Studying abroad is a dream of many. To contribute to it, the Indian Government offers multiple scholarships to study abroad. They go above and beyond to help aspiring students, including socially disadvantaged communities. Most of these scholarships are merit-based and provide financial assistance for higher studies abroad, especially for those who cannot take an education loan.
One can easily apply via Sakshat, the Ministry of Education, Government of India’s scholarship application portal. They cover tuition fees, living allowances, student travel insurance overseas, and other related expenses. Let’s check out the details of Government of India scholarships to study abroad.
| Scholarships | Details |
| Full-bright Nehru-Master’s Scholarship | – To study for a Master’s degree in the US – 3 years of working experience is required – Covers tuition fees, living expenses |
| National Overseas Scholarship | – Offered to SC/ ST/ landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans – Can pursue master’s, PhD, and Post-doctoral courses abroad – 30% of the reservation is made for female students |
| JN-Tata Endowment- Higher Education of Indians | – Loan-based scholarship – Can pursue postgraduate, PhD, post-doctoral, and research abroad – Scholarship amount from INR 1,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree | – To pursue master’s programs across at least two European countries – Monthly stipend of up to EUR 1,500 – Provides a job visa after graduation |
| Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Scholarship | – Awarded to Indian women graduates – Must attend a personal/ online interview with the board of trustees – Must apply to universities in the UK, US, or European countries |
| Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship | – Full tuition coverage at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford – Living allowance – Fellowship status at the University of Oxford |
Table of contents
Full-bright Nehru-Master’s Scholarship
Full-bright Nehru- Master’s Fellowship is one of the best scholarships offered by the Indian Government to study abroad. It is an excellent option for students who wish to pursue a master’s degree in the US. Students must possess leadership skills, a bachelor’s degree equivalent to the US degree, and a minimum of 3 years of professional working experience.
This scholarship by the Indian Govt. can be availed to practice the following fields of study-
- Arts and Culture Management
- Economics
- Environmental Science
- Higher Education Administration
- International Affairs
- International Legal Studies
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Women’s Studies/Gender Studies
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks and three years of relevant work experience.
- Students must not be enrolled in or graduated from the US University.
- If the applicant is employed, they must have the employer’s endorsement.
- Must have leadership skills and community service experience.
- English proficiency results of IELTS/ TOEFL are required.
This Indian Govt. scholarship to study abroad covers tuition fees, living expenses, and other costs. It also provides J-1 visa support, round-trip economy class airfare, and health insurance.
The good news is that other scholarships are partnered with Fullbright-Nehru Scholarships which help Indian students to provide aid for PhD funding in France and other countries. These are the Fullbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship for Indian PhD students and Fullbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships for Indian PhD students.
Also Read: Check out the top 10 fully-funded scholarships to study in Canada.
National Overseas Scholarship
One of the other Indian Government scholarships to study abroad supports low-income students is offered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It is the National Overseas Scholarship and students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, landless agricultural labourers, and traditional artisans can pursue master’s, PhD, and Post-doctoral courses abroad. 30% of the reservation is made for female students.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Students must be below 35 years of age.
- They must achieve a minimum of 60% marks in qualifying exams.
- The family income of such students must be below INR 8 lakhs per year.
- A maximum of two awards can given per family.
The scholarship covers tuition fees, visa fees, book costs, living expenses, and medical insurance. Maintenance and contingency allowances are also offered to the students along with travel and incidental expenses.
JN-Tata Endowment- Higher Education of Indians
The next in the list of Indian Govt scholarships to study abroad is the JN-Tata Endowment. It offers one-time loan scholarships for Indian students pursuing postgraduate, PhD, post-doctoral, and research fellowships abroad. Students can take up programs in the USA, Canada, Ireland, and others. This loan-based scholarship provides a 2% simple interest rate on the loan.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The student must be an Indian citizen below 45 years of age.
- Must obtain a minimum of 60% marks in bachelors.
- The scholarship is only open to students who haven’t received any loan previously.
