6 International Scholarships in India for All Study Levels

India’s system of higher education is the third largest in the world. Many of Indian higher education institutions figure in the top 100 Asian Universities and among the best in the world, too. While the engineering schools have been the flag bearers of India’s higher education, many other courses such as Business Administration, Sciences, Liberal Arts, Artificial Intelligence, Photonics and Design Thinking are also offered at Indian higher education institutions to keep with the times and the skill needs of the global workforce. In addition, interesting and niche courses such as Yoga, Ayurveda or Buddhism are also on offer. Most of the courses in Indian higher education institutions are delivered in English. This offers an ease of communication which would be enjoyed by foreign students.

scholarships in india
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To those who are interested to study in India and are also currently searching for a free scholarship in India, you have come to the right place! This article will show you a list of scholarships in India that you can apply for to study in an undergraduate, postgraduate or PhD / post-doctoral level. Below you will see an overview of each of the most recommended international scholarships in India.

  1. General Scholarship Scheme (GSS) for Foreign Students: Funded by the Indian’s Council for Cultural Relations (ICCS), the GSS scheme provides annual scholarships to international students from certain Asian, African and Latin American countries who wish to pursue an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or to conduct a research in Indian universities. However, scholarships for medical studies for MBBS, BDS or for medical research leading to a PhD degree are not offered under the GSS scheme. The scholarship consists the following:
    • Living allowance / stipend (per month)
      • Undergraduate: Rs.5,500
      • Postgraduate: Rs.6,000
      • MPhil / PhD: Rs.7,000
      • Post-doctoral fellow: Rs.7,500
      • House rent allowance
      • In Grade 1 cities: Rs.5,000
      • In other cities: Rs.4,500
    • Contingent grant
      • Undergraduate: Rs.5,000
      • Postgraduate: Rs.7,000
      • MPhil / PhD and MTech / ME: Rs.12,000
      • Post-doctoral studies: Rs.15,000
      • Tuition fee / other compulsory fee: As per actual (excluding refundable amount)
    • Thesis and dissertation expenses (one-time installment)
      • PhD scholar: Rs.10,000
      • For BBA / BCA / MBA / MCA / MTech and other course required submission of Project should be duly certified by Head of Department: RS.7,000
    • Medical benefits: Under the scheme students are expected to seek treatment only at medical center or dispensary attached to universities / institutes where they enrolled or in the nearest Government hospital. Bills are settled as admissible according to AMA / CGHS norms.

There are 140 higher education institutions in India that are partners of the GSS scheme. Only students of the following countries are eligible to apply for the scholarship:

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Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Cambodia, Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Oman, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saint Denis Reunion Island, Saudi Arabia, Siberia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen.

  1. Government of India’s Africa Scholarships: Designed to enhance the academic opportunities for students of African countries in India by increasing the number of scholarships for them to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and higher courses. The ICCR implements this scheme on behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs. Under this Scheme, the ICCR offers 900 scholarships to the following countries:

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Republic of the Congo), Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

