Study Abroad Scholarships (2023) for Indian Students

Updated on: 30 Sep 2023

 

Highlights from the blog:

• Get details on trending scholarships from the Indian government, such as Fulbright-Nehru, Erasmus Mundus, and National Overseas, designed to uplift deserving candidates.
• Dive into the specifics of well-known scholarships like Fulbright-Nehru Master's and Doctoral Fellowships, Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree, National Overseas Scholarship, and Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowships.Fill this form and get in touch with an expert
• Explore scholarships from renowned institutions like Cornell University, AAUW International Fellowship, Richmond Scholars Program, and more in countries like the USA, UK, and Canada.

There is an upward trend in the number of students opting to study abroad. According to the Indian Ministry of Education, there was a 68% increase in the number of students who went abroad in 2022. Studying abroad has always been an attractive proposition but one thing that remains a challenge is the cost of studying. Scholarships to study abroad can provide substantial financial support but there are a lot of myths that surround scholarships, do not get overwhelmed by them, be familiar with the tips to increase your chances of getting scholarships.

Given the rise in aspirants, getting scholarships for abroad studies is competitive and sometimes not sufficient to cover the entire cost. You can check your education loan eligibility and be informed of all possible options to fund your education abroad. 

Indian government scholarships to study abroad

A few of the most trending scholarships to study abroad by Indian government in 2023 have been listed below.

1. Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships

Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships are awarded to extraordinary Indian students for MS in the US. The scholarship aims to nourish future leaders and philanthropic professionals who would work for the welfare of their communities.

Areas of study: Arts and Culture Management including Heritage Conservation and Museum Studies; Economics; Environmental Science/Studies; Higher Education Administration; International Affairs; International Legal Studies; Journalism and Mass Communication; Public Administration; Public Health; Urban and Regional Planning; and Women’s Studies/Gender Studies.

Duration: 1 - 2 years

Type: Merit-based & Need-based

Eligibility: 

• Bachelor's degree with 55%
• 3 years experience
• Community service
   

2. Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships

United States-India Educational Foundation offers Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships to scholars of an Indian institution to do a part of their research in a US institution.

Area of Study: Similar to the area of research in the PhD

Duration: 6 - 9 months

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility:

• PhD registered at an Indian institute
• Need to submit PhD thesis

3. National Overseas Scholarship

One of the popular Indian government scholarships to study abroad 2023 is the National Overseas Scholarship for uplifting the economic and social status of low-income students from the Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Laborers, and Traditional Artisans categories through higher education abroad.

Area of study: It is a need based foreign scholarship for Indian students of Masters and Ph. D in the following fields - Engineering and Management; Pure Sciences and Applied Sciences; Agricultural Sciences and Medicine; International Commerce, Accounting and Finance; Humanities and Social Science

Duration: 2 years

Type: Need-based

Eligibility: 

• Belong to a minority community in India
• 55% marks in the last academic degree
• Age: below 35 years
• Not more than 1 sibling
• Family Income: less than 6,00,000 INR

4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree is a fully funded scholarship for Indian students pursuing integrated master’s programs, funded by the European Union. The applicant is allotted admission to a particular university while applying for the scholarship, and all eligible applicants of any nationality can apply for this scholarship.

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

Duration: 1 - 2 years.

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility: Graduation Degree or equivalent

5. Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship

Ministry of Human Resource Development administers the Ms. Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship which is fully funded scholarship for Indian students by the Government of India. The status of the candidate would be equivalent to that of a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford.

Area of Study: History, Economics, and Political Science.

Duration: 1 year but can be extended to 2nd year based on performance.

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility:

• 60% or above till the PhD
• Age: 30 - 40 years
• 3 years of teaching experience

Apart from Indian government-funded scholarships, many other scholarships can be chosen by an international student to get financial aid. A country-wise bifurcation is provided below so that it would be easy for you to choose the scholarship based on your target country.

Scholarships to study in the USA for Indian students

1. Cornell University Tata Scholarship

Cornell University Tata scholarship is a need-based scholarship awarded exclusively to Indian students studying at Cornell university by Tata Education and Development Trust. Around 20 scholars per year are selected for the scholarship. It merits undergraduate students up to a maximum of 8 semesters of their study, by which most of the undergraduate courses would be over. Depending on the college and course, the scholarship amount varies and must be renewed every year.

