As an Indian student planning to pursue your master’s abroad, you’ll be pleased to discover that there is a large list of scholarships for study abroad specifically aimed at you. These scholarships programs come from different providers: government grants, foundations, corporations, private organizations and universities.
Searching through all scholarship programs you’re eligible for can be a tedious task. In this article we’ve put together a list of the top ten Indian student scholarships which can help you finance your overseas education to the greatest extent.
10 Best Scholarships for Study Abroad
1. National Overseas Scholarship Scheme
The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme is a Government of India run scholarship for study abroad which helps low-income Indian students pursue a higher educational degree overseas.
Expenses Covered: The scholarship covers full tuition, living costs, medical insurance, and air passage. Additionally, it also provides students with a sustenance grant and visa sponsorship.
Eligibility: To qualify for this scholarship, you must be below the age of 35 and belong to one of the following; Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Laborers and Traditional Artisans. Additionally, you must also have completed your undergraduate degree with at least 55% marks, and have a combined family income less than Rs. 6, 00,000.
Areas of Study: The scholarship funds the following areas of study: Engineering, Management, Pure and Applied Sciences, Agricultural Science, Medicine, Commerce, Accounting, Finance, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Deadline: May 27th 2024
2. OPEC Fund For International Development Scholarship
OFID’s Scholarship Program sponsors outstanding young students from developing countries who wish to pursue a Master’s degree studies in a relevant field of development, from any recognized university/college in the world
Expenses Covered: The Award covers full tuition, including any supplementary fees. Funding is also provided for one round-trip flight between your home country and the university, health insurance, a relocation grant to help you cover additional costs of moving, and a monthly allowance for one year.
Eligibility: Applicants must be between the ages of 23-32 at the time of submitting his/her application, have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 from an accredited university, and enroll in a full-time Master’s program
Areas of Study: Master’s Degree studies related to development: economics of development (poverty reduction, energy and sustainable development), environment (desertification), or other related science and technology fields.
Deadline: April of every year (Applications currently closed)
3. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Programs
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree is an integrated international study programme, jointly delivered by a group of international universities. The program is funded and run by the EU. It allows students to complete their master’s degree by studying and working in different countries throughout the duration of their program.
Expenses Covered: The award covers tuition, travelling, insurance and living expenses for selected students. Additionally, students are even exempted from tuition at their parent university if they stay a full academic year under an Erasmus scheme.
Eligibility: To qualify for the programme, you have to be registered at a higher education provider that is part of the programme and enrolled in a course leading to a recognized degree.
Areas of Study: The Erasmus programme offers you the opportunity to choose from 130 degree options in a variety of fields. These include Engineering, Science, Mathematics, Humanities, Arts, Computing Social Sciences, Business, Law, Health, Welfare and Agriculture.
Deadline: The application period for the program is between October and January every year.
4. Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship is an international programme under which member governments offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. Through this program, an Indian student (that’s you!) can pursue a fully funded Master’s degree in any Commonwealth nation. It is one of the few full-ride scholarships for study abroad for Indian students.
Expenses Covered: The scholarship covers tuition fee, return airfare and adequate maintenance and other allowances
Eligibility: You’re eligible to apply for the scholarship if you hold a recognized bachelor’s degree with grades above 65% (for natural sciences) or 60% (for social sciences). The Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development conducts a preliminary selection. Consequently, final selections are done through a process of shortlisting of applications, followed by personal interviews in New Delhi.
Areas of Study: If selected, you can pursue programs related to science and tech for development, strengthening health systems, access inclusion and opportunity. The type of degree being offered may differ by country or university.
Deadline: Applications commence in August of every year for the next year.
5. Chevening India Scholarships
Chevening is the UK government’s international awards scheme aimed at attracting the world’s best students. Chevening India programme is the world’s largest such division. It provides up to 65 fully funded scholarships for study abroad to Indian students for one year of Master’s programs annually.
Expenses Covered: The scholarship covers all expenses
Eligibility: You’re eligible to apply provided you hold a recognized bachelor’s degree and have at least two years work experience. As a prospective scholar, you must apply to three different eligible UK university courses and receive an unconditional offer before 16th July 2020. Moreover, you are expected to return to India for two years after they finish their studies, if selected.
Areas of Study: You can pick any program of your choice from this list of eligible programs.
Deadline: 16th July 2024
6. Inlaks Foundation Scholarship
The Inlaks Foundation Scholarship is a prestigious study grant awarded to promising young Indian students looking to pursue their higher education at top rated American, Europea and UK institutions for a full-time Masters, M.Phil or a Doctorate programme.
