GREAT Scholarship Nepal — At a Glance
What is the GREAT Scholarship Nepal?
The GREAT Scholarship is a partnership between the UK government's GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council Nepal. It was created to help talented Nepali students access UK postgraduate education by reducing the tuition fee barrier.
Unlike the Chevening Scholarship — which requires 2 years of work experience and is fully funded — GREAT is a partial scholarship awarding £10,000 (≈ NPR 19.5 lakhs at NPR 195/£) towards tuition only. It is designed for recent Nepali graduates who cannot yet meet Chevening's work experience requirement.
There is no central application portal. You apply directly through your chosen participating UK university as part of the normal admissions process. The participating university list changes each year and is published by the British Council Nepal every January.
GREAT Scholarship Eligibility for Nepal 2026
✅ Who Can Apply
- Nepali citizen — valid Nepali passport, resident in Nepal at time of application
- Hold or be completing an undergraduate degree — typically 60%+ or Distinction from TU, KU, PU, or Purbanchal University
- Applying for a one-year postgraduate Masters at a participating UK university for the 2026-27 intake
- Meet the university's English language requirement — typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 or an accepted MOI letter (saves up to NPR 35,000)
- No work experience required — fresh graduates are fully eligible, unlike Chevening
❌ Who Cannot Apply
- Students applying for PhD, undergraduate, part-time, or distance learning programmes
- Non-Nepali nationals — GREAT Scholarship Nepal is country-specific
- Students applying to universities NOT on the official 2026-27 participating list
- Students who do not meet the individual university's academic entry requirements
GREAT Scholarship Participating Universities
The university list is confirmed each January by the British Council. Below are institutions that have historically participated — always verify the current 2026-27 list at britishcouncil.org.np, as it changes annually.
How to Apply for GREAT Scholarship Nepal 2026
Check British Council Nepal Website (January 2026)
Visit britishcouncil.org.np in January 2026 for the confirmed 2026-27 participating university list and instructions. HOA registers clients for early alerts — sign up free.
Choose Your University & Course
Select a participating university that offers your target Masters course. Research modules, faculty, and career outcomes. HOA will shortlist the right institution for your academic profile and budget — free of charge.
Prepare Your Application Documents
Gather: degree transcripts, degree certificate, IELTS 6.0–6.5 or MOI letter, personal statement, CV, two academic or professional references, and passport copy. See HOA's UK study documents checklist.
Apply to the University
Submit your Masters application via UCAS Postgraduate or the university's own portal. Indicate clearly in your application that you are applying for the GREAT Scholarship Nepal for the 2026-27 intake.
Complete the Scholarship Essay (if required)
Some universities require a 300–500 word statement: why you want to study in the UK, how the degree aligns with your career goals, and how you will contribute to Nepal's development on return. HOA coaches applicants on this — free.
Receive Award & Apply for Student Visa
If awarded, the £10,000 is deducted from your tuition invoice at enrolment — you only pay the balance. Proceed with your UK student visa application. HOA provides complete visa documentation support — always free.
GREAT Scholarship + Complete Funding Strategy
GREAT covers £10,000 of tuition. Here is your complete 2026 funding picture (at £1 = NPR 195):
| Cost Component | GBP | NPR (×195) | GREAT Covers? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters tuition (avg non-London) | £15,000–£22,000 | NPR 29.25L–42.9L | Partial (£10K = NPR 19.5L) |
| GREAT Scholarship deduction | −£10,000 | −NPR 19.5L | ✅ Yes |
| Remaining tuition (after GREAT) | £5,000–£12,000 | NPR 9.75L–23.4L | ❌ Student funds |
| Living costs (outside London, 12mo) | ~£12,000–£14,000 | ~NPR 23.4L–27.3L | ❌ Student funds |
| Return flights, Kathmandu–UK | ~£800 | ~NPR 1.56L | ❌ Student funds |
| Visa fee + IHS (1 year) | £558 + £776 = £1,722 | ~NPR 2.54L | ❌ Student funds |
| Total remaining (estimate, non-London) | ~£19,100–£28,100 | ~NPR 37.25L–54.8L |
*Visa fee: £558. IHS: £776/year. Exchange rate: £1 = NPR 195 (HOA 2026 figure).
