Scholarships

Scholarships for International students

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Fiona
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Studying abroad is a sweet dream for many students, but it comes true for a few. While foreign education can be a wonderful add-on to your profile and can boost your career greatly, it comes with its own challenges.

Getting admitted to good, reputed universities abroad is a catch in itself. Even after you get admitted, the financial burden and responsibilities not backed by some powerful resource often put students’ academics to a halt.

This is your chance to beat the financial challenge and act smart. Overseas scholarships and student loans are brilliant backups to fund your education and study abroad with ease. The most important thing is to act in time and be aware of every minute detail for you to ace your application process and not worry about the money at all.

In this article, we have summarized the top 5 scholarships to study abroad for Indian students along with their eligibility criteria, duration, benefits, and more.

Explore and apply to relevant scholarships through Yocket!

How to Apply for Scholarships to Study Abroad?

  1. The scholarship dates vary from university to university, the information of which is provided on their website.
  2. Find out which scholarship is available to you. Not all scholarships are open for international students. At times, there are special awards for Entrepreneurs, Innovators, etc. These need to be hunted out.
  3. Government scholarships have website pages of their own.
  4. In most cases, there is a form that is filled inquiring about the basic details of the student and the application number.
  5. If there is an option, one should upload the latest CV which specifies all professional, educational and social contributions.

In some cases, one needs to give a Statement of Purpose for why should the scholarship be given to them. This is very similar to the document one makes for the course application.

Know how these students got the prestigious scholarships -

Below are the study abroad scholarships for Indian and other International students -

Scholarships in UK for International Students

There are various government scholarships that cover full tuition fees. However, one needs to be exceptional to get them owing to the volume of the applicants.

  1. GREAT Scholarships: Only for students having an Indian passport, covers full tuition fee if you have a confirmed offer letter from a list of  25 specific institutions which includes universities such as NewCastle University, UCL London, and The University of Nottingham.

  2. Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships: Meant for international students from members of all commonwealth countries (includes India). Deadlines close in Jan-Feb.

  3. Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships: Reserved for students in arts, heritage conservation and humanities. They even support for short, artist residencies and small courses.

  4. Hornby Scholarships: Awards for English language teachers for teaching English as a foreign language. Their deadlines are generally in February. Find more about Hornby Scholarships.

Apart from this, one can look at the scholarship and bursaries page of each shortlisted university to find out scholarship offers, requirement, eligibility and deadlines. Some universities also offer discounts to students depending on their situation such as if their parents are alumni or if their financial condition is very bad.

Suggested: Know more about scholarships in UK

Scholarships in New Zealand for International Students

New zealand scholarship for indian students & others are as follows,

  1. New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS): These scholarships are available for international PhD students by New Zealand’s government. University tuition fees(upto NZ$25,000) and health insurance is covered(NZ$600).

  2. New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships: This scholarship is for Indian master’s or PhD students in New Zealand. This scholarship covers tuition fee, living, travel and health insurance, and establishment allowance.

  3. New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA): NZEA features scholarships across all eight universities, offering an opportunity for Indian students to experience New Zealand excellence in various fields.

  4. New Zealand International Undergraduate Fees Scholarship: The New Zealand government provides financial support to international students seeking admission in full time undergraduate courses in the country’s universities (3 years). Supported by the Education New Zealand Trust, it is a completely merit based scholarship for students who have completed their secondary education.

There are several other university and course specific scholarships available in New Zealand as well.

Scholarships in Australia for International Students:

Australian government provides AUD $200 million worth of scholarships to international students. They are based on your country of origin, merit, and several other factors.

  1. Australian Awards Scholarships: This is a scholarship awarded by the Australian Government for international students. It is applicable to students of only a selected list of countries.

  2. Commonwealth Scholarships are applicable to Australian universities.

  3. Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarships for International Students includes a list of merit-based scholarships for international students.

  4. Research Training Program (RTP) is a scholarship available to domestic and international research graduates by a few participating universities.

  5. There are several Dean’s scholarships which could be fully funded, depending on your university.

  6. Monash University, University of Sydney, Newcastle, UTS, etc are some of the good universities (offers from AUD $2000 to AUD $10,000)  that reserve some scholarships for international students.

