Scholarships in UK for Indonesian Students
A complete, updated list of scholarships available to Indonesian and other international students in the UK, organised by study level, with current 2026/2027 deadlines, including one flagship programme that's open for applications right now.
Secure your UK scholarship as an Indonesian student — get expert guidance
What you'll learn in this article
Chevening, the UK's flagship scholarship, is currently accepting applications. Closing on October 6, 2026, it is a genuine, live opportunity rather than a closed cycle most students assume has already passed. The UK remains one of the most sought-after study destinations for Indonesian students, home to world-ranked universities and a genuinely rich scholarship landscape spanning government, university, and field-specific funding.
This page lists what's actually available right now for Indonesian students specifically, organised by source and study level, current deadlines, honest eligibility, and where the old, commonly circulated information gets it wrong.
Secure your UK scholarship as an Indonesian student — get expert guidance
Government Scholarships in UK
Government-funded scholarships are the UK's most prestigious options, and their current status varies significantly; one is genuinely open right now, another has just closed.
Chevening Scholarships
- Level: Master's (any one-year taught programme, any field)
- Coverage: Full tuition, living costs, and travel, total annual value typically £30,000 to £50,000+ depending on university and programme
- Eligibility: Citizen of a Chevening-eligible country (Indonesia qualifies), at least 2,800 hours (roughly 2 years) of work experience after your undergraduate degree, and a commitment to return to Indonesia for at least 2 years after your scholarship ends
- Current status (as of August 2026): applications for the 2027-28 cycle are open now, from 4 August to 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC. This is genuinely live, not a closed cycle. If you meet the work experience requirement, this is worth acting on immediately
- Note: an unconditional offer from a UK university (from among 3 course choices you list in your application) isn't required to apply, but must be submitted by July 2027 if you're selected as a scholar
- Not a fit if: you don't yet have 2,800 hours of post-undergraduate work experience; this is a hard eligibility requirement, not a competitive disadvantage, or if you're unwilling to commit to the 2-year home return condition
GREAT Scholarships - Indonesia
- Level: Postgraduate (one-year taught Master's)
- Coverage: £10,000 (approx. Rp 213,000,000) towards tuition fees
- Eligibility: Indonesian citizens specifically, available at a defined list of UK partner universities for the 2026-27 academic year (including Anglia Ruskin, Birkbeck University of London, Buckinghamshire New University, Liverpool Hope, Robert Gordon University, and SOAS University of London, among others)
- Note: deadlines vary by institution, not by a single national date; check the specific university's page rather than assuming one universal deadline
ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships
- Level: Master's
- Coverage: Minimum £40,000 (approx. Rp 852,000,000), covering tuition, living stipend, return travel, IELTS exam fee reimbursement, visa and health coverage
- Eligibility: Women from ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste (Indonesia qualifies) pursuing STEM fields specifically, at partner universities including Cranfield University and the University of Stirling
- Current status (as of August 2026): the 2026-27 cycle has closed (applications ran to late April 2026, with results issued in June 2026). Based on the annual pattern, the next cycle is likely to open around early 2027; confirm directly with the British Council closer to that window
- Note: this is a separate programme from the broader "British Council Women in STEM" scholarships, which have different eligible countries depending on the partner university; don't assume they're interchangeable
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Scholarships / UK Government Doctoral Scholarships
- Level: PhD and research-based Master's
- Coverage: Full tuition, a stipend, and research costs
- Eligibility: International research students, competitive, based on research proposal quality
- Note: Confirm current eligibility by country and field directly with UKRI, as funding priorities shift periodically
Undergraduate Scholarships in the UK
University-specific undergraduate funding is where most Indonesian students will find realistic options, since none of the government scholarships above cover undergraduate study.
| Scholarship | University | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Global Futures Scholarship | University of Manchester | £8,000 (approx. Rp 170,400,000) in year one, renewable if you maintain 60%+ |
| Think Big Undergraduate Scholarship | University of Bristol | £6,500 to £13,000/year (approx. Rp 138,450,000 to Rp 276,900,000/year) as tuition fee waivers |
| Global Undergraduate Scholarship | University of Edinburgh | £5,000 (approx. Rp 106,500,000), paid in instalments |
| Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship | University of Glasgow | £7,000/year (approx. Rp 149,100,000/year) |
| International Achievement Scholarship | University of Birmingham | £3,000/year (approx. Rp 63,900,000/year) |
Converted at approximately 1 GBP = Rp 21,300 (August 2026).
