Know the Best 5 Scholarship for Abroad Studies in 2024!

Types of Scholarships to Study Abroad for International Students

There are different types of scholarships available to international students seeking higher education overseas. The appropriate research and planning can help you get the best out of them. Scholarships for studying abroad are primarily classified into the following categories:
1) Merit-Based Scholarships
2) Need-Based Scholarships
3) Government-Based Scholarships
4) Athlete-Based Scholarships
5) Destination-Based Scholarships

Let's understand all the above types of scholarship for study abroad in detail!

1) Merit-Based Scholarships
A merit-based scholarship is offered to high-achieving pupils. It is solely based on a student's merit in academics, athletics, leadership activities, community service, the arts, or other specific interests rather than a student's financial necessity.

2) Need-Based Scholarships
Need-based scholarships are financial support offered to students who are experiencing financial challenges. The need-based scholarship is primarily intended to assist students from low-income families. Students who cannot afford the expensive tuition fees and living expenses in other countries are also eligible for the need-based scholarships.

3) Government-Based Scholarships

Government-based scholarships are financial aid provided to students based on national or state-level criteria. These scholarships aim to support students from diverse backgrounds in pursuing their education. They are typically awarded based on academic merit, financial need, or specific eligibility criteria set by the government.

4) Athlete-Based Scholarships
Athletic scholarships are awarded based on an athlete's performance in his or her sport. Students who excel as athletes in school may be eligible for an athletic scholarship to help fund their college studies. Different institutions offer scholarships to encourage top players to join their sporting teams.

5) Destination-Based Scholarships

Destination-based scholarships are financial aids offered to students specifically for studying in a particular country or region. These scholarships are provided by governments, universities, organizations, or foundations to attract international students to study in their country or region. They often cover tuition fees, living expenses, or both and may have specific eligibility criteria such as academic excellence, leadership qualities, or chosen field of study.

List of Best Scholarships for Study Abroad by Indian Government

Many Indian students want to study overseas, and the government helps them achieve their goals by offering financial assistance. If you have this dream, continue reading! We've compiled a list of popular Indian government study abroad scholarships. Let's start!

Let's understand these study abroad scholarships and their benefits in detail.

1) Fullbright-Nehru Master's Fellowship

The Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowship is a merit-based Indian government fellowship that allows excellent Indian students to pursue a master's degree program at chosen institutions in the United States. It is a one- or two-year fellowship for students who have leadership skills, have completed the equivalent Bachelor's degree in the United States, and have at least three years of professional experience.

Area of Study: The candidate must select one of the following fields: Culture Management, Economics, Environmental Science, International Affairs, International Legal Studies, Journalism and Mass Communication, Public Administration, Public Health, Urban and Regional Planning, or Women's Studies/Gender Studies.

Eligibility Criteria For Scholarship to Study Abroad
1) Candidate must have a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree or Full-time Diploma.
2) Must have at least 55% marks in your graduation
3) Candidate must have 3 years of full-time work experience
4) One should have leadership quality and community service experience

Advantages of Scholarship
1) Amount covered for tution fees, living expenses, and other related costs.
2) Flight tickets from India to your study abroad destination
3) J-1 visa assistance

Documents Required for Scholarships for Studying Abroad
Here is the list of important documents required to avail of this Scholarship:

• Academic transcripts (scanned) from previous institutions, along with certified English translations if applicable.
• Statement of purpose
• Updated CV/Resume (not more than four pages)
• Academic degree and mark sheets
• Experience Certificate (if applicable)
• English Language Proficiency Test Scorecard (TOEFL or IELTS)
• Minimum 3 Letters of recommendation (Professional and academic references)
• Copy of your passport

Type of Scholarship	Amount/Subject
Merit-based	Fully-Funded Subjects: All Master’s Program

2) National Overseas Scholarship

This fellowship was introduced to support the education of students from the scheduled castes. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment established this scholarship program to assist students with their international education. This initiative awards 100 scholarships every year. Similarly, there is another scholarship for students of the Scheduled Tribe category, but they have only 20 seats.

Area of study: It is a need-based overseas fellowship for Indian students pursuing Master's and Ph.D. Degrees in engineering and management, pure and applied sciences, agricultural and medicine, international commerce, accounting, finance, and humanities and social science.