Every university has a different set of scholarships listed on their website for international students coming from different countries. Make sure to check the available scholarships for your course in the universities you’re applying to.

Scholarships in Canada for International Students

The Canadian Government has launched multiple scholarships for international students to attract the best candidates for masters and PhD programs. These scholarships are given out on merit basis, i.e. your academics and extracurriculars should be excellent. Along with this, they laos try to recognize how much research potential you have. Some scholarships are available to all students going to all universities in various fields, while some are region specific(like Ontario).

  1. The Ontario Graduate Scholarship and Ontario Trilium Scholarship are examples of region specific scholarships. They are applicable to universities only in the Ontario region of Canada.

  2. International students may also qualify for some of the government scholarships such as the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, Vanier Canada Scholarships and Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships.

  3. Banting Postdoctoral Scholarships are given to international students who wish to pursue PhD degrees.

  4. Canada Graduate Scholarship is valued at $17,500 for one year and is a non-renewable scholarships for graduate research students.

  5. NSERC scholarships are awarded to extraordinary students in fields of engineering and natural sciences.

There are many university-specific scholarships in Canada available as well. The details of these will be available on their websites. The overall grants could start from $2,000 and range upto being fully-funded as well.

Scholarships in France for International Students

Scholarships for international students are offered by some universities, by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the French embassy from India. Some universities offer 10,000 EUR scholarships per year to students (30 years or below), and who satisfy criteria of academic excellence. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers scholarships through The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program, mainly for students who enroll in Masters (1,181 EUR/month) and PhD courses (1,400 EUR/month).

Most grants are awarded to students below the age of 28. The merit-based grant ranges from 1,800 to 6,102 EUR. At the same time, those eligible for a grant receive exemption or reduction in health coverage.

Some of the scholarships available to international MS students in France are:

  1. Eiffel Scholarships in France for International Students: This is a scholarship by the French Government. It is applicable for international students studying law, engineering sciences, economics and management, political sciences. It does not cover tuition fees, only monthly costs and some monthly allowance. It is valid only for Masters and PhD programs. Also, if you have been rejected once before, you cannot apply again, even if it's for a different course.

  2. INSEAD-Syngenta MBA Scholarships for Developing Country Leaders: This is awarded to MBA students who are financially unable to pay for their course and belong to developing countries. Two scholarships are awarded per class.

  3. Emile Boutmy Scholarships for Non-EU Students at Sciences Po: This scholarship is applicable for non-EU undergraduate and graduate students applying to Science Po University in Paris. For undergraduate students, amount can be upto €12,300 for 3 years. For graduate students, it can be upto €10,000 per year.

  4. ENS International Selection Scholarships: This is awarded for students who have been admitted to one of the ENS institutes. It includes 1,000 euros a month along with a room in one of the ENS institute campuses. A total of 20 scholarships are given, 10 for Science students and 10 for Arts and Humanities students.

  5. Université Paris-Saclay International Master’s Scholarships: This scholarship is awarded to international masters students enrolled in Université Paris-Saclay. They are merit-based scholarships. The scholarship amount is upto €10,000 per year.

  6. Ampère Excellence Scholarships for International Students: This is valid for international masters students registered at ENS de Lyon. The amount is €1,000 per month for 1-2 years.

  7. Fondation Rainbow Bridge MBA Scholarships for African and Asian Women: This scholarship is applicable for women who come from disaster stricken countries in Asia or Africa and are pursuing a full time MBA at HEC Paris. Scholarship amount is €20,000.

  8. Université de Lyon Master’s Scholarships: This scholarship is for international students having a high-level academic record and willing to join one of Master’s degree programmes offered at the University of Lyon and jointly accredited by several universities or ‘‘Grandes Ecoles’’ in Lyon and Saint-Etienne in France. The scholarship is 800 euros a month for a period of 10 months.

  9. HEC-Eiffel Scholarships in MBA for Developing Countries: This scholarship is specifically for MBA applicants to HEC in Paris. It doesn’t cover any tuition fees but a monthly allowance of approximately €1,100, and covers additional expenses including travel, health insurance and cultural activities is included.

