Quick Read
- Fulbright-Nehru covers full tuition, a USD 1,800 to 2,500/month stipend, airfare, and health insurance for a US master’s.
- Erasmus Mundus gives EUR 1,000 to 1,400/month (Rs. 1.07 to 1.50 lakh) plus full tuition across European universities.
- Most master’s abroad scholarships need a university offer, confirmed or pending, before you apply.
- Scholarship deadlines fall 12 to 18 months before your programme starts: for September 2027 entry, Chevening has closed; Erasmus Mundus deadlines run through January 2027.
- No flagship scholarship funds undergraduate study abroad; all require a bachelor’s degree at minimum.
- Every master’s scholarship abroad asks for your SOP, LORs, all semester marksheets, and provisional certificate.
Top Scholarships for Masters Abroad: What Indian Students Can Win in 2027
Most Indian students find out about these scholarships six months too late. Here is everything in one place so you can apply in time.
| Scholarship | Country | Annual Coverage | 2026-27 Deadline | Open to Indians |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship | USA | Full tuition + USD 1,800 to 2,500/month (Rs. 1.72 to 2.39 lakh/month) + airfare + health insurance | Next cycle: expected May 2027 | Yes, 3+ years’ work experience required |
| Chevening Scholarship | UK | Full tuition (up to GBP 18,000/Rs.22.81 lakh) + GBP 1,378 to 1,690/month (Rs.1.75 to 2.14 lakh/month) + airfare + visa fee | Closed for 2027-28 intake. Next cycle opens August 2027. | Yes |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters | Europe (multiple) | Full tuition + EUR 1,000 to 1,400/month (Rs. 1.07 to 1.50 lakh/month) + travel + insurance | October 2026 to January 2027 (varies by program) | Yes |
| DAAD EPOS Scholarship | Germany | Full tuition + EUR 992/month (Rs. 1.06 lakh/month) + insurance + travel allowance | Course-specific; most between August and November; check each course’s page at daad.de | Yes |
| National Overseas Scholarship | Any QS Top 500 | Full tuition + USD 15,400/year (Rs. 14.74 lakh/year) maintenance + airfare + visa + medical insurance | Expected February to June 2027 | Open to SC, DNT/NT/SNT, landless agricultural labourers, and traditional artisan applicants. ST and OBC students apply through separate schemes. |
| Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship | UK | Full tuition + monthly stipend + airfare + study travel grant | Open; check cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk for current window | Yes, need-based |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation | USA/UK/Europe | Up to USD 1,20,000 (Rs. 1.14 crore); tuition + living + one-way travel + health | January to March 31, 2027 | Indian citizens under 30; humanities, arts, and sciences only |
| Australia Awards Scholarship | Australia | Full tuition + fortnightly living allowance + OSHC + return airfare + establishment allowance | April 2027 (2028 intake) | Yes |
Read more on specific scholarships: Chevening | Fulbright | Erasmus Mundus | DAAD | Inlaks Shivdasani | Commonwealth | National Overseas Scholarship | Australia Scholarships
Top 5 Scholarships for Masters Abroad Explained
Chevening Scholarship
The Chevening Scholarship is the UK government’s fully funded award for emerging leaders worldwide, administered by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). It covers a one-year master’s at any UK university and is open to all disciplines.
What it covers:
- Full tuition up to GBP 18,000/year (Rs. 22.81 lakh/year)
- Monthly stipend: GBP 1,378 (Rs.1.75 lakh) outside London; GBP 1,690 (Rs.2.14 lakh) in London
- Return economy airfare, UK visa fee reimbursement, arrival allowance
Best for: Professionals with at least 2 years of work experience; candidates whose leadership record is stronger than their CGPA.
2027-28 deadline: October 6, 2026
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship
Run by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship is the most prestigious master’s abroad scholarship for mid-career Indian professionals. It places fellows at US universities and covers the full cost of study and living.