Eligibility Criteria For Study Abroad Scholarships
1) Candidate should not be more than 35 years of age
2) Candidate must score 60% in the qualifying exam
3) The family income should not exceed 8 lakhs
4) The candidate must be a permanent resident of India

Advantages of Scholarship

• Complete Tution fee is covered
• Premium medical insurance
• Poll tax
• Flight ticket allowance is covered

Documents Required for Scholarships for Studying Abroad

1. Class 10th mark sheet/ certificate
2. Qualifying degree mark sheets (e.g., Bachelor's for Master's program)
3. Conversion certificate (if CGPA is mentioned in the mark sheet)
4. GRE/GMAT/TOEFL/IELTS or any other standardized test score
5. A scanned copy of your passport
6. Caste certificate or Tribe certificate
7. Family Income Certificate

Type of Scholarship	Amount/Subject
Merit-based	INR 12,81,546 Master’s and PhD

3) Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees are Master-level study programs, and the EU funds scholarships for Indian students to pursue them. An international alliance of higher education institutions (HEIs) develops and provides an EMJM study program. An EMJM includes at least three HEIs from three different countries (two of which must be EU members). As a result, students get the opportunity to study in at least two European nations. The scholarship covers tuition, airline travel, insurance premiums, and living expenses. However, the amount varies depending on the region and course.

Area of study: Business Management, History, Nursing and Health, Psychology and many more.

Advantages of Scholarship

• Candidate should have a bachelor's degree along with work experience in the related field.
• The applicant should be an Indian citizen.
• The candidate should have spent more than a year in a European country in the last five years.

Documents Required for Scholarship for Abroad Studies
Here is the list of important documents required to avail of this Scholarship:

1. A completed application form
2. Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
3. Letter of motivation
4. Two or three letters of recommendation
5. Academic transcripts and diplomas
6. Proof of English language proficiency (if the program is taught in English)
7. Proof of financial resources

Type of Scholarship	Amount/Subject
Student-centric	Upto INR 43,15,191 Masters and Doctoral

4) Dr Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy

The scheme intends to give interest subsidies to deserving students from Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Backward Classes (ECW). The goal is to enable students to pursue higher education abroad and improve their lives.

Area of Study: Arts/Humanities/Social Sciences, Commerce, Pure Sciences, Engineering, Automation Robotics.

Eligibility Criteria for Study Abroad Scholarship

• The candidate should have a bachelor's degree equivalent to the US's with a minimum of 55% marks.
• Students must have at least 3 years of related work experience.
• Candidate should have a leadership quality.
• The applicant should hold a degree from a US university.

Advantages of Scholarship

• J-1 visa assistance
• Flight tickets from your city to the United States are covered
• Complete tution fees along with living expenses are covered
• Illness and accidental expenses are covered

Documents Required for Scholarships for Studying Abroad
Here is the list of important documents required to avail of this Scholarship:

1. Caste Certificate
2. Income Tax Return (ITR) for the latest assessment year
3. Sanction Letter of the Educational Loan
4. Admission offer letter

Type of Scholarship	Amount/Subject
Need-based	Subsidy All Master’s Program

5) Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship

This scholarship is a fully funded government fellowship for candidates attending St. Antony College, Oxford University London. The HRD Ministry administers the fellowship, primarily aimed at candidates interested in pursuing an academic career in History, Political Science, and Economics.

Area of Study: History, Economics and Political Science

Eligibility Criteria for Study Abroad Scholarship

• The candidate should be 30-40 years of age
• He/she must be a permanent resident of India
• Applicant should have a minimum of 60% marks in the master's degree
• Candidate should have at least 3 years of teaching experience
• The applicant should specialize in history, economics, and political science.

Advantages of Scholarship

• The candidate will get a stipend
• Flight round trip for the candidate and the spouse
• Fees for administration

Documents Required for Scholarships for Studying Abroad

Here is the list of important documents required to avail of this Scholarship:

1. Latest Passport-size photo with signature
2. Attested copy of birth and qualification documents
3. Mark sheet of all previous academic achievements
4. SOP for UK
5. Working experience certificate

Type of Scholarship	Amount/Subject
Merit-based	INR 26,78,566 History, Economics, Political/Social Science

Scholarships to Study in USA for Indian Students

Here is the list of top USA scholarships for Indian students. Have a look:
1) Cornell University Tata Scholarship
2) AAUW International Fellowship
3) Richmond Scholars Program
4) Microsoft Scholarships

Let's understand each scholarship in detail.

