Indian Government Scholarships for Studying Abroad

Indian Government Scholarship for Studying Abroad: Indian students contribute in large numbers when it comes to studying abroad. This decision to migrate abroad for higher education is derived from the good quality of lifestyle and higher earning potential that follow after studying abroad. However, many students may find the cost of education abroad a big hurdle along the way while planning their budgets. 

To address the growing difficulty among students in opting to pursue their higher education abroad, the Indian government has launched some scholarship schemes for Indian students so that most of their expenses can be covered. The only requirement that the student needs to fulfil is to maintain good academic records. 

The Indian government in close ties with the top universities abroad, provide several fellowships and scholarships which have the potential to cover the whole tuition costs, living costs and other additional costs for students abroad. The Indian government offers scholarships to deserving Indian students who wish to pursue postgraduate studies at prestigious universities worldwide, despite the high costs that they may encounter while studying abroad. This blog delves deep into the world of Indian government scholarships to study abroad, equipping you with the knowledge and resources to navigate your path towards a globally enriching education.

Also Read:

• Top Fully funded Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad
• International Scholarships for Indian Students after 12th
• Scholarships for Bachelor's Abroad 

List of Top Indian Government Scholarships for Studying Abroad

The Indian government, through various ministries and departments, administers a bouquet of scholarships specifically designed to support postgraduate studies abroad. Below is the list of the top popular scholarships offered by Indian government for studying abroad. 

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)

This prestigious scholarship, offered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is a beacon of hope for students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), Landless Agricultural Labourers (ALALs), and Traditional Artisans (TAs). It provides financial assistance for pursuing Master's or Ph.D. programs at foreign universities. 

Applications: The applications portal for the first round of applications to NOS 2024 was opened from 15 February 2024 to 31 March 2024 and students need to fill the online application form by visiting the website  www.nosmsje.gov.in. However, if the seats remain unoccupied, the National Overseas Scholarship applications will re-open for the second round of inviting applications from 01 September 2024 to 15 October 2024. 

Seat Distribution: The distribution of the total number of  National Overseas Scholarships among different marginalised communities is given below. 

Eligibility Criteria: Students must fulfil the following scholarship requirements in order to be considered for the scholarship.

• Secure 60% or above marks in the qualifying examinations.
• For any university, mark sheets for all semesters should be provided. However, if the university provides only a CGPA and not numerical marks then, a university-acknowledged conversion formula must also be provided along with submitting the CGPA. Failing to abide by any of these two conditions will result in the cancellation of the candidature of the student for the scholarship in the concerned year.
• Candidate should not be more than 35 years of age as of the first day of April in the year of application. 
• The total family income of the scholarship candidate (from all sources) must not exceed 8 lakhs per annum. 

Coverage: The scheme covers the tuition, visa, and health insurance fees as charged by the respective organisations. Additionally, the scheme also provides an annual maintenance allowance of USD 15,400 for the USA and other countries except the UK and GBP 9900 for the UK.  

Also Read: Scholarship Interview Questions with Answers to Study Abroad

Fulbright-Nehru Master's and Doctoral Research Fellowships

Indeed one of the best and most expansive scholarships offered by the Indian government, this collaborative program between the US-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) and the Government of India fosters academic exchange between the two nations. It offers scholarships for outstanding Indian students to pursue Master's and Ph.D. degrees in a wide range of fields at accredited American universities. 

These scholarships are awarded for a maximum of two years to pursue courses like public health, women and gender studies, environmental sciences, etc. at US universities. 

Applications: To apply for a Fulbright-Nehru Scholarship, candidates must fill out an online application form by visiting the website https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2025/. The application deadline to apply for the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships is 15 May 2024. 

Eligibility Criteria: To avail of a Fulbright-Nehru scholarship, students must fulfil the following scholarship requirements: 

• Students must have completed an equivalent of USA’s bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 55% of marks.  
• a minimum of 3 years of work experience, 
• Students must not have any other degree from a university in the USA
• and are committed to returning to their home country after the successful completion of their higher education abroad. 

Coverage: The scholarship covers the following for the assistance of students:

• Round-trip air travel fare for economy class from the student’s host city to the city of the institution in the destination country. 
• Complete tuition fees and living costs, however, the scholarship does not provide financial aid for students.  
• Accident and illness coverage 

There are many more Fulbright-Nehru Scholarships for Indian students, some of them are listed below.

1. Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships,
2. Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships,
3. Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, and more.

Interested students can visit the website www.usief.org.in/Fellowships/Fulbright-Nehru-Fellowships.aspx to get complete details on all these scholarships. 

For complete details, check Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowship.

Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for Doctoral Research

Administered by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) on behalf of both the US and the Indian governments, the Fulbright-Kalam Climate fellowships are offered to Indian students to conduct research in a US-based institution in the fields of earth, atmosphere and environmental sciences. 

These fellowships are provided only for a period of 6-9 months and are available for a pre-doctoral research level only, this means that students in the last phase of their PhD or already having a PhD will not be considered for selection. The selected students will be affiliated to a host institution in the USA, however, a prior choice of a preferred institution will also be required from the student.

Applications: Interested students are required through the https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2025 portal before 15 July 2024. 

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must fulfil the following requirements to avail of the Fulbright-Kalam Fellowship.

• Applicants must be registered for a PhD at a recognised Indian institution. 
• Applicants must have conducted sufficient research in the required fields of the fellowship. 
• Applicants must not be in the end phase of their PhD, the estimated final thesis submission date of the PhD student must be at least 3 months after the end date of the Fulbright-Kalam Fellowship grant. 

Coverage: the fellowship covers the following benefits:

• J1 visa support 
• Monthly stipend, please note that the grant is not sufficient to support the family members
• Round-trip economy class air travel fare between India and the USA
• Professional allowance and a modest settling-in allowance 
• Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges per U.S. Government guidelines

There are several Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships as listed below.

1. Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for Doctoral Research
2. Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for Postdoctoral Research
3. Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for Academic and Professional Excellence

Below are some useful links for students seeking to get a scholarship to study abroad. 

Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship

The Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship is a great opportunity for students willing to opt for advanced research in the fields of Economics, Political Sciences and Indian Studies in History abroad. The Ms Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship is funded entirely by the government of India and is administered by the Ministry of Human Resource Development to fund the education of meritorious Indian students abroad. 

This fellowship is provided for a period of 1 year for the first instance and can be extended to up to one more year. Students/candidates selected to avail of this scholarship are placed at St. Antony College, University of Oxford, London with the status of a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at the university. It is to be noted that only 1 fellowship is awarded each year to the deserving candidate.

Applications: Interested students must submit a typed application along with the following documents attached to the application form at the address given below.

Under Secretary (Scholarships), 

Ministry of Education, 

Department of Higher Education, 

(ES 4) External Scholarships Division, 

2nd Floor, Wing-6, West Block-1, 

R.K. Puram, 

Delhi-110066. 

Documents Required: The attested copies of the following documents must be attached to the application form:

• Copies of testimonials
• Programme of study
• Photographs

Note:- all the documents should be submitted on plain white paper.  

Eligibility Criteria: The following scholarship requirements must be met by the aspiring students. 

• Applicants must be Indian nationals and aged between 30-40 years of age as of October of the year of application. 
• Applicants must have secured a minimum of 60% of marks in the qualifying exam of their master’s degree course and must hold a PhD in the same or relevant field of the subject. 
• Applicants must possess a minimum of 3 years of teaching experience at the graduate or postgraduate level. 

Coverage: The Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship provides the following benefits:

• A stipend (including other charges) of 29,347 Pounds.
• Round-trip economy class airfare 

Remember: This list is not exhaustive. It's crucial to conduct thorough research to discover scholarships aligned with your specific academic background, field of study, and financial needs.

Also Read: Types of scholarships available for Study Abroad aspirants

How to Craft a Competitive Scholarship Application?

Securing a government scholarship requires a well-rounded application that showcases your academic excellence, research potential, and commitment to your chosen field. Here are some tips to boost your application:

• Demonstrate Your Academic Competitiveness: Maintain exceptional academic records throughout your undergraduate studies. Strong grades are a key factor in most scholarship selections.
• Ace Standardized Tests:  If required by the scholarship program, strive for high scores on tests like GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, or IELTS. These scores can significantly strengthen your application.
• Craft a Compelling SOP: The statement of purpose (SOP).

Also Read: How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay to Study Abroad?

This was all about the Indian government scholarships for studying abroad 2024. We have covered the top 4 scholarships offered by the Indian government for studying abroad along with their application deadlines, the application process, eligibility criteria and total coverage. If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.