What it covers:
- Full tuition and academic fees
- Monthly stipend of USD 1,800 to 2,500 (Rs. 1.72 to 2.39 lakh/month, varies by city)
- Round-trip economy class airfare, J-1 visa support, health coverage
Best for: Indian professionals with 3+ years of full-time post-graduation work experience; candidates with community leadership outside their job role.
2027-28 deadline: Cycle closed mid-2026. The next window (2028-29) is expected early 2027. Watch usief.org.in from January 2027.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) is an EU program that funds a full two-year master’s degree across two or more European universities under one scholarship. Indian students qualify as partner country students and receive the full award.
It is one of the few MS in abroad with scholarship options that give you experience in multiple countries.
What it covers:
- Full tuition at all consortium universities
- EUR 1,000 to 1,400/month (Rs. 1.07 to 1.50 lakh/month) for 24 months
- Travel and installation allowance, visa, and health insurance
Best for: Students open to multi-country programs and interdisciplinary fields, including environmental science, public health, data science, law, and social sciences. You can apply for up to three programs in one cycle.
The 2027-28 deadline: Opens in October 2026 and runs through November 2026; most deadlines are in December 2026 to January 2027. Apply for each program individually through the official website.
DAAD EPOS Scholarship
DAAD EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) is the German Academic Exchange Service’s scholarship for young professionals from developing countries, including India, who wish to pursue development-focused master’s programs at German universities.
What it covers:
- Full tuition; exemption from non-EU study fees at most EPOS programs
- EUR 992/month (Rs. 1.06 lakh/month) stipend
- Health, accident, and personal liability insurance; travel allowance to and from Germany
Best for: Development-related fields: public health, environmental governance, agricultural science, urban planning, and public policy. Candidates must have at least two years of relevant professional experience after their degree, be in the upper third of their graduating class, and hold a degree that is not older than six years.
2027-28 deadline: Course-specific; most deadlines fall between August and November; check each course’s page at daad.de. Applications go directly to the individual EPOS-listed programme. Indian applicants must also submit an APS certificate.
National Overseas Scholarship
The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS), run by India’s Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is the most underused masters scholarship for students from marginalized communities who wish to study abroad. It funds master’s and PhD studies at any QS Top 500 university globally and offers the most comprehensive financial package of any Indian government scheme.
What it covers:
- Full tuition at the host university
- USD 15,400/year (Rs.14.74 lakh/year) maintenance; GBP 9,900/year (Rs.12.54 lakh/year) for the UK
- USD 1,532/year (Rs. 1.47 lakh/year) contingency allowance; visa fees, medical insurance, round-trip airfare
Best for: SC, DNT/NT/SNT, landless agricultural labourer, and traditional artisan category students. ST and OBC students apply through separate schemes. Candidates below 35 years of age with a minimum 60% in their bachelor’s degree; family income below Rs.8 lakh per year certified by a revenue officer (Tehsildar or equivalent).
2027-28 deadline: The 2026-27 cycle ran from April to June 2026. The next cycle is expected to open in early 2027. Monitor through the official scholarship from January 2027.
Which Scholarships for Masters Abroad Match Your Profile
Graduating May 2027, STEM, GPA 8.0+, targeting September 2028:
You have time to plan properly. Chevening requires at least two years of work experience, so it will be relevant for you from 2029 onwards. Erasmus Mundus applications for the 2028-29 cohort will open in mid- to late 2027.
The Fulbright Scholarship India guide is worth reading now to understand the 3-year work experience track.
Arts or social sciences graduate, 2 to 3 years of work experience, UK or Europe target
If you have been working in your field, running community initiatives, or leading projects that have made a real difference, Chevening is within reach even with a GPA in the 6.5 to 7.5 range. The next Chevening cycle opens in August 2027 for September 2028 entry; start building your profile now. The Commonwealth Scholarship is currently open; check the official site for the active deadline. If you are in humanities or arts, Inlaks Shivdasani opens in January 2027. Note that Inlaks does not cover engineering, MBA, and computer science.
