Top 7 Indian Government Scholarships for Studying Abroad

In today's interconnected world, pursuing higher education abroad has become an increasingly popular choice for Indian students seeking to broaden their horizons and enhance their academic and professional prospects. Recognizing the importance of providing financial support to aspiring scholars, Indian government scholarships for studying abroad are aimed at enabling talented students to pursue their dreams of studying abroad.

Scholarships to Study Abroad by Indian and Other Governments:

Over the past decade, scholarships by the government of India to study abroad have seen a significant surge in the number of students benefiting from them. In FY 2021-22, Rs. 1 crore was allocated for air tickets to scholars awarded the Chinese Government Scholarship. Additionally, the government has established bilateral agreements with countries worldwide, facilitating study-abroad opportunities and educational collaborations and providing valuable resources for Indian students seeking financial assistance for their overseas studies. In this blog, let’s have a look at some of the most popular scholarships.

Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships

The Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships provide exceptional opportunities for outstanding Indian individuals to pursue master's degree programs at select US colleges and universities. 
Eligibility Criteria:

• Demonstrated leadership qualities and motivation.
• Completed the equivalent of a US bachelor's degree.
• Possess a minimum of three years of professional work experience.
• Committed to returning to India and contributing to their communities.

Key Benefits:

• J-1 visa support.
• Round-trip economy class air travel from the fellow's home city to the US host institution.
• Funding for tuition, fees, and living expenses.
• Accident and sickness coverage as per US Government guidelines.

Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship

The Ms Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship, fully funded by the Government of India, provides a prestigious opportunity for selected scholars to undertake research at St. Antony College, University of Oxford, London.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Candidates should have a uniform academic record with a minimum of 60% in post-graduation and hold a PhD degree in the chosen subject field.
• The fellowship is intended for young scholars between the ages of 30 and 40 who have a passion for pursuing an academic career and specialize in the fields of History, Economics, or Political Science.
• Candidates should have a minimum of three years of teaching experience at the graduate/postgraduate level after completing their PhD.

Key Benefits:

• The fellowship is initially tenable for one year, with the possibility of extension for an additional year based on the candidate's performance.
• The selected fellow will have a status equivalent to that of a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford.
• The fellowship provides a stipend of £22,063.00, along with travel allowance, college lunches, amounting to a total of £29,944.85.
• Economy class airfare is provided for the fellow (round trip)

Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship

The Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for Doctoral Research, administered by United States-India Education Foundation (USIEF), aims to foster long-term capacity building in addressing climate change-related issues in India and the United States.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian scholars registered for a PhD at an Indian institution are eligible to apply.
• The fellowship is open to various fields, including but not limited to Energy Studies, Earth Sciences, Geology, Environmental Sciences, Renewable Energy, Smart Cities, Agriculture, Public Policy, Environmental Engineering, and Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
• Applicants should have a high level of academic achievement, proficiency in English, and research experience in the relevant field.

Key Benefits:

• The fellowship duration is six to nine months.
• Selected scholars will be affiliated with a host institution in the United States.
• The fellowship provides J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, round-trip economy class air travel, accident and sickness coverage, applicable allowances, and modest affiliation fees.
• Scholars have the opportunity to audit non-degree courses, conduct research, and gain practical work experience in suitable settings in the US
• The grant does not cover allowances for dependents, and the stipend is not sufficient to support family members.

National Overseas Scholarship for SC students

The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme for SC (Scheduled Castes) candidates is a central scheme aimed at providing financial assistance to low-income students belonging to various marginalized categories to pursue higher education abroad.
Eligibility Criteria:

• The scholarship is available for students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Laborers, and Traditional Artisans.
• Candidates must have secured a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent grade in their qualifying examination.
• For PhD courses, the qualification is possessing a master's degree, and for master's degree courses, the qualifying examination is possessing a bachelor's degree.
• Candidates must be under 35 years of age.
• The total family income should not exceed Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum.

Key Benefits:

• Financial assistance for pursuing Master's level courses and PhD courses abroad in institutions/universities.
• In each selection year, a total of 125 fresh awards are given.
• The scholarship covers various expenses such as maintenance allowance, contingency allowance, tuition fees, visa fees, medical insurance premium, incidental journey and equipment allowance, and air passage.
• The duration of the scholarship is up to four years for Ph.D. courses and three years for Master's degree courses.

Commonwealth Scholarship United Kingdom:

The Commonwealth Scholarship for the United Kingdom is a prestigious scholarship program offered by the Government of the United Kingdom to students from Commonwealth countries.
Eligibility Criteria:

• The scholarship is available for master's (one-year course) and PhD programs.
• The scholarship covers a wide range of fields, including Engineering & Technology, Science (Pure & Applied), Agriculture & Allied Fields, and Humanities & Social Sciences.
• Candidates must be under 40 years of age.
• For a Master's degree, candidates must hold or expect to hold a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 60% marks. For PhD degree, candidates must hold or expect to hold a master's degree with the specified minimum marks.
• English Proficiency

Key Benefits:

• Approved airfare to the United Kingdom and return at the end of the award.
• Approved tuition and examination fees.
• Monthly stipend ranging from £1,043 to £1,279.
• Thesis grant, warm clothing allowance, and study travel grant.
• Fieldwork grant and mid-term visit (for PhD scholars).

Commonwealth Scholarship New Zealand

The Commonwealth Scholarship for New Zealand is a scholarship program offered by the Government of New Zealand to students from Commonwealth countries.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The scholarship is available for master's and PhD programs.
• The scholarship is available for Agriculture Development and Renewable Energy fields.
• There is no age limit specified.
• Applicants should have completed a bachelor's or master's degree in the subject or allied fields with a minimum of 65% marks for master's or PhD, respectively.

Key Benefits:

• Full cost of tuition
• Scholars receive a living allowance to cover their expenses during their study period.
• Scholars receive an establishment allowance to assist with their initial setup in New Zealand.
• Medical and travel insurance
• The scholarship covers travel to and from the candidate's home country at the start and end of the scholarship.
• For PhD research students, assistance is provided with research and thesis costs.

General Scholar Program/Senior Scholar Program, China

The General Scholar Program and Senior Scholar Program in China are scholarship programs offered by the Chinese government to students from various countries. Students are nominated by the Indian Government.
Eligibility Criteria:

• The scholarship is available for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs.
• The scholarship covers a wide range of subjects, including Chinese Language and Literature, Management, Fine Arts, Agriculture, Biology, Political Science/International
• Relations, Electronics, Economics, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Pharmacy.
• Undergraduate applicants must be high school graduates under the age of 25, master's applicants must be bachelor's degree holders under the age of 35, and doctoral applicants must be master's degree holders under the age of 40.

Key Benefits:

• The scholarship provides a tuition waiver, which includes administrative costs and student activity expenditures.
• Free university dormitory accommodation is provided. Alternatively, students who choose to stay outside are provided with an accommodation subsidy.
• Monthly stipends are provided to cover living expenses. The amount varies depending on the level of study.
• The scholarship also covers expenses such as medical insurance and travel costs to and from China.
• Apart from the above, Indian government scholarships for studying undergraduate courses abroad are available for countries like Israel, South Korea, Japan, Italy & Mexico.

In conclusion, scholarships provide valuable opportunities for Indian students to pursue their education globally. These scholarships cover various academic disciplines and levels of study, offering financial support and enabling students to gain international exposure.