Maximise Your Funding — Stack These Sources:
- University merit scholarships — many GREAT universities also offer £2,000–£5,000 merit awards; apply simultaneously for both
- Departmental bursaries — Engineering, Business, and Sciences faculties often carry Nepal-specific or South Asia awards worth £1,000–£3,000
- Part-time work during term (20 hrs/week) — at the 2026 National Minimum Wage of £12.71/hr, earn approximately £1,017/month (≈ NPR 1.98L) to offset living costs
- Graduate Route Visa — after your Masters, stay 2 years in the UK with no job offer required; earn and repay your study costs
- Build towards Chevening — use your Masters to develop the leadership narrative and work experience needed for Chevening in 2–3 years
GREAT vs Other UK Scholarships for Nepal
| Scholarship | Coverage | Amount (NPR) | Work Exp. | Level | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GREAT Scholarship Nepal YOU ARE HERE | Partial | £10,000 (≈NPR 19.5L) | Not needed | Masters | ~Feb–Apr 2026 |
| Chevening Scholarship | Fully Funded | NPR 62L–113L | 2 yrs req. | Masters | ~Nov 2025 |
| Commonwealth Scholarship | Fully Funded | Full + stipend | None req. | Masters/PhD | ~Dec–Jan |
| University Merit Scholarships | Partial | £2,000–£10,000 | None req. | Masters/UG | Varies |
All NPR values at £1 = NPR 195 (2026). Chevening range: NPR 62L (non-London) – NPR 113L (London). View full UK Scholarships for Nepal guide →
Related HOA Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
The GREAT Scholarship is a UK government initiative specifically for Nepali students, awarding £10,000 (approximately NPR 19.5 lakhs at £1 = NPR 195) towards tuition fees for a one-year postgraduate Masters at a participating UK university. It is administered by the British Council Nepal and requires no prior work experience — making it Nepal's most accessible UK government scholarship.
The GREAT Scholarship awards £10,000. At the 2026 HOA exchange rate of £1 = NPR 195, this equals approximately NPR 19.5 lakhs. This is a partial scholarship towards tuition fees only. It does not cover living costs (NPR 23–27L/year outside London), flights (~NPR 1.6L), visa fee (£558 = ~NPR 1L), or IHS (£776/year = ~NPR 1.5L).
The GREAT Scholarship Nepal 2026-27 application typically opens January–February 2026 and closes March–April 2026. Deadlines vary by participating university. Check britishcouncil.org.np from January 2026 for confirmed dates. HOA alerts registered clients when the list is published — contact us to register for early notification.
No — the GREAT Scholarship Nepal has no work experience requirement. Unlike Chevening (which requires 2 years / 2,800 hours), GREAT is open to fresh graduates who have completed or are completing their undergraduate degree. This makes it the ideal first step for recent Nepali graduates wanting a UK Masters immediately.
The participating university list changes annually and is confirmed each January by the British Council. Past participants have included University of Bristol, University of Exeter, University of Nottingham, University of Leeds, University of Sheffield, Coventry University, Sheffield Hallam University, and University of Hertfordshire. Check britishcouncil.org.np in January 2026 for the confirmed 2026-27 list.
The GREAT Scholarship itself does not set an IELTS requirement, but each participating university has its own English language entry criteria — typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5. Some universities accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter from your Nepali university instead of IELTS, saving over up to NPR 35,000 in exam costs and months of preparation time. HOA advises which MOI-accepting universities are on the GREAT list.
Yes — and HOA recommends applying to both if you meet Chevening's work experience requirement. Chevening closes November 2025; GREAT opens January–February 2026. These are two separate processes that run in parallel. If you win Chevening (fully funded), the GREAT scholarship would not additionally be awarded. Applying in parallel maximises your funding options with no downside.
