Everyone applies for Chevening. Far fewer people apply for the smaller, lesser-known UK scholarships, which means less competition. Finding these “hidden” opportunities can significantly improve your chances of funding.
This guide shows where to find unique UK scholarship opportunities and how to search smartly.
1. GREAT Scholarships
Run by the British Council with UK universities, each GREAT Scholarship gives £10,000 towards tuition for a one-year postgraduate course. For 2026-27, nine universities offered GREAT Scholarships for students from Bangladesh, including Cranfield, Keele, Manchester, Ulster, the University of East Anglia, Glasgow, Hull, Portsmouth and Leeds Arts University. See the British Council GREAT page.
2. Felix Scholarships
For students from India and other developing countries at Oxford, Reading and SOAS. Check each year’s eligible countries on Oxford’s Felix page.
3. Department and Faculty Awards
Many university departments have their own small scholarships that are not widely advertised. Look on the department’s own website, not just the main scholarships page.
4. Subject-Specific Awards
Professional bodies, charities and trusts fund students in specific fields, such as engineering, law, health or the arts.
5. Country-Specific University Awards
Some universities offer scholarships only for students from South Asia or Bangladesh. Search “[university name] scholarships Bangladesh”.
6. Commonwealth Distance Learning and Split-Site Awards
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission runs several types of awards beyond the main master’s and PhD scholarships, which may be less competitive. Check the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for current schemes.
Search Tips
- Use each university’s scholarship search tool, filtered by nationality and level.
- Ask the university’s international office directly.
- Follow universities and the British Council in Bangladesh on social media.
- Attend UK education fairs in Dhaka.
Read More
See how to find UK scholarships that fit your needs, UK financial aid and bursaries and our UK scholarships hub.
Final Thoughts
Lesser-known UK scholarships can be easier to win than the famous ones. Search department pages, GREAT and Felix awards, and subject-specific trusts to find opportunities others miss.
