Best Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad
When you think about studying abroad, the critical factor that might worry you is the financial resources to cover the expenditure that comes with it. Most Indian students feel this way because not everyone has access to the required funds to support their dreams.
However, leaving your dream of overseas education behind is not good if you truly want to level up your career because numerous scholarships for Indian students are available. These scholarships cover tuition fees and provide financial support for living expenses, flight tickets, and travel expenses.
- Top Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad
- Chevening India Scholarship
- Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships
- Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships
- Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships
- Raman-Charpak Fellowship
- National Overseas Scholarship Scheme
- Launchpad Scholarship by AdmitX
- Key Takeaways by AdmitX
- FAQs
Top Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad
The following are the top scholarships for Indian students.
- Chevening India Scholarships
- Fullbright Nehru Master’s Fellowships
- Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships
- Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships
- Raman Charpak Fellowship
- National Overseas Scholarship Scheme
- Launchpad Scholarship by AdmitX
Chevening India Scholarship
Chevening India scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship the UK government provides to Indian students pursuing master’s degree programs at UK universities. The benefits, eligibility criteria, application dates, and link to apply are below.
| Benefits | It covers University tuition fees. Travel costs to and from the UK. An arrival allowance. A homeward departure allowance. The cost of one visa application. A travel grant to attend Chevening events in the UK. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must have Indian citizenship. Unconditional offer letter. 2 years or 2,800 hours of work experience. Applicants must be committed to returning to India for at least 2 years after course completion. |
| Application Dates | Applications for 2025-26 are closed now. |
| Where to Apply? | Apply here https://www.chevening.org/scholarship/india/ |
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships
- The Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships are awarded to highly motivated Indian students with extraordinary leadership qualities.
- Indian students must be willing to pursue a master’s in one of the following fields of study/subjects.
- Economics
- Environmental Science/Studies
- Higher Education Administration
- International Affairs
- International Legal Studies
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Women’s Studies/Gender Studies
| Benefits | It covers J-1 visa support. Round-trip economy class air travel from a fellow's home city to the host institution in the U.S. Funding for tuition and fees Funding for living and related costs. Accident and sickness coverage per US Government guidelines. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must have Bachelor’s degree from a recognised Indian university with 55% marks. 4-year bachelor’s degree or master’s degree OR A full-time postgraduate diploma if a bachelor’s degree duration is less than 4 years. 3 years of work experience. |
| Application Dates | May 15th 2024. |
| Where to Apply? | Apply here https://apply.iie.org/apply/?sr=a95d0c2b-824b-4661-adc9-96d4b0c3c772 |
Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships
The Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships are awarded to potential Indian artists of all disciplines who are enrolled in one-year MA programs at UK universities. The scholarship covers the following arts and conservation fields of study.
- Visual Arts
- Performance, e.g. Dance, Drama, Music, Directing
- Film – including Script Writing and Direction
- Photography
- Design (but not Architecture)
- Curating
- Art History
| Benefits | It covers Grant of GBP 1,400 or 1.50 Lakh to cover the short research or professional visits. Accommodation cost. Living cost. GBP 700 or INR 74,500 for international travel. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must have Indian citizenship. Age proof (be aged between 28-38). First degree, diploma, or professional qualification in their specialisation. IELTS certificate |
| Application Dates | February 28th 2024. |
| Where to Apply? | Apply here https://www.charleswallaceindiatrust.com/scholarships |
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships
- The Inlaks Scholarships, offered by the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation, are awarded to Indian students who pursue a wide range of subjects or courses and possess extraordinary character, potential, and talent.
- These scholarships allow students to pursue bachelor’s or master’s degrees at top-rated universities or institutions in the UK, the rest of Europe, and the USA.
| Benefits | It provides a financial grant of upto USD 100,000 or 84 Lakh, which may depend on the course. It covers Tuition Fee Living Expenses One-way travel cost Health allowance |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must have Indian citizenship. Age proof (be aged between 28-38). Degree from a recognised Indian university. Required percentage/CGPA: 65% or 6.5/10 CGPA (Social Sciences, Humanities, Law, Fine Arts, Architecture). 70% or 7.2/10 CGPA (Science, Mathematics, Environmental Sciences). Unconditional offer letter. |
| Application Dates | The application portal will open in February 2025. |
| Where to Apply? | Apply here https://inlaksfoundation.org/opportunities/scholarship/ |
Raman-Charpak Fellowship
- The Raman-Charpak Fellowship aims to improve the research and analytical skills of Indian students by providing them with opportunities to pursue research work in French universities or R&D institutes.
