Top study abroad scholarships for Indian students

These global scholarships cover a range of programmes at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. Read on for details.

The falling Indian rupee has increased the annual cost of overseas education by 15 to 20 per cent.

With education loans covering only 50 to 70 per cent of the tuition cost, Indian students and parents are looking for alternate options to meet the additional expenditure.

Here are a few scholarships that will help you fund your education abroad.

1. Hornby Scholarships

Destination: The United Kingdom

About the scholarship

Funded by the Hornby Educational Trust, the Hornby scholarship covers the student’s full tuition fee for pursuing a one-year full-time master's degree in an English Language Teaching (ELT) related subject in the UK.

Who can apply?

To apply for the scholarship, you will require an IELTS score of 6.5.

Applicants will have to submit evidence that they have at least IELTS 6.5 or an equivalent score in a different English language certificate (TOEFL, TOEIC, etc) exam.

During the selection process, if the panel is not convinced, you might be asked to appear again for an IELTS examination to qualify.

Application deadline: January

For more details, visit http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-elt-hornby-information.htm

Destination: Third World or developing countries

About the scholarship

The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships for post-graduate studies to outstanding students from developing countries who come from poor financial backgrounds.

The grant covers tuition fees and living expenses only.

The winner is allowed to choose where to study subject to approval.

Who can apply?

The Foundation accepts applications from students in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgystan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Madagascar, France, Portugal, the UK, USA and Canada.

The Foundation's official website states that preference is given to students under 30 years of age.

Application deadline: January

For details, visit http://www.akdn.org/akf_scholarships.asp

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Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

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Destination: France

About the scholarship

The French ministry of foreign and European affairs established the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme to attract elite overseas students to pursue master’s, engineering and PhD courses in their county. 

Who can apply?

The scholarship is awarded to candidates who wish to pursue a master’s/ post-graduate degree course or a 10-month jointly tutored and jointly supervised component as part of a PhD course, preferably during the second or third year of study.

The grant is specifically awarded to students pursuing either of the courses:

• A course awarding a master's or in colleges awarding an engineering science diploma
• PhD courses as part of a jointly tutored or jointly supervised thesis with a foreign higher education establishment partner.

Applicants for master's level courses should be less than 30 years old at the time of application deadline and not more than 35 years for PhD programmes.

Application deadline: January

For more details, visit http://www.campusfrance.org/sites/default/files/vademecum_eiffel_2013-2014_uk.pdf

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: The United Kingdom

Number of scholarships: 700 approximately

About the scholarship

The Chevening Scholarship programme provides full or part funding for full-time courses at the post-graduate level, normally a one-year master’s degree, in any subject and at any UK university.

Who can apply?

International students who want to undertake post-graduate study at universities in the UK can apply. 

Applicants are judged on their personal attributes like intelligence, academic potential, drive, self-management, strength of character, integrity, relevant interests outside work and leadership potential.

Application deadline: March to April

For more details, visit http://www.chevening.org/india/

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: India and abroad

Number of scholarships: 120

About the scholarship

Established in 1892, the JN Ratan Tata Endowment Fund aims to assist Indian students by providing a monthly stipend of 1,000 US dollars; it does not cover the entire academic fee.

According to the website, the maximum grant you can get is Rs 3,80,000.

Who can apply?

Only Indian nationals are eligible for the scholarship.

You must be a graduate from a recognised Indian university, with a consistently good academic record. 

Academicians and other mid-career professionals, up to the age of 45 years, with experience in their fields, who wish to go abroad for further specialised training can apply.

Students in the final year of a degree course and those awaiting final-year results can also apply for the scholarship. 

Application deadline: March

For details, visit http://www.dorabjitatatrust.org/

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: Any English-speaking country that accepts TOEFL scores.

Number of scholarships: 21

About the scholarship

The scholarship programme recognises students in India who excel academically and demonstrate well-rounded qualities such as participation in extracurricular activities, including community service.

It covers undergraduate or graduate study in India and/or overseas.

In 2012, one US $10,000 TOEFL scholarship and twenty US $3,000 TOEFL scholarships were awarded to students in India.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for the TOEFL Scholarship Program, you must:

• Currently live in India
• Complete the online scholarship application (new this year) and upload academic transcripts
• Hold a grade point average of 80 or higher on a 100-point scale, or a 3.0 grade point average or higher on a 4-point scale
• Begin an undergraduate or graduate degree at a college or university listed in the TOEFL Destinations Directory (PDF)
• Have a valid TOEFL test score used as a requirement for admission into an undergraduate or graduate programme
• Demonstrate effective leadership skills and an overall well-rounded portfolio with extracurricular activities, including community service

Application deadline: April

For further details, visit www.ets.org/toefl/scholarships

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: USA

Number of scholarships: 100

About the scholarship

Offered by the United States India Education Foundation, the Fulbright Scholarships are awarded to young and deserving Indian students.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for the scholarship, you have to fulfil the following criteria:

• You must have secured a minimum of 55 per cent from a recognised Indian University.
• A four-year bachelor’s degree is a mandatory requirement. If the student has a bachelor’s degree less than threee years, then s/he must have at least a minimum of three years of professional work experience in the proposed field of study.
• You must not have a degree from another US university.
• Your age should be between 25 and 30 years.

Application deadline: July

For details, visit http://www.usief.org.in/Fulbright-Nehru-Fellowships.aspx

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: Germany

About the scholarship

The German Academic Exchange Service offers full and partial scholarships for a range of post-graduate courses with special relevance to developing countries at German universities. For a complete list of participating countries, hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: India and abroad

About the scholarship

The scholarship is funded by the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and covers two years of study in India or abroad.

