Top 25 Scholarships for Indian Students Studying Abroad in 2026 (Verified & Active)
One of the biggest myths in study abroad is that international education is only for students from wealthy families. The reality? Billions of rupees in scholarship money go unclaimed every year — simply because Indian students don't know the opportunities exist, or don't apply.
This is a fully verified list of active scholarships available to Indian students for 2026–27 intake. Each one has been checked for current eligibility and activity. No outdated grants, no discontinued programs.
How to Use This Guide
The scholarships below are grouped by category — government scholarships, university-specific awards, field-specific grants, and private foundations. Each entry includes the scholarship name, eligible destinations, typical award value, and key application requirement.
Bookmark this page and refer back as deadlines approach. For a personalised match based on your profile, GPA, and target university, use AbroBot's AI Scholarship Finder — it cross-references your application data against a live database of verified opportunities.
Government Scholarships (Indian Government)
1. National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)
Offered by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
For: SC, ST, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans
Destinations: Any country
Award: Full tuition + living allowance + visa fees + airfare
Eligibility: Age under 35, family income below ₹6 lakh/year, already holding an admit from a foreign university
Apply: Scholarships.gov.in
This is one of India's most generous scholarships but one of the least applied-for, simply because many eligible students are unaware of it.
2. Dr. Ambedkar Central Sector Scheme
Offered by: Ministry of Social Justice
For: OBC and EBC students
Destinations: Top 500 universities globally (QS or THE)
Award: Up to $15,500/year
Eligibility: Family income below ₹8 lakh/year; enrolled in a Master's or PhD
3. ICCR Scholarships (Reverse — for outbound)
Offered by: Indian Council for Cultural Relations
Note: ICCR primarily offers inbound scholarships, but maintains bilateral agreements that can fund Indian students to specific countries. Check the ICCR portal for active bilateral programs.
Government Scholarships (Host Country)
4. Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowship (USA)
Award value: Full funding — tuition, living, airfare, health insurance
For: Indian citizens applying to US Master's or PhD programs
Fields: Open to all fields; special emphasis on STEM, education, and public service
Deadline: Typically July 15 each year for the following academic year
Selection: Extremely competitive; typically 100–150 awards per year
Apply: usief.org.in
The Fulbright-Nehru is the most prestigious US scholarship for Indians. Even if you don't win, the application process forces you to clarify your academic goals in a way that strengthens all your other applications.
5. Chevening Scholarships (UK)
Award value: Full tuition + living allowance + airfare + visa
For: Indian nationals with 2+ years of work experience
Course type: One-year Master's programs in the UK
Deadline: November each year
Apply: chevening.org
Chevening is the UK government's flagship international scholarship. It selects for leadership potential as much as academic achievement. If you have work experience and leadership credentials, this should be near the top of your list.
6. Commonwealth Scholarships (UK)
Award value: Full tuition + living + airfare
For: Indian citizens from lower and middle income backgrounds
Deadline: December each year
Note: India is a high-income Commonwealth country now, which affects eligibility for some CSC awards. Check the CSC website for current India-specific eligibility.
Apply: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk
7. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
Award value: €750–€1,200/month living allowance + health insurance + travel
For: Indian students applying to German universities
Types: Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS); Research Grants; Study Scholarships
Language: English and German programs both covered
Apply: daad.de
Germany is already one of the most affordable study destinations — free or near-free tuition at public universities. DAAD scholarships on top of that make Germany exceptionally accessible for Indian students.
8. Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)
Award value: Full tuition fee offset + living stipend (~AUD 32,500/year)
For: International students enrolled in a research Master's or PhD at Australian universities
Note: Competitive; allocated through individual Australian universities
9. New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS)
Award value: Full tuition + NZD 25,000/year living allowance
For: International students enrolling in PhD at New Zealand universities
Apply: Through New Zealand universities
University-Specific Scholarships
10. University of Toronto International Scholar Award (Canada)
Award value: $5,000–$10,000 per year
Eligibility: International students with exceptional academic records; automatic consideration upon admission
11. University of British Columbia International Leader of Tomorrow Award (Canada)
Award value: Varies — covers a significant portion of tuition and living
Eligibility: High financial need + academic excellence
Apply: During the UBC application process
12. University of Edinburgh Global Scholarships (UK)
Award value: £5,000–£15,000 toward tuition
Eligibility: International students from specific countries including India
Apply: ed.ac.uk/student-funding
13. University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships (Australia)
Award value: Full tuition + ~AUD 32,000/year stipend
For: Research Master's and PhD students
14. NUS Research Scholarship (Singapore)
Award value: Full tuition + SGD 2,000/month stipend
For: International PhD students at National University of Singapore
Note: Highly competitive; strong research proposal required
15. University of Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship (Netherlands)
Award value: €25,000–€30,000 for the first year
Eligibility: Top 10% of your undergraduate class; non-EEA nationality
Apply: uva.nl/scholarships
16. Maastricht University High Potential Scholarship (Netherlands)
Award value: Full tuition + €11,000/year living allowance
Eligibility: Outstanding academic achievement; non-EEA students
Private Foundation Scholarships
17. Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships
Award value: Up to $100,000 across the degree
Destinations: Top universities globally (Harvard, Oxford, MIT, etc.)
