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Overseas education can be made more affordable if you get financial aid. We bring you the 15 best scholarships to study abroad so you can get going on the requirements right away.

Whether provided by the government of India, the government of the host nation, the university, or a private organization, there are many scholarship and financial aid options, especially for students from developing countries to secure financial aid. In this article, we will be looking at…

Also, if you are looking to study abroad, and would like a comprehensive guide on the best study abroad consultants in India, here’s a superb resource you’d want to bookmark!

Which countries offer fully funded scholarships for Indian Students?

Scholarships are typically merit-based or merit and need based. It can have several eligibility criteria along with it such as gender, race, country, field of study, etc. It can be a one-time payout or a renewable stipend. It can be fully or partially funded. Our focus here is on fully funded scholarships.

As the name suggests, a fully funded scholarship, when awarded, covers your entire tuition fees. Many of them also include the cost of travel and living abroad. It covers accommodation and insurance. It essentially takes almost the entire financial burden of your international education onto itself.

It is not just one or a few countries that provide fully funded scholarships to Indian students. The UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, China, Japan and most of the EU member states (The Netherlands in particular has a ton of scholarship programs) offer unique scholarships for international students that Indian students can apply for. Whichever country you are applying to, it is good to research what kind of scholarship options are available.

How to get a scholarship to study abroad for Indian students

To get a scholarship abroad to study abroad, applicants must have a minimum of 3.4 – 4.0 GPA along with an IELTS/TOEFL score of 6.5 – 7(IELTS) or around 100 in the TOEFL iBT. Typically, an applicant must not be older than 30 years of age (for an undergraduate program). These are average figures and each scholarship has its own criteria. Here are some additional tips to boost your eligibility.

Applying for a scholarship can certainly not be a last-minute thing. If this is even a remote idea, you start working towards it, a few years in advance.

• The first thing you do is boost your academic credentials. Increase your GPA, take a few extra courses, anything that will make you stand out academically.
• Add value with extracurriculars. Showcase your leadership, creativity, social sensitivity and problem-solving skills.
• Practice and ace your entrance tests such as GRE, GMAT, and your language proficiency tests (IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE, etc.)

These are some essential eligibility criteria that you cannot pad up at the last minute. Meanwhile, research is your best friend. Look at all possible angles from which you can receive funding — home government, host government, the university or private organizations. While conducting your research, keep track of the scholarship’s deadlines. Ensure you submit your scholarship application form and documents well before the last day.

Some scholarships are quite particular and exclusive, in the sense that, you cannot apply for another while being considered for one. While some have direct criteria, some of them can have complexities that can be overwhelming. So, instead of investing so much of your own time in this research and tracking (you can be using this time to boost your resume), you sign up with TC Global.

A one-stop-shop for all your international education needs, we are here to help you every step of the way, from choosing the right course, applications and to find the right scholarships for you. Our student portal is a one-look summary of application statuses and deadlines. Log into tcglobal.com to get a detailed idea.

What are the best Scholarships for Indian Students?

The best scholarships for Indian students are:

• In the UK:
  • Commonwealth scholarship and fellowship
  • Chevening Scholarship
  • Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarships
  • Rhodes Scholarships
  • Inlaks Shivadasani Foundation Scholarships
  • Erasmus Mundus
  • Felix Scholarships
• In the US:
  • Fulbright- Nehru fellowships
  • Tata Scholarship
• In China
  • Chinese government fellowships
• In Canada
  • UBC Leader of Tomorrow Award
• In Australia
  • Australia Awards Scholarship
  • Australian Embassy fully funded scholarships
  • University of Melbourne Scholarships
  • Adelaide Scholarship International (ASI)

The following section will look at these countries — The UK, The USA, China, Canada and Australia and the best scholarships that each of them offer. Let’s delve right in…

Scholarships for Indian Students in the United Kingdom

Indian students are offered a wide range of scholarships and fellowships by both the UK Government and Universities, important ones highlighted below.

1. Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship, a Master’s and Ph.D. programme in the UK, offered by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission, distributed through the British Council, to deserving students from the Commonwealth nations, of which India is a member, who has the potential to contribute significantly to their nations.