Recommended: Further details on scholarships in France

Scholarships in USA for International Students

  1. Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships : This scholarship is awarded to students who have shown exceptional work in their field of study ( Engineering, Computer Science, Business Studies, Medicine, Public Health, Fashion Design, Music and Film Animation.) and wish to go to North America or Europe to pursue further studies. Upto $100,000 are awarded. If more funds are needed, then the student must show proof that they can cover such costs.

  2. Fulbright-Nehru Research Fellowship : This scholarship is awarded to outstanding students from Indian universities wishing to pursue a master’s education in an accredited university in USA. Their field of study could include Arts and Culture Management including Heritage Conservation and Museum Studies; Environmental Science/Studies; Higher Education Administration; International Legal Studies; Public Administration; Public Health; Urban and Regional Planning; and Women's Studies/Gender Studies. However, it is necessary that candidates have 3 years of professional experience.

  3. The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program: This is awarded to outstanding professionals from developing countries who want to pursue non-degree graduate study and related practical professional experience in USA for a period of 10 months. This is valid for a large number of fields. It is important for applicants to have a valid TOEFL score.

  4. Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship : The Rotary scholarship is awarded to students who focus on 6 areas: Peace and conflict prevention/resolution, Water and sanitation, Maternal and child health, Basic education and literacy, Economic and community development, and Disease prevention and treatment. $15,000 to $30,000 are granted.

  5. Akhtarali H. Tobaccowala Fellowship & The Indian Trust Fellowship: Valid specially for Booth School of Business in Chicago. They offer $25,000 and $10,000 respectively.
  6. S.N. Bose Scholars Student Exchange Program for Indian Students: This scholarship helps provide opportunities to Indian researchers at master’s or higher level. They could be studying in fields of science and technology.

There are several other scholarships available which are college specific or are specific to certain courses.

Scholarships in Ireland for International Students

Ireland has hundreds of scholarships to choose from for international students; however they are given out on a case to case basis by the institution that you are applying for normally. Here are a few popular scholarships:

  1. Ireland Government Postgraduate Scholarships for International Students: This scholarship is available for students of any field studying in any accredited Irish institute. The maximum scholarship awarded is €24,000 per year.   

  2. The Walsh Fellowships: Awarded to postgraduate students who are working on projects related to Teagasc Research and Knowledge Transfer Program, majorly in fields of food, crops, animal and grasslands, environment, economics and rural development.

  3. Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS):IRCHSS funds cutting-edge research in the humanities, social sciences, business and law with the objective of creating new knowledge and expertise beneficial to Ireland's economic, social and cultural development. Through its membership of the European Science Foundation, the Research Council is committed to integrating Irish research in European and international networks of expertise.

Of course, there are university and course specific scholarships available on the university websites and portals. Their criteria are different and they are available for graduate, undergraduate as well as for PhD in Ireland.

Suggested: PhD in Netherlands

Scholarships in Germany for International Students

  1. DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) Scholarships: DAAD stands for ‘The German Academic Exchange Service’ in English. It offer numerous scholarships to students from all nationalities to pursue studies as well as research projects.

  2. ERASMUS+ (European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) scholarships: This is valid for students from all over the world who wish to study in a lot of universities all over Europe.

  3. Heinrich Böll Scholarships for International Students: Valid for german and international students wanting to study Bachelors, Masters or PhD. The applications open in March and September. Eligible students get €750 per month for Masters and €1000 for PhDs.

  4. Humboldt Research Fellowships for Postdoctoral Researchers: These scholarships are offered to PhD students from all nationalities. They give € 2,650 per month for a duration of 6 – 24 months. This includes liabilities for monthly expenses, transportation and health insurance.

  5. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships: KAS scholarships are awarded to international students pursuing postgraduate degrees or PhDs in Germany, but are under 30 years of age. Awardees can pursue their courses at universities of applied science and technical colleges.

