Top Government Scholarships for Indian Students

Worried about the finances when dreaming of going to study abroad? For a number of Indian students, procuring funds for studies abroad can be quite difficult. Luckily, the Indian government has come forward with scholarships to help students who wish to study abroad. These scholarships take care of tuition, living, and other important expenses, making studying abroad more realistic. Let us look at some of the best scholarships we have in store for Indian students who are willing to study abroad.

You may like to Read: Inlaks Scholarship: Eligibility, Application, Awards

Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships

Are you hoping to make America your home for your master’s degree? The good news for Indian students is that the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship is a merit-based fully funded scholarship.

• Type: Merit-based
• What It Covers: Tuition fees, living expenses, travel, and health insurance
• Eligibility:
  • Bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks
  • 3 years of full-time work experience
  • Community service experience
  • IELTS score of 6.0 or higher
  • Employer endorsement (if currently working)
• Benefits: This scholarship lets you focus on your studies by covering most essential costs, from tuition to living expenses.

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

This scheme helps students from Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Backward Classes (EBC) for overseas education.

• Type: Need-based
• What It Covers: Interest subsidies on educational loans
• Eligibility:
  • You can apply for a master’s, PhD, or MPhil program if you want to study abroad and Your family gets low-income
  • An educational loan is available under the Indian Banks Association (IBA).
  • The income of the family should be below INR 8 Lakhs for OBCs and INR 2.5 Lakhs for EBCs.

Benefits: Covers education loans’ interest

The J.N. Tata Endowment for Higher Education of Indians

This long-standing endowment offers loans and grants for Indian students wanting to pursue PhDs or postdoctoral research abroad.

• Type: Loan-based, need-based
• What It Covers: Up to INR 10 lakhs with additional travel and gift awards from Tata Trusts
• Eligibility:
  • Indian citizens under 45 years old
  • Undergraduate degree with at least 60% marks
• Benefits: Provides support for tuition and travel costs with low-interest loans.

GREAT Scholarships

The UK GREAT Scholarship goes a step further by offering partial scholarships to international students from specific countries who wish to pursue postgraduate studies at certain universities in the United Kingdom.

• Type: Destination-based
• What It Covers: Up to USD 10,000 for tuition, plus health and travel costs
• Eligibility:
  • Indian citizenship
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Admission to UK university
  • Proficiency in English
• Benefits: Offers financial support and chances to connect with other scholars in the UK.

The Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships

Since 1976, the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation has provided scholarships for Indian students studying in the US and Europe, covering various fields.

• Type: Destination and subject-based
• What It Covers: Up to USD 100,000 for tuition, living, and health expenses
• Eligibility:
  • Recent academic history in India
  • Minimum grade requirements (70% for science, 65% for humanities)
• Benefits: Comprehensive support, including health coverage, tuition, and travel.

Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship

This fellowship is for Indian PhD students and researchers in the climate change field.

• Type: Course-specific
• What It Covers: Monthly stipend, health insurance, and J-1 visa support
• Eligibility:
  • At present, he is pursuing his PhD program in India.
  • Published research focused on climate issues.

Benefits: It provides funds for research, travelling research, and health care.

The Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust

This scholarship supports women pursuing social sciences, public health, or social work in the US, UK, or Europe.

• Type: Merit-based
• What It Covers: Tuition fees
• Eligibility:
  • A bachelor’s degree with consistent achievement
  • At least 2 years of relevant working experience
  • Great institutions in the USA, UK or Europe accepted

Benefits: She encourages those women who are serious about pursuing their studies and who are in the job of their dreams in social work, providing sponsorships for education.

Cornell University Tata Scholarship

Cornell University offers this scholarship with the Tata Trust for Indian students pursuing undergraduate degrees in the US.

• Type: Destination-based
• What It Covers: Tuition and annual course fees
• Eligibility:
  • Indian citizen
  • Demonstrated financial need
• Benefits: A fully funded opportunity for undergraduate studies at Cornell.

Indian Global Leaders Scholarship

For those interested in studying Business, Law, or Economics in Queensland, this scholarship covers tuition and other expenses

• Type: Course-specific
• What It Covers: Tuition fees up to AUD 20,000 plus access to employment programs
• Eligibility:
  • Strong academic background
  • Indian citizens currently residing in India
• Benefits: Allows students to gain international exposure in business and law.

National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Caste (SC) Students

This scholarship is for SC students to study abroad in fields like science, medicine, and engineering.

• Type: Student-centric
• What It Covers: Tuition, medical insurance, and living costs
• Eligibility:
  • Academic score of at least 60%
  • Family income below INR 8 lakhs
  • Age limit: 35 years
• Benefits: Comprehensive support, including a maintenance allowance, travel, and tuition costs.

You may Like: Study in the US: Scholarships for Indian Students

How to Apply for a Scholarship to Study Abroad

Applying for a scholarship can sometimes get frustrating and long; nonetheless, the end reward makes it all worth it. So, without any further delays, let us jump to some simple strategies to make you a winner:

1. Start With Research: Look for scholarships of your intended post-secondary institution, course of focus and personal attributes.
2. Check Your Suitability: Ensure that all academic and need-based criteria are satisfied.
3. Document Preparation: If necessary, gather old report cards, references, and scores.
4. Do Not Hesitate To Apply: Apply today if you want to receive this because those who apply early stand a better chance.
5. Prepare Well In Advance: Score well on standardized tests like IELTS, GRE, or SAT exams.
6. Prepare An ‘Exceptional’ Essay: Write remarks of notice that focus on your achievements and plans.
7. Seek Help: You may also contact specialists who help students studying overseas for any further assistance.

With this set of scholarships, studying abroad will not be a burden. Take a look at these government-sponsored scholarships to achieve your academic dreams.

FAQs

What are the requirements for a scholarship for further studies abroad?

Apply as soon as possible, prepare the necessary documents and recommendations, and maintain good grades in class.

Can Indian students apply for fully funded scholarships?

Yes, there are several scholarships available which pay all the tuition fees, living expenses, and traveling expenses.

Which Indian government scholarships are available for international studies?

Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship, GREAT Scholarships, and National Overseas Scholarship are some scholarships to study abroad.

May I apply for the scholarship after my 12th class?

Yes, search for scholarships for undergraduate programmes and be prepared with the basic requirements beforehand.

Does every country have scholarships?

Yes, most especially American countries, the UK, Canada, Australia, and some parts of Europe offer scholarships to international students.