Top Scholarships for Indian Students Abroad in 2025/26

Planning to study abroad in 2025 or 2026? You’re not alone. But the biggest concern almost always comes down to money. High tuition, living costs, visa approvals—these hurdles can feel overwhelming.

That’s exactly why scholarships are a game-changer. A fully funded or part-funded scholarship can make the difference between applying and actually living your study-abroad dream. The good news: several top scholarships are open to Indian students right now.

1. Fulbright‑Nehru Master’s Fellowship (USA) 🇺🇸

The Fulbright‑Nehru Fellowship remains one of the most prestigious scholarships for Indians studying in the USA, especially for public policy, environmental science, and international relations.

Benefits

• Full tuition fee waiver

• Monthly stipend and J‑1 visa assistance

• Round-trip airfare and health insurance

What They Look For

• Strong academic records (minimum ~55%)

• At least 2–3 years professional or community service experience

• Clear leadership potential and future goals

Real-World Example: Neha, an environmental engineer from Pune, received Fulbright funding to pursue a master’s in Environmental Management in California.

2. Chevening Scholarships (UK) 🇬🇧

Spearheaded by the UK Foreign Office, the Chevening Scholarship caters to future leaders and changemakers across 140+ countries—including India.

Package Includes

• Tuition fees at UK universities

• Monthly living allowance

• Return airfare and visa support

Application Tips

• Craft a convincing story of leadership and impact in your SOP

• Apply to universities and Chevening separately (British Council requires both)

Success Story: Aarav from Delhi used Chevening funding to pursue a master’s in Digital Policy at LSE, supported by his NGO experience in digital literacy.

3. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s (EU wide) 🇪🇺

The Erasmus Mundus scholarship supports joint Master’s programmes offered across multiple EU universities, often involving mobility between countries like the Netherlands, France, or Spain.

Advantages

• Full tuition waiver

• Monthly stipend, travel allowances, and insurance

What Stands Out

• Academic excellence (often with a GPA ≥ 3.5)

• Cross-cultural readiness

• Strong research proposals

Tip: Many programmes have active alumni networks—reach out to former Indian students to understand what impressed selection committees.

4. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) 🇰🇷

Supported by the Korean government, the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is open to Indian students aiming for bachelor’s or master’s degrees in fields like engineering, AI, or humanities.

Scholarship Features

• Full tuition coverage

• Monthly stipend and airfare

• Korean language course support (or English-taught programmes)

Why It’s Worth Considering

• Growing reputation of Korean universities like KAIST and Seoul National University

• Generous financial support paired with global exposure

5. Commonwealth Scholarships (UK, Canada, Australia) 🌍

Part of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, these scholarships support postgraduate students from India to study in Commonwealth countries.

What’s Included

• Tuition fees

• Living stipend, travel allowances

• Health insurance

Strong Profile Indicators

• Academic or research credentials aligned with a Commonwealth development agenda

• Preference to scientists, educators, public service professionals

6. Indian Government & Trust-Funded Scholarships

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)

A central government scheme for SC/ST/OBC categories—supports MS/PhD studies abroad in professionally relevant fields, with funding up to ₹30 lakh.

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship

Highly competitive, this scholarship funds Indian students to study at top universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Stanford—covering tuition, stipend, and travel.

7. University & Platform-Sponsored Scholarships

• GyanDhan Scholarship 2026: A ₹5 lakh award for four high-performing Indian students—no essays, just test-based merit.

• Education Future Scholarship: Up to ₹10 lakh support for those with study loans and solid academic history.

• Institutional Scholarships: Universities like Macquarie (Australia) and OCSI (Oxford/Cambridge Society of India) offer merit-based funding for Indian students.

🧠 Smart Strategies to Maximize Your Chances

Start Early

Applications open as early as August and close by November—especially for programmes like Chevening, Fulbright, and Erasmus.

Tailor Your SOP

Showcase leadership, community engagement, and academic alignment with the scholarship’s goals.

