Four Manchester Universities Offer GREAT Scholarships to Indian Postgraduates

Four Greater Manchester universities have joined the GREAT Scholarships 2027 programme to offer Indian students tuition support. The British Council announced the inclusion of Manchester Metropolitan University, Royal Northern College of Music, The University of Manchester and the University of Salford in the scholarship programme. Each award provides at least £10,000 toward tuition for one-year postgraduate courses starting autumn 2027, covering only tuition fees.

The announcement was made during the Northern England India Mission’s visit to India and was supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The scholarships are jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council and the participating higher education institutions. The 2027 programme is launched by the British Council together with over 75 UK universities, a significant expansion from the 12 universities that offered the programme for the 2026-27 academic year.

Scholarship value and scope

Each scholarship will provide a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition fees for a one-year taught postgraduate course during the 2027-28 academic year. The scholarship does not cover the full cost of studying in the UK. Students must arrange funds for remaining tuition fees, accommodation, travel and living expenses.

The Royal Northern College of Music has specified it will offer three scholarships for one-year postgraduate music courses. The broader Study UK initiative supports scholarship opportunities across disciplines including finance, marketing, business, psychology, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), design and humanities, as well as arts, music and dance.

Eligibility and application

Eligible Indian students must have secured an offer of admission from one of the participating universities and meet all the entry requirements specified for their chosen course. There is no single application process or common deadline specified for all four institutions. Candidates must check each university's website for deadlines and course-specific eligibility criteria.

Eligible courses vary by university and students must check individual institutions' requirements. The inclusion of four universities from Greater Manchester is expected to broaden the academic choices available to Indian applicants, allowing them to explore programmes spanning professional, technical, creative and research-oriented fields.

Programme context

The GREAT Scholarships programme is part of broader efforts to strengthen educational and cultural links between India and the UK. It aims to help talented students gain international exposure and build professional networks while reducing part of the financial burden associated with international study.

Rittika Chanda Parruck MBE, Director of Education India at the British Council, said the participation of the four Greater Manchester universities would expand postgraduate opportunities for Indian students across a diverse range of disciplines. "Initiatives such as the GREAT Scholarships help support the ambitions of Indian students while strengthening the education partnership between India and the UK," Parruck added.

Jo Purves, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships and Global Engagement at the University of Salford, said the university was looking forward to welcoming Indian students through the scholarship programme. Senior representatives from all four universities were part of the delegation during the visit to India. The participating organisations seek to strengthen educational cooperation, cultural exchange and long-term academic relationships between the UK and countries around the world.

Students must check individual university websites for application deadlines and course-specific requirements.