Know more about the types of scholarships provided to students by the Indian government.
We often see that students with excellent education sometimes struggle to pay for their tuition fees abroad. To provide better education to Indian students and encourage them to study abroad, the Indian government has created numerous scholarship programs. These programs cover living expenses, tuition fees, and other costs, benefiting students from all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, creed, or nationality. Here are some of the best study abroad scholarships offered by the Indian government for sponsored students.
Top Scholarships to Study Abroad Offered by the Indian Government
Explore a wide range of fully funded scholarships for Indian students, giving you the opportunity to study abroad without financial burden:
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships
This scholarship is awarded to students who wish to pursue higher education in the US.
| Type of Scholarship | Type of Expenses | Type of Degree/Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Merit | Cost of living, tuition fee, health cover, and travel allowance | All (only master’s) |
Eligibility Criteria
- Requires a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or full-time master’s diploma.
- A minimum score of 55% in graduation.
- At least 3 years of significant full-time, salaried work experience.
- Community service experience.
- A minimum band score of 6.0 in English language proficiency tests like IELTS.
- Applicants must not hold a U.S. degree or be currently enrolled in a U.S. degree program.
- Employer confirmation for leave during school hours is required for job applicants.
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships Cover:
- Plane tickets from India to your study abroad destination.
- Tuition fees.
- Health cover as per government guidelines.
*Source: USIEF
Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies
This scholarship is open to students from Other Backward Classes (OBC) or Economically Backward Classes (EBC) who wish to pursue higher education abroad.
| Type of Scholarship | Type of Expenses | Type of Degree/Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Need-based | Subsidies for interest on educational loans | All (only master’s) |
Eligibility Criteria
- Admission to an international institution for a master’s, PhD, or MPhil.
- Loan sanctioned under the Education Loan Scheme of Indian Banks Association (IBA).
- OBC family income should not exceed INR 8 Lakh.
- EBC family income should not exceed INR 5 Lakh.
- Submission of proof of income, ITR, or Form 16 is mandatory.
This scheme covers subsidies for the interest paid during the study period.
The JN Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians
Established in 1892, this scholarship is for students planning to pursue postgraduate or PhD degrees abroad in any discipline.
It offers loans ranging from Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 10,00,000 with a simple interest rate of 2%, along with travel grants and gift prizes based on criteria set by allied Tata Trusts.
| Type of Scholarship | Type of Expenses | Type of Degree/Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Loan, need-based, destination-based | Travel grants and gift prizes | Postgraduate or PhD |
Eligibility Criteria
- Indian residents only.
- A minimum of 60% in previous academic exams.
- Age limit: 45 years.
*Source: JN Tata Endowment
Great Scholarships
This scholarship is available at 20 UK universities.
| Type of Scholarship | Type of Expenses | Type of Degree/Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Destination-based | Up to USD 10,000 for tuition fees, health allowance | PG courses |
Eligibility Criteria
- Indian citizens only.
- Must meet English proficiency requirements.
*Source: British Council
Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships
Introduced in 1976, this scholarship covers up to USD 100,000 in tuition and living expenses for studies in the USA.
| Type of Scholarship | Type of Expenses | Type of Degree/Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Destination-based, specific subjects | Health allowance, tuition fee, living expense | PhD or postgraduate |
*Source: Inlaks Foundation