Study Abroad Scholarships for Indian Students: How to Find and Apply the Right Way
Study Abroad Scholarships play a crucial role in helping students achieve their dreams of getting a degree from an internationally ranked university. Getting a degree from an internationally ranked University is a dream of many students, as it’s not just a degree, but getting a quality education, exposure to a global network, experiencing a multicultural environment, networking opportunities, hands-on experience while learning, and enhancing career opportunities and growth.
Scholarships offered by the governments and the universities play a vital role in fulfilling the study abroad dreams of many students, as they reduce the financial burden and make the education stress-free.
Why is There a Need For Scholarships For Studying Abroad?
- High tuition costs and living expenses make studying abroad challenging for many students.
- Limited access to other means of financial aid, for example, limited part-time working hours.
- Fluctuating currency rates may impact the overall fund calculation during the study period.
- Equal access to quality education for all students from various financial backgrounds. Scholarships ensure that talented students from all financial backgrounds get the same opportunities.
- Some Scholarships are in the form of paid internships as a part of the curriculum, in which students get a stipend. It results in career development as the student gets hands-on experience, exposure to the global market, plus some part of their expenses are covered through a stipend.
What Type of Scholarships Are Available for International Students?
1- Host Country Government Scholarships –
These are the study grants or scholarships offered by the government of the country in which the applicant is going for studies. They are particularly designed to attract and absorb the talented international students. Example – Chevening Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarships, Australia Awards, etc.
2- Indian Government Scholarships –
These are the scholarships offered by the government of India to support Indian students pursuing higher education abroad. They are typically need-based scholarships to support the talented students who need financial support for further education. They cover tuition fees, living expenses, transportation, and health cover charges as well.
3- Merit-Based University-specific Scholarships –
These are designed and offered by individual institutions/universities. They are purely based on merit and reduce tuition fees by up to 30% to 50%. Applicants need to apply separately for these awards; the university will assess the profile and issue the scholarship along with the offer letter itself.
4- Need-Based Scholarships –
Need-based scholarships are offered to those who are not capable of managing their higher education cost. The main criteria of this scholarship is the annual income of the sponsors. The sponsors should submit their income proof and assets valuation for assessment, and based on that, the scholarships are granted.
5- Private or Organizational Scholarships –
Like Tata or Erasmus+, and DAAD – These are offered by private institutions or organizations to support students. For example, TATA provides scholarships to Indian students up to 10 Lakhs, Erasmus+ scholarships cover full tuition plus living costs, and DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) provides scholarships that cover tuition, living, and travel costs.
What are The Eligibility Criteria To Qualify For Study Abroad Scholarships?
Below are the major factors that a scholarship provider considers while assessing the profile of an international student for giving a study grant or scholarship-
- Strong Academic Background
- Language Test Score and other test scores like GMAT / GRE/ SAT
- Work Experience
- Internships
- Extra-Curricular activities
- Leadership roles
- Research papers / Research potential
- Financial Proof for a need-based scholarship
Here Are The Country-Wise Top Scholarships That Every Indian Student Should Know About –
1- USA
USA universities are well known for their academic reputation and excellent scholarship opportunities. These scholarships are need-based scholarships, Merit-based scholarships to UG and PG Students, research, teaching, and graduate assistantship for PG students.
Below are some of the attractive scholarships by USA universities –
| Name of the University | Name of Scholarship | Value |
|---|---|---|
|
DePaul University |
Graduate Presidential Scholarship |
$12000 (total) |
|
Colorado State University |
Merit-Based Scholarship |
Up to $2000 to $12000, Per Year |
|
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa |
Presidential Merit Scholarship – for UG |
$28,000 Tuition Fee Waiver + $1,500 stipend for four years. |
Above mentioned are some good scholarships offered by universities; however, other universities also offer merit-based scholarships or grants to international students on the basis of their academics and overall profile.
2- The United Kingdom –
UK universities are known for their academic excellence, and generous scholarships are offered to international students who showcase excellent academic performance and have strong potential.
The government offers scholarships like the GREAT scholarship, the Commonwealth scholarship, or the Chevening Scholarship, which are fully funded. But all these are very competitive to get. But all the UK universities offer good merit-based scholarships of up to 15-20% on tuition fees.
