Can I get a fully funded scholarship to study abroad

Your first thought when applying for a programme abroad is probably the expense involved. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could secure a scholarship that covered all the expenses associated with studying abroad? In many cases, the amount offered through scholarships or grants determines if you’ll accept the admission offer. Several scholarships are offered by different universities, organisations, and governments to support international students. Among these, fully funded scholarships are the most appealing choice for many.

What is a fully funded (100%) scholarship for Indian students?

In the context of studying abroad, a full scholarship is a form of financial aid that covers all expenses related to your education. This covers your tuition fee, lab fees, books, and, in some cases, travel and living expenses. It ideally means that you will not have to spend any money on your higher education out of your own pocket. These scholarships are also called full-ride scholarships. They are highly competitive scholarships. You must have an exceptional academic record and meet other specific eligibility requirements to land one. Remember that a full tuition scholarship differs in that it covers only the tuition fees.

What does a fully funded scholarship cover?

A fully funded or a full-ride scholarship typically covers all the costs involved in pursuing a programme abroad and includes:

• Tuition fees
• Living expenses
• Accommodation costs
• Return airfare (in some cases)
• Exam fees
• Lab fees
• Books and other materials
• Health insurance (in some cases)

Types of fully funded scholarships for Indian students

Fully funded scholarships can be merit-based, course/subject-based, need-based or destination-based.

• Merit-based scholarship: Awarded to students who excel at academics or extra-curricular activities.
• Course-specific scholarship: Scholarships are offered to students enrolling in specific programmes, based on criteria set by the faculty.
• Country-specific scholarships: Countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia offer scholarships to deserving candidates from specific countries or regions.
• Subject scholarship: These are sponsored by the university or an external organisation and are given to students who pursue programmes in a particular subject.
• Need-based scholarship: Awarded to exceptional students who require financial assistance to pursue studies abroad.

These scholarships are offered by governments, universities, or private organisations.

• Government scholarships: These scholarships are awarded by state or national governments to deserving students based on merit and are very competitive. The government-funded scholarships typically offer a monthly stipend to cover your living, tuition, medical, housing, and travel expenses.

• University or institution scholarships: These are offered by universities abroad to meritorious students or students who need funds to support their education.
• Private or corporate scholarships: Private organisations such as NGOs, corporations, businesses, sports organisations or individual sponsors might award scholarships to deserving candidates based on their academic performance or financial requirements. The application process may include eligibility tests for candidates.

Are fully funded scholarships offered to international students?

Yes, many universities, governments, and organisations offer fully funded scholarships to international students. These scholarships can cover 100% of tuition fees and often include additional benefits such as a living stipend, airfare, and other allowances. For students aspiring to study abroad, this means that it is possible to have almost all their expenses taken care of.

Read what Aniruddha Gunjal, who got a 100% scholarship to study abroad, advises.

Financial support in any way, big or small, will go a long way. Hence, do not skip applying for scholarships.

Country-Wise List of Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students (2025–26)

From the USA to Australia, several countries provide fully funded scholarships for Indian students. Here’s a list of the best options for 2025 – 2026. (You can find more details about these scholarships later in the article.)

Fully funded scholarships for Indian students in the USA

• Fulbright Scholarship
• Yale University Scholarship
• Cornell Tata Scholarship

Fully funded scholarships for Indian students in the UK

• British Council Scholarships (Women in STEM)
• Commonwealth Scholarships
• Chevening Scholarship
• Felix Scholarship

Fully funded scholarships for Indian students in Canada

• Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarships

Fully funded scholarships for Indian students in Australia

• Australian Government RTP Scholarship
• Melbourne Research Scholarships
• Monash Graduate Scholarship (refer to details)

What are the eligibility criteria for fully funded scholarships?

The eligibility criteria for different scholarships are set by the scholarship-granting bodies and can vary widely, especially based on the type of scholarship offered. Generally, the criteria to be met include:

• Academic excellence: Applicants should have an excellent academic record to be eligible for a merit-based scholarship.
• Relevant background: The applicant’s field of study or past qualifications should be relevant to the scholarship’s focus area.
• Work experience: Some scholarship-granting bodies expect candidates to possess professional experience in the relevant field.
• Extracurricular achievements: This requirement is based on the candidate’s achievements outside academics. For example, to be eligible for a sports scholarship, you should be able to demonstrate excellent records in your chosen sport.
• Financial need: Certain scholarships are awarded to students who can prove they need financial assistance to study abroad.
• Other criteria set by the scholarship granting body: There could be restrictions related to nationality, age limits, test scores, scores in relevant subjects or others.

What documents are required for scholarship applications?