- The fellowship lasts 2-6 months and is offered to Indian students desiring to pursue research work in the following fields.
- Atmospheric Sciences
- Earth Sciences and Environmental Sciences
- Materials Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Chemical Sciences
- Engineering Sciences
- Biological Sciences
- Life and Medical Sciences
- Mathematical and Computational Sciences
| Benefits | It provides Fellowship support of EUR 1,400 or INR 1.24 Lakh per month to cover living expenses, travel, and accommodation costs. One return airfare ticket in economy class between India and France. Insurance coverage (travel & health) wherever required. Any administrative costs for visa and registration. Additional support of EUR 500 or INR 44,000. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must submit Detailed project description (about 5 pages). Proof of Indian citizenship. Proof of master’s degree. Age proof (Max. age must not exceed 30 years). |
| Application Dates | The application portal will open in December 2025. |
| Where to Apply? | Apply Here https://www.cefipra.org/PgmMF.aspx?p=RC |
National Overseas Scholarship Scheme
- The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme is provided by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
- Offered to students who desire to pursue master’s and PhD abroad.
- It aims to empower students from low-income families of marginalised communities, including
- Scheduled castes
- Denotified nomadic
- Semi-nomadic tribes
- Landless agricultural labourers
- Traditional artisans
| Benefits | It covers Full tuition fees. Study visa application fee. Maintenance allowance (INR 13 Lakh per year). Contingency allowance (INR 1.26 Lakh per year). Medical insurance premium. Incidental journey allowance/equipment allowance (INR 1,600 per journey/equipment). Air ticket allowance |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must belong to one of the above-marginalised communities. University must be included in the top 500 QS world university rankings. Applicants must not have any other source of funding. Applicants must have at least 60% in their previous study level. Applicants must be under 35 years of age. The annual income of the applicant’s family should be less than INR 8 lakh per year. |
| Application Dates | 31st March 2025 |
| Where to Apply? | Apply Here https://nosmsje.gov.in/nosmsje/ |
Launchpad Scholarship by AdmitX
The Launchpad scholarship by AdmitX aims to assist Indian students looking to embark on their study abroad journey. This is a guaranteed scholarship, meaning you will get a cash scholarship of up to ₹2,00,000 Lakhs, irrespective of your desired course or study level. Additionally, applicants can also get additional benefits worth ₹ 2,00,000 Lakhs.
| Benefits | Amount: Up to ₹2,00,000 (minimum ₹30,000) Additional Benefits: Dedicated Application Coach Application Fee Waivers Comprehensive IELTS Course Test Discounts (TOEFL, GRE, Duolingo, PTE) International Fund Transfers & Forex Card Housing Assistance Education Loan Assistance Student Visa Assistance |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must submit a 1-minute video explaining why they should receive the scholarship. Applicants must secure admission to one of AdmitX’s partner universities. Applicants must have obtained their student visa to receive the scholarship. |
| Application Dates | Apply on the official website https://admitx.in/launchpad-scholarship/ |
| Application Deadlines | Ongoing, any time of the year |
Key Takeaways by AdmitX
Scholarships are the most common way to fund overseas education. They are offered based on merit and financial need. They usually cover tuition fees, living expenses, visa fees, research and professional visits, and air ticket costs.
To demonstrate the necessity of scholarships, applicants must maintain a strong academic and professional background while actively participating in extracurricular activities. This helps explain their genuine commitment and deserving profile.
FAQs
How can Indian students get a scholarship?
Indian students can apply for a scholarship as soon as they receive a letter of confirmation or an offer letter from the university to which they have applied to pursue a degree program.
After receiving the letter, students can submit the application to the scholarship portal website.
What are some fully-funded scholarships?
Some scholarship schemes, such as the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship, Chevening India Scholarship, Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships, and Australia Awards Scholarships, are fully funded scholarships.
How much is the percentage required to get a scholarship to study abroad?
To qualify for scholarships (merit-based) to study abroad, applicants must earn at least 60-75% marks in their previous academic degree programs.
What scholarships are available for Indian students to pursue higher studies in the US?
Indian students can apply for scholarships to pursue higher studies in the USA, including the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship, Inlaks scholarships, Tata scholarships, Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship, and National Overseas Scholarships.
What are some scholarships to study in Europe?
Erasmus-Mundus scholarships, Austrian government scholarships, Eiffel scholarships, Chevening scholarships, Charles Wallace India Trust scholarships, GREAT scholarships, etc., are some of the top scholarships available for Indian students to pursue higher studies in European countries.
