GREAT Scholarships 2026
The GREAT Scholarships 2026 initiative is now open for bidding by all UK higher education institutions. This program, provided by the British Council as part of the Study UK campaign, aims to encourage international students to study in the UK.
📖 About the GREAT Scholarships
The GREAT Scholarships are jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Campaign and the British Council, in partnership with participating UK higher education institutions. The scholarships target prospective students from the following countries who will enroll in UK institutions in the autumn of 2026:
- Bangladesh
- China
- Egypt
- Ghana
- India
- Indonesia
- Kenya
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Vietnam
🗓️ Opportunity Details
- Date Published: August 7, 2025
- Application Deadline: September 5, 2025
- Category: Grants
- Eligible Locations: United Kingdom
🎁 Benefits of the GREAT Scholarships
The GREAT Scholarships 2026 will offer 120 scholarships to students enrolling in UK higher education institutions. Each scholarship is valued at £10,000, with contributions split equally between the British Council and the participating higher education institutions (HEIs).
Breakdown by Country:
| Country | Value of Each Scholarship | Number of Scholarships |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | £10,000 | 8 |
| China | £10,000 | 8 |
| Egypt | £10,000 | 5 |
| Ghana | £10,000 | 10 |
| India | £10,000 | 12 |
| Indonesia | £10,000 | 10 |
| Kenya | £10,000 | 10 |
| Malaysia | £10,000 | 5 |
| Mexico | £10,000 | 10 |
| Nigeria | £10,000 | 12 |
| Pakistan | £10,000 | 12 |
| Thailand | £10,000 | 8 |
| Turkey | £10,000 | 5 |
| Vietnam | £10,000 | 5 |
✅ Requirements for Participating Institutions
All participating institutions must meet the following criteria:
- Be listed on the UK Home Office Register of Student Sponsors (approved Education Providers) and inspected/approved by QAA/OFSTED/ESTYN.
- Contribute a minimum of £5,000 per scholarship.
- Ensure the contribution from the British Council/GREAT Campaign is £5,000 per scholarship.
- Ensure the minimum value of each scholarship is £10,000, which will go towards tuition fees.
- Scholarships must be offered at the postgraduate taught level (one-year master’s programs only).
- Contributions for the GREAT Scholarships 2026 must not come from existing scholarship programs.
- Scholarships can only be awarded to passport holders who are also permanent residents of the targeted countries.
📝 Application Process
UK institutions are required to complete the online bidding form by September 5, 2025. For detailed information on the opportunity, application criteria, and timeline, refer to the downloadable documents below:
Contact Information
For any questions, please contact:
📧 Nataliya Khrushch
Email: Nataliya.Khrushch@britishcouncil.org
📅 Application Deadline
The deadline to submit applications is September 5, 2025.
🌐 Scholarship Application Portal
- View details of the Bids for GREAT Scholarships.
- Apply for the Bids for GREAT Scholarships.
- 120 scholarships available for prospective students enrolling in UK higher education institutions in autumn 2026.
- Each scholarship is worth £10,000, funded jointly by the British Council and participating UK higher education institutions.
