Scholarships · checked 21 October 2026
UK Scholarships for Nepali Students (2026–27): What You Can Apply For
Some well-known UK scholarships are not open to Nepal, and older pages, including earlier versions of this one, said they were. Here is what Nepali students can actually apply for, with each scheme’s own source.
Which UK Scholarships Can Nepali Students Get?
Nepali students can apply for Chevening, which is fully funded, for university merit scholarships, and for awards such as Gates Cambridge and Oxford’s Clarendon Scholarships. GREAT and Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are not open to Nepal in 2026/27. Most Nepali students who get funding receive a university merit award, often £1,000 to £5,000.
Chevening is the main fully funded government scheme open to Nepal. The rest of the funding comes from universities: merit awards and discounts at most universities, and a few large competitive awards such as Gates Cambridge and Clarendon. HOA reports £2M+ in scholarships secured for its students since 2016 (self-reported).
Key facts
Checked against the sources cited on 21 October 2026.
- Chevening
- Open to Nepal; 2027/28 applications closed in October 2026Chevening
- GREAT Scholarships
- Not open to Nepal in 2026/27 (18 eligible countries)British Council
- Commonwealth Master’s
- Not open: Nepal is not a Commonwealth memberCommonwealth Scholarship Commission
- University merit awards
- Usually £1,000 to £5,000 off tuition; the largest HOA found for 2026/27 was £8,000 at AberdeenUniversity fees pages
- Clarendon (Oxford)
- No nationality restriction; fees and a living grantUniversity of Oxford
- Effect on visa money
- An official award on your CAS comes off the tuition you must showUKVI, financial evidence
UK Scholarships and Nepal, 2026/27
| Scholarship | Open to Nepal (2026/27) | Value | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening | Yes | Tuition, monthly living allowance, flights and other costs for a one-year master’s | 2027/28 round closed October 2026; next usually opens in August |
| University merit awards | Yes | Usually £1,000 to £5,000 off tuition; a few are larger | Rolling; some need an offer or deposit by a set date |
| Gates Cambridge | Yes (applicants from outside the UK) | The full cost of postgraduate study at Cambridge | Through the Cambridge postgraduate application, by its funding deadline |
| Clarendon (Oxford) | Yes (no nationality restriction) | Course fees and a living grant for master’s and DPhil study | Automatic consideration if you apply by the December or January deadline |
| GREAT Scholarships | No | £10,000, for citizens of 18 listed countries | Not open to Nepal |
| Commonwealth Master’s | No | For Commonwealth citizens | Nepal is not a Commonwealth member |
Check the scheme’s own page
Eligible countries change from year to year. Before you plan around any award, read the eligibility page of the scheme itself for your start year.
Chevening: The Fully Funded Option
Chevening is the UK government’s scholarship for one-year master’s degrees. It pays tuition, a monthly living allowance, return flights and some other costs. You need at least 2,800 hours (about two years) of work experience, three eligible course choices and an unconditional offer by the July deadline, and you must return to Nepal for at least two years afterwards.
The 2027/28 round closed in October 2026. If you are planning for 2028/29, prepare your work history and course choices now; applications usually open in August. See the Chevening guide.
University Awards: Where Most Funding Comes From
Most universities give international students merit scholarships or discounts, usually £1,000 to £5,000 off tuition. Many are automatic once you meet the entry requirements; others need an application or a deposit by a deadline. See merit scholarships for examples read on universities’ own pages.
At the most selective universities there are larger competitive awards. Gates Cambridge covers the full cost of postgraduate study at Cambridge for applicants from outside the UK. Oxford’s Clarendon Scholarships cover fees and a living grant, with no nationality restriction, and you are considered automatically if you apply by the December or January deadline for your course.
Scholarships and Your Visa Money
For the visa you show the tuition you still owe plus up to nine months of living costs, held for 28 days in a row: £1,203 a month outside London or £1,570 in London for applications from 30 November 2026 (£1,171 and £1,529 before then). An official scholarship that pays your tuition, shown on your CAS, comes off the tuition you must show. If it also pays living costs, you may not need to show those either; check with your university.
Never pay anyone a fee to “process” a scholarship. Genuine schemes do not charge applicants, and HOA’s scholarship guidance is free.
How to Build a Funding Plan from Nepal
Check what you are eligible for
Chevening if you have the work experience; merit awards for almost everyone.
Shortlist universities with awards
Note whether each award is automatic, its value and any deadline.
Apply early
Many awards go to applicants who hold an offer by a set date.
Close the gap
Combine the award with savings or an education loan, and plan the 28-day funds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chevening, university merit scholarships and discounts, and competitive university awards such as Gates Cambridge and Oxford’s Clarendon Scholarships.
No. For 2026/27 the British Council lists 18 eligible countries and Nepal is not one of them.
No. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are for citizens of Commonwealth countries, and Nepal is not a member.
The 2027/28 round closed in October 2026. Applications for 2028/29 usually open in August 2027.
Usually £1,000 to £5,000 off tuition. The largest HOA found for 2026/27 was Aberdeen’s £8,000 Global Scholarship for self-funded students.
You need to meet your course’s English requirement to get the unconditional offer that most scholarships require.
Yes. An official award on your CAS comes off the tuition you must show for the visa.
Mostly university merit awards and discounts. Chevening, Gates and Clarendon are for postgraduate study.
No. Genuine schemes do not charge applicants, and HOA’s scholarship guidance is free.
No. HOA’s admissions guidance is free to students. Partner universities pay HOA when a student enrols; you pay only official costs such as the visa fee, health surcharge, TB test and NOC.
Key Terms
- Chevening
- The UK government’s fully funded master’s scholarship, open to Nepali citizens.
- Merit scholarship
- A university award that reduces tuition, usually for meeting grade or deadline conditions.
- CAS
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies: the reference a licensed university issues so you can apply for a Student visa.
Sources
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 21 October 2026. If an official page and this page disagree, the official page is right.
- Chevening, Who can apply
- Chevening, Application timeline
- British Council, GREAT Scholarships
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
- The Commonwealth, Member countries
- Gates Cambridge Trust, Apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- University of Oxford, Clarendon Scholarships
- UK Visas and Immigration, Financial evidence for Student and Child Student route applicants
About This Guide
Written by House of Admissions (HOA), a UK-only education consultancy founded in 2016 with offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. All 20+ HOA counsellors hold the British Council’s UK counsellor certification. HOA’s guidance is free to students. Reviewed by Rahul Chhetri, Director. This is admissions guidance, not immigration advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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