Top Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad 2026

Types of Study Abroad Scholarships for Indian Students

Before diving into the list of top scholarships for Indian students to study abroad, you must understand the types of scholarships offered by universities, the government and even private organisations.

1. Merit-Based Scholarships – Awarded to students with outstanding academic records, excellent leadership potential and other accomplishments.
2. Need-Based Scholarships – Award granted to students facing financial hardships who require monetary support to attend top universities.
3. Field-Specific Scholarship – Financial aid designed for specific subject areas like STEM fields.
4. Diversity/Demographic – Financial awards to support a specific group of students, for example, women candidates, students representing minorities or students with disabilities.

List of Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad  

Planning to study abroad is undoubtedly an expensive prospect, and it is where various scholarships are of great help in extending financial support to students. Here are the most prestigious and highly recognised scholarships for Indian Students to study abroad.

1. Chevening Scholarships

Considered as one of the most prestigious fully funded scholarships for Indian students to study abroad, Chevening scholarships are for Indian students planning to study one-year master’s degrees in the UK. The scholarship allows students to live and study in the UK for a year and focus on professional and academic development.

2. Fulbright Nehru Fellowship

Known to support post-graduate studies, Fulbright-Nehru fellowships are looked upon as the highly respected scholarships to study abroad for Indian students. These fellowships are designed across various categories, supporting Master's studies, Doctoral research, and postdoctoral research.

3. DAAD Scholarship

A German-based scholarship aimed to support graduates, doctoral students and postdocs. The assistance is awarded to students for study purposes and research visits to universities & non-university research institutions in Germany.

4. Australia Awards Scholarships

Australia Awards Scholarships are designed to support students from developing countries planning full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian Universities. The scholarship offers multiple study and research opportunities that allow students to develop skills and knowledge to drive change and contribute to development in their own countries.

5. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

For students planning their post-graduate studies at Cambridge University, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a fully-funded financial aid. The scholarship is to be offered to international students with an outstanding profile pursuing PG studies.

6. S.N. Bose Scholars Program

A student exchange scholarship jointly funded by the Department of Science and Technology, India, and the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) to provide Indian UG and PG students with opportunities to experience world-class research facilities at US universities.

7. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Scholarship

A prestigious, fully-funded program offered by the European Union for Indian students to pursue a master's degree across multiple European countries. The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Scholarship is designed to support students with an outstanding profile boasting academic excellence and leadership potential.

8. Canada Graduate Research Scholarship (CGRS D)

A prestigious doctoral scholarship program designed to attract world-class doctoral students to eligible Canadian universities. An individual to win a CGRS D scholarship must have been accepted and nominated by a selected university. The eligible research areas for the scholarship are health, natural sciences & engineering and social sciences & humanities.

9. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program

The Eiffel Excellence program is undoubtedly one of the best scholarships to study abroad for Indian students in France. The program aims to attract outstanding Indian students to pursue their master's and PhD programs in French institutions.

10. Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship

Supporting outstanding individuals for almost 50 years, the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship is one of the best scholarships for Indian students to study abroad after 12th. The program aims to support student planning their master's studies at top institutions in the UK, Europe and the USA.  

11. Monash International Merit Scholarship

Monash University, one of the most highly preferred choices for Indian students in Australia, offer a merit scholarship. The program offers assistance to international students with a strong academic profile and leadership potential who are enrolled and intend to study a full-time UG degree and course at Monash University.

Note – You can use our scholarship finder tool, an AI-based algorithm that simplifies searching for your preferred scholarship with the help of various filters.

Also Read: Scholarships for Studying Abroad by Indian Government

How to Apply for a Scholarship to Study Abroad?             

Now that you are well aware of the prestigious scholarships for Indian Students to study abroad, it’s time to uncover the detailed process to apply for a study abroad scholarship. It will help you ensure that you craft your application with confidence. Here are detailed steps –

STEP 1 – Research & Identify Scholarships

• With a range of scholarships to study abroad, start by exploring the scholarships based on your profile and shortlist the most suitable ones.
• Consider factors like study destination, field of study and type of scholarship (merit-based or need-based). It will help you extract the perfect scholarship for abroad studies that align with your profile.

STEP 2 – Understanding Eligibility Criteria & Requirements

• Once your scholarships to study abroad are shortlisted, thoroughly check and understand the eligibility criteria and requirements that qualify you for the application.
• The eligibility for every scholarship varies; however, basic general eligibility requirement includes a strong undergraduate record, a competitive GMAT score, demonstrated financial need (for need-based awards) and showcase leadership potential. 

STEP 3 – Prepare Your Application Documents

• A list of mandatory documents is required to support your application and they stand as proof that you are an eligible candidate to apply for a particular scholarship.
• These documents generally include academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, standardised test scores, Statement of Purpose, English proficiency scores, GMAT/GRE score card and scholarship essay.

STEP 4 – Apply Strategically

• The key area to consider before applying is to make sure you tailor your application, particularly the essay, for each scholarship.
• Once you are all done with preparing documents, apply early to avoid missing deadlines, given that they are strict and missing one is simply losing an opportunity.

STEP 5 – Await Decision & Attend Interviews

• After applying, it generally takes a few weeks for your application to get reviewed by the scholarship committee.
• Await the decision and prepare for any potential interviews, as many scholarships require an interview as a qualifying criterion. 

Wrapping Up

Summing up, this ends our informative journey of exploring prestigious scholarships for Indian students to study abroad. The best part about these scholarships is that they not only extend support in the form of funding, but they also open the doors to opportunities for students to pursue their dreams to study at top institutions.  Whether you are someone planning to study in the UK, US, Canada or any part of the world, there is a scholarship designed to help reduce your financial burden. Still confused about the application process? No worries, connect with our study abroad consultants today and apply for the top scholarships with confidence. 

FAQs

1. Do scholarships cover tuition fees only or living expenses as well?

Each scholarship varies greatly, while some offer only tuition, some are fully-funded (tuition + living expenses), and others offer partial support to help student excel in their field.

2. Can Indian students apply for need-based and merit-based scholarships together?

Yes, Indian students can apply for both need-based and merit-based scholarships together to maximise funding. It's a common strategy, but students must thoroughly understand scholarship rules about combining aid.

3. How early should I start applying for study abroad scholarships?

Students are advised to start their research and prepare their scholarship application 12-18 months before the intended start date. It will offer you ample time to gather all the documents, tailor your application for each scholarship and apply with confidence.

4. How competitive is it to get a scholarship to study abroad from India?

The journey to win a scholarship to study abroad is highly competitive, given the large pool of talent with strong academics and leadership potential applying for a scholarship.

5. Can scholarships be renewed for the next academic year or semester?

Yes, many scholarships can be renewed for the subsequent academic years or semester, given the specific scholarship terms. It may require continuing a high GPA, full-time enrolment, or reapplication.