Scholarships

List of PhD Abroad Scholarships (2024) for Indian Students

List of PhD Abroad Scholarships (2024) for Indian Students

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Be well versed with the list of Ph.D. scholarships for Indian students to study abroad in this blog. Unbox major scholarships, eligibility, amount/expenses covered, and other must-know details.

GyanDhan
Adwaidh S

Updated on:  16 Feb 2024  | Reviewed By:  amanjain  | 21.3K | 14  min read

A PhD from a top ranked university is no longer a utopia if you win a scholarship. There are many PhD scholarships for Indian students to study abroad & these scholarships are crucial for an overseas PhD student who otherwise has to bear sky-high tuition fees and living costs. No need to be tense; most of the reputed universities across the globe offer scholarships for doctoral students with the best research facilities. 

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In this article, let’s see some of the PhD scholarships for which Indian students can apply.

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Types Of Scholarship

The PhD scholarships to study abroad can be either fully or partially funded. The applicant must carefully read the details regarding the scholarships for which they apply.

Fully Funded Scholarships - The fully funded scholarships cover all the major expenses related to your overseas education. These scholarships would cover your tuition fee, living allowance, study material cost, travel, insurance, etc.

Partial Scholarships - Partial scholarships cover only part of your total study cost. The coverage will be either for the tuition fee or living expenses. The funding conditions differ for various scholarships.

 

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PhD Scholarships For Indian Students & International Students

Scholarships Amount/Expenses Covered

Commonwealth Scholarship

Monthly stipend of €1,236 or €1516

Airfare for two journeys

Extra allowances and grants

 Destination Australia Program

 $15,000 per year

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

The annual sum of CAD 50,000

Friedrich Naumann Foundation Scholarship

€800-€1200 per month

 AAUW International Women’s Fellowship

$50,000 for a year

Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research fellowship

Tuition fees
Monthly stipend

 DAAD Scholarship Germany

Tuition fees
Travel allowance
Health insurance
Accompanying spouse/child allowance

 

1. Commonwealth Scholarship

The UK awards the Commonwealth Scholarship to students from the commonwealth countries who excel in academics, leadership, and innovative thinking. Around 800 scholarships are awarded annually; the beneficiaries study in UK universities without worrying about the high tuition fees for their first three years of study. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Citizen or permanent resident of a commonwealth country or a refugee or a British-protected person
  • list items Financially unable to study in the UK without the scholarship
  • list items Less than 40 years of age 

Amount/Expenses Covered:

  • list items Monthly stipend of €1,236 or €1516 (for universities in the London metropolitan area)
  • list items Airfare for first arrival & departure 
  • list items Extra allowances and grants  

Duration: 3 years


2. Destination Australia Program

A PhD scholar in Australian regional universities can apply for the Destination Australia Program. Scholarship receivers channel the cross-cultural takeaways that would merit Australian society in general. For 2023, priority falls on courses aligned with the Australian Government’s National Skills Priority List. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Studying in a regional institution of Australia
  • list items No other sponsorships


Amount/Expenses Covered: $15,000 per year


Duration: Maximum 4 years


3. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship is for doctoral scholars in Health Research, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, and Humanities. Only scholars with exceptional academic performance, research ability, and proven leadership skills are eligible to be the beneficiaries. The scholars must apply through their enrolled institution. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Institution’s nomination
  • list items Exceptional academic merit
  • list items Research potential
  • list items Leadership skills


Amount/Expense Covered: The annual sum of CAD 50,000 


Duration: 3 years


4. Friedrich Naumann Foundation for International students

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation Scholarship is for researchers in German Universities. It aims to support researchers financially with a convincing and innovative research project. Annually around 150 students avail the scholarship, which makes it reliable among the international research scholar community in Germany. Relevance of the project to the discipline, the applicant’s academic merit, and the candidate’s need are the primary criteria for selection. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Must be an international student
  • list items Relevance of the research proposal
  • list items Academic merit
  • list items Financial necessity for the scholarship


Amount/Expenses Covered: €800 to €1200 per month.


Duration: Up to 3 years


Explore Scholarships to Study Abroad

5. AAUW International Women’s Fellowship

AAUW International Fellowships support women for doctoral studies in US Universities. Established in 1917, the scholarship beneficiaries must be passionate about their research and commit to the betterment of women and girls in their home country. The research work's relevance, quality, and applicability would play a vital role in the selection process. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Should be a woman scholar of non-US citizenship
  • list items Full-time availability for the fellowship
  • list items Intend to return to their home country after studies
  • list items Underprivileged candidates will get more preference


Amount/Expenses Covered: $50,000 for a year


Duration: 1 year


6. Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research fellowship

A program that helps Indian scholars study in the US, the Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship financially backs selected doctoral students of an Indian university to conduct research in a host institution in the US for 6-9 months. Unique to the program, the beneficiaries can audit non-degree courses and gain practical work exposure in the US. 

