Every year, thousands of Indian students first harbor and then abandon their study-abroad plans just because they don’t have access to the necessary funds. But what most of them don’t realize is that the Indian government offers multiple scholarships to bridge the funds gap.
In this guide below, we share a list of Indian government scholarships to study abroad in 2026 to help you find one that fits your needs and matches your profile.
Top Indian government scholarships to study abroad in 2026
1. National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)
Offered by: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
Best for: Students from SC, DNT, landless agricultural laborer, and traditional artisan backgrounds
Courses covered: Master’s (up to 3 years) and PhD (up to 4 years). Bachelor’s programs and courses related to Indian culture, heritage, or history are excluded.
Countries: Global — any destination, provided the university is in the QS Top 500.
What it covers: Full tuition fees; annual maintenance allowance of USD 15,400; contingency allowance up to USD 1,500/year (USA); visa fee reimbursement; medical insurance; return economy airfare; incidental journey allowance of USD 20.
Key eligibility:
- Indian citizen from SC, DNT, landless agricultural laborer, or traditional artisan category
- Age: Not more than 35 years as of April 1 of the selection year
- Minimum 60% in qualifying exam; annual family income not exceeding ₹8 lakh
- Unconditional offer from a QS Top 500 university
Any specific requirements: 30% of the 125 annual awards are reserved for women. Awardees must return to India within 30 days of course completion.
Deadline (expected): Applications open in February and close around March 31.
2. Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship
Offered by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
Best for: Students from SC, DNT, and Economically Backward Classes (EBC)
Courses covered: Master’s and PhD programs. Bachelor’s programs and courses on Indian culture, heritage, or history are excluded.
Countries: Varies by variant. Check the portal for the current country list applicable to your category.
What it covers: Full tuition fees; annual maintenance allowance of USD 15,400; contingency and equipment allowance; return airfare; medical insurance; incidental journey allowance of USD 20.
Key eligibility:
- SC, DNT, Landless Agricultural Laborers, Traditional Artisans, or EBC
- Age not more than 35 as of April 1; minimum 60% in qualifying exam
- Annual family income not exceeding ₹8 lakh
- Admission to an eligible foreign university
Any specific requirements: Employed candidates must submit an employer’s No Objection Certificate (NOC). Scholars are expected to return to India and serve in government ministries or departments after completion.
Deadline (expected): Portal opens around February.
Also Read: Does the Indian Government Offer Scholarships to Study Abroad?
3. Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship
Offered by: United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), jointly funded by the USA and Indian governments
Best for: Indian professionals, faculty, and doctoral researchers who want to study, teach, or conduct research at an institution in the USA. Three sub-tracks: Master’s Fellowships (up to 2 years), Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships (4–9 months), and Doctoral Research Fellowships (6–9 months).
Courses covered: Master’s in Environmental Science, Public Health, Gender Studies, Urban Planning, Journalism, International Affairs, and Economics. Research fellowships for faculty and PhD students span a broader range of disciplines.
Countries: United States only.
What it covers: Round-trip economy airfare; full tuition and university fees; monthly living allowance; J-1 visa sponsorship; accident and sickness coverage.
Key eligibility:
- Indian citizen; civil servants (IAS, IPS, IFS) are ineligible; researchers from CSIR, ICAR, IITs, and IISc are eligible
- Master’s Fellowship: minimum 3 years of full-time paid professional experience in the relevant field by the application deadline
- No prior US degree; not currently enrolled in a US program
Any specific requirements: You may apply for only one fellowship category per cycle. Applications submitted before the portal opens are not considered.
Deadline (expected): Master’s Fellowship (2026–27): deadline was July 15, 2025; next cycle opens in early 2026. Doctoral Research and Excellence Fellowship deadlines fall around July 2026.
4. Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans
Offered by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, implemented through Canara Bank (nodal bank)
Best for: OBC and EBC students who already have an education loan from a scheduled Indian bank and want to reduce their interest burden while studying abroad.
Courses covered: Master’s, M.Phil., and PhD programs at accredited foreign institutions.
Countries: Global — wherever approved courses are offered at accredited foreign institutions.
What it covers: 100% interest subsidy on the education loan during the moratorium period (course duration + 1 year, or course duration + 6 months post-employment, whichever comes first). The eligible loan component is capped at ₹20 lakh. Normal principal + interest repayment resumes after the moratorium.
Key eligibility:
- OBC (non-creamy layer) or EBC (annual family income not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh)
- Education loan sanctioned by a scheduled bank under the IBA model
- Admission to a Master’s, M.Phil., or PhD program at an accredited foreign institution
- Must not be availing of a similar subsidy under any other scheme
Any specific requirements: You must have an existing, sanctioned education loan before applying. Priority goes to students who completed their qualifying education at a government institution in India. Applications are processed through Canara Bank.
Deadline (expected): Rolling applications through designated banks. No fixed annual deadline.