Type: Need-based & College-specific

Eligibility:

• Indian citizen
• UG degree admit to Cornell University
• 70% marks in school
• No year gap
• TOEFL: 100
• IELTS: 7 

2. AAUW International Fellowship

This scholarship is provided by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) - to women only - to promote equity and education among girls. It is offered to women who are non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent residents applying for full-time study or research. More than 3,600 women from more than 150 countries have been provided with this scholarship over the past few years. For Indian women, this could be one of the best MS in the USA scholarships to apply for. 

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility:

• Non-US women
• Should not have already received AAUW grant 
• Proof of English proficiency

3. Richmond Scholars Program

The Richmond Scholars Program is the University's most prestigious academic awards, offered to exceptional incoming students (domestic and international) with outstanding academic achievements. Read more.

Type: Merit-based & College-specific

Eligibility:

• Excellent academic performance
• Proof of leadership and volunteer work.

4. Microsoft Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Microsoft sponsors Tuition scholarships for undergraduate students to study computer science and related STEM courses in the US, Canada, or Mexico. The applicant must show exceptional academic excellence and commitment to the software industry. The scholarship covers the total or partial amount of the tuition fee, depending upon the application’s strength. Read more.

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility:

• Enrollment in 4-year bachelor’s program
• Good CGPA on academic transcripts

Read more about: Scholarships to study in the USA for Indian students

Scholarships to study in UK for Indian students

1. Felix Scholarship

The Felix Scholarship was launched to provide talented impoverished students from India and other developing nations with the opportunity to further their postgraduate education at a university in the United Kingdom. It is open to students interested in pursuing a full-time master's or Ph.D. degree.

Felix scholarships are offered at three universities: Oxford, Reading, and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), which is part of the University of London. Read more.

Type: Merit-based & Need-based

Eligibility:

• Indian citizen
• Not already enrolled in any abroad university
• Bachelor’s degree from Indian university
   

2. Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Trust in Oxford administers the programme, which annually awards over 100 fully-funded Scholarships for full-time postgraduate study at the University of Oxford, one of the world's finest universities. Rhodes Scholarships are awarded to young leaders of exceptional intellect and character who are inspired to engage with global concerns and are devoted to serving others. Read more.
The following are the selection criteria:

• Academic achievement
• Energy to use your talents to the full (as demonstrated by success in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theater, and artistic pursuits, including where teamwork is involved).
• Honesty, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the helpless, kindness, and unselfishness
• Moral character strength and impulses to lead and care about your fellow beings. 

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility:

• Indian citizen
• Formal education from India
• Good academic performance in UG course

3. Chevening Scholarship

The Government of the United Kingdom offers Chevening scholarships to outstanding international students, including Indian students, to pursue a one-year postgraduate degree at any UK university in the subject of their choice. Read more.

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility:

• Chevening eligible country citizens
• Return to your home country once the scholarship tenure is over
• Work experience: 2 years
• Unconditional offer from UK university
• MS course

4. Global Study Award

The Global Study Award, recognizing studying abroad as a life-changing experience for an individual, encourages students to explore new countries, cultures, and languages. Started and maintained by International Student Identity Card (ISIC), StudyPortals, and British Council IELTS, £10,000 is the maximum award amount. If the tuition fee is below the amount, the remaining funds are allotted for the applicant’s living expenses up to 52 weeks from the institution’s registration date. Read More.

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility:

• IELTS taker
• Have valid International Student Identity Card and/or International Youth Travel Card at the time of application

5. Great Education Scholarship

GREAT Scholarships offer students from 14 countries the opportunity to have approx £10,000 towards their tuition fees for a wide range of one-year taught postgraduate courses.In England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, 49 universities are offering 200 scholarships under this scheme for the academic year 2023–24. Read more.

