Top 10 Indian Government Scholarships to Study Abroad!

Achieving a global degree and experiencing a multicultural learning environment is a dream for the majority of Indian youth. While academics are the first prerequisite for a study-abroad plan, the other important factor is funding. A significant proportion of students hesitate to pursue their studies abroad due to a lack of adequate funds. 

You’ll be delighted to learn that the Indian government provides several study abroad scholarships for Indian students seeking rewarding career opportunities abroad. Especially for female students, and for students from socially disadvantaged communities, there are extra privileges promised by the government. 

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We have done exhaustive research on 5 top Indian government scholarships that you must keep in mind while submitting your applications. The list is organised based on the type of funding and preferred study location.

Types of Indian Government Scholarships

There are a variety of scholarships available for different levels of students. The right research and preparation can help you obtain the best of them. Scholarships for studying abroad are mainly divided into the following categories:

• Merit-Based: Here, a student’s academic record or achievements in extracurricular activities, such as sports or community service, decide the eligibility and award. An applicant with higher academic excellence is preferred for this type of scholarship.

• Student-Centric: Some scholarships are based on the student’s gender, colour, religion, family, etc. Some countries or institutions can also consider scholarships based on a particular medical history or condition.

• Based on Destination: Several government agencies, governments, and universities award scholarships and funding to students from a specific country. For example, the New Zealand and the United Kingdom governments offer fellowships for overseas students from Commonwealth countries, which includes India as well. 

• For Specific Subjects: Students who wish to pursue a specific subject/program of study may be eligible for grants from certain universities and institutions. For example, if a student wants to study MBA, they can get a scholarship from institutions providing the same for this particular category.

• According to Needs: These scholarships are awarded based on the student’s financial situation and are aimed at financially challenged students. To obtain these types of scholarships, you may be asked to furnish your family’s income details and submit documents like ITRs, employment certificates, income proofs, etc.

• For Athletes: This type of scholarship scheme is only available to the best athletes. The grants require you to participate in rigorous training and represent your university at tournaments while balancing your studies.

While applying for your preferred university, list the scholarships that you are eligible to apply for, and filter them accordingly. 

Top 10 Indian Government Scholarships

The Department of Higher Education, a division of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, India is responsible for handling the scholarship application and approval process. 

Not all the scholarships in the list are provided by the Indian government alone; some are fully sponsored while others are partially sponsored. The majority of the awards are for advanced degrees such as research, master’s, and doctoral degrees. However, some of them are applicable to study abroad after 10th and 12th. 

Please note that these scholarships are provided by the Government of India, in association with trusts and international organisations. As its specifically meant for the Indians hence an Indian citizenship is a primary requirement for these scholarships.

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1. Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship

Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship is a fully funded Government scholarship, which is provided for a single student. The scholarship is specifically for one candidate to study at St. Antony College, Oxford University London. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be an Indian citizen.
• Applicants must be between 30 to 40 years old at the time of application deadline.
• PhD in History, Economics, or Political Science (or published works of equivalent merit)
• Minimum 60% marks in postgraduate studies.
• At least three years of teaching experience at the graduate or postgraduate level.

Benefits

• Full tuition fees covered at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford.
• Living allowance.
• Economy class airfare provided for both departure and return.
• Fellowship status granted at the University of Oxford.

The fellowship is administered by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) of India. It primarily targets students who are aspiring to pursue their academic careers in the field of social science. 

2. Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship

The Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship is one of the popular Indian government scholarships to study abroad. It helps excellent Indian students, who wish to pursue a Master’s degree at one of the top universities in the United States. 

Eligibility Criteria

• You must be an Indian citizen.
• Completed equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a recognized Indian university with at least 55% marks.
• Three years of full-time paid work experience in a related field.
• English language proficiency through TOEFL or IELTS exams (specific score may vary).

Benefits

• Full tuition fees at your chosen US university.
• Living expenses in the form of a stipend. 
• Airfare for the US covered. 
• Basic health insurance coverage provided for the study duration.

Besides this, the Indian government also partners with the same foundation to provide other scholarships as well. These include:

• Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship for Indian PhD students
• Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships for Indian PhD students

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3. Dr Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies

The scheme aims to provide interest subsidies to meritorious students of Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Backward Classes (ECW) with interest subsidies. The purpose is to help students pursue higher education overseas and build a better life.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicable for SC/ST/OBC/EWS and other minority category
• Be pursuing a Master’s, M.Phil., or Ph.D. degree program at a recognized foreign university.
• Must secure an education loan from a bank participating in the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) model education loan scheme for overseas studies.
• No specific academic performance criteria mentioned publicly; however, participating banks may have their own minimum academic requirements.

Benefits 

The scheme helps by paying some of the interest on your education loan while you’re studying and for a bit after. This makes studying abroad much cheaper.