5. Commonwealth Scholarship
Offered by: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), UK, in partnership with India’s Ministry of Education
Best for: Academically strong Indian students from low-to-middle-income backgrounds pursuing a full-time Master’s in the UK.
Courses covered: Full-time Master’s programs across all disciplines at participating UK universities.
Countries: United Kingdom only.
What it covers: Full tuition fees (paid directly to the university); return economy airfare; monthly living allowance (~£1,347/month; ~£1,652/month for London-area universities); thesis grant; warm clothing allowance; study-related travel within the UK.
Key eligibility:
- Indian citizen; hold at least a UK upper second (2:1) equivalent first degree
- Demonstrate financial need — must show inability to independently fund UK studies
- Must not have studied or worked in a high-income country for more than one academic year
Any specific requirements: Priority given to applications aligned with CSC’s six development themes: Science and Technology, Health Systems, Innovation, Global Governance, Resilience, and Access and Inclusion. Indian students must apply through both the CSC online portal and the Ministry of Education’s SAKSHAT portal. India’s Ministry makes 39 nominations annually; the CSC makes the final selection. Scholars must return to India after the scholarship period.
Deadline (expected): For 2026–27, the CSC portal was open September 2–October 14, 2025; SAKSHAT ran until November 30, 2025. The next cycle opens in September 2026.
6. Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship
Offered by: Ministry of Education, Government of India
Best for: Indian researchers in History, Political Science, Economics, or Modern Indian Studies who want access to Oxford’s research environment.
Courses covered: Research fellowship at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford. The fellow holds the status of Junior Research Fellow (JRF) in History, Political Science, Economics, or related areas of Modern Indian Studies.
Countries: United Kingdom only (St Antony’s College, University of Oxford).
What it covers: Monthly stipend (fully funded by the Government of India); round-trip air travel; travel allowance; college lunch allowance; administration charges.
Key eligibility:
- Permanent Indian citizen
- Strong academic background in History, Political Science, or Economics
- Must be pursuing or aspiring to an academic or research career
Any specific requirements: Applications are submitted offline to the Ministry of Education, External Scholarship Division. The fellowship runs for one year and is extendable by one additional year. Only 1 fellowship is awarded annually.
Deadline (expected): Notifications are issued when slots are confirmed with Oxford.
7. JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship
Offered by: JN Tata Endowment, administered by Tata Trusts
Best for: Any Indian graduate pursuing postgraduate studies abroad. No caste criteria, no income ceiling, no country restriction.
Courses covered: All postgraduate (Master’s) and doctoral programs at recognized overseas universities, including STEM, social sciences, law, management, and professional courses. Exchange programs, seminars, workshops, conferences, and online or distance programs are not eligible.
Countries: Global — no destination restriction, provided the course qualifies.
What it covers: Up to ₹10–20 lakh as a loan scholarship. A portion is a non-repayable gift; the remainder is an interest-free loan repayable after studies. No collateral required.
Key eligibility:
- Indian citizen; age not more than 45 years as of June 30 of the application year
- Minimum 60% on average in undergraduate or postgraduate qualifying studies from a recognized Indian university
- Admitted to or planning to enroll in a graduate program at an overseas university
Any specific requirements: A confirmed admission letter is not required to apply but must be submitted once received. Selection involves an online aptitude test followed by interviews for shortlisted candidates. Students already abroad may apply if at least 12 months remain in their program.
Deadline (expected): The 2026 cycle opened in January and closed in March. The 2027 cycle opens in January 2027.
8. Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust
Offered by: Tata Trusts (established 1932)
Best for: Indian women graduates pursuing a Master’s in fields that directly impact women and children, who need partial financial support to bridge a funding gap.
Courses covered: Full-time Master’s programs only (no part-time, short-term, or correspondence courses) in: Gender Studies, Child Health and Nutrition, Counselling, Education for Children with Special Needs, Public Health and Reproductive Health, Speech and Language Pathology, Communications for Development, Education/Teachers’ Training, and Rural Development.
Countries: USA, UK, and Europe only.
What it covers: A partial gift of approximately ₹3–6 lakh toward tuition. Up to 10 scholarships awarded annually. This is not a full ride. Candidates must demonstrate financial capacity to cover remaining costs independently.
Key eligibility:
- Indian woman graduate from a recognized Indian university
- Consistently strong academic record throughout
- Applied to or admitted at a reputed university in the USA, UK, or Europe
- Minimum 2 years of relevant paid work experience (preferred)
Any specific requirements: Shortlisted candidates must attend an in-person interview with the Board of Trustees in Mumbai. A financial capacity document must be submitted post-selection. The trust does not assist with USA or UK visa processes.
Deadline (expected): Applications for 2026–27 opened in February 2026 and closed in April 2026. A similar timeline is expected for the next cycle.
Also Read: Top 10 Master’s Scholarships for Indian Students
9. Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship
Offered by: Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation (established 1976)
Best for: Exceptionally talented Indian students under 30 pursuing a Master’s, MPhil, or PhD in arts, social sciences, law, or sciences at a top institution in the USA, UK, or Europe.