Below are some examples of scholarships offered by universities based on merit –
| Name of the University | Name of Scholarship | Value |
|---|---|---|
|
The University of Leeds |
International Excellence Scholarships (PG) |
Up to £3,000, £6,000 or £16,000 |
|
The University of Sheffield
|
International Postgraduate Taught Merit Scholarship |
£3,000 Tuition Fees Reduction |
|
University of Glasgow
|
India Merit Award
|
£5,000 Tuition Fee Discount |
3- Australia –
Australia is one of the popular destinations for international students because of its Work Integrated Learning, University rankings, and reputation. Australian Universities offer good scholarships on tuition fees, based on the excellent academic record and profile of the student. These scholarships are available to UG, PG, and research programs as well. They reduce your tuition fees up to 20% -30%
Below are some of the scholarships offered by Australian Universities –
| Name of the University | Name of Scholarship | Value |
|---|---|---|
|
RMIT University |
Future Leaders Scholarship
|
20% Reduction on tuition fee |
|
Adelaide University |
Adelaide Merit Scholarship |
Up to15% Tuition Fee Reduction |
|
University of Technology Sydney (UTS) |
Postgraduate Academic Excellence International Scholarship |
Up to 30% Tuition Fee Reduction |
4- Canada –
Canadian Universities and colleges offer a variety of scholarships to international students, specifically UG students. These are based on excellent academic performance. Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) are some government scholarships that are completely based on merit and competitive,.
But universities also offer some scholarships for tuition fees. Some of them are mentioned below-
| Name of the University | Name of Scholarship | Value |
|---|---|---|
|
Lakehead University
|
International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships
|
Up to CAD 40,000 (CAD 10000 per year)
|
|
Brock University |
Brock Scholars Award
|
CAD 3400 PER YEAR
|
|
Alberta University
|
International Admission Scholarships
|
Up to CAD 8000 Per year
|
5- European University Scholarships–
European universities are nowadays getting more popular among study abroad aspirants because of increased career and growth opportunities and quality education. Germany, Ireland, and France are the most popular destinations among European Countries.
They offer a wide range of courses and scholarships to international students. They are available to PG and Ug students, completely based on merit. DAAD Scholarships, Erasmus Scholarships are some of the examples.
Some of them are mentioned below.
| Name of the University | Name of Scholarship | Value |
|---|---|---|
|
University College Dublin, Ireland |
UCD Global Excellence Scholarships
|
Up to 50% – 100% on tuition fees |
|
University of Limerick, Ireland
|
Jim Kemmy India Scholarship (UG)
|
Up to 4000 Euros
|
|
German Universities
|
DAAD Scholarships
|
For selected courses with partial or 100% tuition fees
|
Steps For Applying To Different Scholarships
It is to be noted that, for all the university-specific scholarships, no need to make a separate application. The profile is assessed for the eligible scholarship while doing the assessment for admission to the course applied for.
Based on the academics and the other factors like SOP, career and academic progression, extra-curricular activities and awards, language test score, the amount or the % of the scholarship is decided and awarded to the student at the time of issuing the offer letter.
How Can You Apply for Government or Other Scholarships? Follow These Steps –
- Step 1- Conduct research on all the available scholarships.
- Step 2 – Check the eligibility and select the one where you are eligible to get the maximum benefits
- Step 3 – Check the documents required and arrange them
- Step 4 – Apply online for a scholarship, and upload all the necessary documents
- Step 5 – Wait for the TAT and check the updates regularly, and fulfill the additional requirements, if any.
Common Mistakes That Students Make While Applying To The Scholarships –
- Eligibility Criteria – Many students fail to check the eligibility criteria mentioned by the university or government for a particular scholarship, as a result of which they do not get the desired financial aid
- Incomplete Documents – Many times, it happens that students upload incomplete documents or irrelevant documents, which leads to a delay in decision-making making
- Weak SOP – Statement of purpose is an important tool that helps a university to assess the profile, the student’s career goals, academic progression, etc. If the SOP is weak, it reduces the chances of getting a scholarship.
- Exaggerating the achievements – Providing false or misleading information related to your achievements or activities can lead to disqualification and damage credibility
- Deadlines – A Few scholarship applications have certain deadlines to apply. One should check them well in advance. Failing to meet the deadlines leads to the non-availability of the scholarship.
How Does Team of Education Street help You Achieve The Best Scholarships?
- Proper analysis of students’ profiles and suggesting correct courses, universities with good scholarships
- Preparation of documents
- Providing the links to various scholarships and application assistance
- Providing alerts on the latest and High-Volume Scholarships
- Writing and editing the SOPs or essays
- Timely submission of all the documents and the application.
Achieve Your Study Abroad Dreams with the Right Scholarships
Scholarships are not just financial help, but they make your profile stand out among many applicants across the world, as it’s a privilege getting the rewards from a university or government based on your merit..! Scholarships definitely help you turn your dreams into reality..!
We have highlighted a few scholarships from some of the top destinations; however, it is not limited to this, as every country and university has a wide range of grants or scholarships to offer.
To learn more and find the most suitable scholarships for you, connect with our team. Our expert counselors will evaluate your profile and guide you through the entire process — including scholarship options, eligibility, documentation, deadlines, and application procedures.