Scholarships to Study Abroad for Indian Students

• Fully Funded Scholarships 

A fully funded scholarship is the ideal way to fund your education abroad. Fully funded scholarships cover your university fees and living expenses. The government, universities and private institutions offer fully funded scholarships for Indian students to study abroad. There are quite a few scholarships available for Indian students.

The British Council provides the GREAT Scholarship with educational institutions and the UK Government. Students pursuing a Master’s degree in the UK can receive £10,000 for the year-long course. The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for Indian students who want to study abroad. There are five Rhodes scholarships available to Indian students each year. You can apply for a Rhodes Scholarship to fund a Master’s degree at Oxford University. 

• Government Scholarships 

Students can apply for the  Chevening Scholarship to receive financial aid from the UK government. Indian students from minority groups are eligible to apply for the National Overseas Scholarship.

• Private Scholarships

Students can also receive a scholarship from private institutions.  Students who have not received funding from the government or universities can apply for private scholarships. Companies, non-profit organisations or charitable foundations offer private scholarships for Indian students to study abroad. These scholarships are awarded to students based on their academic performance or extracurricular activities. 

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship provides financial aid of up to USD 100,000 to Indian students. The foundation pays for your university fees, living expenses, healthcare and airfare. Cornell University Tata Scholarship is a need-based scholarship for Indian students. The Tata Education and Development Trust offers this scholarship for students studying at Cornell University.

Scholarships by Level of Study

You can apply for scholarships according to the degree and level of study. Students receive scholarships for undergraduate, Master’s and PhD courses. 

• Undergraduate Scholarships

Students can apply to foreign universities after high school. You can fund your education abroad with an undergraduate scholarship for Indian students. Students are required to complete Class 12 to apply for an undergraduate degree. You can receive financial aid for STEM, Humanities, Business and Finance. Merit-based and need-based scholarships are available for Indian students to study abroad after the 12th. The Oxford and Cambridge Society of India offers scholarships for Indian students to study abroad after 12th commerce. The QS Impact Undergraduate Scholarship provides aid for courses in the UK and USA. 

• Masters Scholarships

The Master’s degree is a popular option among Indian students. You can complete a Master’s degree in the UK, USA, or Australia. A Master’s degree offers great job opportunities in the global market. However, a Master’s degree is expensive. There are many scholarships for Indian students to study abroad for a Master’s degree. The Erasmus Mundus is a fully funded scholarship for Master’s programs in Europe. The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters can be completed in three different countries. Students interested in pursuing an MBA at top universities in the UK can apply for financial aid. Indian students can study abroad with an MBA scholarship if they score over 600 on the GMAT exam.

• PhD Scholarships

Students interested in research can choose a PhD program. A PhD program spans four to seven years. The university fees for these programs cost $15,000 to $35,000 annually. Students must also consider the cost of living expenses, healthcare and visa fees. You will find many PhD scholarships for Indian students to study abroad. 

The Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship provides financial support to students. You will get a stipend, visa support and healthcare during your stay in the USA. The Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship provides funding to doctoral programs in the UK. The Inlaks Foundation provides financial support of up to $100,000. 

Field-specific Scholarships

• Medical and Healthcare

Medicine and health is a popular degree among students. A medical degree lasts around five to six years. Medical degrees in India are expensive. Indian medical students can study abroad by applying for medical scholarships. Many students are interested in pursuing an MBBS degree abroad. Indian students can apply for a scholarship to study MBBS abroad. You can apply for the Faculty of Medicine Scholarship to study at the Imperial College London. The Harvard Medical School offers a scholarship that pays for your tuition fees. 

• Engineering and Technology

Engineering and Technology is a reputable degree in India and abroad. Engineering is a growing field. Foreign universities offer some of the best courses in Engineering and Technology. These courses are expensive and can cost INR 30 lakhs to INR 45 lakhs each year. The Ratan Tata Scholarship for Engineering supports students studying for an engineering degree at Cornell University. 

• Architecture and Design

Many countries provide scholarships for Indian architecture students to study abroad. You can apply to the Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship. These scholarships provide financial support to architecture students in the USA. Students can receive scholarships for architecture courses in Canada, Germany, the UK and Ireland. 

• Business and Management

There are many prestigious courses for Business and Management students. Students will find many great scholarships for business and entrepreneurship. These scholarships are provided by countries all over the world. You can receive scholarships for an MBA, management or entrepreneurship degree. The Felix Scholarship offers financial support for an MBA degree at UK universities. The Rhodes Scholarship provides funding for an MBA at Oxford University. 