1) Cornell University Tata Scholarship

Cornell University Tata Scholarship is a need-based grant provided by the Tata Education and Development Trust to Indian students studying at Cornell University. The scholarship is awarded to around 20 scholars each year. It offers undergraduate students up to a maximum of eight semesters of study, by which time the majority of undergraduate courses will be completed. The scholarship amount varies per college and course and must be renewed yearly.

2) AAUW International Fellowship

This scholarship is for female students applying for research in the United States. Students pursuing graduate and doctoral degrees are also eligible for this award. The scholarship is valid for a maximum of five years. The scholarship amount granted varies depending on the duration of the course and the course applied for.

3) Richmond Scholars Program

The Richmond Scholars Program is a fully funded scholarship program provided by the University of Richmond. The University of Richmond is a private university based in Richmond, Virginia, and was founded in 1830. Scholarships are awarded under the Richmond Scholars program to overseas students who intend to study an undergraduate program at the institution. It is one of the most attractive undergraduate scholarship programs given by the University since it includes full tuition fees, housing, and food, in addition to other program perks.

4) Microsoft Scholarships

Microsoft provides tuition scholarships for undergraduate students studying computer science and related STEM courses in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The candidate must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and dedication to the software industry. Depending on the merit of the application, the scholarship will pay the whole or partial tuition fee.

Scholarships to Study in Australia for Indian Students

There are various scholarship for abroad studies available to overseas students studying in Australia. Here is a list of the most popular ones so you can refer to them and apply for those for which you are eligible. You will get a complete overview of these scholarships as you continue reading.

1) John Allwright Fellowship (JAF)

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) offers this fellowship to scientists from partner country institutions participating in ACIAR research initiatives. The recipients of this fellowship would be able to pursue postgraduate studies in Australia with reimbursement for common expenses such as tution fees, and accommodation. ACIAR conducts research on agriculture, crops, and forestry in India.

2) Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship

The Australian government provides Endeavour postgraduate scholarships to Australians who want to study overseas as well as non-Australians who want and deserve to pursue a master's degree in Australia. This scholarship pays up to INR 14,94,371, which includes a variety of student expenditures. The scholarship system, known as Endeavour Leadership, is sponsored by the Australian government's Department of Education, Skills, and Employment, and its recipients are prospective world leaders.

3) Destination Australia Scholarship

The Destination Australia Scholarship enables students to continue their studies at higher Australian colleges and institutes. The scholarship aims to leverage the socio-cultural and economic benefits that overseas students bring to regional Australia. This scholarship offers up to INR 8,15,111/year. Candidates are required to live and study in distant and regional areas outside of major Australian cities.

Also Read:Top Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students 2024

Scholarships for Multiple Target Countries/Common Scholarships

The following are some prominent scholarships for abroad studies that allow an Indian student to pursue several study abroad destinations with a single scholarship application.

1) Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowship
2) The JN Tata Endowment Higher Education of Indians
3) Indian Global Leaders Scholarship

Let's dive into the details of each scholarship. Have a look!

1) Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships

This scholarship is basically given to students who want to pursue their higher education in the US. It is one of the most popular aids for Indian students. It helps them fulfil their dreams of studying in the most prestigious institutions in the United States.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Either a master's degree or a full-time master's diploma.
• A score of more than 55% in graduation.
• Volunteering in Community Services.
• A score of 6.0 on the IELTS (English proficiency test).

Scholarship Cover:

• Flight tickets from India to the study-abroad destination.
• The tuition fee of the University.
• Health insurance is given by the government.

Duration:1-2 Years

2) The JN Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians

Launched in 1892, this is one of the most regarded scholarships for studying abroad by the Indian government in relevant times. This grant can be availed to students who want to pursue a doctorate or a post-doctoral program in nations like Canada, the United States, Australia, etc.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The applicant should be an Indian citizen.
• Must have a degree in Undergraduate programs.
• A score of more than 60% in graduation.

Scholarship Cover:

• Loan scholarship of more than 10 lakhs.
• Travel costs up to 50,000.