Type: Merit-based & University-specificc

Eligibility:

• Indian citizen
• Demonstrate leadership
• Must be from the given list of universities

Read more about: Scholarships to study in the UK for Indian students
 

Scholarships to study in Canada for Indian students

1. Ontario Graduate Scholarships

At Ontario's publicly supported universities, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) programme promotes excellence in graduate studies. The OGS programme has offered merit-based scholarships to the top graduate students in all academic fields from Ontario since 1975. The University of Toronto and the Province of Ontario collaborate to fund the university's scholarship programme. The Province distributes OGS awards to universities, indicating the maximum number of awards that each institution may annually grant to its students. Read more 

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility:

• Full-time program from University of Toronto
• Overall good academic performance in past

2. York Universiy International Student Scholarship

International students presently studying at York University are eligible for scholarships and bursaries. You must electronically submit a Student Financial Profile (SFP) in order to be eligible for several of York's scholarships, bursaries, and on-campus job programmes. Read more

Type: Need-based

Eligibility:

• Above 70% in academics
• IELTS or TOEFL scores
• Registered in UG program in Canada

3. Canada Memorial Scholarship

Scholarships are given each year to foreign students or graduates who want to study for a postgraduate degree at a Canadian university or other suitable institution. The fundamental goal of this study is to find tomorrow's leaders—people who have the potential to motivate others via their decisions and deeds.

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility:

• Submit written report
• Contribution to society
• Good academic performance

Know more about: Scholarships for international students in Canada

Scholarships to study in Australia for Indian students

1. John Allwright Fellowship (JAF)

Offered by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the John Allwright Fellowship is awarded to scientists from partner country institutions involved in the research projects of ACIAR. The beneficiaries of this fellowship would get the opportunity to undertake postgraduate training in Australia with standard coverage of their expenses. ACIAR focuses on agribusiness, crops, and forestry-related research in India. Read more.

Type: Fellowship & Research

Eligibility:

• Enrolled in PhD
• Good academic performance
• Interested in ACIAR

2. Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship

The Australian government funds Endeavour postgraduate scholarships to Australians who wish to study abroad as well as to non-Australians who desire and deserve to study master’s in Australia. Sponsored by the Australian government’s Department of Education, Skills, and Employment, the scholarship scheme is known as Endeavour Leadership, indicating that the beneficiaries are potential leaders of the world. Read more.

Type: Merit-based & Fellowship

Eligibility:

• Good academic performance
• Age: above 18 years

3. Griffith Remarkable Scholarship

The Griffith Remarkable Scholarship rewards exceptional students applying for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degree programs at Griffith University. It helps in getting financial aid with tuition fees and other educational expenses. Read more.

Type: Merit-based & University-specific

Eligibility:

• 70% or above in past courses.
• Applied for Griffith University

Read more about: Scholarships for international students in Australia

Scholarships for multiple target countries 

Below are some popular scholarships that provide an opportunity for an Indian student to target multiple study abroad destination with only one scholarship application.

1. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship program 

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme offers financial aid to students from developing countries to study for master’s at universities in the US, Canada, the UK, France, and Portugal on a 50% grant and 50% loan basis. Aga Khan is one of the most known international scholarships for Indian students which covers tuition fees and living costs. The applicant should be less than 30 years of age and must have a good academic performance in order to be eligible for this scholarship.

2. Inlaks Scholarship 

Inlaks Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that can be applied by students interested to study in the USA, UK, or other European countries. This scholarship helps students to cover expenses like tuition fees, health allowance, one-way airfare, and part of living expenses by providing a sum of 100,000 USD one time. To be eligible for this scholarship, one needs to be an Indian citizen an age less than 30 years. The applicant should also hold a bachelor's degree from a reputed Indian university. 

3. Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust Scholarship

Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust awards scholarships to Indian women graduates of reputed universities who wish to pursue higher education abroad, as support towards their tuition fee component. This is a merit-based scholarship that provides an opportunity for pursuing higher education in top universities in the USA, UK, or Europe. The candidate must have 2 years of minimum work experience, good academic performance in the bachelor’s course on the academic transcript, and must have secured admission to reputed university in US, UK or Europe. 

4. Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship

The Commonwealth Scholarship scheme is intended for students from around the Commonwealth countries who would not be able to study in the UK otherwise. This is a merit-based scholarship. The scholarship is provided for the following subjects/fields of study: Engineering & Technology, Science (Pure & Applied), Agriculture & Allied Field and Humanities & Social Science. To avail for this scholarship you have to be maximum of 40 years in age. The minimum marks required for that you would need is 60% if you had arts related subject and 65% for STEM related subjects in your previous degree.

Other popular scholarships to study abroad for Indian students

1. Scholarship by University of Waikato

University of Waikato has announced that it will offer scholarships to Indian students. This is for both undergraduate as well as postgraduate students from 2023 onwards. Read more.