• Others

You can receive a scholarship from external institutions. For instance, Indian Muslim students can study abroad with a scholarship from the Aga Khan Foundation. Diversity scholarships are awarded to students based on ethnicity, gender or race. The Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust offers scholarships to Indian girl students who want to study abroad.

Special Scholarship Programs

Students can even apply for a performance-based scholarship. These scholarships are awarded to students who excel in athletics, music or extracurriculars. There are also scholarships for specific courses. 

• List of Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad

The list of scholarships for Indian students to study abroad includes private, government and fully funded scholarships. 

Fulbright Nehru Master’s Fellowship 

The Fulbright program offers scholarships and research grants to Indian students. You can receive funding for a Master’s degree in the US. The Fulbright Nehru Master’s Fellowship offers financial aid for two years. The fellowship covers tuition fees, living expenses and a round-trip plane ticket. You will also receive funds for a visa and healthcare costs. 

Benefits of the scholarship:

• Support for a J-1 visa
• Full funding for university and tuition fees
• Airfare- round trip economy ticket from home country to US
• Living expenses 
• Accident and sickness coverage 

• Students must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognised Indian university with a score of at least 55%.
• Students should not have another degree from a US university
• Students must work in a related field for at least three years before applying

The JN Tata Endowment was established in 1892. The JN Tata Endowment offers a merit-based scholarship for Indian students to study abroad. Students can apply for this scholarship to fund a Master’s, PhD or post-doctoral program. These scholarships are available for engineering, law, management and many other fields. 

Benefits of the scholarship:

• INR 1 lakh to 10 lakhs
• Travel grant
• Gift award from Tata Trusts

• Students must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in India
• Students should have a score of at least 60%
• Students must be below 45 years of age  

Commonwealth Scholarship

The Commonwealth Scholarship can fund your Master’s or PhD program in the UK. The scholarship funds your tuition fees, airfare and living expenses. The scholarship aims to support talented students who can make a positive difference. 

• Fully funds tuition fees
• Round trip airfare
• Living allowance

• Must be a resident of India
• Must have an undergraduate degree if applying for a Master’s course
• Must demonstrate financial need (unable to fund your course without a scholarship)

The International Scholarship Programme funds Master’s degrees in the USA, Canada, France and Portugal. The Aga Khan Foundation may also provide scholarships for PhD courses. Students are expected to repay half the scholarship amount after completing their degree. The scholarship covers a student’s living expenses and tuition fees. 

• Covers your tuition fees
• Living expenses

Eligibility criteria for Indian students:

• Must hold a Bachelor's degree or have equivalent training
• Must be admitted in the first year of a respected foreign university
• Must demonstrate the need for funding
• Must have a well-structured funding plan to finance your education
• Must showcase leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and volunteer work

Students can apply to different courses at universities in the USA, UK, Australia and Europe. 

Inlaks Scholarship

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation offers scholarships for courses in the UK, USA and Europe. The Inlaks Scholarship is available for Master’s, PhD and MPhil degrees. Students will receive funds that will cover expenses for the whole year. The Inlaks Scholarship covers university fees, travel fare and living expenses. 

Benefits of the scholarship:

• Award of up to USD 100,000
• Covers tuition fees
• living expenses
• Healthcare
• One-way plane ticket

Eligibility criteria for Indian students:

• Must be a resident of India 
• Must hold a graduate degree from an accredited university in India
• Students pursuing Humanities and Social Sciences must have a minimum score of 65%
• Students must be admitted to a university before applying

Erasmus Mundus Master’s Scholarship

The program allows students to complete their Master’s degree in three European countries. Students will receive full scholarships for their education in three institutions. An Erasmus Mundus Scholarship will cover tuition fees and living expenses. Students will also receive funds for visa applications and travel expenses. 

Benefits of the scholarship:

• Full funding for tuition fees
• Cover travel costs
• Visa costs
• Living expenses

Eligibility criteria for Indian students:

• Students must hold a Bachelor’s degree 
• Students pursuing a Master’s degree must graduate before applying for an Erasmus Mundus Master’s Scholarship

Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarship is the best scholarship for Indian students to study abroad. The scholarship provides financial aid for a Master’s degree at Oxford University. The Rhodes Scholarship is awarded to students based on merit. The scholarship covers the cost of tuition fees at Oxford University. You will also receive a stipend for living expenses and accommodation. 