Gather Strong References

Approach professors or supervisors early. They should be familiar with your academic journey and extra‑curricular achievements.

Leverage Indian Study‑Abroad Platforms

Websites like Buddy4Study, Scholarship360, and Y-Axis list niche, university-specific, and newly launched scholarship opportunities.

Maintain Clean Financial Records

Even fully funded scholarships may require you to prove access to some initial funds. Keep your bank statements or loan sanction letters ready.

Prepare for Interviews

Programs like Fulbright‑Nehru and Chevening often include panel interviews—practice articulating career plans, reasons for choosing the country, and impact stories.

Fulbright‑Nehru Master’s Fellowships (USA)

Grant Benefits

• Full tuition and academic fees

• Monthly living stipend and health/accident insurance per U.S. Government guidelines

• Round‑trip economy airfare

• J‑1 visa assistance and waiver processing support

• Note: No dependent funding included Reddit+9Welcome to+9CollegeSearch+9

Eligibility Requirements

• Indian citizen with a recognized degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s with ≥55% marks

• At least 3 years of full‑time professional experience related to proposed study

• Demonstrated leadership and community service

• Not employed by the Government of India or state services Chevening+7Welcome to+7GradRight+7

Fields of Study

Acceptable fields include: Economics; Environmental Science/Studies; Higher Education Administration; International Legal Studies; Journalism & Mass Communication; Public Health; Sustainable Development; Urban & Regional Planning; Women’s/ Gender Studies. GradRight+5AdmitX+5Welcome to+5

Application Process

1. Online application via USIEF portal

2. Upload documents including CV, SOP, transcripts, employer endorsement (if applicable), recommendations

3. Shortlisting and interviews by USIEF (July–August 2025)

4. Submit TOEFL/GRE if shortlisted

5. Final placements organized by IIE, New York, based on candidate preference and competitiveness Reddit+15Welcome to+15Welcome to+15Reddit+8AdmitX+8Reddit+8Welcome to

Post‑Nomination Process

• IIE (Institute of International Education) applies to up to four U.S. universities on your behalf

• You do not need to send individual applications

• Final visa documentation and J‑1 visa processing facilitated by USIEF/IIE

• Pre‑departure orientation in India before departure (May–July 2026) Welcome to+1AdmitX+1

Chevening Scholarships (UK)

Grant Benefits

• Full tuition fees up to the Chevening cap

• Monthly stipend for living costs

• Return economy-class airfare

• Visa and immigration support, including arrival allowance

Eligibility Requirements

• Indian citizen from a Chevening‑eligible country

• Undergraduate university degree

• Minimum 2 years (2,800+ hours) of work experience (including unpaid or part-time internships)

• Demonstrated leadership and networking potential

• Commitment to return to India for at least two years post-study

Fields of Study

• Any full-time taught Master’s courses at UK universities, typically 9–12 months combining arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, and technology

• Must choose three eligible programmes at different universities aligned with your career objectives

Application Process

1. Open application online (August–November 2025)

2. Register and complete eligibility questions on Chevening portal

3. Write essays on leadership, career plan, why UK, and why your course choices

4. Apply separately to three UK universities

5. Shortlisted applicants go through an interview process (typically early 2026)

Post‑Nomination Process

• Award letter issued after interview

• Scholar secures offer from at least one UK university by given deadline (e.g. July 2026)

• Chevening arranges visa support documentation and payment

• Pre‑departure briefing and arrival support in the UK

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degrees (Europe)

Grant Benefits

• Full tuition fee waiver

• Monthly stipend (€1,000/month for 12 months) + travel and installation allowance (€1,000–3,000)

• Health insurance for duration of studies

Eligibility Requirements

• Global applicants including Indian citizens

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with strong academic performance

• Mobility rule: must not have lived or studied in EU for more than 12 months in past 5 years

• Need to meet programme-specific language requirements (often English)

Fields of Study

• Multidisciplinary: engineering, public health, social sciences, environmental studies, education, digital transformation, etc., depending on programme consortia

