There are a plethora of scholarships available for Indian students wanting to fund their higher education in other countries
Pursuing higher education abroad is a dream for many Indian students, but it can also be an expensive proposition. However, there are a variety of scholarship opportunities available to Indian students that can help reduce the financial burden of studying abroad. In this article, we will demystify some of the most common scholarship opportunities for Indian students pursuing higher education abroad.
Government Scholarships: The Indian government offers a range of scholarships to support students pursuing higher education abroad. The Ministry of Education, Ministry of External Affairs, and various other departments provide scholarships.
Ministry of Education Scholarships: The Ministry of Education offers a range of scholarships to Indian students, including the National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Castes, the National Overseas Scholarship for OBC Students, and the Dr Ambedkar Scholarship.
Ministry of External Affairs Scholarships: The MEA provides scholarships to Indian students under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarship Scheme, which covers tuition fees, living expenses, and airfare.
Private Scholarships: Apart from government scholarships, several private organizations offer scholarships to Indian students for studying abroad. These scholarships are usually based on academic merit, financial need, or a combination of both, as the following.
Tata Scholarship: The scholarship is awarded to students accepted for undergraduate studies at Cornell University, the US.
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship: The Foundation offers scholarships to Indian students for pursuing higher studies at top universities in the US, Europe, and the UK.
University Scholarships: Many universities abroad also offer scholarships and financial aid to international students, including Indian students. These scholarships are usually based on academic merit, and some universities may also offer need-based scholarships, such as the following.
Fulbright Scholarship: The Fulbright Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship program that provides funding to Indian students for pursuing graduate studies in the United States.
Chevening Scholarship: The Chevening Scholarship is a UK government scholarship program that provides funding to Indian students for pursuing postgraduate studies in the UK.
External Scholarships: Several external organizations offer scholarships to Indian students for studying abroad. These scholarships may be based on a particular field of study or may be open to students from specific regions. Some are listed below.
Rotary Peace Fellowship: The Rotary Peace Fellowship provides funding to Indian students pursuing a master's degree in peace and conflict resolution at one of the Rotary Peace Centers.
DAAD Scholarship: The DAAD Scholarship is offered by the German government to Indian students for pursuing postgraduate studies in Germany.
In conclusion, pursuing higher education abroad can be a costly proposition for Indian students, but there are several scholarship opportunities available to help reduce the financial burden. Students should research and apply for scholarships well in advance to increase their chances of success. Additionally, it is important to read and understand the eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and other requirements for each scholarship program.
(The writer is co-founder of Study Metro)
