Top International Scholarships to Study Abroad

Updated on: 06 Sep 2023

Indian students always walk that extra mile to get the best education, and scholarships help them get a world-class education without a financial burden. Scholarships are financial tools that help meritorious students from middle and lower-income families study at the world's best universities without taking a financial toll. Every year different organizations grant scholarships for studying abroad for Indian students, which helps them substantially reduce the cost of abroad education. There are many scholarships in India for studying abroad granted by the Indian government, private companies, individuals, trusts, and others to talented students who secure admission to the world's top universities. 

Foreign universities and foreign governments also grant scholarships. The extent of financial help varies from one scholarship to another. Not all scholarships have similar coverage. Some of them only cover the tuition fees, while others take care of the entire expense at the time of studies. Studying at a world-class institution is everyone's dream, so we provide you with the best scholarships to study abroad. 

Best Scholarships for Studying in the UK

The UK is one of the preferred destinations for Indian students studying abroad. However, the cost of education is pretty high, thus the need for a scholarship becomes imperative for students who don’t come from well-heeled families. Here are the scholarships that you can consider to ease the financial burden.

The Chevening Scholarships 

It is one of the most prestigious scholarships, and every year 1500 students are selected globally for studying at top universities in the UK. It enables students to pursue a one-year master's degree in the UK. It helps students understand British culture, the way of life and contribute to the global community. The individual applying for the scholarship must have excellent academic credentials and demonstrate leadership capabilities. More than 12,000 courses are covered in the chevening scholarship. The British embassy selects the candidates for the scholarship. 

The scholarship covers the following expenses:

• Travel expenses to and from the UK.
• Monthly stipend. 
• The tuition fee of the university. 
• Arrival allowance, and also an allowance for going back. 
• Cost of submitting the visa application. 

Commonwealth Scholarship 

It is given to 800 students who live in any of the 53 commonwealth countries every year. It is one of the best scholarships in India for studying abroad. The scholarship is given to students who wish to pursue postgraduate, doctorate, and professional courses in the UK. It is one of the most comprehensive scholarships in terms of the coverage of expenses as it covers almost all the expenses. The British Council, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, Min Of HRD Govt Of India, and Association of Commonwealth Universities select the candidates for scholarships. 
The expenses covered in this scholarship include the following:

• Travel expenses to and from the UK. 
• The university's tuition fee and any other fee payable at the time of studies. 
• Study travel grants for projects and thesis. 
• Field work and mid-term visit grant for Ph.D. students. 
• Living Allowance. 
• Spouse/ Child allowance(if applicable)

Rhodes Scholarship

Rhodes scholarship is given to Indian students coming to the UK for the first time for their higher studies. The student applying for the scholarship must be aged less than 26 years and have a first-class in the undergraduate. If you are a debater, singer, or in theatrics, the chances of getting the scholarship increase exponentially. The confirmation of the Rhodes scholarship only happens when you have already secured admission at Oxford University. The scholarship is given for two years, and every year five Indians are selected for this scholarship. 
The expenses covered in the scholarship are:

• The tuition fees of the university. 
• An annual stipend of around £16000 per annum is provided to the students. 
• It also covers the application fee to Oxford university. 
• It covers the International Health Surcharge and the cost of a tier4 study visa. 
• Students also get an arrival allowance to take care of the initial expenses. 

Best Scholarships for Studying in the US

The US has the most number of universities that consistently rank the best in the QS World University Rankings. 

Fulbright Scholarship

The Fulbright scholarship helps Indian students in studying masters and doctorate programs. It requires the scholarship applicant to have three years of professional experience. There is a complete range of programs for which the Fulbright scholarship is awarded to students. The eligibility criteria vary from one course to another. 
The expenses covered in the scholarship include:

• JI-visa assistance. 
• The tuition fee of the university. However, there might be some additional expenses that are not covered by the scholarship.
• The living expenses at the time of the study. 
• Insurance coverage for accidents and illness. 
• Travel expenses to and from the US. 

Gates Millennium Scholarship

The Gates Millennium scholarship is given to students from Asian, African, and other communities who wish to pursue either a UG or PG course. Every year students who wish to study Management, Engineering, Public policy, etc., are given the opportunity to study at the world's top universities without having the need to worry about finances. The Bill-Melinda Foundation grants 1000 scholarships through the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Students from financially weak familiar backgrounds with an impeccable academic record are given this scholarship. There is no fixed amount for a scholarship, and it is adjusted as per the applicant's needs. 
The expenses covered in the scholarship include:

• The tuition fee for the university. 
• The cost of traveling to the US and returning to India. 
• The living expenses at the time of studies. 
• The scholarship is renewed if the academic performance remains satisfactory.

Cornell University Tata Scholarship 

The Cornell University Tata scholarship is given to meritorious students who wish to pursue an undergraduate degree in the US. The Tata Education and Development Trust collaborates to fund the scholarship given to 20 students. The extent of coverage is restricted to tuition fee-only, and other expenses are not covered in this scholarship. Students taking admission in the college of arts and planning, engineering, applied economics, MBA, etc., are eligible for this scholarship. The scholarship takes care of all the semester tuition fees barring the course in architecture, wherein the scholarship is only given for eight semesters out of ten. 

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First published date: 04 Dec 2020