Scholarships That Can Make Studying Abroad Affordable For Indians

A recent survey found that students indicated high cost was the greatest deterrent to studying overseas followed by the lack of student scholarship opportunities.  However, with proper information and planning hopefully no student aspiring to go abroad will face this predicament and compromise on their academic endeavors.

There are a number of scholarships for students offered by schools, universities and external agencies that can help make studying abroad affordable for Indians.  Let’s probe into the various options:

1. University Scholarships. One of the best sources of financial aid can be the college you attend. Universities provide aid through grants and scholarships for students which do not have to be repaid and can be offered based on need or merit. For example:

• Tata Scholarships at Cornell University – There is US$25 million endowment from the Tata Education and Development Trust that supports around 20 Indian scholars at Cornell. To be eligible, it’s necessary to first be accepted into an undergraduate course at Cornell, and then apply for need-based financial aid.

• The British Council – The British Council recently announced the single largest number of scholarships ever launched in a year in India, by offering around 370 scholarships for students worth almost 1 million pounds.   There are 36 UK institutions participating in this program and scholarships will be offered for 260 undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

2. Current Learning Institutes. The institution you currently attend could be a resource for financial aid.  It’s important to speak to your school and department heads to understand if any scholarships for students are available and what their admission criteria are.  For example:

• Davis United World Colleges Scholars Program – All graduates of UWC schools who gain admission on their own merits to selected U.S. colleges or universities qualify for need-based scholarship support through the program. The program currently supports over 2,700 scholars at 94 partner colleges and universities throughout the United States.

3. Community Organizations. It is quite common for community groups to encourage and support exceptional members in their academic endeavors. For example:

• Mustard Seed Foundation (The Harvey Fellows Program) – Provides scholarships to Christian students who are pursuing graduate studies at premier universities in fields considered to be underrepresented by Christians and who possess a unique vision to impact society through their vocations.

4. Private Organizations. There are a number of trusts, foundations and private groups that look to aid exceptional candidates. The criterion varies depending on the ethos of the institution, but you will have to detail why you are the right candidate. For example:

• Rotary Global Grant Scholarship Program – Supports international study at the graduate level and funds graduate-level coursework or research for one to four academic years. It is a partnership between the district / club in the study location and the district / club in the scholar’s home country. The minimum grant amount is US$30,000.

• Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships – Provides scholarships for students of up to US$100,000 for exceptional Indian students to study in North America or Europe. The scholarship covers tuition fees, adequate living expenses and one-way travel. Applicants must be under 30 and reside in India at the time of application.

• Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation – Awards interest-free loan scholarships to Indian students with a consistent and strong academic record. The scholarship amount can be up to Rs. 20 lakhs and is awarded to students who wish to pursue postgraduate studies at prestigious Indian and international universities.

5. The Indian Government, both individually and in collaboration, have launched scholarships for students to help finance proficient students looking to study outside of India. For example:

• Government of Telangana – Introduced the “Overseas Study Scheme for Minorities” for the benefit of the students belonging to minority community. Financial assistance will be sanctioned to 500 minority students/graduates per year to pursue Post Graduate/Doctoral studies abroad as per the guidelines.

• Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships – The Master’s Fellowships are designed for outstanding Indians residing in India to pursue a master’s degree at selected U.S. colleges and universities. Selected fellows have completed the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree, have at least three years of work experience, and are committed to return and contribute to their communities.

There are a number of resources Indian applicants can utilize to fund their study abroad.  It’s imperative you do your research, connect with targeted colleges, probe into Government schemes, reach out to external agencies and speak to successful students.  Start early and thoroughly explore all the options available before making your final decision.

ReachIvy  sincerely hopes that this article serves as a critical tool to increase your knowledge base. For study abroad consultation  or career counselling  with ReachIvy, Submit a Query now! Also, review our resources  to access our free premium content.

This article was also published in The Better India on 07/01/2017.