Indian Government Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad

In today’s interconnected world, pursuing higher education knows no boundaries. As Indian students aspire to broaden their horizons and acquire an advantage in the worldwide job market, studying abroad has become an increasingly attractive option. However, the financial aspect of pursuing education overseas can be a significant hurdle for many students and their families. Recognizing this challenge, the Indian government has taken proactive measures to empower talented students with various scholarships and funding opportunities.

The Indian government’s scholarship programs aim to provide deserving Indian students with the means to pursue their academic dreams at renowned international universities and colleges. These scholarships alleviate the financial burden and foster cultural exchange, promote research collaborations, and develop future leaders who can contribute to India’s growth and development.

The Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship is a grant from the Indian government based on need and merit that gives exceptional Indian students a chance to enrol in master’s programmes at particular American schools and universities. A one- or two-year fellowship is available for students with leadership skills, a bachelor’s degree equivalent in the USA, and at least three years’ worth of expertise in a professional environment.

From among Arts and Culture Management, Economics, Environmental Science, Journalism and Mass Communication, Higher Education Administration, International Affairs,  Public Administration, Public Health, Urban and Regional Planning, International Legal Studies, and Women’s Studies/Gender Studies, the candidate must select one area of study that matches their area of interest.

Eligibility

• The applicant must hold a U.S. equivalent bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 55% overall grade point average from an accredited Indian university
• The student must have a minimum of three years of full-time, compensated work experience in a career related to the required field of study
• The candidate must have demonstrated leadership abilities and involvement in volunteer work
• The applicant cannot be enrolled in a degree programme in the United States or hold a degree from a U.S. university
• If hired, the candidate must carefully adhere to the employer’s endorsement guidelines

Scholarship Benefits

• Funding for living expenses, tuition, and other related costs
• J-1 visa assistance
• Flight tickets in economy class for two from the candidate’s hometown to the United States.
• According to U.S. government regulations, accident and illness coverage.

How to apply?

• You must apply online through the official portal
• Before getting started on your online application, please read the FNMaster’s Applicant Instructions thoroughly
• Before submitting the application, please review FNMaster’s Applicant Checklist
• You must also fill out the FNMaster Applicant Annexure and, if necessary, the FNMaster Employer’s Endorsement Form, and attach these to your online application

For more information, visit here.

• The applicant should be no older than 35
• The candidate’s qualifying exam grade must have been at least 60%. The qualifying exam for the Master’s degree course is the Bachelor’s degree, and the qualifying exam for the PhD course is the Master’s degree
• Less than INR 8,00,000 should have been the family’s combined annual income in the preceding fiscal year
• A household may get the scholarship for a maximum of two people
• Female candidates are eligible for 30% of seats

Scholarship Benefits

• The cost of books, living expenses, and visa fees
• The cost of medical insurance
• Voting tax
• Airfare and additional travel expenses
• Maintainance fee
• Contingent compensation

How to apply?

• Students must submit their complete applications and all needed supporting documentation by the specified deadline through the online portal
• All students must produce self-attested copies of the following records, per the Ministry’s requirements:
  • Proof of Date of Birth
  • All Degrees/ Diploma/ Certificate along with mark sheets
  • Income Certificate of Family
  • Offer Letter College/ University

For more information, visit here.

For Indian students pursuing full-time postgraduate, PhD, postdoctoral, and research fellowships abroad, the J. N. Tata Endowment offers one-time loan support. The loan amount ranges from one lakh to ten lakh rupees. Although it does not fully cover the cost of education, it allows partial travel grants of up to INR 50,000 for certain students.

To be selected, the candidates must take an online test and interview. Online examination is based on the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA), which is not subject-specific. The tough technical interview tests the candidate’s comprehension of present-day and upcoming topics. The candidate’s performance in the interview, academic performance, and test results all go into the ultimate decision.

