It has always been seen that meritorious students often face difficulty in affording education in a foreign country. Hence, to ease this dilemma there are several scholarship for Indian students to study abroad. These programs are specifically designed by the Indian government to encourage such aspirants to begin their studies in a different country. Moreover, these scholarship schemes cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other related costs. Also, students from any background irrespective of caste and religion are eligible for these programs.
Table of Contents
Does the Indian Government offer scholarship for abroad studies? So, the answer is Yes. Many students ain’t aware of these schemes because of less awareness. So, here we’ve compiled a list that shows the names of these grants with their associated benefits.
SCHOLARSHIP NAME | EXPENSES COVERAGE |
---|---|
Fulbright Nehru Master’s Fellowships |
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Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships |
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Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loan for Overseas Studies |
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Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship |
|
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree |
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National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Caste (SC) Students |
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The Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust |
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The Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships |
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Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship Program |
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Aga Khan Foundation - International Scholarship Program (ISP) |
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Let’s go through each scholarship to study abroad for Indian students one by one in the next sub-section!
Consult Experts at Gradding.com to Get a Detailed Evaluation of Your Profile. Get Several Scholarship Options and Avail All Other Choices for Funding Your Abroad Journey.
Book a FREE Call!Here’s a detailed explanation of the scholarships proposed by the Indian government for students to study abroad:
1. Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships
This funding program offers grants for all aspiring Indian students to pursue an MS course at selected US-based universities. This scholarship covers tuition fees, airfare, living costs, and health insurance for up to 2 years of course. In addition to this, the application process for the academic year 2025-26 began on January 30, 2024. Hence, this could be the best scholarship for Indian students to study abroad!
Here are the scholarship details:
OFFERED BY | United States - India Educational Foundation (USIEF) |
SCHOLARSHIP TYPE | Merit & Need Based |
LEVEL OF PROGRAM | Graduate |
DEADLINE | May 15, 2024 |
DURATION | 1-2 Years |
AMOUNT GRANTED | Depends on Program Fee |
ELIGIBLE FOR | Indian Students |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | Fulbright Nehru Fellowships |
AREAS OF STUDY |
|
Eligibility Criteria for the Fellowship:
Here are the conditions a candidate must fulfil to be considered as a fit candidate for Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships:
2. Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships
This fellowship promotes Indian students who are enrolled for a PhD course at an Indian institution. They can perform their research essential to their thesis/dissertations in the States. Moreover, this fellowship program is for 6-9 months.
In addition to this, the application process for the Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research scheme is running for the August / September 2025 program. Learn more about this scholarship for abroad studies by Indian government with this table below:
OFFERED BY | United States - India Educational Foundation (USIEF) |
SCHOLARSHIP TYPE | Merit & Need Based |
LEVEL OF PROGRAM | Doctoral and PhD Programs |
DEADLINE | July 15, 2024 (23:59:59 Hrs IST) |
RENEWABILITY | One Time Fellowship |
ELIGIBLE FOR | Indian Students |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships |
AREAS OF STUDY | Agricultural Sciences; Anthropology; Bioengineering; Chemistry; Computer Science; Earth Sciences; Economics; Education Policy and Planning; Energy Studies; History; Language / Literature / Linguistics; Materials Science; Mathematical Sciences; Neurosciences; Performing Arts; Physics; Political Science; Psychology; Public Health; Public Policy; Sociology; Urban and Regional Planning; Visual Arts; and Women’s and Gender Studies. |
Eligibility Criteria for the Fellowship Scheme:
Applicants must fulfil the following eligibility criteria to be applicable for this fellowship program, since it is amongst the best scholarships for studying abroad by Indian government covering almost every area of study to pursue a PhD:
For more detailed information on the eligibility criteria, you may refer to their official website which is mentioned in the above table.
3. Dr Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loan
It is a government initiative that provides financial support to all the candidates who belong to economically weaker sections of Indian society and want to pursue higher studies abroad. Although it is not directly considered a government scheme it’s a tactic that helps to reduce interest on education loans.
Hence, it indirectly provides support for candidates who are studying in a foreign university. Additionally, this scheme targets students from SC and OBC classes. Here’s a detailed explanation of this overseas scholarship for Indian students:
OFFERED BY | Department of Social Justice & Empowerment |
SCHOLARSHIP TYPE | Need Based |
LEVEL OF PROGRAM | Masters, M.Phil and PhD Level |
DEADLINE | Not Mentioned |
BANKS UNDER IBA |
|
ELIGIBLE FOR | Indian Students |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loan |
AREAS OF STUDY |
For more details on the courses / disciplines covered under the scheme, refer to the link mentioned above. |
Also Read: Here is How to Get Fully Funded Scholarship for MS in USA!
