7 Best Scholarships to Study Abroad for Indian Students

Studying abroad is a dream that many students have. But the dream becomes a reality only when there is financial support to help them pursue their studies. In order to get financial assistance, students can apply for scholarships.

Scholarships are a great way to finance your education while you study overseas. They can come from universities, governments, or private donations. Some scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic performance, extracurricular activities, or other factors. However, a good academic record is still the most important factor in most scholarship applications.

These scholarships typically cover tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs. While you may have to pay out of pocket for a few other things, these scholarships will make your international education more affordable and allow you to focus on your studies without worrying about finances.

The best way to find a scholarship that fits your needs is to research well on available scholarships. There are numerous general and university-specific scholarships for different countries and courses, so you’ll need to explore all of them. Let’s find out!

What are the best scholarships for Indian students?

• Top Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in UK
  1. Commonwealth scholarship
  2. Chevening Scholarship
  3. Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarships
  4. Rhodes Scholarships
  5. Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships
• Top Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in USA
  1. Fulbright- Nehru fellowships
  2. Tata Scholarship

1. Commonwealth scholarship

The Commonwealth Scholarship is a program that helps international students from developing countries like India to study Master’s and Ph.D degrees in the UK universities. The aim is to promote academic excellence, equality and cultural exchange amongst Commonwealth nations.

#	Scholarship Details
Type	Merit-based
Website Link	https://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk
No. of Scholarships	200
Time of Application	2023-11-11

Eligibility Criteria

1. Must be a permanent resident of any Commonwealth country.
2. With a minimum score of 60% in Social Sciences and 65% marks in the field of Science & Engineering.

Covered Expenses

The commonwealth scholarship covers the tuition fee, living & travel expenses and the max. scholarship amount is 31 Lakhs in Indian rupees.

2. Chevening Scholarships

Chevening scholarship is a UK government fully-funded program that awards scholarships to outstanding scholars from around the world who have leadership potential.

These scholarships are awarded to students for 1 year full-time master’s degree at UK universities, and provide a variety of exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences.

#	Scholarship Details
Type	Merit-Based, Need-Based
Website Link	https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/
No. of Scholarships	200 (Yearly 65 scholarships for Indian students)
Time of Application	July-August

Eligibility Criteria

• Should have completed their undergraduate (UG) program and pursue a master’s degree in the UK.
• Minimum 2 years of work experience in their field of study.
• Must be an Indian citizen.

Covered Expenses

All Chevening Scholarships cover full overseas tuition fees and a stipend for living costs, air-fares, and a range of other expenses.

How to Apply Online?

To make the application process smooth, we recommend that you register to the Chevening website and log in using your user name and ID. You will need to complete a set of online screening questionnaires before you can start filling in your application form.

What's more, all Chevening Scholarships come with a range of extracurricular activities designed to help you experience the best of British culture and make the most of your time in the UK. These can include sightseeing trips in different parts of the country and networking events with other fellow Chevening Scholars.

3. Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarships

Vice-International Chancellor's Scholarships provide financial support to international students at the undergraduate and postgraduate taught levels.

#	Scholarship Details
Type	Merit-Based
Website Link	https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/international/funding-and-fees/international-scholarships/vc-international-scholarship
No. of Scholarships	Yearly 225 scholarships (65 scholarships for Indian students
Application deadline	2023-02-28
Courses	Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Integrated master’s
University	Cardiff University

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a permanent citizen of countries like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam
• Students must be willing to study for undergraduate or postgraduate or master’s courses.
• Minimum 75% marks in Class 12th.

Covered Expenses

This scholarship will cover the tuition fee up to 30 lakhs per year.

4. Rhodes Scholarships

Rhodes Scholarship is a program designed for international students and available for PG programs.

#	Scholarship Details
Type	Merit-Based
Website Link	https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/applications/
No. of Scholarships	5 scholarships for Indian students
Application deadline	Aug 02, 2023
Courses	MBA, Any full-time post graduation degree
University	University of Oxford

Eligibility Criteria

• The age of the candidates must be 19 years and not exceed 25 years.
• Must be a permanent citizen and completed their undergraduate degree with a minimum score of 60% marks from a recognized university to apply for the scholarship.

Covered Expenses

The Rhodes scholarship provides awards of up to 16.7 lakhs per year and covers the tuition fee, accommodation & living expenses.

5. Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships can be availed by meritorious Indian students studying in universities in the UK, the US and in other European countries. The program provides grants, awards, and scholarships to students doing full-time Masters, M.Phil or Doctoral degree courses.

#	Scholarship Details
Type	Merit-Based
Website Link	https://www.inlaksfoundation.org/scholarships/how-to-apply/
No. of Scholarships	40 scholarships for Indian students
Application deadline	January
Courses	Masters Degree, Masters Diploma, Masters Certificate Postgraduate programs
University	Universities in the UK, Europe, and the USA

Eligibility Criteria

• The candidate's age must not exceed 30 years.
• The work experience should be at least 2 years.
• International students who want to apply must be a permanent citizen and hold a first-class degree from any recognised university.
• Minimum academic grade of 65% in Social Sciences and 70% in Mathematics, Science etc.

Covered Expenses

Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships provide maximum awards of up to $1,00,000 and cover tuition fees and a stipend for living costs, air-fares, and a range of other expenses.

Top Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in the USA

1. Fullbright-Nehru Scholarship

Fullbright-Nehru Scholarship is a full-funded program for Indian students and is awarded by the United States - India Educational Foundation (USIEF). It offers a one-year master’s degree programme to exceptionally talented Indian students who demonstrate leadership qualities, have adequate academic qualification and professional experience.

#	Scholarship Details
Type	Merit-Based
Website Link	http://www.usief.org.in/
No. of Scholarships	About 8000 Fullbright scholarships are awarded every year for applicants from over 160 countries.
Application deadline	Aug 2023
Courses	Masters Degree, Masters Diploma, Masters Certificate Postgraduate programs
University	Universities in the USA

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates should have completed 4 years of education or an equivalent bachelor’s degree in the US.
• At least 3 years of work experience
• Evaluation is done on communication skills, service to the community, leadership skills, etc.

Covered Expenses

This scholarship covers the tuition fee, living expenses, health cover and economy air ticket.

Field of Study

Arts and Culture, Environmental Science, International Legal Studies, Public Health, Gender Studies, Urban and Regional Planning, Public Administration

2.Tata Scholarship

#	Scholarship Details
Type	Need-Based, College-Specific, Full-Ride-Scholarships
Website Link	https://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/international-students/tata-scholarship
No. of Scholarships	20 scholarships every year for Indian students
Application deadline	October/November every year
Courses	Under-Graduate (UG) students
University	Cornell University

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be an Indian citizen/resident.
• Must qualify for need-based financial aid.
• Must submit either TOEFL or IELTS score.
• TOEFL iBT test: 100
• IELTS: 7.0 or above
• Admission Status: Must have an admission offer from Cornell University for any undergraduate degree program.

Covered Expenses

The scholarship will cover the tuition fee for eight semesters, living cost, travel expenses & other allowances.

Field of Study

Architecture and Planning, Engineering, Applied Economics, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences

Have any queries that have not answered? Connect with us on social media to stay updated with study abroad tips.

/ /