Four Greater Manchester Universities Join GREAT Scholarships Scheme for Indian Students
Greater Manchester strengthens its ties with India's student community through the GREAT Scholarships 2027 programme, while the region's South Asian population marked Holi with a series of festival events across the north-west of England.
🎓 British Council Brings Four Manchester Universities Into GREAT Scholarships 2027 for Indian Students
The British Council, the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, announced on 14 October 2026 that four universities from Greater Manchester will participate in the GREAT Scholarships 2027 programme. The institutions joining the scheme are Manchester Metropolitan University, the Royal Northern College of Music, the University of Manchester, and the University of Salford. The programme is delivered in partnership with the UK government's GREAT Britain campaign and offers eligible Indian students the opportunity to pursue postgraduate taught studies in the United Kingdom from autumn 2027. Greater Manchester's inclusion in the scheme adds four distinct institutions to the programme, spanning a range of academic disciplines and profiles — from music performance and training at the Royal Northern College of Music to research-intensive postgraduate programmes at the University of Manchester. The University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University broaden the range of fields available to prospective applicants from India. The GREAT Scholarships programme has been an established mechanism for fostering UK-India educational links, and the expansion to these Greater Manchester institutions reflects significant demand from Indian students seeking study opportunities in northern England. India consistently ranks as one of the largest source countries for international students in the United Kingdom, making scholarship schemes of this kind a meaningful bridge for access and opportunity. [1]
🎉 Holi Festival of Colours Celebrated With Events Across North-West England
BBC News reported that a series of Holi festival events were planned across the north-west of England following the official calendar date in 2026, with celebrations spread over a period of approximately ten days. Holi, described in the report as marking the end of winter, holds deep significance in Hinduism as a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. For Hindu communities across Greater Manchester and the broader north-west region, the festival is observed through prayer, the eating of traditional foods and sweets, and communal gatherings in which participants throw brightly coloured powders and water over family members and friends. This year the official Holi date fell on a Wednesday, with the extended programme of community celebrations running across the following days. The festival is also characterised by dancing, music and singing, making it a vibrant and visually striking occasion. BBC coverage published on 6 March 2026 included images of participants covered in vivid magenta, turquoise and yellow powder — the visual signature of Holi that has made it one of the most widely recognised South Asian cultural celebrations for the broader British public. The distribution of events across the north-west reflects the significant Hindu and wider South Asian population in cities including Manchester and the surrounding area. [3]
Sources: [1] Devdiscourse · [3] BBC