Scholarships to Study Abroad for Indian Students 2026-27: Types, Eligibility and How to Apply

What Is a Study Abroad Scholarship?

A scholarship is money towards your tuition, living costs or both that you do not have to repay. Some cover everything (fully funded), while others cover part of the cost. Governments, universities, foundations and companies fund them, and almost all are competitive.

Types of Scholarships

• Merit-based: awarded for academic record, test scores, leadership or achievements.
• Need-based: awarded based on financial need and family income.
• Country-specific: funded by a government for students from selected countries, such as Chevening and Fulbright.
• University-funded: merit awards, tuition waivers and assistantships given by the university at admission.
• Private and foundation: awarded by trusts and companies, often for a specific field or background.

Major Scholarships for Indian Students: 2026-27 Status

Dates and amounts are from third-party summaries of each scheme, so confirm them on the official scheme page before applying. Cycles change from year to year.

Also Read: Does the Indian government offer scholarships to study abroad?

Chevening: Key Eligibility (2027/28 Cycle)

• A bachelor’s degree that qualifies you for UK postgraduate study.
• At least 2,800 hours (about two years full-time) of work experience, which can include part-time, voluntary and internship work.
• Applications to three eligible UK master’s courses and an unconditional offer from at least one by 8 July 2027.
• A commitment to return home for at least two years after the degree.

Source: Business Today summary of Chevening 2027/28. The degree-completion date quoted in that article looks unusual, so check the Chevening site. See top 6 scholarships for Indian students in the UK.

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS): Key Rules for 2026-27

• 125 fresh awards, subject to funds: 115 for Scheduled Castes, 6 for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, and 4 for landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans.
• Gross annual family income must not exceed ₹8 lakh.
• Maximum age 35 on 1 April of the selection year; generally at least 60% marks.
• For the first round, an unconditional offer from a university within the QS top 500. Support runs up to 3 years for a master’s and 4 years for a PhD. It does not cover bachelor’s courses.

Source: NOS 2026-27 summary. Confirm on the official portal. See also Indian government scholarships to study abroad.

Also Read: 5 Indian scholarships to study abroad

Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships: Key Eligibility

• Indian citizen living in India, with an equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree and at least 55% marks.
• At least three years of full-time paid work experience in the field, plus leadership and community service.
• A willingness to return to India after the fellowship; no existing US degree.

Source: scheme summary. The summary is internally inconsistent on deadlines and award amounts, so check USIEF before you plan around them. See scholarships to study in the USA.

Other Scholarships to Check

The following schemes are also used by Indian students. We have not listed amounts or deadlines here, because they change by cycle and could not be confirmed from current official pages. Check each scheme’s official page.

• JN Tata Endowment for Higher Education (loan scholarship, for postgraduate study abroad)
• Dr. Ambedkar Central Sector Scheme of Interest Subsidy on education loans for overseas studies
• GREAT Scholarships for UK postgraduate study
• Commonwealth and DAAD scholarships for the UK and Germany
• Canadian government awards: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (doctoral), Canada Graduate Scholarships for master’s study and the Banting fellowships (postdoctoral)
• University-specific awards: many universities offer merit awards and assistantships, so check each university page. See scholarships in Canada.

Also Read: Types of loan to study abroad

GradRight Scholarships

GradRight lists scholarships through its platform for eligible students. Eligibility, amounts and windows are set per scheme, so ask your counsellor which ones you qualify for.

How to Win a Scholarship: Step by Step

• Step 1: Research early: start 9 to 12 months before your intake, and list the deadlines of every scheme you qualify for.
• Step 2: Check eligibility: marks, work experience, age limit, field and family income vary, and one miss can disqualify you.
• Step 3: Prepare documents: transcripts, test scores, recommendation letters, CV and essays.
• Step 4: Write strong essays: tell a specific story about your goals and what you will do with the degree. See motivation letter for a scholarship and how to write an SOP.
• Step 5: Apply, then keep a backup: most scholarships are highly competitive, so also plan your loan. See loan vs scholarship.

Related Articles

• Top 6 Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in the UK
• Scholarships to Study in the USA for Indian Students
• Indian Government Scholarships to Study Abroad
• Loan vs Scholarship: Best Option for Studying Abroad

Planning your funding? Talk to a GradRight counsellor about scholarships you may qualify for and an education loan to cover the rest.