SC/ST/OBC student, 60%+ academics, family income below Rs.8 lakh/year
It is open to SC, DNT/NT/SNT, landless agricultural labourers, and traditional artisan applicants. ST and OBC students should check separate government schemes. Many eligible students overlook NOS because they assume a QS Top 500 university is out of reach, but it’s not. Get your university application moving and check the official site from January 2027.
The Indian government scholarships to study abroad guide lists all active state and central schemes worth checking alongside NOS.
My insight: The applications that move forward in Chevening name a specific problem, a specific group of people affected, and a plan with a timeline. Committees read thousands of essays about transforming India’s healthcare or policy landscape. Vague ambition does not move shortlists. Specific, grounded plans do.
How to Apply for Scholarships for Masters Abroad
Document Checklist
| Document | India-Specific Detail | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s marksheets (all semesters) | Semester-wise sheets from your college examination cell | Submitting only the consolidated marksheet |
| Provisional certificate | Issued by the registrar after final results, before degree | Confused with degree certificate |
| Valid passport | Minimum 6 months validity beyond program end | Expired during the application stage |
| SOP (scholarship-specific) | Written for leadership and country impact, not research fit | Reusing university SOP |
| LORs (2 to 3) | From professors or employers, give them 6 weeks minimum | Approaching referees a week before the deadline |
| IELTS/TOEFL score | Official score report from test centre | Using scores older than 2 years |
| Income certificate (need-based) | The Tehsildar or Sub-Divisional Magistrate certified | Self-declarations not accepted for NOS |
| APS certificate (Germany only) | Mandatory for Indian applicants to German universities | Missing for DAAD applications |
Application Calendar for September 2027 Entry
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | Chevening closed on October 6, 2026. Commonwealth: check official site for the current open window. Continue Erasmus Mundus applications for programmes with deadlines between November and January 2027. |
| November to January 2027 | Check DAAD EPOS course-specific deadlines at the official site; most fall between August and November. |
| February 2027 | Inlaks Shivdasani opens; Chevening interview shortlists announced |
| March 2027 | Submit Inlaks (March 31 deadline); Chevening interviews |
| April 2027 | Commonwealth and Erasmus Mundus interviews and results rolling in |
| June to July 2027 | Chevening results; submit unconditional university offer by July 8, 2027 |
| August 2027 | Next Chevening cycle opens for September 2028 entry |
| September 2027 | Master’s programs begin |
My insight: Your university application and scholarship application must run simultaneously. Waiting for an offer letter before starting your scholarship SOP means you will miss October and November deadlines. Chevening, Commonwealth, and Erasmus Mundus all allow you to apply with a pending university offer. Commonwealth and Erasmus Mundus explicitly allow that.
What to Do When Your Scholarship Does Not Come Through
A rejection is not the end of master’s abroad scholarships for you. It is information.
Missed the deadline:
Most scholarships run annual cycles. Chevening next opens August 2027. Use the gap to apply for university-level institutional scholarships at UNSW, Monash, and ANU, which have later or rolling deadlines and do not need a separate application.
Rejected without feedback:
Check your SOP first. In most cases, our counsellors find that the issue is a generic essay, not a weak profile. Rewrite it around a specific problem, not a broad ambition.
If your score or profile is too low for your target scholarship,
Consider partial-funding options or an education loan as a bridge while you build experience.
The education loan for study abroad guide covers the best options for Indian students in 2026.
3 Things Every Indian Student Must Remember About Scholarships for Masters Abroad
First, most flagship master’s scholarships abroad close 12 to 18 months before your program starts. Chevening has closed. Focus on the open Erasmus Mundus windows (through January 2027), Inlaks (March 2027), and the Commonwealth which is currently open. Plan the next Chevening cycle from August 2027 for September 2028 entry.
Second, scholarship and university applications run in parallel, not one after the other. Every major scholarship, including Commonwealth and Erasmus Mundus, allows you to apply with a pending university offer. Waiting for an offer letter before you start your SOP costs you the deadline.