Courses covered: Social Sciences, Humanities, Law, Fine Arts, Architecture, Environmental Sciences, and Mathematics. Excluded: MBA/Management, Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Fashion Design, and Engineering — except engineering or natural science courses at Imperial College London.
Countries: USA, UK, and Europe only.
What it covers: Up to USD 120,000 (~₹1 crore) covering tuition, living expenses, one-way travel, visa costs, and health allowance.
Duration: 9 months to 4 years depending on the program. If total costs exceed USD 120,000, applicants must provide proof of additional funding.
Key eligibility:
- Indian passport holder residing in India at time of application
- Born on or after January 1, 1996 (for the 2026 cycle — verify the threshold each year)
- Degree from a recognized Indian university; final-year students awaiting results may apply
- Must not hold a foreign postgraduate degree or be currently studying abroad
- Minimum 65% (or CGPA 6.8/10) for Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Fine Arts, Architecture; minimum 70% (or CGPA 7.2/10) for Mathematics and Sciences
Any specific requirements: Fine arts and design applicants must submit a portfolio. Only one application per candidate per cycle.
Deadline (expected): The 2026 cycle closed around March 31, 2026. The 2027 cycle opens in February 2027.
10. MHRD External Scholarships
Offered by: Ministry of Education, Government of India, in collaboration with foreign governments under bilateral Cultural and Educational Exchange Programs
Best for: Students targeting postgraduate study in specific partner countries. Japan’s MEXT, South Korea’s KGSP, and New Zealand’s Aid Program scholarships are all routed through this channel.
Courses covered: Mostly Master’s and doctoral/research programs. Eligible subjects vary by country and bilateral agreement — STEM, humanities, social sciences, and technical disciplines are all represented.
Countries: A rotating roster including Japan, South Korea, Israel, Mexico, Italy, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and China. Availability changes annually based on active bilateral agreements.
What it covers: Varies by donor country. Typically includes tuition fees, monthly living allowance, return economy airfare, and health insurance. Example: the Sri Lanka bilateral scholarship covers tuition, LKR 30,000/month living allowance, return airfare, IELTS/TOEFL fee reimbursement, and a free visa.
Key eligibility:
- Indian citizen residing in India (candidates residing abroad are not considered)
- Students who have previously been abroad for over 6 months must have been back in India for at least 2 consecutive years before applying
- Specific marks, age, and experience criteria vary by country and scheme
Any specific requirements: All applications are submitted through the SAKSHAT portal. Employed candidates must apply through their employer. The Ministry does not directly disburse funds. All schemes are administered by the respective foreign government or bilateral body.
Deadline (expected): No single annual deadline. Opportunities are published throughout the year as they arrive from partner governments.
With that, it is a wrap on our list of Indian government scholarships to study abroad.
How to choose among Indian government scholarships to study abroad
For many students, Indian government scholarships to study abroad can be the deciding factor between pursuing their goals and putting them on hold. What Aman Singh, co-founder of GradRight, says explains this very well:
“The gap between academic ability and access to international education in India is not a talent problem. It is almost entirely a money problem.”
So if you are in a similar situation, the best way to improve your chances of getting a scholarship is to apply to the right one. Here is how to find the right one:
Step 1: If you belong to a reserved category, start with schemes built for your category. If not, go to merit-based options.
Step 2: Cross-check your program, field, and destination against each scholarship’s scope. Some are country-locked, others exclude specific disciplines entirely.
Step 3: Know your funding gap. Match it to what each scheme actually offers, whether that is full coverage, a partial top-up, or just interest relief on an existing loan.
If two or three options still fit after all three filters, apply to all of them.
Remember: Pair your scholarship research with a loan comparison. Even if you win a full scholarship, you may need a bridge loan for expenses not covered (housing deposits, airfare timing gaps, family emergencies abroad). Knowing your loan options beforehand gives you a safety net.
How to apply for Indian government scholarships to study abroad: Step-by-step guide
Here is a practical sequence that applies across most of the scholarships above:
Step 1: If you’re aiming for Fall 2027, begin around September 2026. These things take time.
Step 2: Register on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and SAKSHAT Portal so you’re not scrambling later.
Step 3: Finish your One-Time Registration on the NSP portal.
Step 4: Apply on the scholarships own portal along with NSP or SAKSHAT.
Step 5: While you wait for the interview, start the interview prep.
Once you get selected, make sure you submit your documents like visa, enrollment proof, and bank details at the earliest.
Can you combine government scholarships with other funding?
Yes, and most students do. Because scholarships may not cover all study abroad expenses. Education loans help bridge that gap. At GradRight, we help with both sides of this. Our platform lets you compare loan offers from 15+ lenders. Plus, we have also partnered with Prodigy Finance to run our own scholarship program for Indian students.
So, if you’re serious about studying abroad in 2026 or 2027, don’t wait for scholarship results. Start your loan process by talking to a GradRight advisor today.
