Top Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad (2026)

Understanding the different types of scholarships helps students target opportunities that best match their academic profile and financial needs. 

Here’s a quick overview of the main types of scholarships available:

• Merit-Based Scholarships: Awarded to students based on academic, artistic, or extracurricular excellence.
• Need-Based Scholarships: Designed for students who show financial need to support their education abroad.
• Subject-Specific Scholarships: Focused on students pursuing particular fields of study, like engineering, medicine, or the arts.
• University-Specific Scholarships: Offered by individual universities to attract top international talent.
• Country-Specific Scholarships: Reserved for students from specific countries or regions.
• Sports Scholarships: Awarded to talented athletes to support their academic and sporting pursuits.
• Research Scholarships: Targeted at students involved in research-intensive programs or projects.

The scholarships for Indian students, like the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship, stand out as one of the most prestigious opportunities for Indian students, with over 350 awards granted annually.

Here’s a quick comparison of the top scholarships for Indian students:

Let’s get into the details of all the famous scholarships for Indian students, along with their benefits, eligibility, and more:

1. Chevening Scholarship (UK)

Benefits: Tuition fees, living allowance, airfare, visa costs, and travel grants total £35,000-£50,000 (₹37.21-₹53.16 Lakh) annually

Application Deadline: August-November (Opens August 5, closes November 5)

Chevening Scholarship has supported over 55,000 students, and it was established in 1983 by the UK Foreign Office. Chevening international scholarship for Indian students covers tuition fees at any of 150+ UK universities, monthly stipends, travel costs, and other allowances

Eligibility:

• Must be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country (India included)
• Hold a bachelor's degree equal to UK upper second-class (2:1) honours
• Have at least 2 years (2,800 hours) of work experience after graduation
• Must apply to 3 UK universities and secure at least one unconditional offer by July
• Commit to returning to the home country for a minimum of 2 years after scholarship

2. Fulbright Scholarships (USA)

Benefits: Full tuition fees, monthly living stipend ($1,500-$2,500 = ₹1.28-₹2.13 Lakh), health insurance, US student visa support, round-trip airfare (approximately total: $50,000-$80,000 (₹42.65-₹68.24 Lakh per year)

Application Deadline: May-August (opens mid-May, closes by early August)

The Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship was founded in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright. 

More than 4 lakh students from 160+ countries benefited from this foreign scholarship for Indian students in the USA.

Eligibility:

• Must be an Indian citizen residing in India
• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 55% marks from an Indian university
• Minimum 3 years of full-time professional work experience (for Master's Fellowship)
• Must not hold a US degree obtained previously

3. Maitri Scholarship (Australia)

Benefits: AUD $11.2 million (₹64.40 Crore)

Application Deadline: January (universities nominate by mid-January)

The Maitri Scholarship was founded in 2023 by the Australian Government to support Indian students pursuing Master's and PhD programs in STEM. Students cannot apply directly and must be nominated by their Australian university after securing admission. It is one of the top scholarships for studying abroad that provides full financial support.

Eligibility:

• Indian citizenship requirement
• Program type (Master's by research or PhD)
• STEM research fields requirements
• First-time student at an Australian university
• Meet Australia student visa requirements

4. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme (France)

Benefits:

• Master's level: €1,200/month (₹1.22 Lakh)
• PhD level: €2,100/month (₹2.14 Lakh), international airfare, health insurance, housing assistance, cultural activities {Total €14,400-€25,200 per year (₹14.69-₹25.71 Lakh)}
• (Note: Tuition fees NOT covered)

Application Deadline: October-January (institutions submit by January 8)

Unlike many international scholarships for Indian students, Eiffel does not cover tuition fees but provides good monthly allowances and additional services. Students cannot apply directly; they must be nominated by participating French institutions.

Eligibility:

• Maximum age: 29 years for Master's level, 35 years for PhD level
• Non-French nationality (dual nationals, including French, not eligible)
• Must be nominated by a French higher education institution
• Pursuing studies in engineering, economics, law, political science, or related fields
• Cannot combine with other French government scholarships

5. GREAT Scholarships (UK)

Benefits: £10,000 (₹10.63 Lakh) towards tuition fees

Application Deadline: Varies by university (January-June)

GREAT Scholarships support students from 14 countries, including India. Over 200 scholarships were given across 49+ UK universities, including UCL, University of Nottingham, and Newcastle University, in the 2024-25 academic year. 

Eligibility:

• Must be a citizen of India
• Hold an undergraduate degree qualifying for UK postgraduate admission
• Applying for a one-year taught postgraduate program at a participating UK university
• Meet the English language requirements of the chosen university
• Not have previously studied in the UK on a UK government scholarship

6. Rotary Foundation Global Study Grants (Global)

Benefits: Up to $30,000 (₹25.59 Lakh) for tuition, fees, transportation, and living expenses for 1-4 years of graduate study

Application Deadline: Varies by Rotary district (May-August)

The Rotary Foundation offers Global Grants for graduate-level study or research in one of six focus areas. The scholarship is available at universities worldwide where a Rotary club or district exists. Scholars get a chance to join a global network of over 1.4 million members.