Eligibility Criteria for the Fellowship Scheme:
Following criteria must be met by the candidate to be eligible for this scholarship program:
4. Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship
This is an esteemed scholarship to study abroad for Indian students. This grant is designed primarily for all Indian aspirants who wish to pursue their academics in Modern Indian Studies in areas like History, Economics, and Political Science. Moreover, this fellowship is a part of some foreign institutions including, St. Antony’s College and, the University of Oxford in the UK.
In addition to this, every year only one scholar is selected for this fellowship scheme and is placed as a Junior Research Fellow at St. Antony’s College. Here’s a more detailed analysis of this program:
OFFERED BY | Ministry of Human Resources and Development, Government of India |
SCHOLARSHIP TYPE | Merit-based, College Specific |
LEVEL OF PROGRAM | Doctoral (Advanced Research) |
DEADLINE | January 2024 |
DURATION | 1 Year in the first instance but can be extended to two based on candidate’s performance. |
RENEWABILITY | Performance Based |
ELIGIBLE FOR | Indian Students |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship |
AREAS OF STUDY | Modern Indian Studies in areas:
|
Eligibility Criteria for the Fellowship Scheme:
Following are the conditions that you must follow to avail benefits of this funding scheme to get into St. Antony’s College, UK:
5. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters is a prestigious, integrated, international scholarship program that was jointly designed and delivered by a group of higher education institutions. Moreover, it is offered by numerous participating European universities, Hence, it is counted among the best international scholarships for Indian students looking to pursue master’s or doctoral-level studies around the world.
In addition to this, this scheme aims to foster academic excellence, international coordination, and intercultural understanding in higher education. You can check out more about this grant:
OFFERED BY | European Commission |
SCHOLARSHIP TYPE | Merit-based |
LEVEL OF PROGRAM | Master’s Program and Joint Doctorate Courses |
DEADLINE / IMPORTANT DATES | Applicants can submit their application between October and January. |
DURATION | 1-2 Years (Depend on Student’s Course Duration) |
RENEWABILITY |
At the end of the scholarship year, candidates who successfully completed the course will be awarded either:
|
ELIGIBLE FOR | All International Students |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship |
AREAS OF STUDY | Modern Indian Studies in areas: History Economics Political Science |
Eligibility Criteria for the Fellowship Scheme:
The following conditions must be met by a student to be eligible for this funding program:
Refer to experts at Gradding.com now for an authentic profile evaluation. Get counselling to select the best Scholarship for a brighter future.
6. National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Caste (SC) Students
It is also counted amongst the best Indian scholarships to study abroad which was proposed by the Government of India. It is designed for Indian students to pursue higher education abroad for various Master's, PhD, and Post-Doctoral research programs. Moreover, it aims to target students who belong to Scheduled Castes, denotified nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, traditional artisans, and landless agricultural labourers.br>Hence, this scheme allows socially and economically disadvantaged students to study overseas at a reputable institute. Here are the more informative insights on this funding program:
OFFERED BY | Department of Social Justice & Empowerment - Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Government of India |
SCHOLARSHIP TYPE | Merit & Need Based |
LEVEL OF PROGRAM | Master, PhD, and Post-Doctoral Research Programs |
DEADLINE / IMPORTANT DATES | Refer to the Official Website |
PERIOD OF THE AWARD |
|
ELIGIBLE FOR | Indian Students Coming from a Scheduled Caste (SC) Background |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | National Overseas Scholarship for SC Students |
AREAS OF STUDY |
|
Eligibility Criteria for the Fellowship Scheme:
Please refer to the following conditions to check your eligibility to apply for the National Overseas Scholarship program:
Also Read: A Brief on the Difference Between Fellowship and Scholarship
7. The Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust
It is a funding program proposed by Sir Dorabji Tata in memory of his wife, Lady Meherbai D Tata. This scheme is specifically designed for Indian women who wish to pursue their higher education in a foreign university. It is categorized among the best Indian scholarships to study abroad since it supports an outstanding woman to achieve academic excellence in their respective study program. Refer to the table below for more insights into this scholarship scheme:
OFFERED BY | Tata Trusts |
SCHOLARSHIP TYPE | Merit & Need Based |
LEVEL OF PROGRAM | Post-Graduate Degree and Diploma Program |
DEADLINE / IMPORTANT DATES | April 27, 2024 (06:00 PM) |
DURATION |
Varies based on the chosen study program |
ELIGIBLE FOR | Indian Women Candidates |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | The Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust |
AREAS OF STUDY |
The focus and concentration of study must be on the issue related to women and children. Hence, here are the core subject areas:
|
Eligibility Criteria for the Scholarship Program:
To apply for the Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust Scholarship, women candidates across India from their prescribed study program must meet the following requirements:
8. The Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships
The Inlaks scholarship is awarded to highly talented Indian scholars to pursue their post-graduation, M.Phil or doctoral programs at top American, UK, and European institutions. The application portal typically opens in January or February month and closes in March or April every year.