Who can apply?

Indian students who are less than 25 years as of September 1 of the current year and have secured at least 65 per cent in the stream of arts and 70 per cent in engineering, science or commerce at graduation can apply.

Students with confirmed admission to any post-graduate degree course in any field of education other than fine arts, duration not exceeding two years, at any recognised university/institute of repute either in India or abroad can also apply for the scholarship.

For details, visit http://www.bharatpetroleum.in/scholarship/scholarship.asp

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: Commonwealth countries

About the scholarship

The scholarship is awarded by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission and is available to all Commonwealth countries.

The India programme is managed jointly by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU, the UK).

The scholarship duration is six months in case of clinical training, one-year for a master’s programme and three years in case of PhD.

Who can apply?

The eligibility criteria varies according to the course applied.

Deadline: September to October

For details, visit http://www.csfp-online.org/countries.html

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: Netherlands

About the scholarship

The Netherlands Fellowship Programmes are demand-driven fellowship programmes designed to promote capacity building within organisations in over 50 countries by providing training and education to their mid-career staff members.

The scholarships allow candidates to pursue master's studies, PhD studies, or short courses at Dutch universities or academic institutions.

The allowance is considered to be a contribution towards the cost of living for one person, whether in the Netherlands or in another country. The fellowship also covers the costs of tuition fees, visas, travel costs, insurance and thesis research.

Who can apply

The NFP is awarded to professionals who are nationals of and work and live in an NFP country (includes India).

To be eligible for an NFP fellowship, you must be admitted to the master’s degree programme, short course or PhD study, for which you would like to use the fellowship.

Your chances of obtaining the grant increases if you live and work in Sub-Saharan Africa and/or if you are a woman.

Application deadline: October

For details, visit http://www.studyinholland.nl/scholarships/scholarships-administered-by-nuffic/netherlands-fellowship-programmes

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: USA

Number of scholarships: 30

About the scholarship

The Paul Foundation scholarship aims to provide young scholars, particularly those from Kolkata an opportunity, to pursue the career of their choice either in India or abroad. 

Who can apply?

Outstanding Indian graduates and post-graduates at top rank universities, institutes, centres in India and overseas who have excelled in their chosen areas of specialisation can apply for the scholarship.

Candidates must be below 30 years of age as of November 1 and must be a resident in India.

The applicant must hold a first class degree, at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Candidates in their final undergraduate year with exceptional results may also apply.

Application deadline: November

For details, visit http://www.thepaulfoundation.org or call 033 44035455

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: Norway

Number of scholarships: It provides a total of 1,100 scholarships of which 800 are from developing countries.

About the scholarship

Under this scheme, the Norwegian government provides students from developing countries in the South and countries in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and in Central Asia with financial support to study for a degree of their choice in Norway.

Who can apply?

The Quota Scholarship Scheme funds courses at the master's and PhD level, in addition to certain professional degrees offered by state universities and colleges in Norway.

The Quota Scheme is for certain developing countries that are on the DAC-list issued by OECD, and is eligible for students from the category of “lower middle-income countries” and under.

While 30 per cent of the amount is given as grant, the remaining 70 per cent is provided as loan, which is waived when the student returns to his/her home country after completing the course of study.

Application deadline: December

For details, visit http://siu.no/eng/Front-Page/Global-menu/Study-in-Norway/Quota-Scheme

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: The United Kingdom

About the scholarship

The scholarship is provided for courses from two to three months duration up to a maximum of a year.

It covers accommodation and living costs in the UK, fees where they are payable and a contribution to international fares.

The cost of visa has to be borne by the applicant. It does not support two-year programmes.

Who can apply?

To apply for the scholarship, you must fulfil the following criteria:

• You must be an Indian citizen living in India and your age should be between 25 and 38 years.
• You should not have received a CWIT grant in the last five years.
• Have a first degree or diploma or professional qualification in your intended area of specialisation.

The Charles Wallace India Trust is known to prefer applicants who have significant work experience.

Application deadline: Variable as per course

For details, visit http://www.wallace-trusts.org.uk/cwt_india.html

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: Europe

About the scholarship

The Erasmus Mundus Europe Asia is a scholarship programme for students on undergraduate, master's, doctoral and post-doctoral level as well as for university staff in academic or administrative positions.

Who can apply

The EMEA Scholarship Programme is open to nationals from India, Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan and Thailand who want to study or work at one of the European partner universities.

For details, visit http://www.india4eu.eu/ or http://www.emeuropeasia.org/scholarship_info

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Destination: Sweden

Number of scholarships: 128 scholarships were awarded for the academic year 2012-13

About the scholarship

The Swedish Institute Study Scholarships target highly-qualified students for post-graduate studies in Sweden and cover both living costs and tuition fees.

The grant covers both the tuition fee (which is paid directly to the Swedish university/university college) along with living expenses that amount to SEK (Swedish Krona) 9,000 per month.

Who can apply?

The scholarship is provided for full-time master's studies in a Swedish University commencing August. Students studying at the bachelor's level are not eligible for the grant. There is no age limit to apply for the scholarship.

For details, visit http://www.studyinsweden.se/Scholarships/SI-scholarships/The-Swedish-Institute-Study-Scholarships/

Help Study Abroad Aspirants

Dear Readers, how did you fund your overseas education? Did you take an education loan or did you apply for a scholarship?

How can Indian students reduce their cost of education abroad at a time when the falling Indian Rupee is pinching them hard?

Share your suggestions and experience and help our young readers make an informed decision. You can e-mail your ideas, suggestions and advice to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: Study Abroad Advice) and we'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.