Queen’s University Belfast announces Academic Excellence Scholarships at GIFT City campus

Queen’s University Belfast has launched 20 Academic Excellence Scholarships for outstanding Indian students enrolling at its new international campus in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).

The initiative aims to reward academic merit and expand access to world-class education for students who wish to study closer to home.

The announcement came during a three-day institutional visit to Delhi and Ahmedabad, where senior officials from the university met with representatives from Indian higher education institutions, government ministries, and industry partners.

The scholarships reflect Queen’s University’s growing presence in India and follow the recent introduction of its 20 Women in STEM Awards, both part of its ongoing commitment to inclusion and academic excellence.

“Our scholarships will help shape a community of students ready to develop solutions in areas where India and the UK can jointly contribute, from sustainability and digital transformation to entrepreneurship,” said Professor M Satish Kumar, Dean of Queen’s GIFT City campus.

The scholarships will be awarded on a merit basis, focusing on disciplines such as business, technology, and management.

The university said the initiative supports the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) to internationalize higher education and create new pathways for collaboration between Indian and global institutions.

Students can apply through the official Queen’s University Belfast India website or the GIFT City campus portal, www.qub.ac.uk.

Applicants must select an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate program, submit transcripts showing consistent academic excellence (minimum 75% or equivalent GPA), and include a 300–500-word statement of purpose outlining their goals and leadership potential.

The first round of applications closes on Jan 31, 2026, and shortlisted candidates will be notified in March 2026.

Through this initiative, Indian students will be able to access globally recognized academic programs without relocating abroad while still benefiting from the standards, curriculum, and teaching methods of one of the UK’s leading universities.

The scholarships are expected to attract top-performing students nationwide and further strengthen educational ties between India and the UK.