Study Abroad Scholarships for Indian Students (2026)

Scholarships such as the National Overseas Scholarship, Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship, and Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship are specifically for Indian students for overseas education. 

Let’s get into the details of each scholarship for Indian students listed in the table above.

1. National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)

Benefits: Full tuition fees + USD 15,400/year (₹14.6L) maintenance allowance + airfare + books allowance + visa fee reimbursement
Application Deadline: February-June

The National Overseas Scholarship is one of the few Indian government scholarships for studying abroad, offered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and covering full tuition, maintenance allowance, airfare, and visa fees. Around 125 students receive this award every year.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian students belonging to SC, DNT/Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers, or Traditional Artisan communities
• Minimum 60% in the last qualifying examination
• Age below 35 years
• Annual family income below ₹8L
• Must hold an admission offer from a recognised university abroad
• Must not be receiving another government scholarship

2. Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship

Benefits: Up to USD 1,20,000 (₹1.14 Cr) covering tuition fees, living expenses, travel, visa costs, and health allowance
Application Deadline: February-March

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship has supported more than 1,400 Indian students. It is one of the prestigious merit-based scholarships for abroad studies that supports postgraduate education at leading universities in the USA, UK, and Europe, including Cambridge and Sciences Po.

Eligibility Criteria:

• An Indian citizen residing in India
• First-class degree from a recognised Indian university
• Minimum 65% for Humanities, Law, Fine Arts, Architecture; 70% for Science and Mathematics
• Must not already hold a foreign postgraduate degree
• Business, Engineering, and Medicine are not covered

3. France Excellence Charpak Scholarship Program

Benefits: €860/month (₹92,900/month) stipend + visa fee waiver + health insurance + housing assistance
Application Deadline: February-March

Run by Campus France, the Charpak Scholarship is available only to Indian students and OCI cardholders. It supports Bachelor's, Master's, exchange programmes, and research internships. Although tuition fees are not covered, French public universities are known for their relatively low tuition costs.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian citizenship or OCI cardholder
• Applying to a French university
• Minimum CGPA of 7.5/10
• Cannot combine with other French government scholarships
• Must not already be studying outside India

4. GREAT Scholarships India

Benefits: £10,000 (₹12.7L) towards tuition fees
Application Deadline: January-June (varies by university)

The GREAT Scholarships India programme is offered jointly by the British Council and the UK government's GREAT Britain Campaign. It is available only to students from selected countries, including India, and is offered across 49+ UK universities. The scholarship works particularly well as a top-up award alongside university funding.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian citizenship
• Hold an undergraduate degree eligible for UK postgraduate admission
• Applying to a one-year taught master's programme at a participating university
• Meet the English language requirements
• Must not have previously studied in the UK on a UK government scholarship

5. Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship

Benefits: Interest-free financial assistance of up to ₹20L + mentorship support
Application Deadline: January-March

The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation supports Indian students pursuing postgraduate studies in India and abroad. Unlike most scholarships, this is an interest-free loan that is repaid after completing the course. Scholars also receive mentorship through the Foundation's alumni network.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian citizenship
• Age below 30 years
• Graduated from a recognised Indian university (final-year students also eligible)
• Applying for a postgraduate programme for the Fall intake
• Open to all fields of study
• The final award depends on securing university admission

6. Cornell University Tata Scholarship

Benefits: Full need-based financial aid worth up to USD 85,000/year (₹80.75L/year) for up to eight semesters
Application Deadline: November 1 (Early Decision)/January 2 (Regular Decision)

Funded by the Tata Education and Development Trust, this scholarship supports Indian students pursuing undergraduate studies at Cornell University. Around 20 Indian students are selected each year, making it one of the most generous India-specific scholarships available in the USA.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian citizenship with a valid passport
• Completed schooling in India
• Admitted to a full-time undergraduate programme at Cornell University
• Must demonstrate financial need through the CSS Profile
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 required to renew the scholarship
• Available for STEM, architecture, applied economics, biological and physical sciences

7. Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust Scholarship

Benefits: Partial tuition support of ₹3-6L
Application Deadline: March-April

The Lady Meherbai scholarship was established in 1933 and is one of India's oldest scholarships for Indian women studying abroad. It provides partial tuition support for pursuing postgraduate or postdoctoral studies in the USA, UK, or Europe, with priority given to fields focused on women and children."

