Best Study Abroad Scholarships for Indian Students
A student’s dream of studying abroad can be made possible through scholarships. Foreign universities grant 100% scholarships to meritorious students from India to study at their universities. Also, there are NGOs, and private companies in India that support students financially to study abroad. If you are looking for the best scholarships to study abroad, then you can pick one from the list below.
Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation is an NGO that offers a study abroad scholarship called Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships for students who want to pursue a PG course from a college abroad. The scholarship amount will vary from one scholar to another based on their requirement. It covers tuition fees, living expenses, one-way travel, and health insurance premium costs for the students. The maximum scholarship amount one can receive is $1,00,000.
Key Highlights
- The scholarship is for UG students who want to pursue PG.
- Courses like MBA, PGDM, MDes, etc, are not eligible for this scholarship.
- Financial help of up to $1,00,000 is provided based on the needs of the student.
Financial Assistance to SC Students for Pursuing Higher Studies Abroad, Delhi
Students from Delhi can apply for a study abroad scholarship by the Government of NCT Delhi. It is important to note that only SC category students can apply for this scholarship. Also, a 55% mark in the previous qualifying exam is needed to be eligible for the scholarship. The maximum amount of scholarship a PhD student can get is ₹20 lakhs and ₹10 lakhs for PG students. Under the Financial Assistance to SC Students for Pursuing Higher Studies Abroad, Delhi students will get ₹5 lakhs per annum as a scholarship.
Key Highlights
- PhD students will get scholarships for four years or until the compilation of their course, whichever is earlier.
- For PG students, the scholarship will be provided for two years or until the course ends, whichever is earlier.
- To be eligible for this study abroad scholarship, the student’s family income should not exceed ₹8 lakhs per annum.
Study a Master’s in Europe Scholarship by Educations.Com
- A one-time scholarship of up to €5000 will be awarded to cover the tuition fees.
- To get the scholarship, students must get admission to any college or university in the European Union.
- Only one scholarship is awarded each year.
K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad
Indian students pursuing a postgraduation course from a college or university abroad can get financial help from K.C. Mahindra Education Trust in the form of an interest-free scholarship of up to ₹10 lakhs. The top three scholars will get ₹10 lakhs in interest-free loan scholarships, while the remaining students will get ₹5 lakhs as interest-free loan scholarships. To be eligible for K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad, students need a graduation or diploma degree from a recognised university or college in India.
Key Highlights
- The top three K.C. Mahindra Fellows will receive a maximum of ₹10 lakhs as an interest-free loan.
- The remaining scholars will get up to ₹5 lakhs interest-free loan scholarship.
- A letter of recommendation is needed to apply for the scholarship
Debesh-Kamal Scholarships for Higher Education/Research Abroad
Indian students looking for financial assistance for higher education or research abroad can apply for the Debesh-Kamal Scholarships for Higher Education/Research Abroad. The scholarship is provided based on merit and is available for students of any caste, creed, or religious faith. The application fee for this scholarship is ₹200, which is non-refundable. Students will get ₹1 lakh scholarship for one year only.
Key Highlights
- Students under the age of 30 can apply for this scholarship.
- The maximum scholarship amount is ₹1 lakhs per annum.
- All applications must be mailed to Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata.
Unimoni Student Stars Scholarship
Key Highlights
- Unimoni will provide a maximum of ₹5 lakhs scholarship for students.
- Applicants will be randomly selected for a free laptop and a trolley bag.
- Students will also receive a free prepaid Forex card for their daily expenses.
National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students
Students who belong to ST, DNT, SNT, Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans groups of India can get financial assistance from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for studying abroad. The scholarship will cover the annual maintenance allowance, equipment cost, visa cost, poll tax, medical insurance premium, flight fare, and local travel cost. For annual maintenance, a maximum of £9,900 or $15,400 will be provided to students. To cover the cost of equipment and books, a maximum of $1,532 or £1,116 will be awarded to the scholars. 30% of the National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students is reserved for female candidates only.
Key Highlights
- The applicant must be pursuing master’s, PhD, or post-doctoral research from a foreign college/university.
- The annual family income of the applicant must be less than ₹6 lakhs per annum.
- Students must have scored a minimum of 55% marks in their previous qualifying exam.
MEXT Scholarship
Monbukagakusho Scholarship or the MEXT Scholarship is provided to students outside of Japan who want to pursue UG, PG, and PhD courses in Japan. This scholarship is provided by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. It covers all the expenses of the student who is willing to study in Japan.
- Proof of admission to a Japanese university or college is needed.
- 100% of the expenses are covered by the MEXT Scholarship.
- There is no application fee, and students can apply by visiting the Japanese embassy in India.
JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship
There is a TATA scholarship for studying abroad that offers an interest-free loan for Indian students. It is called the JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship, and students who are pursuing master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral studies abroad are eligible to apply. This scholarship is applicable to the following fields of study: arts and social sciences, technology, AI, ML, robotics, law, and medicine.
Key Highlights
- Get an education loan of up to ₹10 lakhs to support your study abroad journey.
- It is available for students pursuing a master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral course.