In addition to this, this scholarship program holds significant value across the country because of its partnership with prestigious institutions such as Imperial College, the University of Cambridge, the Royal College of Art, Science Po Paris, and King’s College London. Let’s dive more into this funding program via the table below:
OFFERED BY | Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation |
SCHOLARSHIP TYPE | Merit & Need Based |
LEVEL OF PROGRAM | Post-Graduate and Doctoral Programs |
DEADLINE / IMPORTANT DATES | Application for academic year 2024-25 has been closed |
DURATION | Up to 2 Years, depending on the study program. |
ELIGIBLE FOR | Only for Indian Students |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship |
AREAS OF STUDY |
This foundation offers scholarship in diverse range of subjects, but DOES NOT fund the following study programs:
For more terms and conditions of these courses, refer to the official website. |
Eligibility Criteria for the Scholarship Program:
Here are the following criteria an Indian students must meet to apply for this scholarship scheme;
a)For Social Sciences, Law, Architecture, Fine Arts, Humanities and related subjects, candidates must have scored a minimum academic grade of 65% from a recognized Indian college.
b)For Science, Mathematics, Environment and related subjects, students must hold a minimum academic grade of 70% from a recognized Indian institution.
9. Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship Program
This scholarship program offers merit-based interest free loan scholarships to aspiring Indian students who want to pursue higher studies in renowned institutions in India or abroad. Moreover, this scheme is limited to selected field of study programs. Further, candidates have to repay the loan amount from the 2nd year of their course and must be completed by the last year of their study program. Let’s grab more information about this scholarship:
OFFERED BY | Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation - a prominent non-profit organization in India |
SCHOLARSHIP TYPE | 100% Merit Based, Loan Scholarship |
LEVEL OF PROGRAM | Graduate |
DEADLINE | Applications for the academic year 2024-25 has been closed. |
DURATION | Up to 2 years, depending on the study program. |
RENEWABILITY | One-Time Loan Scholarship |
ELIGIBLE FOR | Indian Students |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship Program |
AREAS OF STUDY |
Applicable programs are:
|
Eligibility Criteria for the Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship Program
To be eligible for the funding scheme, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
10. Aga Khan Foundation - International Scholarship Program (ISP)
This foundation provides a limited number of grants each year for candidates looking to pursue a PG course abroad. It gives a chance to aspirants from developing countries to pursue their higher education at well-known universities in any of the foreign countries. For instance, in the USA, UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Italy, France, Sweden, Singapore, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands.
The foundation is again a half grant and half loan based, meaning the candidates need to pay 50% of their scholarship amount. The repayment cycle generally starts after 6 months of course completion and 5 years. While it also starts after completing 2 years, if the student is studying in any developing country. Let’s gain more insights into this scholarship program:
OFFERED BY | The Aga Khan Foundation |
SCHOLARSHIP TYPE | Merit and Need Based |
LEVEL OF PROGRAM | Graduate |
DEADLINE | Applications for 2025-26 academic year will be starting from January 2025. |
DURATION | For the length of PG program. |
ELIGIBLE FOR | At present the foundation is available several Asian, African, the Middle East and other regions, including India. |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | Aga Khan Foundation (ISP) |
AREAS OF STUDY |
Opens to wide range of PG programs, excluding UG, medical, and PhD courses. |
Eligibility Criteria for the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship Program
To be eligible for the Aga Khan Foundation, a candidate must-
Hence, these are the popular scholarships for studying abroad by Indian government with their eligibility. To gather more details, you may check out their official website for the latest updates on the coming application portal opening dates.
Moreover, there are more funding schemes available including university-specific and more. So, check out the next section!
Are you looking to study in top foreign universities? Are you facing the dilemma of how you will cover the high tuition cost? Well, there are certain international scholarships for Indian students looking to study in the USA, UK or any other English-speaking nation. Remember, these are either university or country specific. So, we’ve provided some scholarships below based on your target country!
1. AAUW International Fellowship
This financial aid is provided by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) to all non-US females. This scholarship program aims to promote equity and education among women. More than 3600 women from more than 150 nations have been given this scholarship over the past few years. Thus, Indian women who’ve been looking to study MS in the USA can avail the benefits of this fellowship. Check out what expenses are covered by this financial aid!
