Studying abroad does not have to drain your family’s savings. There are hundreds of scholarships specifically available to Indian students — from government-funded programs to university-specific merit awards.
Here are the most relevant ones for 2026 applicants.
USA scholarships
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships — Fully funded master’s and doctoral fellowships for Indian citizens. Covers tuition, living, flights, and health insurance. Extremely competitive but worth applying.
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation — Awards up to $100,000 for Indian students pursuing graduate studies at top US and European universities.
University-specific merit awards — Most US universities offer merit scholarships ranging from $5,000 to full tuition. These are automatically considered when you apply — no separate application needed.
Canada scholarships
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships — $50,000 per year for doctoral students. Open to international students at participating Canadian universities.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) — $15,000 per year for master’s and PhD students at Ontario universities.
University entrance scholarships — Many Canadian universities offer automatic entrance scholarships based on GPA. For example, University of Toronto offers $5,000-$20,000 for high-performing international students.
UK scholarships
Chevening Scholarships — Fully funded master’s degree in the UK. One of the most prestigious scholarships globally. Requires 2 years of work experience.
Commonwealth Scholarships — Fully funded for students from Commonwealth countries (India included). Available for master’s and PhD programs.
GREAT Scholarships — Joint initiative between the British Council and UK universities. Awards of £10,000+ for students from India.
Australia scholarships
Australia Awards (Endeavour) — Fully funded scholarships for master’s and PhD students. Covers tuition, living, flights, and health insurance.
Destination Australia — Up to AUD $15,000 per year for students studying in regional Australia.
Research Training Program (RTP) — Covers tuition fees for international research (master’s by research and PhD) students at Australian universities.
Germany
Since public university tuition in Germany is already free, scholarships primarily cover living expenses:
DAAD Scholarships — The German Academic Exchange Service offers multiple programs for Indian students. Monthly stipend of €850-€1,200 plus travel and health insurance.
Heinrich Boll Foundation — €850/month for master’s and PhD students committed to sustainability and social justice.
Deutschlandstipendium — €300/month merit-based scholarship available at most German universities.
How to maximize your chances
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Apply early — Most scholarship deadlines are 6-12 months before the intake. Start researching a year in advance.
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Apply broadly — Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Apply to 5-10 scholarships. The effort of each additional application is marginal once you have your core documents ready.
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Tailor your essays — Generic SOPs get generic rejections. Research each scholarship’s values and align your application accordingly.
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Get strong LORs — A recommendation from someone who knows you well beats a famous name who wrote a template letter.
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Check university-specific awards — Many students miss out on scholarships that are automatically awarded based on admission scores. Check each university’s financial aid page.
We track scholarships so you don’t have to
Part of our service at Abroad360 includes a scholarship audit for every student we work with. We match your profile against current scholarship databases and help you apply to every one you’re eligible for — including ones you wouldn’t have found on your own.
The goal is simple: reduce your out-of-pocket cost as much as possible, without compromising on the quality of university you attend.
Ready to take the next step?
Talk to an Abroad360 counselor about your plans.