As a child when we watched foreign television programs we all at some point got attracted by their schools and colleges, be it for their smart classrooms or somewhat ‘cool’ dresses, and dreamt of being there once in our life. But when the time arrives our dreams get a reality check sometimes due to merit and mostly due to financial crunch. Academic years after passing the Class 12th board examination gets tough and that is where it is important to make a final decision for future goals.
Studying abroad, along with merit, requires financial support to pay tuition fees and accommodation. When it comes to scoring well everyone can achieve that with some hard work. But for financial support, one has to rely on others and that is where the importance of scholarships comes.
Types of scholarships for studying abroad by Indian government after 12th
There are several types of scholarships for Indian students such as
- Merit-based
- Student-based
- Destination-based
- Subject-based
- Need-based, and
- For athletes.
Good research and preparation can help one to obtain the best for themselves.
Name of government-run scholarships for study abroad
Following are the best scholarships for studying abroad by Indian government after 12th.
Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship
This merit-based fellowship is provided to students of History, Economics, and Political/Social Science. Under this fellowship, which the government entirely funds, an Indian student is placed at St. Antony College, Oxford University London gets the benefits for an academic year.
National Overseas Scholarship for SC Students
This is one of the most well-known Indian government study abroad scholarships, assisting an Indian student from a Scheduled Caste to study abroad. A total of 100 prizes are given out each year. This scholarship covers Tuition fees, the cost of books, airfare, and living costs in the subjects of Engineering, Technology, and Science (for ST students). SC students can apply for this Indian government scholarship to study abroad courses in management, pure and applied sciences, medicine, agricultural sciences, commerce, accounting, and finance.
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships
This is only for master’s programs that cover tuition, living costs, travel allowance, and health cover and help excellent Indians who wish to pursue a master’s degree at one of the United States’ top universities.
Indian Govt partnered scholarships
Besides these Scholarships for studying abroad by Indian government after 12th, the Indian government also partners with the same foundation to provide scholarships for other subjects and benefits, including the
i) Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship for Indian Ph.D. students
ii) Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships for Indian Ph.D. students.
4) Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loan for Overseas Studies – The scheme is designed to provide interest subsidies to deserving students from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Backward Classes (ECW) for higher studies. This is a need-based program that covers all the subjects for a master’s degree. It provides subsidies on interest payable by students during the study period.
Please note that, apart from scholarships there are different other options to finance your international education.
Privately run scholarships for Indian students to study abroad
Apart from that, there are many privately run good scholarships available for Indian students. Some of them are as follows –
Tata Scholarship
This scholarship provides financial help to over 20 scholars for studying at the prestigious Cornell University after clearing class 12th. The applicant must hold an Indian passport. The entire tuition fees and living costs are covered under this scholarship. In addition to this, students also benefit from medical and travel allowances.
Inlaks Scholarships
Inlaks scholarships are awarded to Indian students who want to pursue full-time degrees at premier American, European, or UK institutions. It provides financial aid to talents across various fields to study abroad. The scholarship covers the full tuition fee, living expenses, one-way travel allowance, and a health allowance. To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must have a solid academic record. Furthermore, candidates applying for positions in art and design will be evaluated mostly on the basis of their portfolios.
Chinese Government Scholarships
Indian students after clearing the Class 12th exam and the entrance test can apply for full-time programs in Chinese universities under the India-China cultural/education exchange program. The scholarship is open to students who have enrolled in a UG course for 4-7 years. Applicants must have at least 60% marks in 12th and should undergo one-year training in the Chinese language. Complete tuition costs, living costs, and airfare expenses are covered by these scholarships.
University of Westminster International Scholarships
Westminster’s full international scholarships are open to international students from developing countries. The students will have access to excellent career support, various opportunities, tools, and resources throughout their program. This scholarship covers the full tuition fee, living expenses, and airfare to London. The scholarship also includes a number of activities and programs aimed at improving candidates’ skills, increasing their exposure to modern technology specialists, and preparing them for a constantly changing life experience. The applicant for this scholarship must be an international student from a developing country with a full-time undergraduate course offer from a university. He or she must also have a track record of academic distinction and financial necessity.
Monash International Merit Scholarships
The scholarship is given to international students who are selected to Monash University or other Monash international merit scholarship participating universities. For the length of the program, the selected scholars will be paid AUD 10,000 every year. The applicant must have obtained 85% marks in their academic records.
Wilfrid Laurier University Merit Scholarships
This is open to all students across the world. The Indian candidates should have cleared the class XII exams to apply for the scholarship. The selected students will pursue higher studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. Students who perform well on English language proficiency tests and have a minimum of 80% on the Class XII board exam are eligible for this scholarship. This scholarship covers the complete tuition fee covered by a student. Additionally, a candidate will also receive USD 1,000 to USD 2,000 based on academic achievement.
Lester B.Pearson International Scholarships
It is the most prestigious and competitive scholarship offered by the University of Toronto for foreign education. They select approximately 37 students every year for the Lester B. Pearson international scholarship. The scholarship assists by covering full course tuition fees, book fees, and incidental fees, along with providing full residence support for four years.
Other than that there are Orange Tulip Scholarship Programme for studying in Holland, Great Wall Program set up by the Chinese government and UNESCO for students and scholars from developing countries to study in China and The JN Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians meant for Indian students for Ph.D. or Postdoctoral studies overseas in countries like the USA, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Ireland, and other European countries – available for students.
Also read: 5 European countries that provide free education for Indian students
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), GRE (Graduate Record Examination), SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test), and ACT (American College Testing) are some exams that will help the candidates to avail scholarships to study abroad. These entrances evaluate the candidates’ skills and determination.