• Target Country: New Zealand
• Type: University-specific
• Eligibility: Indian resident with good academic performance

2. Great Wall Program

The Great Wall Program is a fully funded scholarship awarded by the Chinese Ministry of Education with UNESCO to students and scholars from developing countries to study and conduct research in China. The general and senior research scholars can avail the support from this programme. However, the applicant’s Chinese language proficiency is tested if the applied programme is taught in Chinese. Read More.

• Target Country: China
• Eligibility: Age, less than 45 years and must have bachelors or masters degree

3. Orange Tulip Scholarship

The Orange Tulip Scholarship(OTS) programme allows Indian students to study in the Netherlands with a partial tuition fee waiver, and the beneficiaries will have to pay a tuition fee of €4,530.

Operated by the Nesos (Netherlands Education Support Offices), the courses, requirements, and the total scholarship amount is not the same for all institutions and students from different countries. Around 50 OTS are awarded to Indian students each year with a preference on excellent academic performance and work experience. Read More

• Target Country: Netherland
• Type: Merit-based
• Eligibility: Indian citizen admitted in Dutch University

4. The Heinrich Böll Foundation scholarship

The Heinrich Böll Foundation scholarship is awarded to pursue graduate, master’s, or Ph.D. courses in Germany. Around 1500 scholarships are awarded yearly to students with an outstanding academic record and who would show social and political engagement. The foundation prefers students to be actively interested in the foundation’s fundamental values, such as ecology and sustainability, democracy and human rights, and self-determination and justice. Read More.

• Target Country: Germany
• Type: Merit-based
• Eligibility: Excellent academic records with proof of German language proficiency

Scholarships Offered by GyanDhan

1. GyanDhan Scholarship

GyanDhan scholarship is a one-time merit-based scholarship that will be given to a student at the beginning of the academic year. The scholarship amount is 1,00,000 INR. Irrespective of the course and the country, one student will be awarded the scholarship for their master's program. 

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility Criteria:

• Students must be planning to pursue a 2-year master's course in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Germany. 
• The students must be an Indian resident. 
• If the student is planning to take an education loan, the application for the same should start with one of GyanDhan’s lending partners.

2. Prodigy Finance - Gyandhan Scholarship

The GyanDhan-Prodigy Finance is a one-time scholarship award that will be given to students at the start of the Fall 2023 academic year. Two students stand a chance to win a scholarship worth $2500 each. The scholarship is merit-based and will be presented to students with an excellent academic record and calibre. Read more.

Type: Merit-based

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Students who want to pursue MS and MBA programs overseas (USA, Canada, and the UK). Students who are in the process of applying or have applied but have not yet secured admission can also apply for the scholarship.
• Students must be Indian residents with an undergrad degree from an Indian institute.
• Students must apply for an education loan through GyanDhan at Prodigy Finance.
• You must have accepted an offer from a university by the time we select a winner in September.

How to apply for study abroad with scholarship?

Studying abroad with a scholarship is a dream of study-abroad aspirants. But many think of it as unattainable, mainly because of not knowing how to get a scholarship to study abroad. It is crucial to understand how to apply for a scholarship since there are many things to keep in mind while you apply for a scholarship.
Here are your tips to keep in mind on how to get scholarship to study abroad for Indian students:

• Research well on available scholarships: There are a lot of general and university-specific scholarships for different countries and courses. Explore all the sources and accumulate the scholarships-data. 
• Note down your scholarship-specific details: Be clear with what course to study, in which country, and the minimum amount you need.
• Analyze your marks and needs: A minimum percentage is required to apply for many scholarships. Analyze your marks and apply for the probable scholarships only to avoid future disappointment from applying for scholarships that you know you won’t get.
• Be clear about the target country: When you know which country you want to study in, you can search for all the scholarship opportunities in detail. Otherwise, what awaits you is a tiresome search in an ocean of resources across countries!
• Refer to the scholarship offering body for authentic information: Always go for the original websites and authentic sources. Many sites offer information, much of which is outdated or inaccurate.

Want to know more about, how to apply for scholarships, eligibility for specific scholarships, and more drop your queries at the GyanDhan discussion forum and hear from experts, other prospective students, and alums.

• Scholarships 
• Study abroad 

First published date: 11 Feb 2019