How to Apply for GREAT Scholarships 2027 (and Chevening, Commonwealth, Women in STEM)

The #1 Mistake: Trying to Apply "Through the British Council"

The British Council website is informational only. You cannot submit a scholarship application there. Each scholarship type has its own application portal, and this guide shows you exactly where to go.

For autumn 2027 entry, GREAT applications run through each university during the 2026/27 application season. The British Council has not yet published the 2027/28 list of countries and participating universities; it will appear on its Study UK page.

1. 1
   Check your country is eligible

   Visit the British Council GREAT Scholarships page and confirm your country is on the list for 2027/28 entry once it is published (18 countries were eligible in 2026/27). Use our eligibility checker.

2. 2
   Find participating universities for your country

   Filter by your country on the British Council website. Not every university offers GREAT Scholarships for every country, so make a list of those offering awards for your nationality.

3. 3
   Apply for admission at your chosen university

   Apply to the master's programme you want on the university's website. This is a standard university application — personal statement, transcripts, references, English test score.

4. 4
   Apply for the GREAT Scholarship separately (or automatically)

   This is university-specific. Some require a separate scholarship form; others automatically consider all eligible applicants. Check each university's GREAT page for its process and deadline.

5. 5
   Receive your offer and scholarship notification

   If successful, the GREAT Scholarship (£10,000) is applied as a tuition fee reduction, directly on your tuition invoice. In 2026, universities such as Edinburgh notified winners around the end of June.

6. 6
   Accept, get your CAS, apply for your visa

   Accept your offer. The university issues your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), which you use to apply for your Student visa. See our visa guide.

1. 1
   4 Aug – 6 Oct 2026

   Apply online at chevening.org

   Write four essays (Leadership, Networking, Studying in the UK, Career Plan), each up to 500 words, and choose three UK courses. The 2027/28 round closed on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC for most countries (a few, such as Austria and Belgium, stay open until 20 October 2026); the next round is expected to open around early August 2027.

2. 2
   Oct 2026 – Feb 2027

   Name two referees and wait for shortlisting

   Reading committees assess applications from mid-October to January. Shortlisted candidates hear in mid-February 2027. You upload both reference letters yourself no later than seven working days before your interview.

3. 3
   Mar – Apr 2027

   Interview

   Usually at the British Embassy or High Commission in your country: a panel interview (typically three interviewers, around 30 minutes) covering your leadership, career goals and why the UK. This is where most candidates are eliminated.

4. 4
   By 8 Jul 2027

   Secure an unconditional university offer

   You must hold an unconditional offer from one of your three courses (Chevening only covers one-year master's). Miss the 8 July 2027 deadline and the award is withdrawn.

5. 5
   From mid-June 2027

   Results, then arrival in Sep/Oct 2027

   Results are announced from mid-June. If successful, Chevening covers your visa and flights and supports you to arrive in the UK in September/October 2027.

For essay tips and interview prep, see our dedicated Chevening guide.

1. 1
   Identify your nominating body

   You can't apply on your own. You must be nominated by an approved body in your home country — typically a national scholarship agency, a university or a government ministry. Check the CSC website for your country's nominating bodies and their (earlier) internal deadlines.

2. 2
   8 Sep – 20 Oct 2026

   Apply through the CSC online system

   The 2027/28 CSC system opened on 8 September 2026 and closes on 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST. You need a development impact statement explaining how your study will benefit your home country.

3. 3
   Dec 2026 – Jul 2027

   Nomination and selection

   Your nominating body shortlists candidates and forwards them to the CSC by December 2026; the CSC then makes the final selection. Results arrive by July 2027.

4. 4
   Sep/Oct 2027

   If selected: CAS and visa

   The CSC handles much of the administration, working with your UK university to issue a CAS and guiding you through the visa process.

For the complete Commonwealth application guide, see our dedicated Commonwealth guide.

1. 1
   Check eligibility carefully

   You must be a woman from an eligible country with financial need, planning to study STEM. Check the British Council website for that year's list of eligible countries and partner universities.

2. 2
   Apply to a partner university's STEM programme

   Apply to one of the partner universities' STEM master's programmes. As with GREAT, you go through the university, not the British Council.

3. 3
   Expected Jan – Apr 2027

   Complete the Women in STEM scholarship application

   A separate scholarship form, usually on the university's website. Show (1) financial need, (2) your STEM motivation, (3) leadership potential and (4) how you'll promote gender equality in STEM back home. In the 2026/27 round, applications ran from 16 January to 14 April 2026 at partner universities such as Queen Mary University of London.

4. 4
   Selection and notification

   Selection is joint between the British Council and the university. An award covers full tuition, a living stipend, flights, visa and health surcharge, plus a child allowance for eligible single mothers. Full details in our Women in STEM guide.

Whichever scholarship you apply for, you'll need most of these. Tick them off on our interactive documents page.

• Valid passport — valid for at least six months beyond your course end date.
• Academic transcripts — official transcripts from all previous institutions, translated into English if necessary.
• Degree certificate(s) — your bachelor's (and master's, if applicable).
• IELTS or other English test score — typically 6.0–7.0 overall. See our IELTS guide.
• Personal statement / motivation letter — why this programme, this university, the UK, and what you will do afterwards.
• Two reference letters — at least one academic; Chevening asks for two professional or academic referees.
• CV / resume — highlighting research, publications and work experience.
• Financial evidence — bank statements showing you can cover the remaining costs; required for the visa even with a scholarship.

Common Application Mistakes

Applying on britishcouncil.org directly

The British Council website is a directory, not an application portal. You apply on each university's website.

Missing the university-specific deadline

GREAT deadlines vary by university — some close early in the year, others in spring. Check each one individually.

Not applying for both admission and the scholarship

Some universities require separate applications for admission and for the GREAT Scholarship. Missing one means missing the other.

Assuming £10,000 covers everything

Not showing how you'll fund the rest can hurt your chances. Universities want to see that you can actually afford to come — Imperial, for example, assessed GREAT applicants' ability to cover remaining costs in 2026.

What's Next?