GREAT Scholarships are one of the few UK awards with a quota set aside specifically for Pakistani students. The award is at least Ā£10,000 toward tuition for a one-year Master's course at a participating UK university. That is a real sum, but it is a partial scholarship, and the way it works surprises a lot of applicants. There is no single form to fill in and no national deadline. You apply through the university, for a course that is on that year's list, and you still need to fund your living costs and travel yourself.
This guide explains how the scheme is set up, who it suits, and where Pakistani applicants tend to go wrong. For the condensed version, see the full scholarship details on our site.
A tuition award run by universities, not by one central office
The scheme is a joint initiative between the UK Government's GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council, and a rotating list of participating UK universities. Each year a set of universities signs up and nominates specific one-year postgraduate courses. Pakistan has its own dedicated allocation, and in a recent cycle there were 12 scholarships available for Pakistan across the partner universities.
Twelve is a small number. Spread across several universities, it can mean one or two awards per institution. Treat this scholarship as one part of a funding plan, not the whole plan.
The other thing to understand early is that the list changes. A university that took part last year may not take part this year, and a course that qualified before may not qualify now. The British Council publishes the current list, and that list is the first thing you should check.
| Detail | What applies |
|---|---|
| Funding | Partial: a minimum of Ā£10,000 toward tuition fees |
| Level | One-year Master's courses |
| Fields | Varies by participating university and cycle |
| Deadline | No single date. Each university sets its own, generally February to May |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Provider | UK Government (GREAT Britain Campaign), British Council and participating UK universities |
| Official site | British Council GREAT Scholarships page |
What Ā£10,000 toward tuition does and does not pay for
The award goes toward tuition fees. The stated figure is a minimum of Ā£10,000, so some universities may give more, but you should plan around the minimum until your university confirms the amount in writing.
It does not typically cover living costs or travel. That means rent, food, transport in the UK, your flight and your visa costs all sit outside the scholarship. For many Pakistani students this is the deciding factor. If the remaining tuition plus a year of living in the UK is beyond what your family or another sponsor can cover, the GREAT award alone will not get you there.
Before you apply, work out the gap. Take the course fee, subtract the award, then add a realistic living budget for the city. If you are going to need a visa, you will also need to show funds, so read our guide on bank statements and proof of funds early rather than after you get an offer.
Who this scholarship suits, and who should look elsewhere
The scheme is open to Pakistani nationals, which is what makes it attractive. You are competing within a Pakistan allocation rather than against applicants from every country.
It suits you if:
- you want a one-year taught Master's in the UK and are flexible about which university you attend
- a course on this year's list genuinely matches your field
- you, your family or another scholarship can cover living costs, travel and the rest of the tuition
It is a poor fit if you need full funding, if you are set on a course that is not on the list, or if you are applying for a PhD or undergraduate degree. The eligible level is Master's only.
The eligibility conditions in plain terms
The published requirements are short:
- Pakistani nationality
- an admission offer, or an application in progress, for a specific listed course at a participating UK university
- any extra merit or financial-need criteria that your chosen university adds
That third point matters. Because each university runs its own selection, one may weigh academic results heavily while another looks at financial need. Read the criteria on the university's own GREAT Scholarship page, not just the general British Council description.
The paperwork: your admission file plus one extra form
There are two parts to the documents. The first is your standard postgraduate application to the university: transcripts, references and a personal statement. The second is the university's own GREAT Scholarship application or nomination form.
Most of the work is in the first part. If your admission file is weak, the scholarship form will not rescue it. Get your degree transcripts in order, ask referees early, and write a personal statement that is specific to the course. If your documents need attestation, start that process in advance. Our documents checklist for international scholarships covers what Pakistani applicants usually need to prepare.
The order to apply in
- Check the British Council's current list of participating universities and courses for Pakistan. Do this before anything else.
- Apply for admission to your chosen course at that university.
- Apply for the GREAT Scholarship through that same university. The process is run by the university, so follow its instructions and its deadline.
If more than one listed course interests you, check each university's process separately. Do not assume that the form, the criteria or the deadline at one university applies at another.
Why February to May is only a rough guide
There is no single closing date. Each participating university sets its own deadline, and these generally fall between February and May. The participating university list is published by British Council Pakistan for each cycle, and the timing of that publication varies.
In practice, "generally February to May" is a window, not a promise. One university could close in February while another stays open into May. Some scholarship deadlines may also depend on you having applied for admission first. The safest approach is to find the exact date on each university's page as soon as the list is out, and then apply for admission well before it.
Mistakes Pakistani applicants make with this award
The most common one is assuming a course qualifies because the university appeared on a past list. The list changes every year. Check the current year's list for the exact course, not just the university name.
The second is treating the award as if it covers everything. It covers tuition only, and only part of it in many cases. Students who apply without a plan for living costs can end up with an award they cannot use.
The third is waiting for a central portal to open. There isn't one. If you sit and wait for a single announcement, you may miss an early university deadline.
Finally, apply for admission early. Since deadlines are set individually and vary widely, an early admission application gives you room to meet the scholarship deadline, whatever it turns out to be. Once you have a place, think ahead to the visa stage too; our guide on student visa rejection reasons is useful reading while you wait for decisions.
If GREAT does not work out, you can compare it with other options in our guide to all United Kingdom scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Does the GREAT Scholarship cover living costs and travel?
No. It typically covers a minimum of Ā£10,000 toward tuition fees only. You need to arrange living costs and travel separately.
Is there one central application form?
No. Each participating university runs its own application process and sets its own deadline for its specific listed courses.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Yes. Pakistani nationality is a requirement, and Pakistan has its own allocation. In a recent cycle there were 12 scholarships for Pakistan across partner universities.
Do I need an admission offer before applying for the scholarship?
You need an admission offer, or an application in progress, for a listed course at a participating university. Check your university's page for the exact order it expects.
Which subjects are eligible?
It varies by participating university and by cycle. Only courses on the current year's list qualify, so check that list for your field.
Confirm the current list, amounts and deadlines on the official GREAT Scholarships website, and keep the GREAT Scholarships (UK) page on our site handy for a quick summary.