide to separate scholarship value from the wider money needed for study and visa planning.
Which countries are currently included?
For 2026–27, the British Council lists 18 participating countries: Bangladesh, China, Egypt, France, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.
This list can change by academic year, so do not rely on an old blog post when planning a later intake.
Your nationality does not guarantee every university option
Each participating university chooses which GREAT Scholarships it offers and which nationalities and courses are covered. A university may support students from only two or three countries, while another may cover different countries.
Always open the British Council page for your nationality and then the relevant university scholarship page.
Course eligibility can vary
Some universities make the award available across many taught master’s programmes. Others restrict it to specific subjects such as public health, engineering, education, business or sustainability.
Do not apply to a course you do not genuinely want simply because it appears on a scholarship list.
Admission normally comes first or runs in parallel
At many institutions, you need to apply for the master’s programme before or alongside the GREAT Scholarship application. Check whether the university requires an offer, application ID or conditional admission before the funding application can be considered.
Deadlines are university-specific
There is no single GREAT Scholarship closing date for every university. Each participating institution publishes its own deadline.
Add the exact scholarship deadline to your Scholarship Deadline Calendar and keep it separate from the university application deadline.
Who is a strong candidate?
Universities generally look for applicants who meet the academic requirements and can explain clearly why the programme fits their future plans. Depending on the institution, the scholarship process may also consider leadership, professional impact, motivation or how you plan to contribute to the GREAT scholar community.
Your course choice should make sense
A reader-first application should answer a simple question: why this particular programme, at this particular university, at this point in your career?
A generic statement about “world-class UK education” is weaker than a specific explanation of modules, faculty, practical training or sector relevance.
Do not recycle your admission statement blindly
The scholarship application may ask different questions from the university application. Reuse evidence, not generic paragraphs. Your examples should remain consistent, but the answer should address the actual scholarship prompt.
Show what the £10,000 changes
If appropriate, explain why the tuition contribution materially improves the feasibility of your plan. Avoid exaggerating hardship or pretending the scholarship covers everything.
Budget the remaining tuition
Suppose a master’s programme costs £27,000. A £10,000 GREAT Scholarship still leaves £17,000 in tuition, before living expenses, visa fees and travel.
That remaining amount must be planned realistically.
Check whether the award can be combined with other funding
Some universities restrict combining major scholarships; others allow certain discounts or external sponsorships. Check the institution’s rules before assuming you can stack awards.
What documents might you need?
Requirements vary, but you may need:
- university application or offer details;
- academic transcripts;
- CV;
- scholarship statement or essay;
- evidence of nationality;
- references where requested.
Use specific evidence
If you claim leadership, show what you actually led. If you discuss community impact, explain what changed. If you describe career goals, connect them to realistic roles and skills.
Do not write for imagined “scholarship language”
Applications often become weaker when students use inflated phrases about changing the world. A clear, specific answer written in your natural professional voice is more persuasive.
Interview preparation
Some universities may include interviews or additional selection. Review your course choice, academic background, funding plan and the examples used in your written application.
Use StepOut’s Scholarship Interview Guide rather than memorising scripted answers.
What happens if you win?
The university applies the scholarship to tuition according to its terms. You still need to complete admission, deposit, CAS and visa requirements.
Winning a scholarship does not itself issue a UK Student visa.
What if you do not win?
Decide before applying whether the course is still affordable without GREAT funding. If not, keep alternative universities and funding routes open.
Compare GREAT with fully funded options
GREAT can be a strong partial scholarship, but applicants who need full tuition plus living costs should also research programmes such as Chevening, Commonwealth or other full-funding routes where eligible.
StepOut’s Scholarships for International Students pillar explains how to compare funding types.
A practical GREAT Scholarship workflow
- Confirm your country is eligible.
- Open the current British Council country page.
- Identify participating universities.
- Check the exact eligible master’s programmes.
- Apply for admission early enough.
- Record the scholarship deadline separately.
- Prepare evidence-based answers.
- Calculate the remaining tuition and living cost.
- Keep backup funding options open.
Common mistakes
- Calling GREAT a fully funded scholarship.
