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.
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.
PhD Scholarships For Indian Students & International Students
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. Read more.
Eligibility:
- Citizen or permanent resident of a commonwealth country or a refugee or a British-protected person
- Financially unable to study in the UK without the scholarship
- Less than 40 years of age
Amount/Expenses Covered:
- Monthly stipend of €1,236 or €1516 (for universities in the London metropolitan area)
- Airfare for first arrival & departure
- 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. Read more.
Eligibility:
- Studying in a regional institution of Australia
- 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. Read more.
Eligibility:
- Institution’s nomination
- Exceptional academic merit
- Research potential
- 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. Read more.
Eligibility:
- Must be an international student
- Relevance of the research proposal
- Academic merit
- 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. Read more.
Eligibility:
- Should be a woman scholar of non-US citizenship
- Full-time availability for the fellowship
- Intend to return to their home country after studies
- 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. Read more.
Eligibility:
- Recommendation letter from the supervisor that documents the applicant’s research excellency and needs for the fellowship.
- Only ongoing researchers can apply for this scholarship.
- 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:
- J-1 Visa support
- Monthly stipend
- Round trip economy class travel
- 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:
- Two years of work experience
- Academic merit
- German language requirements
Amount/Expenses covered:
- Tuition fees
- Travel allowance
- Health insurance
- Accompanying spouse/child allowance
Duration: 1 year
College-Specific Ph.D. Scholarships
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:
- Excellent research project and Statement of Purpose
- Academic merit and achievements
- Entrance test scores(IELTS, TOEFL, etc.)
Amount/Expense covered:
- Fully funded
- Tuition fees
- 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. Read more.
Eligibility:
- Pursuing a full-time postgraduate degree
- Academic merit
- Leadership skills
- Commitment for the betterment of society
Amount/Expenses covered:
- Tuition fees
- Living Allowance
- Economy airfare for first arrival and departure
- Inbound visa costs
- Immigration Health Surcharge
Apart from these, additional funding will be there on a discretionary basis, such as
- Academic development funding
- Family allowance
- Fieldwork
- Maternity/Paternity allowance
- Hardship funding
Duration: Up to 4 years
Read Also:
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. Read more.
Eligibility:
- Commencing a postgraduate degree at Flinders university
- Academic merit
- Academic research training
Amount/Expense covered:
- $28,854 per annum
- Tuition fee
- Living Allowance
- 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:
- Academic brilliance
- Excellent research potential
Amount/Expenses covered:
- Tuition fees
- 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. Read more.
Eligibility:
- Academic merit
- Potential of the research project
- Financial need of the candidate
Amount/Expenses covered:
- Tuition fees
- Monthly stipend
Duration: 5 years
Top Ranked PhD Universities to Study Overseas
PhD Universities/ Colleges In the USA
PhD Universities/ Colleges In Canada
PhD Universities/ Colleges In the UK
PhD Universities/ Colleges In Germany
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QS Ranking 2023
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German Universities
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49
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Technical University of Munich
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59
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LMU Munich
|
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65
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Heidelberg University
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118
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Free University of Berlin
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131
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Humboldt University of Berlin
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141
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
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147
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RWTH Aachen University
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158
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Technical University of Berlin
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PhD Universities/ Colleges In Australia
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:
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
- IDRC Research Awards
- Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships
- 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:
-
University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
- Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship -Doctoral, Dalhousie university
- Hira and Kamal Ahuja International Graduate Scholarship, University of Waterloo
-
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:
- Technical University of Munich(TUM
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU)
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- University of Bonn
- 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.
