10 Foreign Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad

10 Foreign Scholarships for Indian Students: Studying abroad is becoming a more popular option for Indian students looking to widen their horizons and get a competitive advantage in today's globalised world. However, financial limits are frequently a considerable barrier. Fortunately, several excellent foreign scholarships are available for Indian students, allowing them to achieve their aspirations of studying abroad in countries like the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and more. 

In this article, we will look at the top 10 foreign scholarships for Indian students, which provide them with vital financial assistance and admission to world-class educational universities and colleges. Ranging from National Overseas Scholarships to Fulbright Fellowships or from Inlaks Scholarships to GREAT Scholarships, these are just a handful of the notable scholarships offered to Indian students. 

We will also look into the other scholarships on our list and provide information on their eligibility requirements, application processes, and benefits. So, if you want to study abroad, keep reading to learn about the wonderful options of foreign scholarships that are especially available to international students.

List of Foreign Scholarships Offered to Indian Students

The table below contains a complete list of the top 10 foreign scholarships for Indian students to study abroad. Indian students may pursue their academic goals, get significant study abroad experience, and contribute to their particular fields of study by taking advantage of these scholarships and fellowships. Explore the table below to learn about the many scholarships offered, their sponsors, and the regions/countries they serve.

In the past few years, a large number of students have applied for the best scholarships for Indian students with the help of our study abroad experts. 

Let us now discuss the details of the top 10 foreign scholarships for Indian students to study abroad:

National Overseas Scholarship

This comes under the category of scholarships for studying abroad by the Indian government. It can be availed within one year of receipt of intimation from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Every year, a total of 125 slots are made available under the National Overseas Scholarship, which is further earmarked for different target groups including Scheduled Castes, denotified tribes and semi-nomadic tribes, landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans.

Number of Slots Earmarked for different Target Groups:

• Scheduled Castes - 115

• Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes - 06

• Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans - 04

Eligibility Criteria:

• Students should be below the age of 35 years as of April 1 of the election year

• They should come from a family with an income of less than INR 8,00,000 per annum

• Should be applying for either master's or PhD courses in any stream of study

• To be able to apply for a master's abroad, one should have completed an undergraduate degree, whereas, the minimum qualification required to study a PhD course abroad is a masters degree

• Should have obtained a minimum of 60% of marks in the qualifying degree

Value:

This Indian scholarship to study abroad provides financial support under the scheme:

• Tuition fees

• Contingency allowance

• Maintenance allowance (USD 15,400 annually except in the UK and GBP 9,900 annually in the UK)

• Poll fee

• Visa fees

• Local travel

• Equipment allowance

• Air passage of economy class

• Fees and medical insurance premium

Application Deadline: March 31

Fulbright-Nehru Masters Fellowships

The Fulbright-Nehru Masters Fellowships are open to Indians who have an outstanding academic record and want to pursue a masters degree in the US.

The fields of study covered under the scheme include Arts and Culture Management, Heritage Conservation and Museum Studies, Environmental Science/Studies, International Affairs, Public Health, Womens Studies/Gender Studies, International Legal Studies, Urban and Regional Planning, Economics, Journalism and Mass Communication, and Public Administration.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Candidates should be highly motivated and demonstrate leadership skills

• Should have a US bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognized university in India with at least 55% marks; bachelors degree should be a four-year programme or the candidate should have a master's degree or a full-time postgraduate diploma

• Should have at least three years of professional work experience and be committed to coming back to India and their communities

• Must not have another degree from a university in the US

Value:

• J-1 visa support

• Tuition and fees plus living and related costs

• Accident and sickness coverage as per US government guidelines

• Round-trip economy class travel by air from home country to the US

Application Deadline: June 1

Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship

Sponsored by USIEF, the Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships are a measure to address climate change-related issues in the US and India. The fellowships are offered for doctoral research, academic and professional excellence and postdoctoral research. Selected students are affiliated with one host institution in the US.

Eligibility Criteria:

• For Postdoctoral Research, the applicant should have a PhD degree within the last four years and for doctoral research, the applicant should have conducted adequate research in the appropriate field.

• For those applying for these scholarships under the Academic and Professional Experience category, faculty/researchers should have a PhD degree or equivalent with a minimum of five years of relevant research or teaching experience.

