Top 10 Indian government scholarships for studying abroad

Most Indian students are interested in studying abroad. However, the costs can be extremely high for some. The Bureau of Immigration (BoI) stated that by October 2023, 7.65 lakh Indian students had gone abroad for higher education.  

The Indian government offers many scholarships for studying abroad for various academic pursuits and destinations, to bring down this financial burden. For the best study abroad consultant, book your appointment at Uscholars ASAP. We will focus on some of the top scholarships open to Indian students in this guide, along with information on their types, benefits, and covered costs. Scholarships for studying abroad can be beneficial in the long term. 

• The Indian government scholarships for studying abroad 2024 help learners attain higher education overseas.
• Indian government scholarships for studying abroad undergraduate provide financial assistance to smart students who look forward to obtaining a Bachelor’s degree from a foreign institution.
• Scholarships for studying abroad by Indian government after 12th allow recent graduates to pursue their higher studies at the university of their choice anywhere in the world.
• Study abroad scholarships for Indian students intend to cover tuition and living expenses in other countries.
• Fully funded scholarships for Indian students to study abroad ensure that talented people can be able to receive quality education without being burdened with financial constraints.
• The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme by the Indian government aims at empowering vulnerable backgrounds of students with financial aid for their studies in foreign institutions.

Top International Scholarships for Indian Students from the Indian Government 

Studying abroad is not easy, despite there being impressive scholarships for studying abroad easily available. There are many processes you need to go through. The best way is to hire study abroad consultants and be stress-free. But the main concern is money. Studying abroad is great, but the expenses could be more affordable. One option is to go with a student loan, and another is to apply for scholarships. 

Can students who are citizens of India apply for scholarships in India to study abroad? Yes, plenty of Indian government scholarships exist for studying abroad in other countries by Indian students. Alternatively, you can also seek a scholarship from study abroad consultants. But how does one get a full-scholarship to study abroad? Below are such scholarships available:

1. Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships

Among the top scholarships for studying abroad is Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships, an esteemed program providing Indian students with funds to pursue their masters’ degrees in America. It is one of the top scholarships for studying provided by the Indian government for post-graduation.

Official Website: https://www.usief.org.in/ 

Type of Scholarship: Merit-based

Expenses Covered: Cost of living, health cover, travel allowance and tuition fee

Degree/Courses: Masters only

Eligibility Criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or full-time master’s diploma
• Minimum 55% score in graduation
• Community service experience
• English language proficiency (minimum band of 6.0 in tests like IELTS)

Benefits:

• Plane tickets from India to study destination
• Tuition fee coverage
• Accidents and sickness coverage

2. Dr Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loan for Overseas Studies

The Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loan for Overseas Studies is a programme by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in India. It is one of the scholarships for studying abroad by the Indian government for post-graduation in a foreign country. It aims to finance Other Backward Classes and Economically Backward Classes students who study abroad.

Official Website: https://socialjustice.gov.in/schemes/11 

Type of Scholarship: Need-based

Expenses Covered: Subsidies for interest on educational loan

Degree/Courses: Masters, PhD, or MPhil

Eligibility Criteria:

• Admission into international schools for masters, PhD or MPhil
• Educational loan from IBA under Indian bank’s educational loan scheme
• Family income criterion (OBC – INR 8 lakh, EBC – INR 2.50 lakh)

Benefits:

• Subsidies for interest payable during the study period

3. The JN Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians

JN Tata Endowment is a long-standing program that gives financial support to deserving Indian students going abroad for studies. This Indian government scholarship is perfect for you if you want to pursue your master’s or PhD degree in a foreign country.

Official Website: https://jntataendowment.org/ 

Type of Scholarship: Loan, need-based, destination-based

Expenses Covered: Loan with 2% simple interest rate, travel grant

Degree/Courses: PhD or Postdoctoral

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian resident with an undergraduate degree
• Minimum 60% score in exams
• Age limit: 45 years

Benefits:

• Loan scholarships up to 10 lakhs
• Travel grants ranging from INR 50,000 to INR 7,50,000

4. The GREAT Scholarships

The GREAT Scholarships are a programme that offers financial support to international students from 15 countries to pursue postgraduate studies in the UK. The scholarships for studying abroad are provided by the British Council in partnership with UK universities.

Official Website: https://scholarshiproar.com/great-scholarships-uk/ 

Type of Scholarship: Destination-based

Expenses Covered: Maximum funding of USD 10,000, tuition fees, health allowance

Degree/Courses: PG courses

Eligibility Criteria:

• An Indian citizen with an undergraduate degree
• Admission to UK university

Benefits:

• Tuition fee coverage
• Maximum funding of USD 10,000
• Health allowance and living expenses

5. The Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships

The Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships are a prestigious scholarship programme offered by the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation to Indian students. One of the few Indian Government scholarships for studying abroad after 12th grade. This scholarship is aimed at Indians who want to study full-time master’s, MPhil, and doctoral programs in the US, UK and other parts of Europe.