Eligibility:

• Graduate or doctoral-level student or research scholar
• Project must align with one of Rotary's six areas of focus (disease prevention, peace, water/sanitation, maternal/child health, education, economic development)
• Must be sponsored by a Rotary club or district
• English proficiency is required if studying in English

7. Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarships (Canada) 

Benefits: CAD 40,000 annual stipend (₹24.31 Lakh) + CAD 20,000 research/travel allowance (₹12.15 Lakh) for 3 years {Total CAD 180,000 (₹1.09 Cr)}

Application Deadline: December (typically early December)

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship was established in 2001 to support PhD students who are researching these four key themes: human rights and dignity, responsible citizenship, Canada and the world, and people and their natural environment.

Eligibility:

• Enrolled in or applying to a PhD program in humanities, social sciences, or related professional programs (law, public health)
• Research must relate to at least one of the foundation's four themes
• First or second year of doctoral studies
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or international students studying in Canada

8. Commonwealth Scholarship 

Benefits: Full tuition fees, return airfare, monthly living allowance (approximately £1,347 = ₹1.43 Lakh), thesis grant, warm clothing allowance = Total approximately £30,000-£40,000 (₹31.90-₹42.53 Lakh) per year

Application Deadline: Varies by country (December-January)

The Commonwealth Scholarship has been supporting students since 1959. It is funded by the UK government and administered through the British Council. The program has supported over 30,000 individuals from Commonwealth nations, making it one of the most famous scholarships for Indian students.

Eligibility:

• Must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country (India included)
• Minimum 70% marks or equivalent in undergraduate/postgraduate studies
• Applying for a Master's or PhD at a UK university
• Strong English language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL scores required)

9. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

Benefits: 50% grant, 50% loan covering tuition fees and living expenses. Average award $50,000-$80,000 (₹42.65-₹68.24 Lakh) total, with 50% to be repaid

Application Deadline: March (mainly mid-March)

The Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship provides a 50% interest-free loan repayable over 5 to 10 years after graduation. It prioritises students from developing countries who have no other funding sources. It is a fully funded scholarship for Indians available at universities worldwide, except in Germany, the UK, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, and more.

Eligibility:

• Must have an excellent academic record
• Show financial need with no other funding sources
• Accepted to a reputable institution for postgraduate studies
• Under 30 years of age
• From a developing country (preference given to Aga Khan Development Network countries)

10. Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (USA, Africa, and Japan)

Benefits: Full tuition fees, monthly living stipend ($ 1,000-$1,500/₹85,300-₹1.28 Lakh), health insurance, economy class airfare, travel allowance (Total $50,000-$70,000 (₹42.65-₹59.71 Lakh) per year)

Application Deadline: March-April (varies by partner university)

This program has supported over 6,000 mid-career professionals from developing countries and is one of the top scholarships for studying abroad, established in 1987. It covers tuition, living costs, and travel while allowing scholars to pursue Master’s degrees in development-related fields across the USA, Africa, Japan, Europe, and Oceania.

Eligibility:

• Must be a national of a World Bank member developing country
• Hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 3 years of recent paid development-related professional experience
• Aged 50 years or younger at application deadline
• Not be a dual citizen of any developed country
• Committed to returning to the home country within 2 years of program completion

The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) is a highly beneficial scholarship for Indian students as it covers full tuition, living expenses, travel, and contingency costs for postgraduate and PhD studies abroad.

Below is a detailed table of other major Indian government-funded scholarships you should know:

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship is one of the top scholarships for international students, offering full funding for travel, tuition, a living stipend, and leadership training.

Here is a list of other key scholarships offering financial support for studying in the USA:

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships are highly competitive international scholarships for Indian students, providing CAD 50,000 per year for three years to PhD candidates with outstanding research achievements. 

Below is the table listing more scholarship options for international students studying in Canada:

The Chevening Scholarships are among the most prestigious fully funded scholarships for Indian students, covering tuition, living costs, travel, and additional allowances.

Here’s a quick overview of other popular scholarships in the UK for international students:

The first big step to apply for international scholarships is collecting all your important documents on time. Once you are ready with everything, you can follow these steps one by one:

• Step 1 - Research Scholarships: Look for scholarships that match your course, country, or academic scores.
• Step 2 - Check Eligibility: Read the rules carefully to make sure you qualify.
• Step 3 - Prepare Documents: Keep your transcripts, passport, SOP, LORs, and certificates ready.
• Step 4 - Write a Strong SOP: Explain why you deserve the scholarship in simple, honest words.
• Step 5 - Apply Before Deadline: Submit your form and documents early to avoid last-minute problems.
• Step 6 - Attend Interviews (if required): Answer questions confidently about your goals and achievements.

The biggest mistake students make when applying for international scholarships is sending incomplete or incorrect documents. Avoid these simple errors to improve your chances:

• Not Reading Instructions Properly: Missing small details can lead to rejection.
• Applying to the Wrong Scholarships: Many students apply to scholarships they don’t qualify for.
• Weak or Copied SOP: A poor or non-original SOP instantly reduces your chances.
• Missing the Deadline: Late applications are usually not accepted at all.
• Ignoring Email Updates: Students often miss important messages from scholarship providers.

Students often feel overwhelmed when applying for scholarships due to multiple forms, documents, and eligibility requirements. Many miss deadlines or waste time applying for programs they don’t qualify for, which reduces their chances of success. Careful planning and understanding each scholarship’s requirements is key to securing funding.

If you’re confused about which scholarships you actually qualify for, Yocket Premium can help shortlist high-probability options for your profile. It will help you compare eligibility, manage applications, and stay updated with the latest fully funded scholarships for Indian students, giving you an edge in applying efficiently.