Top PhD Scholarships in USA For Indian Students
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Getting a PhD from a coveted US university is a dream for every researcher. However, finance becomes one of the biggest impinging issues when it comes to pursuing a PhD in the USA for Indian students. To their rescue comes the option of PhD scholarships in USA for Indian students. Though funding options are usually limited for international students, yet applicants can still apply for these scholarships for some level of funding.
The high tuition costs and high living expenses become a hurdle. Finances should not become a retarding factor in one’s academic growth. To overcome the financial hurdles for meritorious and deserving candidates various scholarships are there. In this article, we are mentioning some of the PhD scholarships in the USA for Indian students that will ease the financial burdens of the candidates.
Also Read: Study Guide to USA for International Students
PhD Scholarship Funding in US Universities
There are around 50 US universities which offer a fully funded PhD scholarship to their students. The top 10 US universities offering these fully funded PhD scholarships are as follows:
| US Universities Offering Finances for PhD Students | Funding Details | Funding Time Period |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
|
5 years based on the applicant's academic progress |
| Stanford University | Year 1:
Years 2-4:
Year 5:
|
5 years |
| Harvard University | Full financial support is given to PhD students enrolled at Harvard University, all those areas that are covered include - tuition fees, health insurance and accommodation expenses. | 5 years |
| CalTech University |
|
5 years |
| University of Chicago | A stipend of USD 45,500 is offered each year to PhD students + RA & TA are also offered | 5 years |
| University of Pennsylvania |
|
5 years |
| Princeton University |
|
5 years |
| Yale University |
|
5-6 years |
Assistantships can be secured in consultation with the respective faculty advisors. Students can work up to 10 hours which can get applicants a 25% assistantship or work for 20 hours to get 50% assistantships in a week depending on their year in the program.
Top 10 PhD Scholarships in the USA for Indian Students
There are certain scholarships in the USA for Indian students pursuing a PhD to fund their education and they are as follows:
1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program:
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program helps graduate students, professionals, and artists from outside the USA to study and pursue their research in the USA. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is functional in more than 160 countries. Bi-national Fulbright Commissions or US Embassies administer the program. Nearly 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year.
Fields of study eligible: Fulbright invites applications from all fields such as agriculture, arts, education, environment, humanities, social sciences, public health, and science and technology.
For more details on the Fulbright Foreign Student Program.
2. P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship:
The International Peace Scholarship Fund dates back to 1949. It helps women students pursue their studies in the USA. A maximum of $12,500 is awarded to a student. The scholarship does not cover all academic or personal expenses.
3. AAUW International Fellowships in USA for Women:
The American Association of University Women provides scholarships for full-time courses or for research in the USA to those women who do not hold US citizenship or PR. Women who have contributed to the cause of women's upliftment and empowerment are given a preference. The scholarship recipients return to their home countries after completing their studies.
Eligibility: Applicant must hold an equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree.
Award amount:
- Master’s: $18,000
- Doctoral: $20,000
- Postdoctoral: $30,000
Also Read: Cost of living in the USA
4. Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program at Stanford University aims to promote a diverse and multidisciplinary community of students who become leaders in the near future and work on the pressing challenges of society. Students of all 7 schools of Stanford are eligible for this scholarship. This scholarship for PhD students in USA is popular, check out the criteria below.
Eligibility:
- Must be enrolled in a full-time Stanford program; such as MBA, MA, PhD, MS, etc. Priority is given to those who will study for at least 2 years at Stanford.
- To apply in 2023, you must have earned your first bachelor’s degree by Jan 2016 or later
- To apply in 2024, you must have earned your first bachelor’s degree by Jan 2017 or later
Application: The students are supposed to apply separately to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program.
Check: Stanford University Scholarships for Indian Students
5. Asian Cultural Council Fellowship Program
Asian Cultural Council provides fellowships and grants to the students of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Mainland China, East Timor, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States. As per the official website, process-driven activities such as research, training, study, and exploration are given priority.
Eligible fields: Archaeology, Architecture, Art History, Arts Administration, Arts Criticism, Conservation, Crafts, Curation, Dance, Ethnomusicology, Film/Video/Photography, Literature, Museum Studies, Music, Theater, Visual Art.
6. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme
The Aga Khan Foundation provides scholarships for higher education to meritorious students who cannot finance their education by any other means. 50% of the scholarship is in the form of a grant, while the remaining 50% is in the form of a loan. Applications for short-term courses are not taken into account. Preference is given to students who are below 30 years of age. Tuition fees and living expenses are covered in the scholarship; travel expenses are not covered.
Eligibility:
- Nationals of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar and Mozambique
- Excellent academic record
- Genuine financial need
- Admission to a highly reputed university
- Studies should be relevant for the Aga Khan Development Network
7. IBM PhD Fellowship Program
The collaboration between IBM, faculty, students, and universities supports the exceptional and meritorious Ph.D. students who pursue their research in technology. All the recipients are mapped with an IBM mentor. The following are the eligibility criteria to avail of the IBM PhD Fellowship:
- Students cannot nominate himself/herself, he/she must be nominated by the doctoral faculty member
- Full-time PhD
- 3 years should be remaining in their program
- No transfer of department or school
8. Global Leaders Fellowship
The Global Leaders Fellowship is provided to students from Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey, and Vietnam. The students receive a waiver in the application fee and support of up to $10,000 per academic year.
Eligibility:
- Student must belong to one of the above countries
- Student must be studying on an F-1 visa
- Must be enrolled in an on-campus program
9. East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship
The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship provides financial support for master's and doctoral courses to students from Asia, the Pacific, and the USA. The students are expected to take part in community building and leadership development programs at the East-West Center while pursuing their studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM). Applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to the Asia Pacific region are given priority.
10. Fitzduff Family Fellowship
Fitzduff Family Fellowship is awarded to an international student in the Conflict Resolution and Coexistence program. The student is expected to work on social and public policy issues. The Social Policy and Coexistence Fellowship includes full tuition and health insurance, however, the fellowship does not include university fees, travel expenses, and living expenses.Also Read: Scholarships for USA
Thus, applicants have a plethora of choices and can choose those scholarships which suits them the best. The scholarship for PhD students in USA is hard to find, but with the kind of research topics and academic profile, applicants can get one easily. Also, the stipends are usually available at US universities for doctoral applicants to support their education. Have more queries? Write to us in the comments below.
Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Q: What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.
Q: Is it hard to get into the UTSA in San Antonio Texas?
According to various sources, University of Texas San Antonio has an overall acceptance rate of around 87% which makes it somewhat selective for international student admissions. Some of the general requirements to be considered for admission are given as follows:
- SAT/ACT scores
- Overall Student's GPA
- Letters of Recommendation
- High School Class Rank
- Additional Academic Records
Q: How much is the application fee for Alabama University?
The Alabama University application fee for International students vary by application type. Mentioned below are the application fee for UG and PG applications at Alabama:
- UG: USD 40 or INR 3,342.14
- MBA: USD 80 or INR 6,684.28
Q: Is MIT costly for Indians?
MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.
Q: What is the maximum and minimum score in GRE to get admission for MS in USA?
GRE is a popular standardised test for getting admission in MS program in the world. However, there are many universities in the USA that offer admission to MS courses without GRE scores. There is fixed minimum or maximum GRE score for admission. However, even if your GRE score is below the average for a particular program, you may still be considered for admission if you have strong qualifications in other areas. It is adviseble to check university website for the exact information.
Q: Is Texas Wesleyan hard to get into?
As per the US News and World Report, Texas Wesleyan University acceptance rate is 58%. This shows that the university's admission process is relatively selective. Therefore, some students may find it harder to get into the university. Also, international students are advised to check the minimum eligibility for their courses before applying. Please note that the data on the acceptance rate given above is taken from an unofficial source, therefore, it is subject to vary.
Q: What is the OHIO Excellence Scholarship?
First-year students who are new to the Athens campus of Ohio University are considered for the OHIO Excellence Scholarship. The factors that are considered to grant this scholarship are academic achievement, financial need, and individual contributions to the incoming first-year class. This is a merit-based scholarship and the award amount for this scholarship varies up to USD 6,500 annually.
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