- The JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship is available for all students in India
China Scholarship Council Scholarships (CSC Scholarships)
CSC Scholarships or Chinese Government Scholarships are provided to students outside China who want to pursue higher education in the country. Students must get admission to one of the 274 universities registered with the China Scholarship Council to avail this scholarship. With its help students will not have to worry about their course fees and living expenses in China while studying. However, the fare of international flight is not covered by the scholarship.
Key Highlights
- Get 100% financing for your education in China.
- The application process is online.
GREAT Scholarships
Make your dream of completing your postgraduate studies in the UK come true with the help of GREAT Scholarships. This scheme is jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council. Students from 18 countries including India are eligible to apply for GREAT Scholarships. Once selected, the candidate will receive an amount of £10,000 for pursuing one-year PG courses in a recognised college in the UK.
Key Highlights
- In 2024-25, 200+ scholarships were provided to students studying in 70 universities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- A maximum of £10,000 (~₹11,28,776) is offered as a scholarship.
- The scholarship will cover only the tuition fees of the applicant.
Global Korea Scholarship Program
The Global Korea Scholarship Program (GKS Program) is perfect for Indian students who want to pursue higher education in South Korea. With the help of this scholarship, students will be able to pay for their course fees, hostel fees, travel expenses, and airfare. The Global Korea Scholarship Program benefits are mentioned below.
Key Highlights
- The scholarship covers the cost of an economy-class flight ticket.
- A settlement allowance of 200,000 KRW is provided to help with initial expenses.
- Recipients receive a monthly allowance of 900,000 KRW for living expenses.
- An additional 100,000 KRW is granted for Korean language proficiency.
- Upon completion of the degree, students will receive a degree completion grant of 100,000 KRW.
- Medical insurance is also covered by the scholarship and the amount is as per the standard amount set by NIIED.
- The scholarship includes a language training fee of 1.3 million KRW.
- Tuition fees are covered up to a maximum of 5 million KRW.
How to Apply for Study Abroad Scholarships
The application process for study-abroad scholarships requires candidates to fill out an application form and attach all the supporting documents. The process can be completed online for most scholarships but a few, like the Debesh-Kamal Scholarships for Higher Education/Research Abroad, require candidates to fill out the application form in offline mode. Below, we have described the online application process for study abroad scholarships for your reference.
- Visit the official website of the scholarship.
- Go to the application window and click on Apply Now.
- Fill out all the details required and ensure that you enter the correct information.
- Attach all the supporting documents required for your study abroad scholarship application.
- Submit the application and take a printout of it for your record.
Documents Needed
The top scholarship programs for studying abroad require candidates to provide all necessary documents along with the application form. Missing documents can lead to scholarship rejection, which is why it is important to make a checklist of the documents for a smooth application process.
- Scholarship form
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Proof of admission to a foreign country
- Receipt of college fees and other expenses covered by the scholarship
- Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
- Entrance exam score
- CV of the applicant
- An essay indicating your commitment to studying abroad
- Copy of your passport
Alternatives to Study Abroad Scholarships
Study abroad scholarships have strict eligibility criteria and it is a reality that many students who apply do not get it. For such students, an education loan is the best alternative to get financial aid to pursue their higher studies abroad. There are various study-abroad education loans offered by the government, banks, and NBFCs in India. Study abroad loans have a bit lax eligibility criteria compared to scholarships, which is why it is a great alternative to study abroad scholarships. Some of the popular study abroad education loans by the government are the Study Abroad Loan by NSFDC, Gujarat Government Education Loan for Studying Abroad, Study Abroad Loan by NBCFDC, etc. Below, we have listed some of the top banks in India that offer education loans to study-abroad students.
| Name of the Bank Scheme | Loan Amount |
| SBI Global Ed-Vantage | Up to ₹3 crore |
| Baroda Scholar Education Loan for Abroad Studies | Up to ₹1.5 crore |
| Cent Vidyarthi Scheme | Up to ₹2 crore |
| IDFC FIRST Bank Education Loan Programme | Up to ₹75 lakhs |
| ICICI Bank Education Loan Programme | Up to ₹2 crores |
| Axis Bank Education Loan Programme | As per requirement |
FAQs
How can I get a 100% scholarship to study abroad?
You can get a 100% scholarship for studying abroad by applying for scholarships that fully cover your education and living expenses. Notable ones include the K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad, Study a Master's in Europe Scholarship by Educations.com, and Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships.
What are the scholarships for studying abroad by the Indian government?
The Indian government offers several scholarships for students aiming to study abroad, including the Financial Assistance to SC Students for Pursuing Higher Studies Abroad (Delhi) and the National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students.
What is the National Overseas Scholarship?
The National Overseas Scholarship is a central government initiative for ST, DNT, SNT, Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans students to pursue higher education abroad. It is managed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
What are the expenses covered by the MEXT Scholarship?
The MEXT (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship covers tuition fees, travel expenses, and provides a monthly living allowance for accommodation, food, and personal expenses.
What to do if I can not get a scholarship to study abroad?
If you are unable to secure a scholarship, you can apply for a study abroad education loan. Leading Indian banks like ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Central Bank of India, and SBI offer such loans to cover your tuition and living expenses.