Master's Scholarships in UK
Beyond Chevening and GREAT, individual universities run their own postgraduate scholarships worth layering into your search.
| Scholarship | University | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Chancellor's International Scholarship | University of Sussex | £5,000 (approx. Rp 106,500,000) towards tuition |
| Global Excellence Scholarship | University of Exeter | Up to £10,000 (approx. Rp 213,000,000) towards tuition, first year |
| Developing Solutions Master's Scholarship | University of Nottingham | 50% to 100% of tuition fees |
MBA Scholarships in UK
MBA-specific funding often overlaps with the broader schemes above, worth checking both categories rather than assuming MBA scholarships exist entirely separately.
| Scholarship/University | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Chevening (MBA-specific fee cap) | Up to £22,000 (approx. Rp 468,600,000) covering tuition, travel, and stipend; universities may contribute up to 20% of this cap, beyond which you cover the difference |
| GREAT Scholarship - Indonesia | £10,000 (approx. Rp 213,000,000), if your MBA qualifies as a one-year taught postgraduate programme at a partner university |
| University of Birmingham MBA Scholarships | Up to £15,000 (approx. Rp 319,500,000) towards tuition for full-time MBA students |
| University of Leeds MBA Excellence Scholarship | 50% fee waiver |
Not a fit if you don't already have a genuine business background or relevant work experience; most MBA programmes themselves require this for admission, and the scholarship won't substitute for missing prerequisites.
PhD Scholarships in UK
UK PhD funding tends to combine a full tuition waiver with a genuine living stipend for the duration of the degree, though this list assumes you already have a research proposal in place.
| Scholarship | University | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Gates Cambridge Scholarship | University of Cambridge | Full tuition, visa and health insurance, and living costs (£21,000/year, approx. Rp 447,300,000/year, for 4 years) |
| Clarendon Scholarship | University of Oxford | Full tuition, an annual living grant, and a monthly stipend |
| President's PhD Scholarships | Imperial College London | Full tuition waiver, living stipend, consumable fund |
| Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarship | University of Edinburgh | Tuition, research costs, and a stipend (£19,237/year, approx. Rp 409,747,000/year) |
| UK Bicentenary PhD Scholarships | University of Manchester | Full tuition and a stipend (£20,780/year, approx. Rp 442,614,000/year) |
Not a fit if you don't already hold, or aren't close to securing, a confirmed supervisor and research proposal; this groundwork is central to every PhD scholarship on this list.
How to Apply for Scholarships in UK?
The process differs meaningfully between government scholarships (Chevening, GREAT) and university-specific awards.
- Identify your eligibility category first: Chevening requires 2,800 hours of work experience, GREAT is Indonesia-specific but tied to a defined university list, and university scholarships vary individually.
- For Chevening, you don't need a university offer to apply; select 3 eligible master's courses within your application itself; an unconditional offer is only required later if you're selected.
- Prepare documents: academic transcripts, English proficiency scores (not required at Chevening's initial application stage, but required by universities), references, and, for Chevening specifically, four essays that tell one coherent, consistent story.
- Submit well before the deadline, and don't wait until the final days; Chevening's system alone processes tens of thousands of applications globally.
- If shortlisted, prepare thoroughly for interviews; these are conducted by panels at British embassies and high commissions.
Tips to Apply for Scholarships in UK
A few practical details that genuinely improve your odds, beyond simply meeting the eligibility criteria.
- Apply to Chevening now if you're eligible; this cycle is live. Applications close 6 October 2026; don't wait, and don't assume there's another opening soon after; the next cycle typically won't open again until roughly a year later.
- Consider Chevening's partner awards if your profile is strong but competitive odds concern you. Chevening has an estimated global acceptance rate of only 2-3%, but partner-funded awards sometimes go unfilled due to fewer applicants, worth exploring alongside the main scholarship.
- Write your Chevening essays as one coherent story, not four separate answers. Contradictions between essays are a common, avoidable reason strong applicants get rejected; use concrete examples (the STAR method - situation, task, action, result - works well) rather than generic claims.
- Check institution-specific deadlines for GREAT Scholarships individually. Unlike Chevening's single national deadline, GREAT deadlines vary by university; a missed deadline at one institution doesn't mean you've missed the scholarship entirely; other partner universities may still be open.
- If you missed ASEAN-UK SAGE this cycle, mark your calendar for early 2027. The 2026-27 window has closed, but this runs annually; don't assume the opportunity is gone permanently.
Minimum Requirements Before You Apply
Rather than a generic checklist, here's what actually gets checked first, and where Indonesian applicants specifically tend to fall short if unprepared.
