Road and red-brick university buildings on the University of Manchester campus.

United Kingdom Check current round

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship (UK)

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship is one of the most generous India-and-South-Asia-focused awards open to Sri Lankan applicants. It supports postgraduate study (Master's, MPhil, or some MBA/Doctoral year-one) at top universities in the UK, the US, and Europe — up to USD 100,000 covering tuition, living expenses, and one-way airfare. The Foundation has funded over 500 scholars since 1976, including journalists, scientists, architects, and policymakers. Sri Lankan citizens who have completed a Bachelor's at an Indian or Sri Lankan institution are eligible to apply through the standard Inlaks cycle.

2027 cycle applications expected to open February 2027 — close end of March 2027

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation

External Organization-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Up to USD 100,000 (LKR 32M)

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Duration

Up to 2 Years (Master's)

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Extras

One-way Flight + Health Insurance

info How this award actually works

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This is a separate, highly competitive application

Awards from external organisations like this one run their own selection round against applicants from across the world, and success rates are usually in the low single digits. Lanka Scholar does not administer it and cannot submit it for you. Treat it as a bonus on top of a funded study plan — never as the plan itself.

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Who awards it

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through a separate application round run by the funder, with its own forms, deadlines and shortlisting. You submit it yourself — it is not part of a university admission application.

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What it covers

Up to USD 100,000 (Tuition + Living + Flights). Read the terms carefully: even fully-funded awards rarely cover every cost, and any shortfall is yours to fund.

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Where we come in

We help you judge whether this award is worth your time, and build a realistic admission plan that works whether or not you win it.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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South Asian Citizenship

Indian citizens, plus Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Nepali nationals who have completed a Bachelor's degree at an Indian or home-country university are eligible. The Foundation explicitly welcomes Sri Lankan applicants.

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Under 30 Years

You must be under 30 on 1 July of the application year (under 32 for fine arts, performing arts, and architecture). Most successful Sri Lankan applicants apply within 2-4 years of finishing their Bachelor's.

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Strong Bachelor's Degree

First-class honours or equivalent (typically 65%+ for UK/EU classification, or 3.5+/4.0 GPA). Inlaks values academic distinction alongside demonstrated achievement in the field.

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Admission to a Top University

You must already hold (or be in the process of securing) admission to a recognised top UK, US, or European university. Inlaks does not award the scholarship pre-admission — you should apply to Inlaks once you have either an offer or strong indication of one.

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Secure a university offer first

Inlaks reviews candidates who already have admission (or strong likelihood) to a recognised top university. Start with the university applications (LSE, Oxbridge, UCL, Imperial, SOAS, etc.) in parallel with the Inlaks cycle.

Submit Inlaks online application

Application form opens early in the calendar year. Submit CV, transcripts, personal statement, study plan, three references, and proof of university admission/conditional offer. There is no application fee.

Shortlist interview in India

Shortlisted candidates are interviewed in Mumbai or Delhi (usually April-May). Sri Lankan applicants travel to India for the interview; the Foundation reimburses travel for shortlisted candidates within South Asia.

Final decision + disbursement

Final awards announced May-June. The scholarship is disbursed directly to the recipient and the host university to cover tuition, living, and travel as per the agreed budget.

Why Inlaks?

Since 1976 the Inlaks Foundation has funded over 500 scholars across the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The alumni network spans senior journalists, Booker-shortlisted writers, architects of national repute, and faculty at Oxford, MIT, Harvard, and beyond. For South Asian postgraduates aiming at Oxbridge or the Ivy League, Inlaks is the most prestigious diaspora-funded route.

500+

Scholars Funded (since 1976)

~12-15

Awards per Year

USD 100k

Max Award Value

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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