  1. Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme: Instituted to implement the policy of the Commonwealth countries to contribute together in providing high-level education and training by sharing their resources and facilities. The ICCR’s Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme is for the nationals of Commonwealth countries to enable them to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and other research courses in Indian universities in general courses (except medicine and dentistry). The scholarships under this Scheme are offered to students from Bangladesh, Canada, Guyana, Maldives, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.
  2. ICCR Scholarship Schemes: Various scholarship programs for students from all around the world, who wish to pursue their studies in Indian universities with financial assistance.
    • ICCR Scholarship Scheme for Indian Classical Arts Studies: 100 scholarships for study in Indian classical music, dance, painting, yoga and sculpture. The scholarships are valid for one year. These scholarships are offered to nationals of all countries.
    • Scholarship Schemes for Bangladesh: 200 scholarships offered to Bangladesh nationals – 100 under the ICCR program (Bangladesh Scholarship Scheme, undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD including engineering courses) as well as 100 under agency work India Scholarship (Bangladesh) Scheme on behalf of the MEA to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD / post-doctoral (excluding Engineering) courses.
    • Scholarships for Sri Lanka: 195 scholarships offered on behalf of ICCR and MEA to Sri Lankan students, under various scholarship schemes:
      • Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme (ICCR): 60 slots
      • Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme (MEA): 60 slots (only for undergraduate courses including Engineering)
      • Maulana Azad Scholarship Scheme (MEA): 50 slots to pursue master’s degree in Agriculture Science and Engineering courses
      • Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship Scheme (MEA): 25 slots for studies in the field of IT (B.E. / B.Tech courses).
    • Aid to Bhutan, Mongolia & Maldives: Implemented on behalf of MEA. Under this Scholarship Scheme, 20 slots each are offered to nationals of Bhutan (for undergraduate Engineering courses), Mongolia (for undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD courses) and Maldives (for undergraduate courses including Engineering), except medicine and dentistry.
    • SAARC Scholarship Scheme: 14 scholarships are offered annually – two each to SAARC Member Countries to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD courses on behalf of SAARC Division of MEA.
    • Cultural Exchange Program / Educational Exchange Program (CEP / EEO): Opportunities to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies. The opportunities are offered only to students from countries where ICCR has valid CEP / EEPs.
    • Silver Jubilee Scholarship Scheme for Nepal: A number of scholarships for students from Nepal to pursue postgraduate and PhD studies in India.
    • Africa Scholarship Scheme: A total of 900 grants awarded to students who are nationals of African countries, to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate or PhD courses in India.
    • Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Scholarship Scheme: A total of 50 awards offered to students from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Each member country is allotted 10 slots.
    • Commonwealth Scholarship Fellowship Plan: 26 scholarships offered annually to nationals of the Commonwealth countries. The scholarships are mostly available for postgraduate studies and a few are for undergraduate and PhD studies.
    • Ayush Scholarship Scheme: 50 scholarships offered to BIMSTEC and non-BIMSTEC member countries to pursue studies in Indian traditional medical system such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. The BIMSTEC countries covered are Thailand, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Myanmar and the other countries are covered under the Scheme for non-BIMSTEC. Besides that, 20 slots are also offered annually to Malaysia under this Scheme. This Scheme is handled by ICCR as agency work on behalf of ASEAN ML Division, MEA (30 slots) and Ayush Department of the Ministry of Health and Family Planning (40 slots) i.e. 20 for non-BIMTEC countries and 20 for Malaysia.
  1. KIIT Financial Assistance: Various scholarship and fellowship schemes available to study at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology.
    • Tuition Fee Waiver (TFW) Scheme: Available to the top 5 percent students enrolled in a B.Tech course at the Institute. The waiver is limited to the tuition fee. All other fee except tuition fees will have to be paid by the beneficiary.
    • Pradyumna Bal Memorial Scholarship: Every year two poor and meritorious students are provided completely free education under this scholarship scheme. The scholarship covers college fees, hostel fees including mess, books and any other ancillary expenses.
    • KIIT Poverty Cum Merit Scholarship: Offered to the poor and needy students. The amount and period of scholarship is decided based on the need of the selected candidates.
    • KIIT Merit Scholarship: Provided to the University-toppers (1st, 2nd and 3rd) of each semester for the duration of six months.
    • Teaching Assistant Program: Available to M.Tech students. This innovative program has been initiated to benefit the postgraduate students who wish to supplement their income while being a student and gain experience in teaching / research at KIIT. Sponsored students are not eligible for this program. The Program is voluntary.
    • KIITEE Merit Scholarship: Free education offered to the topper of KIITEE 2019 (only for B.Tech students who are admitted to KIIT). In addition, KIIT provides scholarships to top 1000 rank holders of KIITEE 2019 (B.Tech – 4 years) during their study period at KIIT subject to fulfillment of criteria.
      • For General Rank 1 to 1000: Rs.120,000 per annum
      • Toppers (Best Ten) of Central & State Boards: Rs.100,000 per annum
      • (All other courses) For KIITEE Rank 1: Rs.60,000 per annum
  1. ISB International Scholarships: Various scholarships for international students to study at the Indian School of Business (ISB) in India.
    • ISB Merit Waivers: 16 merit waivers of 25% to 100% of the tuition fee, only available to applicants of non-Indian origin. Selection is on the basis of merit of the applicant’s admission application. No separate application is required.
    • ISB – AIESEC Scholarship: Two scholarships, with each scholarship amounts at INR 1 million, available to AIESEC alumni of non-Indian origin. The selection is based on the overall merit along with an essay. Applications for this scholarship are to be submitted along with the admission application.
    • Bridge to India Scholarship: Three scholarships, with each scholarship amounts at INR 0,5 to 1 million, available to Indian passport holders who are based outside India. The selection is based on the overall merit along with an essay. Applications for this scholarship must be submitted along with the admission application.
    • La Caixa and Casa Asia Scholarship: Three scholarships of total expenditure are available to Spanish citizens with an undergraduate degree from a Spanish university.
    • Talentia Scholarship: Two scholarships of total expenditure available to Andalusian applicants.

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40 thoughts on “6 International Scholarships in India for All Study Levels

  1. I am interested in full free scholarship for master of electrical engineering

  2. hello name saynab suupn ina carshe l am from country soomaliy l am interest master gyncolog I am interest full scholarship we help thanks l hope good luck if Allah say thanks

  3. Hi I’m interested from Ethiopia
    by field of Political Science and International Relation

  4. Am interested in full free scholarship… Please help I want to further my studies

  5. My name yosof abdi. I live in somalia specially first ciy that are mugdisho and I want to learn department of IT computer so help me that how to get

  6. I’m interested in full free scholarships for master of hospital management

  7. Why India can’t offers scholarship for Pakistan students.. When the social war will end.

  8. I need scholarship program bachelor degree information Technology

  9. Hi, I am interested in this scholarship I am the 2nd-year medical student in Sudan but our University is closed and our political status in Sudan is so bad as you know. I am a super-intelligent student and my grades are so amazing. I wish you give me a fully-funded scholarship to study my field and my dream to be one of the greatest doctor become true. This my email please text me : mariamrashad17@gmail.com

  10. I would like to have a sponsorship to study International relations in any University in India

  11. Am interested in full scholarship in studying of cardiology in your country india

  12. My name is Mohamed I want scholarship education information technology please help me
    Answer thnkz

  13. Sir I am poor please help me I want to be a software engineer please sir and my parents can’t manage it please help me I am from Pakistan I am a Hindu I have very need of help can help please?

  14. Please I have need of this scholarship
    This is my mobile number 03453627692
    Sir please

  15. hello!, am interested in a masters degree or a postgraduate diploma,majorly in education. +2560779607019

  16. I seeking for fully funded MSc. scholarship in Rural Development and agricultural Extension.

  17. hi my name is mustaf cumar I graduated in high school in Africa so I need scholarships bachelor degree so I can get please

  18. i am so interested to learn my masters degree in leadership,political science,public addiminstration, managment and related course.

  19. Ibrahim from Tanzania asking if there is full sponsored scholarships in Masscom for a bachelor degree?

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