Eligibility Criteria:

• An Indian woman graduate from a recognised university
• First-class academic record
• Admitted to a university in the USA, UK, or Europe
• The field of study should focus on women and children
• Age between 21 and 35 years
• Part-time and correspondence programmes are not eligible

8. Fulbright-Nehru Master's and Research Fellowship

Benefits: Full tuition + monthly stipend (USD 1,500-2,500/₹1.43L-2.38L) + airfare + health insurance + visa support. Total value is USD 50,000-80,000 (₹47.5L-76L).
Application Deadline: May-August

The Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship is jointly funded by the US and Indian governments and is one of the most credible study abroad scholarships for Indian students, covering full tuition, stipend, airfare, and health insurance for master's and research programs in the USA.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian citizenship
• Bachelor's degree with at least 55%
• Minimum three years of full-time work experience for Master's applicants
• Must not already hold a US degree
• Strong English proficiency required

9. KC Mahindra Scholarship

Benefits: Interest-free loan of up to ₹8L + access to the KC Mahindra Fellows network
Application Deadline: January-March

The KC Mahindra Scholarship is one of India's longest-running postgraduate funding programmes. It is awarded based on academic merit and future potential and is open to students pursuing master's degrees anywhere in the world.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian citizenship
• Applying to or being admitted to a postgraduate programme abroad
• Strong academic record
• Open to all fields of study
• The selection includes an interview round

10. Maitri Scholarship

Benefits: Full financial support covering tuition fees, living expenses, and research costs
Application Deadline: Mid-January

Launched in 2023 under the Australia-India Education and Research Initiative, the Maitri Scholarship supports Indian students pursuing research-based master's and PhD programmes in STEM fields. Students cannot apply directly and must first secure admission and be nominated by their Australian university.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian citizenship
• Admitted to a Master's by Research or PhD programme in a STEM field
• First-time student at an Australian university
• Must meet Australian student visa requirements
• Selection is done through university nominations

Before applying for any scholarship for abroad studies, check these five criteria first. Most awards for Indian students evaluate a combination of these factors rather than any single requirement.

• Academic record: Most scholarships require a first-class or high second-class undergraduate degree. The minimum percentage threshold typically ranges from 55% to 70%, depending on the award and field of study.
• Work experience: Government-backed fellowships and professional development programs usually require 2 to 5 years of full-time experience. Merit-based and university-funded scholarships rarely require it.
• Age limit: Several scholarships have upper age limits between 28 and 35 years. Check the specific age criteria for each award before applying.
• University admission: Most scholarships require a confirmed or conditional university offer before the final award is processed. Shortlist universities and scholarships simultaneously.
• Financial need: Need-based scholarships require bank statements, income proof, or a CSS Profile. Merit-based scholarships do not.

Many scholarships for studying abroad are offered directly by governments, universities, and private foundations in popular countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, and Germany. Exploring these country-specific scholarships can help you reduce tuition costs and, in some cases, even cover your entire degree.

Scholarship in the USA

The USA offers the highest individual scholarship values on this list. Knight-Hennessy covers over USD 90,000 per year but requires a Stanford admission. The AAUW Fellowship is specifically for women and does not require a university offer at the time of application, making it one of the more accessible entry points for Indian women applying to US graduate programs.

Scholarship in the UK

The UK has the highest number of fully funded scholarships for Indian students to study abroad. Chevening is the most accessible one, but it covers tuition only up to a GBP 24,500 cap. If your program costs more, you pay the difference. Rhodes and Gates Cambridge have no such cap but are significantly more selective.

Scholarship in Canada

Canada is the most applicant-friendly country because most university scholarships are considered automatically at admission with no separate application. The Vanier at CAD 50,000 per year is the strongest doctoral-level award. The Lester B. Pearson is exclusively for final-year school students, making it one of the few strong undergraduate options for Indian applicants.

Scholarship in Germany

Germany offers some of the strongest scholarships for Indian students for studying abroad, with monthly stipends that, combined with near-zero public university tuition, can make a master's or PhD effectively free. DAAD is the most widely available. Heinrich Böll and Konrad Adenauer are political foundation awards where your civic engagement profile matters as much as your academic record.

Applying for study abroad scholarships requires careful planning and early preparation. Most successful applicants begin researching and preparing their documents several months before the application deadlines. 

• Shortlist scholarships alongside universities. Check whether each award is India-specific, country-specific, or open globally, as this affects your competition level.
• Verify eligibility before applying. Age limits, work experience, field of study, and family income restrictions vary across awards. Confirm you qualify before investing time in an application.
• Prepare documents in advance. Most scholarships require transcripts, a passport, an SOP, LORs, and language or test scores. Need-based awards like Cornell Tata additionally require a CSS Profile.
• Secure a university offer early. Inlaks, NOS, and Narotam Sekhsaria finalise awards only after you hold a university offer. Apply to universities first.
• Submit at least two weeks before the deadline. Inlaks, KC Mahindra, and Narotam Sekhsaria include interview rounds. Build in time to prepare after submitting.

Many students assume scholarships are something you apply for after getting admission. In reality, the strongest scholarship applications are planned alongside your university applications. Deadlines often arrive months before classes begin, and missing them can cost you far more than a few extra hours of preparation.

Yocket Premium helps you identify scholarships that fit your profile, build a stronger SOP, prepare recommendation letters, and create an application timeline so that university and scholarship deadlines move together. This becomes especially useful when you are managing multiple countries and funding options at the same time.