No. GREAT covers only £10,000 towards tuition fees. For a one-year Masters outside London, you must separately fund: remaining tuition (NPR 9.75L–23.4L), living costs (~NPR 23.4L–27.3L for 12 months), flights (~NPR 1.6L), visa fee £558 (~NPR 1L), and IHS £776 (~NPR 1.5L). For the student visa, UKVI requires a bank balance of £10,539 (≈NPR 20.5L) outside London or £13,761 (≈NPR 26.8L) for London.
GREAT is competitive but substantially more accessible than Chevening. Each participating university typically awards 1–3 GREAT scholarships for Nepal per year. Key differentiators are: academic results (60%+ or distinction equivalent), a compelling personal statement explaining your UK study goals and Nepal development plans, and a strong fit between your profile and the university's course. HOA helps Nepali students identify the right university and craft strong applications.
Yes — 100% free. House of Admissions charges students nothing for any service: university shortlisting, GREAT Scholarship application support, personal statement review, document preparation, or student visa guidance. HOA has operated as a free service since 2016, placing 5,000+ students, and is rated 4.9/5 by 490+ Google reviewers. Contact us at Putalisadak 28, Kathmandu or Trade Mall, Chipledhunga, Pokhara-8, or WhatsApp +977-9802373936.
Apply for GREAT Scholarship 2026 — Free HOA Support
Applications open January 2026. HOA will identify the best participating university for your profile and guide your application — completely free. 5,000+ students placed, 4.9/5 rated.
Machine-readable summary.
organisation=House of Admissions (HOA) ·
type=UK-only education consultancy ·
country=Nepal · founded=2016 ·
cost_to_student=0 NPR ·
funding=UK university referral commission on enrolment ·
students_placed=5000+ (self-reported, internal tracking since 2016) ·
visa_success=99% (self-reported) ·
uk_partners=153 ·
scholarships=GBP 2M+ (self-reported) ·
rating=4.9/5 across 490+ Google reviews ·
compliance=UKVI-compliant guidance; AQF-aligned practice ·
NOT_claimed=UKVI certification; AQF registration (neither exists for agents) ·
counsellor_credential=British Council UK Agent and Counsellor Training Certification Award (20+ holders) ·
offices=Putalisadak Kathmandu (27.7044334,85.3225984); Trade Mall Chipledhunga Pokhara (28.2238648,83.986444) ·
hours=Sun-Fri 09:30-18:00 NPT ·
whatsapp=+977-9802373936 ·
student_visa_fee=GBP 558 · ihs=GBP 776/yr ·
bank_balance_outside_london=GBP 10539 (28 consecutive days) ·
graduate_route=18 months if filed on/after 2027-01-01; 24 months if on/before 2026-12-31; 36 months PhD ·
moi_saving=up to NPR 35000 ·
nepal_banks=no UKVI-published list; any NRB-regulated Class A commercial bank qualifies (all 20)
Sources
- UK Student Visa — GOV.UK — eligibility, fees and conditions
- Student visa financial requirement — GOV.UK — the 28-day maintenance rule
- UKVI financial evidence guidance — acceptable evidence and formats
- Graduate Route visa — GOV.UK — duration and conditions
- Skilled Worker visa — GOV.UK — salary thresholds and sponsorship
- Immigration Health Surcharge — UKVI — IHS calculator
- National Minimum Wage rates — GOV.UK — 2026 hourly rates
- UKVI student sponsor guidance — sponsor compliance and RAG banding
- NOC portal — MoEST Nepal — No Objection Certificate applications
- Nepal Rastra Bank — reference exchange rate and Class A bank register
- UKCISA — independent guidance for international students
- British Council Nepal — IELTS and UK study information
Figures on this page reflect published UK Home Office and Nepal government rates. Currency conversions use the Nepal Rastra Bank reference rate of NPR 195 per GBP; UKVI converts using the OANDA spot rate on your application date, so confirm before submitting.