- Chevening's work experience threshold is exact, not approximate: 2,800 hours (roughly 2 years) of work experience completed after your undergraduate degree; unpaid or voluntary work generally doesn't count toward this unless explicitly stated otherwise. Confirm what qualifies before assuming you meet it.
- English proficiency thresholds vary meaningfully by university: IELTS bands commonly range from 6.5 to 7.5, and TOEFL iBT from 90 to 110, depending on the institution; a generic "good enough" score for one university may fall short at another, especially since you must meet every university's requirement across your chosen courses, not just one.
- Chevening's home-return commitment is genuinely binding: this isn't a soft preference, it's a condition of the scholarship; factor it into your longer-term plans before applying.
- GREAT Scholarship eligibility is tied to a specific, defined list of partner universities for Indonesia: not every UK university participates; confirm your target institution is actually on the current partner list before assuming eligibility.
- PhD scholarships don't have an Indonesia-specific fast track: unlike Chevening or GREAT at Master's level, UK PhD funding is awarded on the same competitive, merit-based footing regardless of nationality; a strong research proposal and confirmed supervisor matter more here than where you're from.
Tracking which government scholarships are genuinely eligible for Indonesian citizens (Chevening and GREAT, not Commonwealth), knowing which cycles are open right now versus closed, and building a Chevening application that tells one coherent story rather than four disconnected essays, is where most students either succeed or lose valuable time. AECC's counsellors follow these deadlines and requirements directly, and can help you build a genuinely competitive application, all at no cost to you.
Scholarships in UK for Indonesian Students FAQs
Here are the questions Indonesian students ask us most often about UK scholarships.
Chevening and GREAT Scholarships are the strongest fully or substantially funded options genuinely open to Indonesian citizens, Chevening covers full tuition and living costs for a Master's, provided you meet the 2,800-hour work experience requirement, while GREAT provides £10,000 toward tuition at specific partner universities.
Chevening (open now, closing 6 October 2026), GREAT Scholarships (Indonesia-specific, tied to a defined university list), and ASEAN-UK SAGE (for women in STEM, though currently closed until its next cycle) are all genuinely eligible for Indonesian applicants, alongside numerous university-specific undergraduate, Master's, MBA, and PhD scholarships.
No, and this is worth knowing before applying, Indonesia is not a Commonwealth member country, so Commonwealth Scholarships and Commonwealth Shared or Distance Learning Scholarships don't apply to Indonesian citizens, regardless of academic strength.
As of August 2026, Chevening's 2027-28 cycle is open now and closes 6 October 2026, this is a live, actionable opportunity. GREAT Scholarship deadlines vary by university for the 2026-27 academic year, check individual institution pages. ASEAN-UK SAGE has closed for this cycle, with the next expected around early 2027. Confirm current status for university-specific scholarships directly with AECC or the provider.
The process is largely the same as for any international applicant: secure a supervisor and research proposal first, since UK PhD scholarships (Gates Cambridge, Clarendon, Edinburgh Doctoral College, and similar) assume this groundwork is already in place. Indonesia's citizenship doesn't unlock a separate dedicated PhD scholarship track the way Chevening or GREAT do at Master's level, so you're applying on the same competitive, merit-based basis as students from any other country, strong academics and a well-formed research proposal matter more than nationality here.
This is genuinely what Chevening and GREAT are built to address, Chevening covers full tuition and living costs, and doesn't require existing financial means, what it does require is 2,800 hours of work experience and a strong, coherent application, not wealth. Financial background isn't the barrier these scholarships are designed to solve for, eligibility and application quality are.
Trusted Expertise
About the Author
Published and reviewed by AECC counsellors who guide students through every step of their study-abroad journey.
Published by Devi Mukherjee
UK & Ireland Education Specialist | 20 Years Advising Students from India
Devi Mukherjee has been advising students from India on study in the United Kingdom and Ireland for 20 years. She has worked through several significant shifts in UK immigration policy, including the move from Tier 4 to the Student visa, the introduction of the Graduate Route, and the changes to English language test requirements that have affected Indian applicants considerably over the past three years.
Devi is particularly good at bridging the gap between what official guidance says and what it means in practice for a student from India. UK Home Office guidance is written for a general international audience. Devi advises students working with Indian academic certificates, Indian bank statements and Indian English language test scores, and the specifics matter. She knows where Indian applicants tend to hit complications and what to do about them.
Her articles on UK and Irish universities are written for students from India who are not simply asking whether they are eligible, but whether this is the right choice given their academic background, budget and what they want to do after graduation. That is a different question and it requires a different kind of answer. She holds an MSc in Physics and is based at AECC's Gurgaon office.