Value:

• J-1 visa support

• Accident and sickness programme for Exchanges per US Government guidelines

• A monthly stipend

• Round-trip economy class travel by air from home country to the US

• A settling-in allowance

• A professional allowance

• Opportunities to audit non-degree courses, gain experience and conduct research in the US (for selected doctoral scholars)

Application Deadline: September 15

Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships

Available for six to nine months, these fellowships are for Indian scholars registered for a PhD at an institution in India. These are invited to a wide range of fields of study including computer science, bioengineering, performing arts, public health, chemistry, anthropology, agricultural sciences, and more.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Should have conducted adequate research in a relevant field

• If the applicant is employed, they should have the employer's endorsement

• Must upload a copy of the originally presented or published paper from the Masters/MPhil thesis on the application form available online

• Should have a high level; of professional and academic achievement

• Should showcase proficiency in the English language proficiency

• Should not be residing in the US during placement

Value:

• J-1 visa support

• Accident and sickness programme for Exchanges per US Government guidelines

• A monthly stipend

• Round-trip economy class travel by air

• Opportunities to audit non-degree courses, gain experience and conduct research in the US (for selected doctoral scholars)

• Modest affiliation fees and applicable allowances, if any

Application Deadline: July 15

Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships

Inlaks scholarships are granted to young students from India who want to study at the top universities in the US, European and the UK for a full-time master's, MPhil, or doctorate programme.

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation does not offer scholarships in the subjects of business and finance, computer science, fashion design, engineering, public health, management studies, medicine, dentistry and related therapies, and music.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Should be an Indian resident for the past six months

• For Mathematics, Environment and related subjects, the minimum academic grade should be 70% or CGPA 7.2 or GPA 2.8 from a recognized Indian university

• For Humanities, law, fine arts, architecture, social sciences and related subjects, the minimum academic grade should be 65% or CGPA 6.8 or GPA 2.6 from a recognized Indian university

• Should be a maximum of 30 years of age in the year of application

Value:

• Full tuition fees, adequate living expenses, health allowance and one-way travel allowance

• Maximum funding of USD 10,000

Application Deadline: March 30

GREAT Scholarships India

A total of 20 postgraduate scholarships are offered by UK universities across a wide range of subjects for Indian students. These are funded by the GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council with participating UK universities.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Should be an Indian citizen

• Should have an undergraduate degree with interest in the proposed subject area

• Should meet the English language requirements determined by the UK university

• Should be a GREAT scholarship alumnus

• Should build an engagement with the UK as a scholar, through academic and personal fulfilment

• Should be applying to one of the participating universities in the UK

Value:

• Full tuition fees, adequate living expenses, health allowance and one-way travel allowance.

• Maximum funding of USD 10,000

Commonwealth Scholarships

Offered as an abroad scholarship for Indian students from across the Commonwealth who cannot otherwise afford to study in the UK, the Commonwealth Scholarship is for talented students with the ability to make a positive impact on the international level.

The different types of Commonwealth scholarships are Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships, Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, Commonwealth Master's Scholarships, Commonwealth Distance learning Scholarships, Commonwealth Medical Fellowships, Commonwealth PhD Scholarships and Commonwealth Professional Fellowships.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Should be a citizen or permanent resident of a country of the Commonwealth; a refugee or British-protected person may also apply

• Should have an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class; PhD aspirants should have an appropriate masters degree as well

• Must not be able to afford a UK education without the scholarship

Value:

• Full funding includes tuition fees, airfare to and from the UK and a living allowance

Application Deadline: October

Erasmus Mundus Scholarships

Different scholarships are for students from different target groups and mobility types and with their specific eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Should be a citizen or permanent resident of India

• Should not have resided, studied or worked for a total of over 12 months in the last five years in any of the eligible countries in Europe at the submitting the application

• Should belong to one of the Target Groups (TG1, TG2 and TG3)

• TG1 applicants can only apply for exchange programmes, TG2 can only apply for full degree programmes and TG3 applicants can only apply for full degree programmes at master's and doctorate level

Value:

• Full funding, including tuition fees, airfare to and from the UK and a living allowance.

Application Deadline: January

Cornell University Tata Scholarship

Tata Scholarship is offered by Tata Education and Development Trust to support approximately 20 scholars from India in collaboration with Cornell University. The scholarship is awarded annually for the duration of undergraduate studies at Cornell University.