Duration: 1-2 Years

3) Indian Global Leaders Scholarship

This scholarship is for students who wish to pursue a Business, Law, or Economics degree abroad. It was the most applied grant in 2023 and provides numerous benefits to candidates who manage their lives and studies in Australia.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Students who want to pursue studies in these fields can apply for this grant.
• The candidate should be an Indian Resident.
• Applicants should have good academic records.

Scholarship Cover:

• Tuition fees are between INR 10,86,815 and INR 2717038.
• Events and Seminars.
• Access to courses provided by the Student Employability Team.

Duration: 6-12 Months

These above-stated grants are some of the most regarded and famous Indian scholarships. Thus, applicants can have a look and check which is the most suitable for their education. Also, they can consider all the mentioned aspects to examine their eligibility and needs while picking a scholarship for Indian students to study abroad and get the best chances.

Besides this, if you want to learn about such types of Scholarships in detail, click here: USA Scholarships for Indian Students

How to Apply for a Scholarship to Study Abroad?

Students with fewer funds often search for scholarships to execute their dream of studying abroad. It can be valuable for them to first know about the process of applying for the same. Without knowing this, availing the financial aid can be complicated for scholars. So, it can be fruitful for students to understand the process of availing of the funds on the first attempt. The below pointers can be helpful for scholars to know "How to apply for scholarship to study abroad?"

1) Organize All the Documents

First, students have to organize all the necessary documents when they apply for the scholarship. This can be valuable and time-saving. If scholars do not find any required papers at the time of application, filling out the form can be complicated.

2) Receive the University Acceptance Letter

An acceptance letter from the applied university is a must for Indian students to take a scholarship. Scholars must apply as soon as possible after getting this letter. So, it can be valuable for students to follow their dreams and fill out the form with this approach.

3) Develop a Better Resume or CV

Students should be ready to prepare a better resume or CV when they get an acceptance letter from the desired college. It can be fruitful to save time and not waste a penny after getting the letter. Also, making a better CV makes an impact on the admission committee. So it is crucial to make it better, which can grab the attention of any professor.

4) Add References

Another crucial thing is that students should make sure to have the references in advance. This is quite crucial when having a referral. Scholars should remember to take help from teachers with strong connections or others with the same ability, as this can make the process easy. Getting admission with references is slightly easy for such students.

5) Prepare a Better Application

When dreaming of studying abroad, one other crucial thing students have to do is prepare an application. In this, scholars have to add their desire and why they want to study at the chosen institute. One bonus point learners can use is they can choose to prepare different applications for submission to various institutes. Doing this increases the chances of scholars to secure scholarships for studying abroad by Indian government.

6) Apply for Different Programs

Another crucial thing students should consider is applying for different scholarships. Filling out various program forms can enhance the chances of securing one, although many scholars do not follow this. So, it can be valuable for those who apply for the various programs and secure suitable scholarships.

7) Prepare for the Language Proficiency Test

Prepare for language proficiency tests such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Achieving a high score is crucial in these exams for study abroad with scholarship. Dedicate ample time to study and practice, as your performance can significantly impact your scholarship eligibility and academic journey.

8) Take Help from Consultants

The last phase for students searching for "How to Apply for Scholarships to Study Abroad?" is to seek expert assistance. This can be important for scholars because the specialists have years of expertise helping a large number of applicants. They are filled with talents and can assist learners in easing the process and gaining a higher scholarship without any problems.

Students can use the following steps to apply for financial help when studying abroad. Following the aforementioned tips can help scholars streamline the procedure and avoid problems. If this procedure still appears to be difficult, seeking assistance from Gradding.com advisers can help smooth the process of obtaining an Indian scholarship to study abroad.

Suggested Read: How to get fully-funded scholarships for MS in US

Wrapping Up!
Every year, a plethora of students pursue their ambition of studying overseas. The number of scholars studying abroad has increased significantly over time. It might benefit them to understand the entire procedure and want to learn from an internationally recognized institute. However, most researchers suffer from a similar problem, i.e., money. In this case, they look for financial assistance to resolve the issue. Our study abroad experts can assist them by providing a one-stop solution to all of their concerns. We help students find the best scholarships for Indian students. This makes the procedure easier for pupils by assisting them to obtain financial aid on their first attempt.

So, why are you still waiting? Contact our study abroad experts today to make your journey easier by obtaining a scholarship for abroad studies without any challenges.