Application Process

1. Identify up to 3 Erasmus Mundus programmes via the EU portal

2. Apply directly on each consortium’s application portal (Oct–Jan)

3. Submit documents: CV, SOP (tailored to program), academic transcripts, language scores, recommendations

4. Shortlisting may include interviews or academic assessments

Post‑Nomination Process

• Scholarship award is directly confirmed by consortium

• Consortium helps coordinate mobility between universities

• Pre‑departure tasks: visa, travel, accommodation arrangements

• Cultural orientation at host institutions

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

Grant Benefits

• Full tuition coverage

• Monthly stipend (approx. KRW 800,000–900,000 depending on level)

• Round-trip airfare and settlement allowance

• Language training support if required

Eligibility Requirements

• Indian citizen holding a bachelor’s degree (for master’s applicants)

• Undergraduates and postgraduates can apply depending on programme

• No age limit for most categories

• Proficiency in English (TOEFL/IELTS) or willingness to attend Korean-language program

Fields of Study

• STEM (AI, computer science, engineering), humanities, social sciences, business, fine arts — depending on hosting university

Application Process

1. Online application via National Institute for International Education (NIIED) portal or Korean Embassy (usually Feb–Apr each year)

2. Submit academic transcripts, SOP, recommendations, English or Korean language scores

3. Shortlisting and announcement by May/June 2025, followed by possible Korean language test/interview

Post‑Nomination Process

• Pre-departure orientation organized by Korean Embassy or NIIED

• Visa guidance and arrival support

• Korean language placement test (if required), academic placement in the assigned university

Commonwealth Scholarships (UK, Canada, Australia)

Grant Benefits

• Tuition fee coverage

• Living stipend

• Travel grants, thesis allowances, and health insurance

• Support for research-based fields and public service development goals

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizen of a Commonwealth country (India included)

• Typically postgraduate or PhD applicants

• Academic excellence; research proposals that align with Commonwealth priorities such as education, development, governance

Fields of Study

• Public Policy and Governance

• Development Economics

• Education

• STEM and Health Sciences aligned to development agendas

Application Process

1. Applications usually submitted online via national nominating authority in India

2. Submit research proposal, academic credentials, recommendations

3. Shortlisting and national interviews

4. Final selection by host country universities and Commonwealth Secretariat

Post‑Nomination Process

• Offer letters from host universities

• Visa processing assistance

• Pre‑departure briefings

• Progress monitoring and reporting during scholarship tenure

🧠 Smart Strategy: Maximize Your Wins

• Start early: Fulbright (May), Chevening (Nov), Erasmus (Jan), GKS (Apr)—plan accordingly

• Tailor applications: Align SOP and project proposals to each award’s mission

• Collect strong referrals: Focus on academic and leadership credibility

• Use trusted platforms: Buddy4Study, USIEF, Scholarship360 for accurate updates and reminders

• Prepare for interviews: Especially for Fulbright and Chevening—practice leadership stories and goals

❓ FAQs (Schema‑Rich Style)

Q: Are the scholarships listed fully funded?

Yes. Scholarships like Fulbright‑Nehru, Chevening, Erasmus Mundus, GKS, and NOS provide full tuition, stipend, travel, and insurance.

Q: Can undergraduate Indian students apply?

Some scholarships like GKS and university-specific awards accept UG students; most others focus on postgraduate level.

Q: How competitive are these scholarships?

Highly competitive—a strong SOP, leadership portfolio, and academic records can significantly boost chances.

Q: What is the typical application timing?

Most scholarships accept applications from August to November 2025 for 2026 intake—check deadlines early in the year.

Q: Can partial scholarships still make it viable?

Absolutely. Even a partial award reduces financial burden, and loans or assistantships can cover the rest.

Final Thoughts

Securing a scholarship can turn your study-abroad dream into reality—even in high-cost destinations. With perseverance, strategy, and clarity, Indian students can access top-tier universities around the globe.

Start early, focus on quality applications, and tap into trusted platforms for guidance. Your international education journey begins here.