If you are aiming for a fully funded Master's or PhD abroad starting in 2027, several of the biggest scholarships have already closed. One major award is still open, and the rest open again in a predictable cycle. Here is where each stands as of 10 November 2026, from the official pages.
Status at a glance
| Scholarship | Status | Deadline | What happens next | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gates Cambridge (Master's and PhD, University of Cambridge) | Open | 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on your course's funding deadline | Outcomes by 8 March 2027; offers by early April 2027 | Gates Cambridge guide |
| Chevening (one-year Master's in the UK) | Closed | Closed in October 2026 | Interviews March–April 2027; results from mid-June 2027. This round opened in August 2026 | Chevening guide |
| Commonwealth Master's Scholarships (UK) | Closed | Closed 20 October 2026 (16:00 BST) | Applies through India's national nominating agency | |
| Rhodes Scholarship, India (Oxford, 5 places) | Closed | Closed 23 July 2026 | Finalist interviews in November; all applicants told by December 2026. Last round opened 1 June | |
| Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research (USA, 6–9 months) | Closed | Closed 1 July 2026 | For PhD scholars registered at an Indian institution | Fulbright guide |
| Fulbright-Nehru Master's (USA) | Watch for 2027–28 call | The 2026–27 round closed 14 May 2025 | Needs 3+ years of full-time relevant work experience | Fulbright guide |
Still open: Gates Cambridge
Gates Cambridge funds full-time postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge for applicants from outside the UK. For everyone except US citizens living in the US, the deadline is set by your course: either Tuesday 8 December 2026 or Wednesday 6 January 2027. Find your course in the Cambridge Course Directory and check its "Course Funding Deadline". You apply for the scholarship inside your Cambridge course application, so both must be in by that date.
- Departments rank candidates from December to February.
- Candidates hear whether they have been shortlisted by 8 March 2027.
- The selection panel meets on 22–23 March 2027 and scholarships are offered by early April 2027.
Closed for 2027: plan for the next round
- Chevening closed in October 2026. If you applied, interviews run from March to April 2027 and results come from mid-June 2027. You must hold an unconditional UK university offer by 8 July 2027. If you missed it, note that this year's round opened in August, so start your essays and university applications in summer 2027.
- Commonwealth Master's closed on 20 October 2026. Indian candidates apply through the national nominating agency rather than directly.
- Rhodes (India) offers five scholarships to Oxford. The 2027 round ran from 1 June to 23 July 2026. You must be an Indian citizen aged 18 to 23 on 1 October of the application year, or under 27 if you finished your first degree late.
- Fulbright-Nehru Master's is for working professionals: you need at least three years of full-time, paid work in your field and a four-year bachelor's or a master's degree. The last round closed in mid-May, so watch USIEF's site for the 2027–28 call.
What to do this week
- If Cambridge is on your list, find your course's funding deadline today. For some courses it is 8 December, less than a month away.
- For everything else, put next year's opening months in your calendar: June (Rhodes), August (Chevening) and the USIEF call for Fulbright.
- Use the gap to build what these panels look for: leadership examples, a clear career plan and strong recommenders.
- Use our free scholarship finder to find awards that match your course and country, and read how to get a scholarship to study abroad from India.
Sources
- Gates Cambridge: Application timeline
- Chevening: Application timeline
- Rhodes House: Rhodes Scholarship for India, information for candidates
- USIEF: Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships
- USIEF: Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships
- CareerIndia: Commonwealth Master's Scholarship 2027/28 deadline (20 Oct 2026)
Checked on 10 November 2026. Deadlines can change; always confirm on the official page before you apply.