According to the USIEF (United States-India Educational Foundation) message dated February 02, 2022, fostering the US-India relation through providing personal, academic, and professional growth opportunities for Indian students and growing mutual understanding between the US and India are of prime concerns for the Fulbright program. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Recommendation letter from the supervisor that documents the applicant’s research excellency and needs for the fellowship.
  • list items Only ongoing researchers can apply for this scholarship.
  • list items For 2022-23, the applicants must be those who registered for PhD on or before Nov 01, 2021, at an Indian institution.


Amount/Expenses covered:

  • list items J-1 Visa support
  • list items Monthly stipend
  • list items Round trip economy class travel
  • list items Applicable allowances and affiliation fees


Duration: 6-9 months


7. DAAD Scholarship Germany

DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst ) research grants aim to promote doctoral research projects. For a maximum duration of 6 months, the selected candidates would receive euros 1200 per month and health, accident, and personal liability insurance cover. There are 25 DAAD scholarships for Indian students every year. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Two years of work experience
  • list items Academic merit
  • list items German language requirements


Amount/Expenses covered:

  • list items Tuition fees
  • list items Travel allowance
  • list items Health insurance
  • list items Accompanying spouse/child allowance


Duration: 1 year


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College-Specific Ph.D. Scholarships

Scholarships Amount/Expenses Covered

Yale University Scholarships

Fully funded
Tuition fees
Living expenses

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Tuition fees
Living Allowance
Airfare Expenses
Inbound visa costs
Immigration Health Surcharge

Australian Govt Research training program international scholarship - Flinders University

$28,854 per annum
Tuition fee 
Living Allowance
Overseas Health Care Cover

Presidents PhD Scholarships - Imperial College

Tuition fees
Living Allowance

Stanford University Scholarships

Tuition fees
Monthly stipend

1. Yale University Scholarships

Yale University offers financial support to PhD scholars through fixed categories of fellowships, such as University Fellowship (UF), Teaching Fellowship (TF), Travel Health Fellowships, etc. There are fourteen types of funding for Ph.D. scholars at Yale University. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Excellent research project and Statement of Purpose
  • list items Academic merit and achievements
  • list items Entrance test scores(IELTS, TOEFL, etc.)


Amount/Expense covered:

  • list items Fully funded
  • list items Tuition fees
  • list items Living expenses


Duration: 2-5 years


2. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program is offered by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for international students to study for postgraduate degrees at Cambridge University. This broadly fully funded program benefits around 80 students annually; two-thirds of the beneficiaries are PhD scholars. Exceptional candidates with leadership and social commitment are selected for the scholarship. 

Note that some courses are excluded from the scholarship, like Business Doctorate (BusD), Master of Business (MBA), Master of Finance (MFin), etc. The student must ensure that their program of study is on the list of funding. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Pursuing a full-time postgraduate degree 
  • list items Academic merit
  • list items Leadership skills
  • list items Commitment for the betterment of society


Amount/Expenses covered:

  • list items Tuition fees
  • list items Living Allowance
  • list items Economy airfare for first arrival and departure
  • list items Inbound visa costs
  • list items Immigration Health Surcharge


Apart from these, additional funding will be there on a discretionary basis, such as

  • list items Academic development funding
  • list items Family allowance
  • list items Fieldwork
  • list items Maternity/Paternity allowance
  • list items Hardship funding


Duration: Up to 4 years
 

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3. Australian Govt Research training program international scholarship (AGRTPS) at Flinders University

The Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships (AGRTPS) (International) helps students study at Flinders university for a postgraduate degree. Since the maximum number of scholarships awarded per year is five, the selection rounds are highly competitive. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Commencing a postgraduate degree at Flinders university
  • list items Academic merit
  • list items Academic research training


Amount/Expense covered:

  • list items $28,854 per annum
  • list items Tuition fee 
  • list items Living Allowance
  • list items Overseas Health Care Cover


Duration: 3 years


4. Presidents PhD Scholarships - Imperial College

The President’s PhD Scholarships help deserving students study for PhD at Imperial College, London. The scholarships cover full tuition fees and offer an attractive monthly stipend for 3.5 years. Full-time and part-time study options are available under the scholarship. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Academic brilliance
  • list items Excellent research potential


Amount/Expenses covered:

  • list items Tuition fees
  • list items Living Allowance


Duration: 3.5 years


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5. Stanford University Scholarships 

Stanford GSE (Graduate School of Education) provides full scholarships for all PhD programs for five years. Recipient selection for the scholarships is based on the financial need and excellency of the research project. The scholarships include tuition fees, monthly stipends, and other expenses. 