Eligibility Criteria

• The student must be a citizen of India and under 45 years old.
• The student must hold a graduate degree from an Indian university that is accredited with a minimum grade point average of 60%.
• Candidates who previously were not eligible for the loan scholarship are also welcome to apply.
• Suppose at least 12 months are left in their studies. In that case, candidates who missed the application deadline for the J N Tata Endowment at the start of their overseas studies may still apply at the conclusion, either at the beginning of the first year or the start of the second year.
• Candidates must be accepted into a course acknowledged as a Graduate Programme (post-graduate in Indian terminology).
• Applicants must be former J. N. Tata Scholars who have fully repaid their previous loan scholarship amount.

Scholarship Benefits

• A loan funding a scholarship of between INR 1,000,000 and INR 10,000,000.
• Partial travel award of up to 50,000 Indian rupees.
• A gift reward ranging in value from 2,000 to 750,00

How to apply?

• Register using your email address. All subsequent communication will take place via email only.
• Candidates who meet the requirements will receive an email with a one-time password that is good for 48 hours. Within 48 hours, the password must be reset.
• Fill out the online application. There cannot be any blank fields for candidates.
• Submit the necessary student paperwork.
• Documents required
  • Candidate’s photo (500 * 500 pixels in jpeg format)
  • Aadhar card
  • Pan card
  • Passport (first & last page)
  • Transcript/s for each qualification
  • Scorecards (GRE/GMAT/TOEFL/IELTS/PTE)
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP)
  • Resume
  • Letter of admission
  • Cost of Education
  • Source of funds
  • Letter of Recommendation (Only the recommender’s name, title, department, city, name of the college, university, or organisation, and official email address should be provided by candidates. For the LoR, the Endowment will speak with the recommender directly)
  • The final year mark sheets and degree certificate (if not uploaded in the first phase)
  • Certificate of scholarships/ranks/prizes (if any)
  • Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities
  • Research work/Project work (only One)

For more information, visit here.

• The applicant must be a citizen of India. 
• The student should not have spent more than a year living in any European country in the previous five years.
• The applicant shouldn’t have received a comparable scholarship through the Erasmus Mundus Action 2 programme.
• A bachelor’s degree, along with related work experience, is required of the applicant.

Scholarship Benefits

• Stipend of up to 1500 euros per month
• Complete tuition.
• Travel reimbursement.
• Round-trip flights
• Job Visa following completion of a Master’s or PhD

How to apply?

• Check the online ENJMD catalogue
• Pick three eligible programmes
• Contact and apply to the consortium directly

For more information, visit here.

Indian women graduates who choose to pursue further education overseas are given scholarships by the Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust to help cover their tuition costs.

Scholarships are available from the Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust in the fields of sociology, psychology, law (with a focus on women’s and children’s issues), education, gender studies (focusing on domestic violence and other issues affecting Indian women), child and adolescent needs, communication for development, community and rural development, public policy, public administration, and social work in fields like women in prison.

Eligibility Criteria

• The candidate must be a female citizen of India.
• The candidate must hold a degree from a renowned university with an exceptional academic record.
• Reputable American, British, or European universities must have received the applicant’s application or offer of admission.
• The individual must have two years of experience of relevant job experience

Scholarship Benefits

• A maximum tuition amount of INR 3,60,000

How to apply?

Send an email to igpedulmdtet@tatatrust.org asking for the scholarship application form if you qualify for the Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust Scholarships 2023. The following documents must be absolutely included in the email:

• Course you wish to pursue
• The university you are planning to attend
• Course Fees
• Source of Funding (in brief)
• Current profile

For more information, visit here.

Also Read: IAESTE Internships for Indian Students

• The applicant must be a lawful citizen of India
• The applicant’s age should fall between 30 and 40
• The candidate must have gotten at least 60% of the attainable points at the master’s level
• The candidate should hold a PhD in the relevant field or have published works of comparable calibre
• The applicant must be a specialist in either political science, economics, or history
• The applicant should possess at least of three years experience of graduate- or postgraduate-level teaching experience

Scholarship Benefits

• Airfare for the candidate and their spouse in economy class for roundtrip travel (if the spouse stays in the UK for a year)
• An allowance
• Travel funding
• College lunch budget
• Fees for administration

How to apply?

