Top scholarship programs by Indian government for studying abroad
Indians across different nations form the second highest source of foreign students only after China. Scholarly faculty, better quality of education, more opportunities, better career growth among others are the reasons for the increased number of Indians studying abroad. But these increased opportunities come with an increased cost which might not be affordable by many. So in order to support the dreams of meritorious students, the Indian government offers different scholarships to students studying abroad. Following are the scholarships for studying abroad by Indian government:-
National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)
About the scholarship:
This honorable 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 Laborers (ALALs), and Traditional Artisans (TAs). It provides financial assistance for pursuing Master’s level courses or Ph.D. programs at universities accredited by the government of that country.
Applications:
The selection year period would be April-March of each year. The portal shall be opened for calling of applications for the first round from mid of February for a period of 45 days i.e. till March end (before the beginning of selection year) and the application process remains completely online meaning only online applications received shall be considered for award of selection. In case the slots remain unfilled, the portal will be opens again for the second cycle from 1st of September for a period of 45 days in each selection year. Once all the 125 slots are filled, the portal will not be reopened during the year for submission of applications.
Seat Distribution:
The distribution of the total number of National Overseas Scholarships among different marginalized communities is given below.
| CATEGORY | SEATS |
| Scheduled Castes | 115 |
| Denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes | 06 |
| Landless agricultural laborers and traditional artisans | 04 |
| Total Slots | 125 |
Apply here: https://nosmsje.gov.in/nosmsje/
Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies
About the scholarship:
It is a Central Sector Scheme of the government that offers financial assistance to students from OBC (Other Backward Classes) and EBC (Economically Backward Classes) backgrounds, in the form of interest subsidies on education loans for overseas studies. This scheme aims to support meritorious students from these communities in pursuing higher education abroad at the Masters, M.Phil., and Ph.D. level courses, enhancing their career prospects and employability by reducing the financial burden of loan interest during the moratorium period.
Eligibility:
- a) Income criteria to be eligible for availing benefits include Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum for both EBC and OBC categories. For the candidate applying under the OBC category, OBC Caste certificate in the prescribed Performa (as per Annexure) issued by the competent authority is required.
- b) The students should have secured admission in the approved courses at Masters, M.Phil or Ph.D levels abroad for the courses listed on the official website of ministry of social justice and empowerment. More than 30 courses have been listed in the approved category.
- c) He/She should have availed loan from a scheduled bank under the Education Loan Scheme of the Indian Banks Association (IBA) for the purpose.
Apply here: Ambedkar scholarship
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship program in UK
About the scholarship:
The Commonwealth Scholarship is offered to Indian students who wish to pursue their higher education in the UK. It covers a wide range of disciplines, including following:-
- Science and technology for development
- Strengthening health systems and capacity
- Promoting Global prosperity
- Strengthening global peace, security and governance
- Strengthening resilience and response to crises
- Access, inclusion and opportunity
The CSC funds one-year taught Master’s programmes only and does not fund MBA degrees.
Eligibility:
- The applicant must be available to start his, academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2025.
- The applicant must not be able to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship. (Candidates are compulsorily required to sign a declaration that they do not have access to sufficient funds to study in the UK).
- There is no age limit for CSC applications.
- Academic Requirements: Candidates must hold a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree in the relevant field with at least 60% marks.
- Application of candidates who are already abroad is not considered.
Application Process: Applications are managed by the Ministry of Education, and candidates need to apply through the official Commonwealth Scholarship portal. The Online Application System is now active from l0 September 2024 to till 15th October 2024.
Apply here: Commonwealth scholarship for masters
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s and Doctoral Research Fellowships
About the scholarship:
It is indeed one of the best and most extensive 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. Indian students with excellent academic records and meritorious credits are offered this scholarship to pursue Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in a wide range of fields including economics, public administration, international affairs, etc. 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. The application process begins every year during April-May.
Eligibility Criteria:
To avail of a Fulbright-Nehru scholarship, students must fulfil the following scholarship requirements:-
- a) Students must have completed an equivalent of USA’s bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 55% of marks.
- b) a minimum of 3 years of work experience in related field,
- c) Students must not have any other degree from a university in the USA
- d) They must be 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:
- a) Round-trip air travel fare for economy class from the student’s host city to the city of the institution in the destination country.
- b) Complete tuition fees and living costs, however, the scholarship does not provide financial aid for students.
- c) Accident and illness coverage.
Apply here: fulbrightnehru-mastersprogram
Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for Doctoral Research
About the fellowship:
Administered by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) on behalf of both the US and Indian governments, this scholarship supports Indian students to conduct research in a US-based institution in the fields of earth, atmosphere, and environmental sciences .
Benefits:
The fellowships provide J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges per U.S. Government guidelines, round-trip economy class air travel, applicable allowances and modest affiliation fees, if any. No allowances are provided for dependents. The grant is not sufficient to support family members.
Apply here: Fulbright kalam fellowship
FAQs
- Does indian government give scholarships for studying abroad by indian government?
Answer- Yes, the Indian government offers different scholarship programs such as national overseas scholarship program, Fulbright-Nehru Scholarship, Ambedkar scheme of interest subsidy among others.
- How much does it cost for an Indian to study abroad?
Answer- While it mainly depends on the country you are planning to choose for studying abroad and the course you are willing to pursue, on average the cost of living for an Indian varies from 10 Lakhs to 25 Lakhs per year.