  6. Bayer Foundation Scholarships: Bayer Foundation supports students aspiring to study in Germany with five fellowship programmes in biology, medical science, agricultural science, non-academic professions, and chemistry. Upto €6,400 is awarded per year, up to 2 years after graduation.

  7. Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ)-German Cancer Research Centre PhD scholarship: DFKZ offers an opportunity to conduct projects for more than 500 students in biomedical research. The students must have an MSc. or equivalent degree and a minimum TOEFL/IELTS/PTE score to be eligible. It provides full funding of PhD for 3 years.

  8. Einstein International Postdoctoral Fellowship: This programme gives international students an opportunity to work with high-achieving young researchers in Berlin. It offers them to live in the city of Berlin and granted for a period of up to five years during the active life of the junior research group. During this period, PhD scholars will be entitled “Einstein International Postdoctoral Fellows”. They are given stipend up to € 20,000 per year to cover material resources.

  9. Marie Skolodowska-curie actions: MSCA offers four types of scholarships for researchers from different academic disciplines or students from all nationalities to promote research, innovation and to advance partnerships among the leading institutions all over the world. Eligible students receives € 3000 per month plus €600 per month as transport allowance.

  10. Deutschland Stipendium: This fund provides monetary and non-material provision to deserving students from across the globe. Students receive a scholarship worth € 150 per month, provided by the German government, private organisations or public-private partnership firms. Funding is generally granted for at least two semesters, later it can be extended until completion of studies.

Scholarships in Netherlands for International Students

The Netherlands government offers some scholarships for Indian students, which are as follows.

  1. The Holland Scholarship: The Holland Scholarship is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science as well as 48 Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. This scholarship is meant for international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who want to do their bachelor’s or master’s in Netherlands. The scholarship amounts to € 5,000. Its valid for one year and can be availed only once. You can’t get the scholarship if you have a past degree from The Netherlands.

  2. Orange Tulip Scholarship: The Programme (OTS) gives talented students in India the opportunity to study in the Netherlands. It is offered by higher education institutions, multinationals and government institutions. The value of the scholarship varies and can include 100-25% tuition fee waiver. You can know more about it on the Nuffic website.

  3. Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP): The Orange Knowledge Programme aims to advance the development of the capacity, knowledge and quality of both individuals, and institutions in higher and vocational education.

  4. Grantfinder: All scholarships for Indian students that are specific to the institution or the stream of study can be found on Grantfinder.

Assistantships for International Students

While the information about some of the research positions maybe mentioned on the university website, most of the times, you need first look for relevant professors. Once you are done with making a list, write an email to professor seeking research position. You should imagine at least fifty students applying to work with the same professor. How should you be different?

Bad ideas for assistantships:

  1. Send mails to all the professors.
  2. Copy-paste email formats available on Google or plagiarize from emails shared by peers and friends.
  3. Irrelevant and spammy subject lines.
  4. Addressing them wrongly: Changing the gender, calling a Dr. as Ms or Mr or typo in their name.
  5. Grammatical errors

Good Ideas for assistantships:

  1. Select: You need to find a handful of professors that would like to work with you and vice versa.
  2. Stand Out: Always assume that professors get hundreds of emails, if yours should stand out, you must read some of their publications, articles about them, their research/Phd subject and then mention a few appreciative lines in the email. However tiring, this process is to be done separately followed for each professor you write too.
  3. Subject Line: First impression is the last. The subject line should be relevant and crisp.
  4. Highlight your previous work-ex, research papers, volunteering and leadership roles.

To know more about Assistantships, read the article on All about Assistantships (RA / TA)

So this was a small guide to various scholarships in different countries. Good Luck with hunting the right scholarship for you.

Frequently Asked Questions about Abroad Scholarships for Indian Students

Ques: Should I apply to multiple scholarships at a time?

Ans: It is best, and also the safest, to apply to multiple scholarships. This serves as an excellent backup in case you don’t get admitted to one.

Ques: Are student loans better than scholarships?

Ans: A student loan is a borrowed sum that you’ll have to repay in the future, but scholarships fund your education completely without expecting a return. But it’s comparatively easier to get student loans. The choice depends on the candidate’s position.

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