How to get a Scholarship to Study Abroad: Top 10 Indian Government Scholarships

August 31, 2024

Studying abroad is a dream for many Indian students. This offers global exposure, more academic knowledge, and also multicultural perspectives. However, international education comes with financial burdens. While the prospect of studying abroad has always sounded exciting, there are several costs that come with the aspiration, often making it a great hindrance. Knowing how to get a scholarship to study abroad can be vital to many aspirants who look ahead at converting their dreams into reality without financial strain.

A scholarship does not only help you overcome your financial burden but also builds up your academic profile and opens wider prospects for opportunities. Whether one is an undergraduate student looking forward to his or her first overseas degree or a postgraduate student trying to specialise in their field, understanding how to get a scholarship for study abroad will better equip you with resources and guidance on how to go about it.

The following guide will enable the candidates to go through different scholarship options available to government, private organisations, and international institutions with some practical tips to increase chances of gaining the needed scholarship. Equipped with proper knowledge, one can easily go through the landscape of scholarships and take a meaningful step toward academic pursuits around the world.

Different Types of Scholarships for International Study

There are Different Types of Scholarships which come in various forms:

1. Merit-Based Scholarships

Some Scholarships are given to individuals based on their academic records or having a good reputation in Sports, also done in any extracurricular activity, or having an interest in social or leadership activities.

2. Need-Based Scholarships

Need-based scholarships would consider the financial needs of students to undergo education. They will keep your family’s financial situation in mind and may ask you to provide financial documents while applying for a scholarship, such as your tax return or income statement. They target students coming from specific countries in their pursuit of higher education abroad. Most of them are issued either by a governmental organization, a university, or a private body for the purpose of cross-cultural exchange and international cooperation.

3. University Specific Scholarships

Many universities have scholarship opportunities to attract skilled international students into their institutions. Merit, need, or sometimes merit combined with need are the basis for this scholarship; it often forms part of an institution’s efforts and initiatives toward having a well-rounded and dynamic student population in its setting.

4. Subject-Specific Scholarships

Subject-specific scholarships require a student to study a particular subject area. Examples include students in the field of STEM subjects: Science, technology engineering, and mathematics, or those majoring in arts and humanities. Some of these grants are only specific to certain universities.

5. International Scholarships

In order to promote global education, many organizations and countries offer various international scholarships governing student exchange programs amongst others. Other than making it easier for an individual to study internationally, these scholarships often also come with additional benefits like monthly allowances meant to support one’s living expenses.

6. Private or Non- Government Scholarships

Even private organizations, foundations, and NGOs come forward with scholarship schemes for students. They give scholarships or scholarship loans to individuals who have good records in academics, extracurricular activities, or sports. Some Non- Government Scholarships cover the full tuition fees of the individuals and also cover their transportation costs. The extent of such scholarships also ranges from completely open to highly specialized, based on the background of women, minorities, or students with disabilities.

Top 10 Indian Government Scholarships to Study Abroad

The Indian Government offers several scholarships for individuals who wish to study abroad. These scholarships aim to support students in different fields of study and promote international education. Here are the top 10 Indian Government Scholarships to Study Abroad:

1. National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India offers the National Overseas Scholarships.

Students who Belong to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Economic Backward Classes and plan to study abroad for their higher education can avail the Scholarship.

Eligibility :

Citizen of India from SC, ST, and OBC
Scored at least 60 percent marks or equivalent in the qualifying examination
Annual family income not exceeding INR 8 lakh
Age limit: 35 years for master’s and PhD studies

Benefits to Avail:

Tuition Fees
Living Allowances.
Airfare and Visa Fee

2. Fullbright – Nehru Master’s Fellowships

The Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships are prestigious awards under the Fulbright Program, a project of the United States government in cooperation with the Government of India. By facilitating academic and cultural exchange between India and the United States, these fellowships offer opportunities for outstanding Indian students, scholars, and professionals to pursue study, research, and teaching in the United States.

Eligibility:

Indian Citizen with a Bachelor’s degree.
The Bachelor’s percentage should not be less than 55%.
Minimum 3 years of work experience relevant to their proposed field of study (For Work Experience).
Candidates must have to show leadership abilities through work experience certificates in community service, or extracurricular activities.
High level of Proficiency in English Language Tests.