TYPE OF FELLOWSHIP | Merit-Based |
GRANTS PROVIDED |
|
TYPE OF EXPENSES COVERED | Tuition Fee, Living Expenses, Books and Supplies |
2. Felix Scholarship
This scholarship was designed to provide support to academically yet financially deprived students from India and other developing countries. It enables aspiring scholars to live their dreams or to pursue PG programs at leading institutions in the UK. Some include the University of Oxford, the Schools of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and the University of Reading. Moreover, each year approximately 20 students get the privilege of this funding scheme, which covers a wide range of courses except medicine programs. Here are more insights about the Felix Scholarship:
TYPE OF FELLOWSHIP | Merit and Need Based |
GRANTS PROVIDED |
EUR 15,000 - EUR 16,000 for the Living Expenses and Airfare |
TYPE OF EXPENSES COVERED |
|
3. Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships
This fellowship allows students from the Commonwealth countries to study and work in the UK. Candidates who want to pursue their PG and doctoral degrees in Engineering & Technology, Pure and Applied Sciences, Agriculture & Allied Fields, Humanities and Social Science can avail the benefits of this funding scheme. Moreover, almost 800 students are selected every year for this scholarship while the appointed candidates will enjoy full coverage of their expenses with a monthly stipend. With this, let’s learn more about Commonwealth via the table below:
TYPE OF FELLOWSHIP | Merit-Based |
GRANTS PROVIDED |
USD 35,500 |
TYPE OF EXPENSES COVERED | Academic Fees, Monthly Living Stipend, Exam Fee, 2-Way Flight Ticket (Economy Class) |
4. Griffith Remarkable Scholarship
This financial aid rewards exceptional students to study any UG and PG coursework degree programs at Griffith University. It helps in covering tuition fees and other educational expenses based on the chosen study program. To be eligible for the scholarship, candidates need to have at least 70% or above in past courses. Let’s have an overview of the funding program with this table:
TYPE OF FELLOWSHIP | Merit Based & University Specific |
GRANTS PROVIDED |
Covers 50% of Tuition Fees |
TYPE OF EXPENSES COVERED |
Tuition Cost and related educational expenses |
Have queries on how to get scholarship to study abroad? Especially those covering 100% of tuition costs and other related expenses. Worry not, keep scrolling and get the step-wise procedure to avail the benefits of such financial aid! Before that, let’s learn the basic difference between scholarships & education loan.
Aspiring students planning to study abroad often get confused when it comes to funding the tuition fees and other costs. So, there are 2 key options to finance expenses when living abroad: loans and scholarships. Thus, here’s a detailed overview of how student loans differ from scholarships.
SCHOLARSHIPS | EDUCATION LOANS |
---|---|
It is a Financial Aid that a Borrower Must Not Repay. | It is a Type of Financial Aid that Has to be Paid off by Borrower. |
Offered by Educational Institutions, Public and Private Colleges. | Offered by Banks or NFBCs. |
Awarded Based on Merit, Requirements and other Parameters. | Credited based on the Borrower’s Ability to Repay the Loan Amount. |
No Harm to the Borrower, since there is no Requirement to Repay. | Education Loans May Harm the Borrower if Failure to pay the Loan Amount. |
Scholarships Can Only be Availed if the Student Scores Well in Competitive Exams. | While Education Loan Comes Up With Specific Requirements to be Availed. |
So, let’s take a final step to learn how to get scholarship to study abroad and understand the process.
Now let us look at the process to apply for the Indian Government scholarships to study in a foreign country.
Also, remember students can only proceed with the remaining steps if they fulfil the required eligibility conditions. Hence, to get scholarship from government to study abroad, they must check their eligibility and prepare the necessary documents prior filling the application form. Also, the next section covers the paperwork required to apply for a scholarship for Indian students to study abroad. Thus, scroll down and check it out!
Also Read: A Complete Guide on How to Get Scholarship to Study Abroad
The documents needed to apply for any Government scholarship for abroad studies vary based on scheme, country, university, or the course you’re applying to. The general requirements are mentioned below:
Apart from these, if you need more insights on the documents and other paperwork, you can even refer to this blog
In conclusion, the journey to securing a scholarship for abroad studies might be difficult, but it becomes possible if you have the dedication and proper resources to get one. Hence, do detailed research, fill in the application with the required paperwork, and meet your deadlines. However, if you find the process difficult, consider talking to experts at Gradding.com or fix a one-to-one counselling session. Fly to your dream country today!
Here are the tips you must keep in mind to secure a scholarship for Indian students to study abroad:
For the question, how to get scholarship to study abroad, here’s your answer. Check out your target institution and colleges by referring to their official websites. Since many universities provide scholarships to deserving overseas scholars. Hence, you can check out various Government schemes offered by home and host country officials.
Yes, it is possible to get a 100% scholarship to study abroad. You must fulfil the required criteria set by the universities and government to avail the benefits of such financial aid.
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