The amount of the scholarship ranges from INR 1,00,000 to INR 10,00,000, including a partial travel grant of up to INR 50,000 as the full cost of studies is not covered. The scholarship also provides a gift award between INR 2,00,00 and IR 7,50,000.
Also Read: Did you know that scholarships for left-handed also exist? Check out the best scholarships for left-handed people.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree
The Erasmus Mundus is a fully funded scholarship offered by the Indian Government to allow students to pursue master’s programs across at least two European countries. The scholarship covers tuition fees, round-trip air travel, insurance, living expenses, and a job visa after graduation. Students are entitled to a monthly stipend of up to EUR 1,500.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
- Students must not reside in Europe for more than one year in the last five years.
- Students must not have received a similar scholarship before.
- A bachelor’s degree is required with relevant work experience.
Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Scholarship
Lady D Meherbai Tata Education Scholarship by the Indian government is awarded to Indian women graduates. The scholarship covers the tuition fees and living expenses to pursue higher education abroad. To be considered for this scholarship, the applicant must attend a personal/ online interview with the board of trustees. So, they must know the tips and tricks on how to prepare for international scholarships.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The applicant must be a female Indian citizen.
- The student must be a graduate of a reputed university and have an excellent academic record.
- You must apply to universities in the UK, US, or European countries.
- The applicant must have a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience.
Tuition fee support of up to INR 3,60,000 is offered to pursue courses in the following fields-
- Sociology, Psychology, Law ( women and children issues)
- Education, Gender Studies (domestic violence, women’s issues)
- Child health, Mental health, Public health, Adolescent needs
- Communication for development, Community Development
- Rural Development, Public Policy, Public Administration
- Social Work (Women in Prison)
Also Read: Know all about LGBTQ+ Scholarships around the world that allows the queer community to pursue their global academic dreams.
Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship
The last one on the list of Indian Govt scholarships to study abroad is the Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship. This is a fully-funded scholarship offered by GOI and administered by the Ministry of Human Resources Department (HRD. It aims to help aspiring students pursue academic careers in social sciences. It is awarded to the student to study at St. Antony’s College, Oxford University, London. A maximum amount of up to INR 26,78,566 is offered under this merit-based scholarship to study in the UK.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The applicant must be an Indian citizen aged between 3- and 40 at the application deadline.
- The applicant must have secured a minimum of 60% marks in postgraduate studies.
- Must have three years of teaching experience at graduate or postgraduate level.
- Can pursue higher students in subjects like History, Economics, or Political Science (or published works of equivalent merit).
The scholarship covers full tuition fees at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford. Besides, it provides coverage for living expenses and economy-class airfare for departure and return. Students get the fellowship status at the University of Oxford via the Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship.
FAQs
The government of India offers multiple scholarships to study abroad. These are the Full-bright Nehru-Master’s Scholarships, National Overseas Scholarship, JN-Tata Endowment, Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Scholarship, Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Scholarship, Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship, etc.
To be eligible for the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship, applicants must be Indian citizens and have a bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks. They must possess a minimum of three years of relevant professional work experience and not be enrolled in or graduated from a U.S. university.
The National Overseas Scholarship covers tuition fees, visa fees, book costs, living expenses, medical insurance, maintenance and contingency allowances, travel and incidental expenses.
To apply for the JN Tata Endowment Scholarship, make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria. You can visit the JN Tata Endowment official website, fill out the application form and submit the required documents. Prepare for and attend the online test and interview.
The Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship is a fully-funded scholarship for studying at St. Antony’s College, Oxford University, London, targeting academic careers in social sciences. To apply, you must be an Indian citizen aged 30 to 40 at the application deadline and have achieved a minimum of 60% marks in postgraduate studies. You must also possess at least three years of teaching experience at the graduate or postgraduate level.
This was all about the Indian Government scholarships to study abroad in 2024. Make sure to research and check your eligibility criteria and the deadline date before applying for the same.
To know more about the education loans to study in the USA, the best bank accounts for students, forex and banking experience for global students or international money transfers, reach out to our experts at 1800572126 to help ease your study abroad experience.
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