Benefits:

Tuition Fees
Living Expenses
Health Cover.
TTravel Allowance.

3. Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation offers scholarships to Indian students who want to attend master’s degree and doctorate programs at prominent universities abroad. Subsequently, these subsidies take into account the tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs. They are the only ones focused on the above-mentioned sectors of the arts, humanities, law, architecture, and related fields.

Eligibility to avail of the scholarship :

Citizens of India and resident in India.
Below 30 years of age
Proficiency in English
An excellent past academic record and extracurricular achievements.

Benefits:

Tuition fees
Living expenses, including accommodation
Travel allowance
Health insurance

4. Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans

The Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans is a government scheme for economically weaker sections of Indian society to pursue higher education abroad. It provides an interest subsidy on educational loans taken by students from SCs and OBCs for pursuing studies abroad.

Eligibility:

Citizens of India of Category SC, ST, or OBC.
Minimum Marks in Qualifying Examination: 55%.
The annual family income of the candidate should not exceed INR 8 lakh.
Age Limit: 35 years for Masters and 40 years for PhD/Post-Doctoral.

Benefits:

Tuition Fee
Living allowance
Health Insurance
Airfare to and from the host country
Incidental travel allowance

5. Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship

The other prestigious scholarship offered by the government of India is the Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship, which helps students target research and academic studies at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. It is named after a famous British social worker named Agatha Harrison.

Eligibility to avail of the scholarship:

Indian citizens with first-class degree in Social Sciences.
Applicant should be under 30 years of age.
English Proficiency Test
Benefits:

University of Oxford tuition fees.

Living allowance month-on-month.

Return air fare from India to the UK.

6. Ministry of Tribal Affairs Scholarship

This is a government scholarship by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to assist students from Scheduled Tribes to study abroad. It represents the commitment of the Indian government to give opportunities for education and execute all means to raise the chances of tribal people through quality education at an international level.

Eligibility:

This scholarship is open to all scheduled tribe students in India.
The students must have confirmation of admission from foreign Universities or educational institutions for undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral studies.
Generally, there exists a threshold of minimum income or a particular level of income for the families. The same needs to be followed by considering the Scheme.

Benefits:

Tuition Fees
Living Allowance
Travel Costs

7. ICCR Scholarship ( Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarship)

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarship is an initiative of the Government of India in fostering international cultural relations and furthering India’s global educational links. ICCR grants scholarships to international students including Indian students in foreign countries with the view to establishing a mutual understanding and cooperation between India and other nations in the world.

Eligibility:

Indian students who are going to study abroad.
For Undergraduate studies: Should have passed the Secondary examination with high marks in relevant disciplines.
For postgraduate studies: The applicant should have a minimum undergraduate qualification.
For Ph.D.: Should have passed Master qualification with admission in Ph.D

Benefits:

Tuition Fees
Living Expenses
Health Insurance
Airfare and Visa Fee

8. Lady Meherbai Tata Scholarship

This scholarship is granted to only Indian women graduates for higher studies abroad in social work, public health and hygiene education, and the welfare of children. The object of the trust behind this scholarship is to equip young women with this opportunity and excel in their respective fields. This is supported by the Tata Trusts.

Eligibility:

Indian woman graduates from a recognized university in India.
Age limit: Less than 40 years.
Admission to a well-known institution abroad in the mentioned fields.
An excellent academic background and a surety of interest towards social work.

Benefits:

Monthly Stipend to cover living expenses.
Full Coverage of Tuition Fees.
Cost of International Travel.

9. JN TATA Endowment Scholarship

This avant-garde idea thus came into being in the form of the J. N. Tata Endowment Scholarship, born out of the votre of the Tata family, in the name of Jamsetji Tata-a great visionary industrialist and philanthropist-under the aegis of Tata Education and Development Trust. This well-regarded scholarship aspires to excellence in education and opens opportunities for meritorious Indian students in receiving advanced knowledge and skills from reputed international institutions.

Eligibility:

Indian students who have a good academic record.
Admission in a reputed foreign institute.
Applicants should be 45 years of age at the time of applying.
Financial need for his/her study carried out through a nationalized Indian/foreign bank.