Eligibility:

  • list items Academic merit
  • list items Potential of the research project
  • list items Financial need of the candidate


Amount/Expenses covered:

  • list items Tuition fees
  • list items Monthly stipend


Duration: 5 years


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Top Ranked PhD Universities to Study Overseas

PhD Universities/ Colleges In the USA

QS Ranking 2023 US Universities

1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3

Stanford University

5

Harvard University

6

California Institute of Technology

10

University of Chicago

13

University of Pennsylvania

16

Princeton University

18

Yale University

22

Columbia University

PhD Universities/ Colleges In Canada

QS Ranking 2023 Canada  Universities

31

McGill University

34

University of Toronto

47

University of British Columbia

110

University of Alberta

116

University of Montreal

154

University of Waterloo

172

Western University

PhD Universities/ Colleges In the UK

QS Ranking 2023 UK Universities

2

University of Cambridge

4

University of Oxford

6

Imperial College London

8

UCL

15

University of Edinburgh

28

University of Manchester

37

King’s College London

56

London School of Economics and Political Science

PhD Universities/ Colleges In Germany

QS Ranking 2023 German Universities

49

Technical University of Munich

59

LMU Munich

65

Heidelberg University

118

Free University of Berlin

131

Humboldt University of Berlin

141

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

147

RWTH Aachen University

158

Technical University of Berlin

PhD Universities/ Colleges In Australia

QS Ranking 2023 Australian Universities

37

University of Melbourne

38

University of Sydney

47

University of Queensland

58

Monash University

93

University of Western Australia

108

University of Adelaide


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Frequently Asked Questions

Are there PhD Scholarships in the USA for Indian students?

Yes, there are quite a several PhD scholarships Indian students can apply for in the US. Apart from the scholarships exclusively for Indians, Indian students can also avail the benefits of international scholarships. 

The following are some of the scholarships Indian students can apply for in the US:

Are there PhD Scholarships in Canada for Indian students?

Yes, there are scholarships that Indian students can apply for PhD. in Canada. Canada is a nation that requires students from abroad for its economy’s growth and therefore welcomes students and immigrants. Canada is the second top nation preferred by Indian students for studying abroad. 

The following are some of the scholarships a student can apply for at any Canadian university

  • list items Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
  • list items IDRC Research Awards
  • list items Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships
  • list items JN Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians

Apart from the general scholarships, there are college-specific PhD scholarships too for Indian students. Listed below are some of them:

  • list items University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
  • list items Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship -Doctoral, Dalhousie university
  • list items Hira and Kamal Ahuja International Graduate Scholarship, University of Waterloo
  • list items Seneca college scholarships

Generally, universities that offer a PhD would provide scholarships too. The student must search on the desired university site for available scholarships.

Can I complete my PhD in Germany for free?

Germany is known for its lower academic fees with the best education. Apart from the reduction in tuition fees, an international student can apply for various scholarships too. It makes education in Germany very affordable for the average middle-class Indian student. 

Most renowned German universities charge no or minimal fees for PhD Universities with no tuition fee for PhD include, but are not limited to, the following universities:

  • list items Technical University of Munich(TUM
  • list items Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU)
  • list items Humboldt University of Berlin
  • list items University of Bonn
  • list items University of Gottingen etc.

But the word “free” is not perfect in this context. Remember that only the tuition fee is zero or minimal; there are other academic and everyday expenses. In Germany, living expenses, including travel, food, clothing, etc., are not very cheap. 

As mentioned above, the student can apply for scholarships to help meet the expenses. Apart from the scholarships, the students can also apply for education abroad loans.

Which country offers a better stipend to PhD students?

Reputed universities across the globe provide scholarships for PhD scholars. Generally, the scholarships cover the required study expenses and living costs. The European countries, the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc., give a very good stipend under various scholarship schemes. 

 

The Scandinavian nations top the list regarding better stipends for PhD Students. Here is the list of the top five countries that give more grants for the PhD Scholars:

  • list items Norway
  • list items Denmark
  • list items Finland
  • list items Switzerland
  • list items Sweden

Let it be in your mind that the Scandinavian countries are also expensive to live in. The logic is that expensive countries pay better, which doesn’t mean it is profitable for the student.

Which exams do you need to clear to pursue a PhD abroad?

For PhD admissions abroad, an applicant’s project and academic excellence play a key role. For scholarships, other skills like leadership and innovation are also significant. Some scholarships are need-based, and the student should prove the financial need for the scholarship.

Apart from those, the applicant must clear the entrance test with a prescribed margin of scores. The entrance tests document that the applicant is fluent in English and, therefore, eligible for admission. Necessary entrance tests required for university admission include

The candidate has to check the university website for information about the entrance test to be qualified for admission.

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