Official Website: https://www.inlaksfoundation.org/scholarships/ 

Type of Scholarship: Destination-based, Specific Subjects

Expenses Covered: Health allowance, tuition fee, living expenses

Degree/Courses: Mathematics, science, humanities, law, fine arts, social science, architecture

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian resident for the past six months
• Minimum academic grades (70% for specific subjects)

Benefits:

• Health allowance
• Tuition fee coverage
• Living expenses
• One-way travel allowance

6. Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship

The Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship is an important program that focuses on climate change by bringing together scholars from India and America. One of the leading scholarships for studying abroad, it offers funding for Indian scholars and researchers to conduct research in the US on climate-related topics.

Official Website: https://www.usief.org.in/US-Fulbright-Nehru-Fellowships.aspx 

Type of Scholarship: Course Specific

Expenses Covered: Monthly stipend, health, visa fee

Degree/Courses: Doctoral, academic, and professional research

Eligibility Criteria:

• Registered for PhD programme with sufficient research
• Employment guidelines for applicants

Benefits:

• Monthly stipend
• J-1 visa support
• Professional allowance

7. The Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust

The Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust provides scholarships for studying abroad to Indian women graduates, specifically a Master's degree. It's a merit-based scholarship program funded by the Tata Trusts.

Official Website: https://www.tatatrusts.org/ 

Type of Scholarship: Merit-based, destination-based

Expenses Covered: Tuition fees

Degree/Courses: Social science, public health, social work

Eligibility Criteria:

• An Indian citizen with a bachelor’s degree
• Minimum two years of work experience
• Admission to a recognised university in the US, UK, or Europe

Benefits:

• Tuition fee coverage
• Women's benefits

8. Cornell University Tata Scholarship

The Cornell University Tata Scholarship is one of the best scholarships for studying abroad. It is a wonderful opportunity for academically talented Indian undergraduate students facing financial limitations. 

Official Website: https://finaid.cornell.edu/ 

Type of Scholarship: Destination Based

Expenses Covered: Fully-funded programme

Degree/Courses: Undergraduate programme

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian citizens who studied secondary school in India
• Financial aid required

Benefits:

• Tuition fee
• Annual course fee coverage

9. Indian Global Leaders Scholarship

Aimed at Indian students who want to study business, economics or law (but excluding Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Analytics and Master of Leadership in Service Innovation) in UQ, the India Global Leaders Scholarship is an initiative of the university.

Official Website: https://www.uq.edu.au/ 

Type of Scholarship: Course-specific

Expenses Covered: Tuition fees (AUD 5,000 to 20,000)

Degree/Courses: Business, Economics, or Law

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian citizens based in India
• Good academic track

Benefits:

• Tuition fee coverage
• Employability programmes

10. National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Cast (SC) Students

The National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Castes is offered to SC students from India to go to international universities.

Official Website: https://www.nosmsje.gov.in/nosmsje/ 

Type of Scholarship: Student-centric

Expenses Covered: Airfare, tuition fees, living costs, books

Degree/Courses: Management, medicine, pure and applied sciences, commerce, agricultural sciences, accounting, and finance (SC); Engineering, Technology, and science (ST)

Eligibility Criteria:

• Minimum 60% in exams
• Permanent residents of India
• Family income criteria
• Age limit: 35 years

Benefits:

• Medical insurance
• Tuition fees
• Visa fees
• Contingency allowance
• Maintenance allowance

Conclusion

Indian government provided scholarships for studying abroad are widely available to students who want to get a good education. These grants are available for a wide range of academic goals and financial situations. They are based on ability, need, or location. By taking advantage of these Indian government scholarships for studying abroad, students can follow their academic goals without having to worry about money. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

How can I get a 100% Scholarship to Study Abroad?

• Do your research and apply early or on time: Find grants that cover all of your costs based on your skill and need. Fill out the application well before the due dates.
• Stand out in school: Keep your GPA high and do well on regular tests.
• Enhance your application: The best tactic is to discuss your goals and achievements in your statement. These should be in a way that is acceptable in the scholarship For example, in the case of the half life of a radioactive material, the answer should not just be half life is three hours but must be written in a format that is acceptable in the scholarship.

Which Exams in India Are Required to Get a Scholarship to Study Abroad?

Take TOEFL/IELTS for English proficiency. For graduate programmes in the US, the GRE/GMAT might be needed. Understand all the scholarship details and choose universities based on your requirements.

How to Get a Scholarship to Study Abroad in India?

• Explore Scholarships: Go for government (Fulbright-Nehru etc.), university, as well as private scholarships that match your profile.
• Make Application Stand Out: Maintain high grades and test scores, along with strong extracurriculars. A personal statement that is compelling and states the purpose will do, and recommendation letters should also be solid.
• Strategic Application: Keep to dates, fill in the applications correctly and follow instructions by reading them carefully.

How Much Percentage is Required for a Scholarship?

• Academic Excellence: Normally, an average of at least 85-90% in previous academic qualifications is required, but higher percentages increasingly boost your hopes.
• Standardized Tests: High marks in appropriate assessments such as SAT, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL or IELTS are mostly required for admission.
• Holistic Profile: Additionally to high academic percentages, robust extracurricular participation alongside leadership roles and community service also help secure scholarships.

Which Subject is Best for Scholarship?

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics): These fields have many scholarships because they are in great demand and they are relevant globally.
• MBA courses and similar programs have numerous scholarships from different universities and business schools.
• Public Health and Social Sciences: The growing interest in these areas has elevated scholarship opportunities related to Public health, social work, and related fields.