  Benefits of the scholarship:

• Application fee to Oxford University
• Covers the cost of tuition fees at Oxford University
• Annual stipend of £19,092 covering living expenses and accommodation
• Covers the cost of International Health Surcharge and student visa fees
• Round-trip plane ticket for economy class
• Allowance to help students settle in

Eligibility criteria for Indian students:

• Must hold an Indian passport
• Students must have completed 10th or 12th from a school in India or hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised Indian university
• Must be below 27 years of age
• Must demonstrate academic excellence and have a First Class Honours Degree

Indian students who want to study abroad can attempt scholarship tests. Students will be admitted to universities abroad based on their GRE, GMAT and SAT scores. English Proficiency exams like IELTS, TOEFL and PTE are also necessary. These tests can also help Indian students qualify for scholarships to study abroad. 

Students who have completed the IELTS exam can receive funding from the Commonwealth Scholarship and GREAT Scholarship Programs. Students who score high on the GRE can receive funding from the Inlaks Scholarship and Fulbright Nehru Master’s Scholarship. The SAT exams help students to get admission into undergraduate programs. Students who do well in their SAT exams can receive aid from the Gill Elliot Scholarship. Students who score over 700 in the GMAT exam can receive financial support from the ESMT Diversity Scholarship.

How to Apply for Scholarships

• Eligibility Criteria

Students are eligible to apply for different scholarships abroad based on certain criteria. 

Academics: Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students with a strong academic profile. Students need to provide documentation of their educational qualifications. Students need a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree to be eligible for some scholarships. 

Nationality: Some scholarships like the Commonwealth Scholarship provide funding to students from Commonwealth countries like India. 

Subject: Students applying to specialised subjects will be considered for subject-specific scholarships. A student applying for an engineering degree will receive a scholarship from the Ratan Tata Scholarship for Engineering. 

Location and University: Students can apply for scholarships in certain countries and universities. For example, the Rhodes Scholarship can be awarded to students admitted to Oxford University in the UK.

• Application Process 

How can Indian students receive a scholarship to study abroad? Applying for a scholarship abroad is an easy process. The process for most scholarships is the same. Students need to find a scholarship that can finance their degree. You need to fill out an online application on the official website. You may need to share a letter of recommendation from your mentor. Some scholarship panels may set up a meeting with the shortlisted candidates. Students will receive a reply in a few months.

Students need to submit the following documents in their application.

Personal Statement: A personal statement or scholarship essay is the most important part of your application. This essay shows your interest, passion and strengths. You can mention how your experiences and goals make you the ideal candidate for the scholarship. 

Achievements: Students need to provide documentation of their academic or athletic achievements.

Finances: Need-based scholarships are awarded to students based on their financial need. Students should submit financial statements and proof of income. 

Acceptance Letter: Students need to provide a letter of acceptance from their university to receive a scholarship.

• Tips for a Successful Application

Students must ensure that they begin the application process in advance. You need to start researching for a scholarship that matches your degree. Students must check that they meet all the eligibility criteria for the scholarship. You should keep all your documents organised and ready for submission. Students can apply early so they don’t miss the deadline.

Conclusion

Scholarships are the best way to fund your education abroad. Indian students can apply for government or private scholarships to study abroad. Many students aim for a fully funded scholarship that covers tuition fees, living expenses and travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can an Indian student get a scholarship to study abroad?

Students need a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree to be eligible for a scholarship. You can receive a scholarship based on your merit, need or nationality.  

Can I get a 100% scholarship to study abroad?

Students can receive a fully funded scholarship. Fully funded scholarships like the Rhodes Scholarship are awarded to students based on merit. 

How much percentage is required for a scholarship?

Students should score at least 60% to qualify for an undergraduate scholarship. Students applying for postgraduate courses should have a minimum score of 70% to 80%. 

Who is eligible for foreign scholarship?

Students with high scores in competitive exams like TOEFL, GRE, or GMAT can receive a scholarship to study abroad. Indian students are eligible to apply if they have a strong academic record.

Which country is easiest to get a full scholarship?

Germany is the easiest country to get a full scholarship. Students do not have to pay for university fees in Germany. 

What is the 3000 RS scholarship?

The 3000 Rs Scholarship is also known as the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS). The scholarship provides financial aid to Indian students. Girls receive Rs. 3000 monthly and boys receive Rs. 2500.