- Assuming all 18 countries are eligible at every university.
- Missing the institution-specific deadline.
- Applying to an unsuitable course only because it carries the award.
- Ignoring the remaining tuition balance.
- Submitting a generic motivation statement.
- Assuming scholarship selection guarantees a visa.
Check whether the scholarship changes your deposit requirement
Some universities still require an admission deposit before scholarship results are final. Others may reduce or waive part of the initial payment after selection. Ask the university what you must pay, by what date, and whether a GREAT award changes that amount.
Calculate the full UK cost before applying
Build a simple budget with tuition after the £10,000 scholarship, accommodation, food, local transport, visa application costs, the immigration health surcharge where applicable, flights and an emergency reserve. This shows whether the scholarship makes the degree genuinely affordable.
Do not assume one-year study means one-year cost only
Many taught master’s courses are academically one year, but you can still have housing deposits before the course starts and living costs after teaching ends while completing a dissertation or preparing to leave. Budget by calendar reality, not only tuition dates.
Check whether the scholarship is tied to a specific offer status
Some universities require an unconditional offer, while others accept applicants with conditional admission. If your English test or final degree result is outstanding, confirm whether that affects scholarship consideration.
Use the nationality page before the university page
The British Council’s country pages are the safest way to see which institutions currently offer GREAT funding to applicants from your country. Starting from a generic university page can make you miss nationality restrictions.
Prepare scholarship answers around evidence
If a question asks about leadership, choose one or two situations where you can explain the problem, your role, the decision you made and the outcome. If it asks about future impact, explain a realistic next step rather than a vague promise.
Show why the UK course is the right tool
Strong applications connect the scholarship to a specific course feature—such as a module, laboratory, industry project or specialist faculty—not just to the fact that the degree is in the UK.
Keep an affordability backup
If the course is unaffordable without GREAT, identify at least one lower-cost or differently funded option before the result arrives. This prevents a late scholarship rejection from leaving you with only an expensive offer and a short decision deadline.
Think about post-study plans separately
The GREAT Scholarship does not change UK immigration rules. If post-study work matters to you, separately review StepOut’s UK Graduate Visa guide and do not assume scholarship status gives special Graduate-route rights.
What to do after a rejection
Ask whether the university has other awards, tuition discounts or departmental funding. If the programme remains affordable, you can still proceed. If it does not, use StepOut’s Scholarship Rejection and Reapplication guide to review the next cycle without simply resubmitting the same application.
Keep the official scholarship page in your tracker
Save the British Council country page and the university’s own scholarship page together so you can recheck eligibility, deadline and course coverage before submitting.
What to do if you receive both an offer and a scholarship decision at different times
Universities do not always release admission and scholarship decisions together. If you receive an offer first, check whether you can hold the place while waiting for the GREAT Scholarship outcome and whether the deposit deadline comes before the scholarship result. If a deposit is required, ask in writing whether it is refundable if the scholarship is unsuccessful.
Do not pay simply because the deadline feels urgent. First confirm how much you would still owe after the scholarship, when the remaining tuition must be paid and whether your family or sponsor can cover that amount without relying on uncertain income after arrival.
Use the scholarship to improve an already sensible study plan
The strongest use of GREAT is to reduce the cost of a course you would still consider academically worthwhile. If the programme only becomes attractive because a scholarship exists, step back and reassess the course itself. Funding should improve a good decision, not create one from scratch.
Keep your scholarship and visa evidence aligned
If you are selected, save the formal award confirmation showing the value of the scholarship and how it is applied. When you later prepare the Student visa and university payment evidence, use the confirmed figures rather than estimates from the public scholarship page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a GREAT Scholarship worth?
The standard current award is £10,000 toward tuition fees.
Is GREAT fully funded?
No. It is a tuition contribution and does not normally cover all tuition and living costs.
Can undergraduate students apply?
The current GREAT Scholarship programme is aimed at eligible one-year taught postgraduate courses.
Is there one deadline?
No. Participating universities set their own deadlines.
Reader-first rule: treat GREAT as a £10,000 tuition reduction inside a complete study budget, not as a promise that the rest of the UK study cost will solve itself.