The university has got a USD 25 million endowment from the Tata Trust. Ratan Tata is a Cornell trustee. Tata Group is one of India's oldest, largest, and most respected business establishments. This comes under scholarships for studying abroad by the Indian government after the 12th grade.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Should be a citizen or permanent resident of India and should have attended secondary school in India

• Should have been offered admission to Cornell University as an undergraduate student

• Should demonstrate the necessity for need-based financial aid

• Preference is given to students accepted to the university's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning; the social sciences, the Applied Economics and Management major in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business; the College of Engineering; and majors across colleges in the biological sciences, physical sciences, and other hard sciences

Value:

• Full funding

Application Deadline: Varies depending on admission intake

University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) Future of Change India Scholarship

Sponsored by UNSW Sydney, the Future of Change India Scholarship is available for both undergraduate and postgraduate study across all disciplines offered at the university. However, for any undergraduate programme in Engineering, the university is offering even more scholarships of AUD 10,000 per year.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Should be a citizen or permanent resident of India

• Should eligibility criteria and selection criteria for the desired programme along with achieving a certain academic level in an undergraduate degree or high school

• Should have received an admission offer from UNSW

Value:

• USD 10,000 per annum for the duration of the programme

• Additional USD 10,000 per annum for the duration of any undergraduate Engineering programme to eligible students

Application Deadline: Varies by the application deadline of the programme of study.

Apart from these top 10 international scholarships for Indian students, there are two more abroad scholarships for Indian students that one can explore. Find the same below:

India Global Leaders Scholarship

The India Global Leaders Scholarship is an opportunity for high-calibre students from India to study in UQ's faculty of business, economics, and law, wherein students also gain access to some exclusive opportunities.

Through this programme, students develop the necessary skills to thrive in today's competitive business environment. Upon graduating, students join the Global Leaders network of alumni and build on their professional networks abroad.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The candidate must be a citizen of India, and normally live in India

• Candidate must have received a letter of offer to study a business, economics or law programme with the university, except for the following courses:

  • Master of Business Administration

  • Master of Business Analytics

  • Master of Leadership in Service Innovation

Value:

• 50% of the total tuition fee

Charpak Masters Scholarship

Through the Charpak Master's programme 2023, Campus France India is offering scholarships for Indian students to study abroad. The objective of the programme is to support the study of students who are pursuing master's degrees. Through this scholarship, the selected students are eligible to receive a tuition fee waiver of EUR 5,000.

This Indian scholarship to study abroad is given to the student who has academic excellence, consistent and quality statements of purpose, and a tie-up with a French institution.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The applicant must be an Indian citizen and reside in India.

• The applicant must not be more than 30 years old at the time of application

• The applicant must be a student currently enrolled at an Indian Institution of higher learning.

• The applicant must be a young professional employed in a company for a maximum of 3 years at the time of application

Value:

• Monthly living allowance of EUR 860

• Tuition fee waiver up to EUR 5,000

• Assistance to find affordable student accommodation

• Student visa and Etudes en France fee waiver

How to Boost Your Chances of Receiving Scholarships?

There are plenty of scholarships for Indian students that will make the study abroad journey easy. While getting some of the most competitive scholarships where thousands of applicants apply is difficult, you can use particular strategies to boost your chances of getting one. Scholarships are the most coveted source of financial aid that makes the study abroad journey enjoyable without financial pressure. Thus while applying for foreign scholarships, you must not refrain from applying to both popular and unpopular ones as you may never know which one will catch the attention of the scholarship application committee. Given below are some of the most common ways in which your chances of receiving a scholarship for studying abroad will improve.

• Check out every detail of the scholarship to which you wish to apply to. Improve your knowledge about the university and course you wish to apply. This minute information will help to structure your essay in a way that includes all the necessary details. 

• While drafting the scholarship essay, it is imperative to write a precise and well-structured essay mainly focusing on the topic given. Write the essay to the point and do not unnecessarily digress as most essays have a word limit.

• There should be no grammatical or formatting errors as that will create a negative impression. You can take the help of study abroad experts to get your essays checked and get their valuable expertise.

• Keep a good connection with the professors and teachers of your previous institutions as some scholarships require you to submit letters of recommendation. 

Through this article, we were able to explore these top 10 international scholarships for Indian students studying abroad that provide access to a world of educational options to eligible students. These scholarships give financial support and access to renowned worldwide universities. Indian students may extend their perspectives, acquire global exposure, and make a big difference in their chosen professions by applying for these scholarships. Don’t pass up these once-in-a-lifetime possibilities that can pave the path for a successful and rewarding academic adventure abroad.

Our study-abroad professionals have helped a great number of Indian students apply for the most advantageous scholarships. We are delighted to know that many of our students are now enrolled at their desired colleges as a result of our expert advice.