Fully-Funded, Partially-Funded, Merit-Based & Need-Based Scholarships

Studying abroad is a dream for many Indian students—but high tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses can often make it feel out of reach. The good news? There are over 150+ scholarships for Indian students, offered by foreign governments, global universities, private foundations, and Indian trusts.

This comprehensive guide covers the top scholarships to study abroad, eligibility criteria, benefits, deadlines, and expert tips to help you secure funding for your international education.

📌 Table of Contents

1. Government Scholarships for Indian Students
2. Fully-Funded Scholarships (Most Competitive)
3. Country-Wise Scholarships (USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan)
4. University-Specific Scholarships
5. Indian Foundations Offering Overseas Scholarships
6. Requirements & Eligibility
7. Tips to Win International Scholarships

1️⃣ Government Scholarships for Indian Students

Government-funded programs are the most reliable and prestigious options, often covering 100% tuition and living costs.

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)
supports students from marginalized communities for Master’s and Ph.D. degrees

2️⃣ Fully-Funded Scholarships (All Countries)

📌 Rhodes Scholarship – Oxford University (UK)
Covers everything + global networking benefits
📌 Gates Cambridge Scholarship (UK)
For exceptional students pursuing postgraduate programs at Cambridge.

📌 Schwarzman Scholars (China)
Fully covers a 1-year Master’s in Global Affairs with leadership focus.

📌 Knight-Hennessy Scholars (USA)
Covers full tuition + living for Stanford programs.

3️⃣ Country-Wise Scholarships for Indian Students

🇨🇦 Canada Scholarships

• Vanier Graduate Scholarships
• Lester B. Pearson Scholarship (UG)
• University of Toronto International Scholar Award
• UBC International Leader of Tomorrow Award

🇺🇸 USA Scholarships

• Hubert Humphrey Fellowship
• Rotary Foundation Scholarship
• AAUW International Fellowship (Women)
• Yale, Harvard, MIT need-based aid

🇬🇧 UK Scholarships

• Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
• GREAT Scholarships
• UoB India Chancellor’s Scholarship

🇩🇪 Germany Scholarships

• Deutschlandstipendium
• DAAD Scholarships
• Friedrich Ebert Scholarship
• Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship

🇦🇺 Australia Scholarships

• Destination Australia Scholarship
• Monash International Merit Scholarship
• ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship

🇪🇺 Europe Scholarships

• ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship
• EPFL Excellence Scholarship
• Sciences Po Émile Boutmy Scholarship
• INSEAD Global Scholarships

4️⃣ University-Specific Scholarships (Top 20 Global)

USA

• MIT Scholarships
• Harvard Financial Aid
• Yale International Student Scholarships
• Columbia University Scholarships

UK

• Oxford Clarendon Fund
• Cambridge Trust Scholarship
• Imperial President’s Scholarship

Australia

• UNSW International Scholarship
• University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship

Germany

• TU Munich Scholarships
• RWTH Aachen International Scholarship

5️⃣ Scholarships from Indian Trusts & Foundations

These are popular among self-funded students:

🔹 JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship

Offers ₹1–10 lakhs (low-interest)

🔹 KC Mahindra Scholarships for Postgraduate Studies

Up to ₹8 lakhs

🔹 Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship

Full funding for select programs abroad

🔹 Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship

Up to ₹20 lakhs (loan-based)

🔹 Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship

Half grant, half loan

6️⃣ Eligibility Criteria (General Requirements)

Most scholarships require:

• 75%+ academics
• Strong SOP / personal statement
• Letters of recommendation
• Work experience (for some Master’s scholarships)
• Proof of extracurriculars & leadership
• IELTS/TOEFL scores

7️⃣ Tips to Win a Scholarship (Expert Strategy)

✔ Apply 8–12 months before intake

✔ Build a strong academic profile

✔ Craft a compelling SOP with clear goals

✔ Highlight leadership & community work

✔ Maintain consistency between CV, SOP & LORs

✔ Apply to multiple scholarships, not just one

✨ Conclusion

With the right planning and documentation, Indian students can study in the world’s top countries—USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, and Europe—with fully or partially funded scholarships. Opportunities are vast, and competition is strong, but with early preparation and guidance, securing a global scholarship is absolutely achievable.