Beneficiaries:

Partial financial support as in loan scholarship.
Travel allowance.
Mentorship and networking on a personalized basis

10. SN Bose Scholarship Program

S.N. Bose Scholars Program is a program to facilitate Indian students in pursuing advance research and academic studies abroad. It has been in honor of the late physicist Satyendra Nath Bose to enable consistent advancement of students in their research work in science and engineering.

Eligibility:

Citizenship: The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
Academic Qualifications:

Undergraduate Students: The Student must be currently pursuing a degree in science or engineering from recognized Indian institutions only.

Postgraduate/Doctoral Students: In case the applicant is pursuing a master’s or Ph.D in Science/Engineering disciplines.

Academic Performance: Good academic standing with interest in research work

The applicant should have already obtained or be in the process of obtaining admission to a U.S. institution for a research internship or an academic program

Benefits:

Travel, accommodation and living expenses for a period specified by the Board.
A great platform is provided to the students for exposure to the latest happenings in research while gaining skills and knowledge.
Networking

How to get scholarship to study abroad from India

Getting a scholarship to study abroad from India is somewhat strategic. Here’s a step-by-step guide, tailored for Indian students:

Identify Your Target Countries and Institutions

First of all, you need to determine the place of study. Not all countries and institutions offer the same quantity of scholarships. Countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia are among the top places offering maximum scholarships to Indian students.

Focus on National and State Scholarships

There are different scholarships available at the national and state levels in India. Look at your field of academic background, financial situation, and the field in which you want to get a scholarship. For example, there is the National Overseas Scholarship and those by state governments, such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which will be a good help.

Avail Scholarships Specific to the University

Several foreign universities collaborate with Indian institutions or grant scholarships to Indian students. It will thus be better to check with the universities for any such opportunities.

Prepare for Competitive Exams

Academic excellence will be an eligibility criterion in several scholarships, depending on their requirements, and so preparation for tests like GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, or IELTS is a must. High scores will make your scholarship application much stronger, and you must start preparations well in advance.

Utilize Online Scholarship Portals

Many online portals, such as Buddy4Study, Scholarships.com, and many more, list scholarships available to Indian students. These portals can become very useful in unlocking less-known scholarships.

Network with Alumni and Current Scholars

The ability to connect with alumni who have received scholarships provides valuable insider information on the application process and how to be unique. Many universities have alumni networks or forums from which to reach out to former students.

Keep Track of Deadlines

Missing a deadline can amount to forfeiting the money that a scholarship offers. Chart all of the scholarships for which you plan to apply, including the deadlines, materials you need to submit, and other important information.

Seek the Help of Educational Consultants

If you find this too much to handle alone, seek advice from educational consultants specialising in international scholarships. They can also help you with the application process, essays, and interview preparations.

If you’re planning to study abroad, Successcribe, the best study abroad consultants in India will help you to get the scholarships available for you, for which you are eligible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid for Abroad Scholarships

Scholarship for Study Abroad Mistakes to Avoid

Some individuals did not get the benefits of Scholarships by making such mistakes.

Here are some Common Mistakes that should be avoided when applying for any scholarship for Study Abroad:

Know the Deadline – This is the common mistake of many people when it comes to applying for Scholarships, and such mistakes can be easily avoided if one does proper planning and checks the website.
Incomplete Applications: Make sure to attach all the required documents and information. Most probably an incomplete application will get eliminated.
Generic Essays: Your essay should be tailored for a specific scholarship. Generic or non-specific essays are not likely to impress.
Disregard Eligibility Requirement: If you are not passing the eligibility criteria of the specific Scholarship, then wasting time on applying for the scholarship to which you are not eligible.
Lack of Proofreading – Always proofread your application materials. Errors in spelling or grammar can undermine your credibility.

Learn how to secure a scholarship to study abroad from India. Explore types of scholarships, top Indian government options, and strategic tips for application success. Avoid common mistakes and get guidance on maximising your chances for financial support and global educational opportunities.

Conclusion

Discover how to get a scholarship to study abroad from India. Learn about various scholarship types, top Indian government scholarships, and practical strategies to enhance your application. Avoid common mistakes and get expert guidance to maximise your chances of financial support and global education opportunities.