Four Greater Manchester Universities Offer £10,000 Scholarships 2026

Key Points

• In total, four Greater Manchester universities will offer scholarships in India as part of the GREAT Scholarships 2027.
• These universities are Manchester Metropolitan University, Royal Northern College of Music, the University of Manchester, and the University of Salford.
• Every scholarship covers at least £10,000 of the tuition fee cost.
• Scholarships are available for one-year taught postgraduate courses commencing in Autumn 2027 in the academic year 2027-2028.
• This programme is a joint initiative of the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council, and the participating universities.
• Students applying for the GREAT Scholarship should be holding an offer of admission in the university and should satisfy all requirements of their course.
• Scholarship doesn’t cover the entire tuition, accommodation, travel, and living expenses.
• There is no common deadline or a single application process across four universities.
• Eligibility for the course, selection criterion, and deadlines differ from university to university.
• As per Royal Northern College of Music, candidates are automatically considered for scholarship based on their abilities and potential shown at audition.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) October 14, 2026 — GREAT Scholarships 2027 will provide Indian students with at least £10,000 towards tuition fees for one-year taught postgraduate courses at four universities in the region. The courses are scheduled to begin in autumn 2027 as part of the 2027-28 academic year.

As reported by India Today’s Best Colleges, the participating institutions are Manchester Metropolitan University, the Royal Northern College of Music, the University of Manchester and the University of Salford. The scholarships are intended to support Indian students pursuing postgraduate education in the UK across different academic disciplines.

The programme receives joint funding from the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council and the participating universities. According to the report, each award contributes a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition fees, although it does not cover the full cost of studying in the UK.

Which Greater Manchester Universities Are Taking Part?

The four institutions involved are Manchester Metropolitan University, the Royal Northern College of Music, the University of Manchester and the University of Salford. Each university offers postgraduate programmes in different academic and professional fields.

Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford provide courses in areas including business, management and other applied disciplines. The University of Manchester offers postgraduate programmes across a broad range of academic subjects, while the Royal Northern College of Music specialises in music education and performance.

The wider GREAT Scholarships programme covers subjects including finance, marketing, business, psychology, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, design, humanities, arts, music and dance. However, the courses eligible for funding differ by university, and students are advised to confirm availability directly with their chosen institution.

Who Can Apply for the GREAT Scholarships 2027?

Indian students planning to study a one-year taught postgraduate course in the UK can apply for the GREAT Scholarships 2027. Applicants must hold an offer of admission from one of the four participating Greater Manchester universities and meet the entry requirements for their chosen course.

The announcement does not set a common application deadline or a single application process for all four institutions. Instead, candidates should check the scholarship and admissions pages of their preferred university for details on eligible courses, application deadlines, selection criteria and other conditions.

The Royal Northern College of Music states that applicants from India, Italy and the United States with a high level of performing or composition ability can apply for selected one-year postgraduate programmes through UCAS Conservatoires and follow the audition process. It says applicants are automatically considered for the scholarship based on ability and potential demonstrated at audition.

How Much Financial Support Will Students Receive?

Each GREAT Scholarship provides at least £10,000 towards tuition fees for an eligible one-year taught postgraduate course. The funding is intended to reduce tuition costs, but it does not cover all study and living expenses.

Students must arrange funds for any remaining tuition fees, accommodation, travel and other costs. The report also notes that taught postgraduate courses generally involve structured classes, coursework and assessments, rather than the independent research focus of research degrees.

The British Council describes GREAT Scholarships as awards for postgraduate courses at UK universities across a variety of subjects. For the 2026-27 academic year, it listed 12 postgraduate scholarships for students from India, each worth a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition fees for a one-year postgraduate course.

What Courses Are Available Under the Scheme?

The four Greater Manchester universities offer postgraduate programmes across several academic and professional areas. Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford offer courses in business, management and other applied disciplines, while the University of Manchester provides a wide range of academic subjects.

The Royal Northern College of Music focuses on music education and performance. Its website says its GREAT Scholarships are available for selected one-year postgraduate courses in Music, including the Master of Music (Intensive), Master of Performance (Intensive) and Postgraduate Diploma: Advanced Studies programmes.

The University of Salford’s international scholarships page says it is offering two GREAT Scholarships in partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign: one for a student from India and one for a student from Vietnam. For Indian students, it lists eligible one-year postgraduate programmes including MSc Managing AI in Business and MSc Diabetes Care.

How Does the Wider GREAT Scholarships Programme Work?

GREAT Scholarships are jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council and participating UK higher education institutions. The scheme supports postgraduate students from selected countries, including India, to access UK higher education opportunities.

According to the British Council’s Study UK website, the programme offers students from 18 countries £10,000 towards tuition fees for a wide range of one-year taught postgraduate courses. In the 2026-27 academic year, it said more than 140 scholarships were offered by more than 60 universities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Royal Northern College of Music says the GREAT Scholarships 2027 programme has been launched by the British Council together with more than 75 UK universities. It says the programme supports students from countries including Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the United States and Vietnam.

What Should Applicants Do Before Applying?

Students should first identify their preferred university and course, then check that the programme is eligible for the GREAT Scholarship. They must also secure an offer of admission and meet the university’s academic entry requirements.

Because deadlines, eligible subjects and selection processes vary, applicants should review the scholarship and admissions pages of each institution. The India Today report advises students to confirm available courses and scholarship conditions directly with their chosen university before applying.

For the Royal Northern College of Music, applicants must be permanent residents and passport holders of India, Italy or the United States. The college also directs applicants to apply through UCAS Conservatoires and complete the audition process.

Background of the Development

The GREAT Scholarships programme is a UK government-backed initiative delivered with the British Council and partner universities. It is designed to help international postgraduate students fund one-year taught master’s-level courses in the UK.

For the 2026-27 academic year, the British Council listed 12 postgraduate GREAT Scholarships for Indian students, each worth at least £10,000 towards tuition. Institutions listed for that year included Anglia Ruskin University, Norwich University of the Arts, Queen’s University Belfast, the Royal College of Art, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the Royal Northern College of Music, the University of Bristol, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, the University of Dundee, the University of Reading, the University of Surrey and UWE Bristol.

The latest Greater Manchester announcement extends the programme’s visibility among Indian applicants for the 2027-28 academic year. It brings together four institutions from the same city-region, covering academic subjects as well as specialist music education and performance.

Prediction: How Can This Affect Indian Students?

The announcement is likely to give Indian applicants another route to reduce the cost of a one-year UK master’s degree. A £10,000 tuition contribution could make postgraduate study at a Greater Manchester university more accessible, particularly for students who already meet admission requirements but need support with fees.

Because the awards are limited and course eligibility differs by university, competition may be strongest for popular business, management, technology and music programmes. Applicants who prepare early, secure an offer and follow each institution’s scholarship instructions are likely to be better placed to meet individual deadlines.

For Greater Manchester universities, the scheme may help attract Indian postgraduate applicants across academic and creative disciplines. For prospective students, the main practical effect will be the need to compare tuition costs, living expenses and scholarship conditions carefully before choosing where to apply.