• You must apply through the official online portal
• Documents required
  • Self-attested degrees/ certificates of all previous examinations. The records must include the DOB.
  • Research Proposal: Precise program of study/research (at least 500 words) stating the justification of their research/study in the U.K.
  • Photograph & Signature: Upload a recent passport-size photograph and signature. The dimensions and size of each should be 200×230 pixels and 530 Kb, respectively.
  • In the case of foreign degrees and diplomas, proof of equivalence should be furnished (Certified by the Competent Authority).
  • Experience letter/certificate of Employment

For more information, visit here.

This fellowship was established for students from other disadvantaged groups (OBC) or economically disadvantaged groups (EBC) who wish to pursue higher education overseas.

Eligibility Criteria

• A master’s, PhD, or MPhil position is gained in an international institution
• A loan from a bank provided through the Indian Banks Association’s (IBA) Education Loan Scheme
• Family income shouldn’t be higher than INR 8 lakhs for OBC
• The family income should not exceed INR 2.50 lakhs for EBC
• Students must submit a Form 16, ITR, or income certificate, among other documents.
• This fellowship was established for students from other disadvantaged groups (OBC) or economically disadvantaged groups (EBC) who wish to pursue higher education overseas

Scholarship Benefits

• Includes financial aid for the interest due while you’re in school

For more information, visit here.

• The applicant must be a citizen of India
• Must possess a bachelor’s degree 
• Candidate must submit an application to a UK university

Scholarship Benefits

• Educational expenses
• A maximum of USD 10,000 is provided
• Health stipend
• One-way journey
• Living allowances

How to apply?

• One can apply for a Great Scholarship by following the steps mentioned below:
  • Select the desired university from the list mentioned above. 
  • Then, one must choose the course. 
  • You must check the eligibility criteria and whether you qualify. 
  • Register at the University and Colleges Services Admission portal. 
  • Log in with your credentials and click on the application form. 
  • Enter your necessary information and attach the documents. 
  • Pay the fees as mentioned. 
• Documents required
  • A valid passport 
  • UK Visa 
  • One must have a graduation mark sheet and certificates of higher secondary  
  • One must show their English proficiency scores such as IELTS and TOEFL

For more information, visit here.

• Applicants should not be more than 30 years of age. 
• They must hold a first-class degree from a renowned university. 
• International students who have applied for the scholarship must have resided in India prior to the application. 
• Suppose candidates have been pursuing a degree in the field of Social Sciences, Humanities, Law, Fine Arts, Architecture and related subjects. In that case, they must have a minimum academic grade of 65%, a CGPA of 6.8, or a GPA of 2.6 from a recognised university/institution.
• However, suppose they have been pursuing a degree in the fields of Mathematics, Sciences, Environment and related subjects. In that case, candidates must have a minimum academic grade of 70%, CGPA of 7.2, or GPA of 2.8 from a recognised university/institution.

Scholarship Benefits

• Health stipend
• School Fee
• Living costs
• One-way travel reimbursement

How to apply?

An individual is allowed to submit only a single application. One can apply by following the below-mentioned steps: 