Expenses Covered: The maximum funding given by the Foundation is $100,000. Awardees are expected to meet remaining expenses on their own.
Eligibility: You’re eligible to apply if you’re an Indian citizen under the age of thirty and have graduated with a first class (>75%) undergraduate degree. Additionally, you must not already have completed a master’s/PhD or enrolled in one at the time of application. More details can be found here.
Areas of Study: The Inlaks Foundation does not give scholarships for the following subjects: Engineering, Computer Science, Business Studies, Medicine, Dentistry and related therapies, Public Health, Fashion Design, Music, Film and Film Animation. However, scholarships for Engineering and Natural Science are given if you are admitted to Imperial College London.
Deadline: The Foundation won’t be awarding any scholarships this year due to the current global situation. However, the usual application period runs from mid-January through March.
7. Heinrich Boll Foundation Scholarships
The Heinrich Böll Foundation awards some scholarships to international students who gained their university entrance qualification from a school outside of Germany who wish to study a Masters or PhD Degree in Germany.
Expenses Covered: €850 per month plus various individual allowances; tuition fees are in certain cases possible in Germany. The scholarship is awarded for the regular period of study, may be extended by one semester
Eligibility: The scholarship is open to all students with a recognized bachelor’s degree from outside Germany. You may apply before commencing your Masters programme or at any time up to the end of the first semester of the Masters programme. Applicants have to prove their proficiency in German. Good or very good knowledge of the German language is required (at least B2 Level or DSH2).
Areas of Study: The scholarships are towards Masters Degree or PhD Degree in all subjects offered at state or state-recognised universities in Germany.
Deadline: March every year
8. The JN Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians
The JN Tata Endowment is a philanthropic trust set up by the Tata Foundation to support Indian students who wish to pursue a postgraduate degree abroad.
Expenses Covered: The Endowment awards one time loan scholarships amount which ranges between Rs. 1,00,000 to 10,00,000. Upon recommendation and good performance after enrollment overseas, students can also be recommended for a gift scholarship for a maximum of Rs. 7,50,000. If you’re selected as a scholar, you may not necessarily qualify for the maximum amount.
Eligibility: The scholarship is open to any Indian citizen below the age of 45, with a recognized bachelor’s degree and a minimum score of 60% in their last academic examination. The scholarship is also open to you if you’re just beginning the second year of a two year postgraduate course.
Areas of Study: You can apply for this scholarship to pursue a broad range of subjects..
Deadline: Application period for the scholarship is between December and March every year.
9. Orange Tulip Scholarship
The Orange Tulip Scholarship Programme (OTS) provides talented Indian students scholarships to study abroad at select Dutch universities. The scholarship is funded by the Dutch government and is delivered in collaboration with educational institutions and multinationals.
Expenses Covered: The amount of scholarship offered can differ based on the partner university. While some universities offer anywhere around 25% scholarship, others may offer upto 100% towards tuition.
Eligibility: You’re eligible to apply for this scholarship if you’re an Indian citizen and have been offered a place at a partner institution. You’re also eligible to apply if you’re planning to send an application to a partner university.
Areas of Study: While study programs are limited to participating universities, they still span a broad range of fields.
Deadline: Partner universities have different deadlines which span between January and June. You can check the deadlines here.
10. Campus France Charpak Scholarship
The Charpak Scholarship is offered by the French Government to help Indian nationals pursue a Master’s degree at a French higher educational institute.
Expenses Covered: The scholarship provides a living allowance of 700 Euros, social security, tuition fee waiver up to 5000 Euros and a one-way airfare between France and India. Moreover, scholars are also assisted in finding affordable student accommodation, when they arrive in France.
Eligibility: The scholarship is open to any Indian citizen under the age of 30 who intends to pursue a postgraduate degree in France. There is no specified grade cut-off as applications are evaluated for their overall quality.
Areas of Study: Applications to pursue a master’s degree in all streams and fields of study are welcome
Deadline: 28th May, 2020
This list aims to introduce you to the bigger, more substantial scholarships which can help you fund your masters abroad. But, you should NOT ignore other scholarship options. Many universities in virtually every popular international student destination offer substantial scholarships for study abroad for Indian students. The list includes multiple institutions in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, among others. Some select universities like the Ivies even help international graduate students fund their masters abroad with need-based air and grants.
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