This is a need-based scheme, providing subsidies for students, who are paying education loans for overseas studies.  

4. National Overseas Scholarship for SC Students

This is one of the prominent Indian government scholarships to study abroad, helping an Indian student from a Scheduled Caste to go abroad and study. There are 100 awards given in a year. Similar to this, there is another scholarship meant for students of the Scheduled Tribe category, but the number of seats awarded in this one is only 20.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be from the Scheduled Caste community
• Completed a Bachelor’s degree with at least 60% marks from an Indian university and accepted to a Master’s program at a government-approved foreign university.
• Shouldn’t be older than 35 when applying for the scholarship.
• Family income shouldn’t be more than Rs. 8.00 lakh per year.

Benefits 

• Full tuition fees for your Masters program
• Monthly allowances for living expenses
• Travel allowances from India to the abroad location.

Apart from the annual maintenance allowance mentioned above, the scheme also provides a contingency allowance of INR 124825 for the US and INR 113677 for the UK. In addition, the scholarship also covers tuition fees, visa fees, medical insurance, and Incidental Journey

SC students can apply for this Indian government scholarship to study abroad courses in management, pure and applied sciences, medicine, agricultural sciences, commerce, accounting, and finance.

5. Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships were established in 1976, and since then, it has been awarding grants to talented Indian students. This fellowship is available to those who intend to pursue an MPhil, Masters, or Doctoral programme in the United Kingdom, the United States, or Europe.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be an Indian passport holder.
• Should live in India when applying (unless you have a foreign degree).
• Must be under 30 years old when applying.
• Bachelor’s degree from an Indian university.
• Must have got into a Master’s program abroad in fields like Social Sciences, Humanities, etc.

Benefits 

• Covers your university fees.
• Gives you a monthly allowance.
• Pays for your one-way trip from India to your university.

Application Procedure for Indian Government Scholarships

Now let us look at the application procedure for Indian government scholarships to study abroad. When choosing your preferred scholarship, fellowship, grant, or other financial aid to study abroad, the eligibility requirements are the first necessity to check. You can only proceed with the remaining steps if you fulfil the eligibility criteria. Once you satisfy the entry requirements, you can start preparing the essential documents for your application.

Eligibility Criteria for Indian Government Scholarships

The eligibility requirements for Indian government scholarships vary from each other. For example, the entry requirement for a merit-based scholarship is excellent academic scores, whereas a student-based scholarship prioritises the socio-economic status of the student. However, the most common criteria for the majority of Indian government scholarships are as follows:

Academic Excellence: The minimum score required for a scholarship varies from each other. However, in general, most financial aid asks for an excellent academic background. 

Financial Background: You will have to provide reasons, and supporting documents to prove that, you cannot afford to study abroad without any financial aid.

Before starting with your application, read the eligibility requirements for the scholarship and consider them accordingly. 

Documents Required for Indian Government Scholarships

The documents required for your scholarship can vary depending on the scheme, country, university, or program you are applying to. The general requirements are given below. 

1. Class 10th Board Certificate

2. Caste/Community Certificate

3. Photograph

4. Scanned Signature

5. Your Address proof (current & permanent)

6. Qualifying Degree/Provisional Certificate

7. Mark sheet of qualifying examination

8. Valid Document regarding admission to a Foreign University

(Application, Registration or Admission related document)

9. Income Certificate

10. NOC Certificate if the applicant is employed. 

11. Gap certificate 

12. ITR acceptance document.

You can visit the official website of your preferred scholarship to learn more about the document requirements, and other updated information regarding the scheme. 

Difference Between Scholarships & Student Loan

The most significant distinction between student loans and scholarships is that student loans require repayment after the successful completion of degrees. Student loans are a type of financial aid that a bank or other financial institution lends to the beneficiary based on several factors. Scholarships, on the other hand, are grants forwarded to a deserving candidate based on academic performance or other achievements (sports, extracurriculars, etc.).

Student loans can be obtained from the government bodies or major banks. Most banks, however, offer these loans at a very high interest rate which may not be feasible for students. This is where collateral-free loans provided by various organisations come in. The advantage of taking a collateral-free loan over a traditional student loan is that these loans can be secured without a guarantee or pledge. 

Final Thoughts

Scholarships, fellowships, and other financial aid are the go-to solutions for your financial burdens while opting to study abroad. The best part is you won’t have to pay the money back. Scholarships and grants are similar and they are mostly provided based on a student’s needs, merit, and social status.

Indian government scholarships are initiatives that are adopted to ensure that the students of India get a chance to study in foreign universities. The registration and approval process for getting into a scholarship program might be rigorous. Still, for those who can complete the formalities and obtain the grant, every part of the process will be worth it.

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