• Visit the official website of the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship.
• A terms and conditions tab will appear, which candidates have to agree to proceed. However, one must read the terms and conditions carefully before doing so. Then navigate to the tab via ‘Click here’. 
• Enter details such as your name, date of birth and gender. 
• Attach a valid passport, resume and photo. 
• Enter your mobile number and email. Insert the verification code received on your mobile number or email. 
• Provide details such as correspondence and permanent address along with the City and State you belong. 
• Next, provide your admission requirements. This includes the subject and the course you are applying for. Also, state how long your course duration is. 
• Candidates must clearly state whether they have applied for any concessions or grants except Inlaks. Moreover, they must highlight if they have applied for loans of any kind. 
• One needs to tick the English language requirements. 
• In the following two sections, candidates need to state their university education and work experience. They also must highlight if they have received any academic distinctions, grants or scholarships while pursuing their degree. Furthermore, one must outline if they have attained any awards in their extracurricular activities. 
• Candidates also need to fill out the Statement of Purpose. Here, they must talk about the course in detail and how it aligns with one’s career goals. One must also state the reasons for pursuing education abroad. In addition, they must state whether Inlaks Scholarship Board has previously interviewed them and whether they have lived in India for the past six months. 
• Last but not least, they must fill out references and submit a declaration. 
• Candidates must have the following documents:
  • The institute’s financial requirements 
  • Photocopy of the first and last pages of the passport 
  • One reference letter 
  • Acceptance letter from the university 
  • Candidates applying in Music, Architecture, Fine and Applied Arts, and Acting need to upload their portfolios.

For more information, visit here.

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• Students should be enrolled in a PhD programme and have completed enough research in their subject before applying
• Employed applicants must adhere to instructions about the employer’s endorsement

Scholarship Benefits

• Monthly allowance
• J-1 visa assistance
• Professional compensation
• According to governmental laws, accidents and illnesses

How to apply?

• You must apply online through the official portal
• Before getting started on your online application, please read the FNMaster’s Applicant Instructions thoroughly
• Before submitting the application, please review FNMaster’s Applicant Checklist
• You must also fill out the FNMaster Applicant Annexure and, if necessary, the FNMaster Employer’s Endorsement Form, and attach these to your online application

For more information, visit here.

• It is provided to pupils enrolled in an undergraduate programme
• The student must be an Indian national who completed secondary school there
• Parents or a guardian must provide financial aid to the student

Scholarship Benefits

• School fees and yearly course costs
• Programme with full funding

How to apply?

• To meet the requirements of the application procedure, students must finish their College Scholarship Service (CSS) profile.
• Documents required
  • Self-income and parent’s income
  • Noncustodial parent asset and income
  • Citizenship documents
  • Photocopy of the Passport

For more information, visit here.

This fellowship is open to students who want to continue their studies in Business, Law, or Economics at a university in Queensland.

Eligibility Criteria

• These scholarships are available to students who desire to study business, economics, or law.
• The candidate must be an Indian national currently resident in India.
• The candidate must have a stellar academic history.

Scholarship Benefits

• Tuition fees from AUD 5,000 to 20,000
• Access to programs offered by Student Employability Team
• Events, presentations, and seminars

How to apply?

• You must possess a letter of acceptance confirming your enrollment at the university to be eligible for the scholarship.
• Documents required
  • An updated CV/Resume
  • Statement of Purpose written in 1000 words, covering the following topics:
    • What makes your preferred degree programme at UQ interesting to you
    • Both individual and professional objectives
  • One Letter in English from your teacher or a Letter of Recommendation from an employer (whichever is applicable)

For more information, visit here.

In conclusion, the Indian government’s scholarships for Indian students to study abroad have opened up a world of opportunities for aspiring scholars. These scholarships have addressed the financial challenges and paved the way for academic excellence, cultural exchange, and global exposure.

Through this blog, we have explored the diverse range of scholarships offered by the Indian government, spanning various academic levels and disciplines, from prestigious programs such as the Great Scholarship and the Fulbright-Nehru Scholarship.

The Indian government’s commitment to supporting Indian students in pursuing their dreams of studying abroad is commendable, and it is up to the students to make the most of these opportunities. Aspiring students must seize the immense opportunities presented by these scholarships. Through thorough research, careful preparation, and determination, they can navigate the application process and secure these scholarships to shape their future.

In pursuing academic excellence and global exposure, Indian students can now confidently embark on their educational journeys, knowing that the Indian government stands behind them, ready to invest in their success and empower them to develop into tomorrow’s leaders.