Third, the student who wins the master’s abroad scholarship is almost always the one with the most specific application, not the highest GPA. Name a real problem, a real plan, and a real reason why this scholarship and this country fit. Start your SOP at least three months before the deadline.
Verified by: LeapScholar’s study abroad counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through scholarship applications, SOP preparation, and university admissions across the USA, UK, Germany, Australia, and Europe.
Have questions about which scholarship for masters abroad suits your profile? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for Masters Abroad
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Are there scholarships for masters abroad for Indian students in 2027?
Several windows are still open or opening soon. Erasmus Mundus deadlines run through January 2027. Inlaks Shivdasani opens in January 2027 with a March deadline. Fulbright-Nehru and NOS are expected to open their next cycles in early 2027. Commonwealth is currently open; check the official site for the active deadline. Chevening closed in October 2026; the next cycle opens in August 2027 for September 2028 entry. Check each official portal directly before assuming a cycle is open or closed.
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Which is the best fully funded scholarship for a master’s degree abroad?
It genuinely depends on where you want to go and what you studied. If the UK is your target, Chevening and Commonwealth are the strongest options. When it comes to multi-country studies in Europe, Erasmus Mundus stands out as the best option. For Germany, DAAD EPOS is your primary route if you have at least two years of relevant professional experience after your degree. If you are from a reserved category with a strong academic record, the NOS gives the highest rupee-value maintenance allowance under any Indian government scheme. Pick based on your destination, not just the scholarship’s name recognition.
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Can I get a scholarship to study abroad after 12th grade?
No central government scholarship funds undergraduate study abroad from India. Fulbright-Nehru, Chevening, DAAD EPOS, Commonwealth, and NOS all require a bachelor’s degree as a base. Most also require work experience. These are purely postgraduate-level awards.
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How hard is it to get a fully funded masters scholarship abroad?
Acceptance rates are generally low. Chevening accepts around 1,500 scholars globally from tens of thousands of applicants. DAAD EPOS runs at roughly 3 to 5 percent. The challenge is not just the academic bar but also the quality of your SOP, the strength of your referees, and how well your application aligns with the scholarship’s goals.
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Which country gives the most scholarships to Indian master’s students?
The UK has the highest number of structured bilateral options (Chevening, Commonwealth), Germany has strong volume through DAAD’s multiple tracks, and Europe collectively offers the most variety through Erasmus Mundus. The USA has fewer bilateral scholarships by volume, but Fulbright-Nehru is the most comprehensive package when it comes to total coverage.
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What documents do I need for a scholarship to study masters abroad?
The core set for most master’s abroad scholarships includes all semester marksheets, a provisional certificate, a valid passport, an IELTS or TOEFL score report, 2 to 3 LORs, a scholarship-specific SOP, and a CV. DAAD EPOS additionally requires an APS certificate for Indian applicants and evidence of at least two years of relevant professional experience. NOS requires an income certificate from a revenue officer, not a self-declaration.
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What if my GPA is low? Can I still get a scholarship for a master’s abroad?
It depends on which scholarship. DAAD EPOS requires upper-third-class standing and at least two years of relevant professional experience. Chevening and Inlaks Shivdasani weigh work experience, leadership, and community impact far more than marks. A 6.5 CGPA with three years of meaningful work and a specific career plan is more competitive for Chevening than an 8.5 CGPA with no work record and a generic essay.
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Are scholarships for studying abroad in Australia fully funded?
The Australia Awards Scholarship is fully funded: it covers tuition, living expenses, health insurance, return airfare, and an establishment allowance. Recipients must return to India for at least two years after completing their degree, which is a condition many students overlook. University-level scholarships like UNSW International Scientia and ANU Chancellor’s are partial and cover a portion of tuition only.
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How long does a scholarship application for masters abroad take to process?
Most take four to eight months from submission to results. Commonwealth results timelines vary; Erasmus Mundus programs notify applicants between March and May for a September 2027 start. DAAD shortlist notifications arrive around February 2027 for an October 2027 program start.
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