UP launches Atal Bihari Vajpayee scholarship for UK studies

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a new international scholarship named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, offering selected students an opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom with full financial support.

Called the Chevening UP Atal Scholarship, the initiative is aimed at students with outstanding academic performance.

It will cover tuition fees, exam charges, accommodation, food, visa costs, travel expenses, and a monthly stipend.

Officials estimate that sponsoring each student will cost around ₹45-48 lakh. In the first phase, five students have been chosen to pursue master’s degrees in England.

The scheme is a result of a partnership between the Uttar Pradesh government and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The agreement was signed at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence in Lucknow.

“The scholarship will help prepare UP’s youth for leadership roles on the global stage,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the program will initially run for three years.

Funding will be shared equally, with half the cost covered by the UP government and the other half by the FCDO.

British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron, who met CM Yogi Adityanath during the launch, welcomed the collaboration and described it as a step towards strengthening educational ties.

The eligibility criteria include holding an undergraduate degree and applying to at least three recognized master’s programs in the UK.

Applicants must secure an unconditional offer from at least one course to qualify.

Apart from academic costs, the scholarship will also support students with travel allowances, visa fees, and grants for attending Chevening events in the UK.

Officials said the program aims to give talented students of Uttar Pradesh international exposure and prepare them as future leaders.