For: Indian citizens under 30 with an outstanding academic record
Fields: Arts, sciences, social sciences, medicine
Deadline: March each year
Apply: inlaksfoundation.org
One of the most generous private scholarships available to Indians — but the process is rigorous and competitive. Apply early and treat the essays with the same seriousness as your university applications.
18. JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship
Award value: ₹10–₹20 lakh (partial scholarship + loan component)
For: Indian nationals pursuing graduate study abroad; all fields
Unique: Part scholarship, part interest-free loan — repaid after career establishment
Apply: jntataendowment.org
The Tata Endowment has been supporting Indian students abroad for over a century. It's particularly well-regarded among Indian academic circles.
19. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship
Award value: 50% grant + 50% loan for duration of program
For: Students of exceptional potential with demonstrated financial need
Destinations: Any country
Apply: akdn.org
20. Felix Scholarships (UK & USA)
Award value: Full tuition + living costs
For: Indian students from low-income backgrounds applying to University of Reading or SOAS (UK), or select US universities
Apply: felixscholarship.org
Field-Specific Scholarships
21. Google Generation Scholarship (Technology / CS)
Award value: $10,000 (US) or £7,000 (Europe)
For: Students from underrepresented groups in computer science; current enrollment in a CS or related program required
Apply: buildyourfuture.withgoogle.com
22. Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship (Technology)
Award value: Full tuition + stipend + internship opportunity
For: PhD students in computer science and related fields; India-based fellowship also available
Apply: microsoft.com/en-us/research/academic-program
23. Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Scholarships (Engineering / STEM)
Award value: $1,000–$20,000
For: Women-identifying students enrolled in STEM programs
Apply: swe.org/scholarships
24. Rotary Foundation Global Grants (Various Fields)
Award value: $30,000+
For: Vocational training and graduate-level study in fields aligned with Rotary's areas of focus (peace, health, education, environment, etc.)
Apply: Through your local Rotary Club in India
Note: You must be sponsored by a local Rotary club. Contact your nearest club well in advance.
25. American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowships (USA)
Award value: $18,000–$30,000
For: Women who are not US citizens; pursuing full-time graduate study in the USA
Deadline: November 15 each year
Apply: aauw.org
The Most Common Reasons Indian Students Miss Scholarships
After analysing thousands of student journeys, here are the patterns:
1. Applying too late. Most scholarship deadlines fall 3–6 months before university application deadlines. Students who start thinking about scholarships in January for a September intake have already missed most opportunities.
2. Not applying at all. Many students assume they won't qualify without even checking. Imposter syndrome is real — but the cost of not applying is always higher than the cost of rejection.
3. Weak essays. A scholarship essay is not your SOP recycled. It needs to address specific prompts about leadership, community impact, and future goals in ways that resonate with that scholarship's values.
4. Ignoring university-specific awards. University merit scholarships are less competitive than national awards and often awarded automatically or with minimal additional essays. Read the financial aid page of every university you apply to.
5. Overlooking part-TA, part-scholarship combinations. A $5,000 university scholarship plus a 10-hour TA position can together cover 40–50% of your living costs. The combination approach is underutilised.
How AbroBot Helps You Find and Win Scholarships
AbroBot's AI Scholarship Finder does three things that manual research can't:
Matches you precisely. It cross-references your academic profile, target country, field, financial background, and gender against a live database of verified scholarships — showing you only the ones you're actually eligible for.
Keeps deadlines current. The database is maintained in real-time. No outdated listings.
Explains the strategy. For each scholarship, it tells you not just what it is, but what the selection committee prioritises and how to position your application.
The tool is free. There's no "premium tier" for scholarship hunting. Use it alongside this guide to build a complete funding strategy before you submit a single application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for multiple scholarships at once?
Yes, and you should. Most scholarships don't prohibit this. If you win multiple, you'll typically need to choose one (or declare the others to the scholarship provider). Apply broadly and decide if you get the happy problem of multiple offers.
Do scholarships affect my education loan eligibility?
If you receive a scholarship that covers full tuition, most banks will adjust the loan amount accordingly. Partial scholarships typically don't affect your eligibility for the remainder of the loan.
Is there any scholarship for Indian students going to Germany specifically?
Yes — DAAD is your primary route. Many German public universities also charge no tuition at all (only a semester contribution of €250–€350), so the cost base is already very low before any scholarship.
What GPA do I need for most scholarships?
It varies. Government scholarships often require a minimum of 60% or 6.5 CGPA. Private foundation scholarships are looking for top 10–15% of their class. University merit awards typically require 8.0+ CGPA on a 10-point scale or equivalent.
Start your scholarship search today — use AbroBot's AI Scholarship Finder to see which of these 25 scholarships you're eligible for, matched to your profile.