The documents required will depend on the eligibility criteria set by the scholarship-granting authority. In general, scholarship applications require the following:

• Class 12 or equivalent qualification for undergraduate studies
• Bachelor’s degree for postgraduate programmes
• Documents to prove academic performance, which include academic transcripts and marksheets.
• Letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose or personal statement
• Language proficiency test scores, such as IELTS or TOEFL
• Financial documents
• Employment letters for proof of experience
• Extracurricular activities and proof of contribution to society

List of fully funded undergraduate scholarships

Cornell University Tata Scholarship, Global Scholars Award, and York University International Undergraduate Leadership Scholarship are some of the popular fully funded undergraduate scholarships.

Scholarship	Highlights
Cornell University Tata Scholarship	Offered to Cornell undergraduate students from India. Programme-specific. Amount varies by course. Covers 8 study semesters. Supports 20 scholars at a time.
Global Scholar Award	Offered by Marquette University. Candidates should demonstrate high academic achievement. Scholarship covers tuition, food and accommodation. 2 scholarships offered annually.
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Programme	Offered by the University of Toronto. Covers tuition fees, accommodation expenses, books, and other incidental fees. Offered to 37 scholars annually.
Yale University Need-Based Scholarship	Yale follows a need-blind admission policy. Their ability to pay is not a priority. Covers 100% of tuition.

Fully funded postgraduate scholarships

Top fully funded postgraduate scholarships include:

Scholarship	Highlights
Rhodes Scholarship	To study a master’s at Oxford University. Covers tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,800 per year, which covers living and housing costs.
The University International Postgraduate Award (UIPA)	Offered by UNSW, Sydney. Covers the cost of living and tuition fees. AUD 39,206 per year, along with the tuition fee. To support a master’s degree or a PhD at the University of New South Wales.
Chevening Scholarship	Funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and partner organisations. For students undertaking master’s courses. Covers full tuition fees, travel costs, arrival allowance, visa application, monthly stipend and more. For more details, visit the page dedicated to applicants from India.
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships for Indian Students	Offers the opportunity to pursue a master’s in the USA Offered to individuals demonstrating leadership qualities Covers J-1 visa cost, round-trip airfare, tuition fees, living expenses and accident and sickness coverage. Should have 3 years of work experience.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships	To support master’s education at UK universities. Helps students gain the knowledge and skills for sustainable development. Covers tuition fee, airfare, living allowance, travel grant and more.
British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM	Offered for pursuing a STEM master’s in the UK. Covers full tuition fees, living allowance, travel costs, visa and health cover costs, refund of IELTS costs if needed.
DAAD Scholarship: Study Scholarships - Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines	Offered for pursuing a master’s in Germany. Covers annual study allowance, insurance, travel allowance and allowance for accompanying family members. Tuition fee is not covered as public universities in Germany don’t charge tuition fees.
ETH Zurich Excellence Masters Scholarship	Tuition and living costs up to CHF 12,000 per semester. 60 ESOP scholarships are allocated for the 2025-26 academic year.
Research Training Programme (RTP) Stipend	Offered by the Australian government Supports Research Doctorate and Research Master's degrees Includes a living allowance and a relocation allowance. Tuition scholarships can be clubbed with this stipend.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship	A University Composition Fee Maintenance allowance Single airfare at the beginning and end of the course Visa and HIS cost. 80 scholarships are offered each year.
Knight Hennessy Scholarship	Offered by Stanford University For pursuing graduate degrees Covers tuition and other fees, stipend for living expenses, and an economy class ticket to travel to and from Stanford.
Felix Scholarship	Offered at the University of Oxford, the University of Reading and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), part of the University of London. 20 scholarships are offered every year Covers tuition fees, living cost grant, and return flight from India.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (Students)	Offers the opportunity to study at several top universities in Europe. Also covers travel and visa expenses and offers a living allowance. At the end of the 1-2 year master’s programme, you will either have a joint degree from different universities or multiple degrees.
Inlakhs Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships	Offered to pursue master’s degree, MPhil or doctoral programmes in the UK, the USA, or European countries. Covers tuition fees, living expenses, health allowance and one-way travel expenses.

 

Other scholarships you should be aware of:

Merit Scholarship Programme – Québec Government:

• Covers tuition costs ranging from AU$ 25,000 to AU$ 35,000 per year
• Health insurance and hospitalisation coverage

Vantage One Excellence Awards:

• Offered by Vantage College, the University of British Columbia.
• Offered to academically outstanding international students.
• Covers full tuition fees and living expenses.
• The applicant should demonstrate leadership skills and extracurricular talents.
• Get the details from the UBC webpage dedicated to information about International Scholars.

Karsh International Scholars Programme:

• Funded by Martha L. and Bruce A. Karsh.
• Offered to applicants to Duke University who request financial aid.
• Covers tuition fees, accommodation fees, any demonstrated need that exceeds these costs, unpaid internships and more.
• Get more details from the official website of Duke University.

4. Australia Awards Scholarships:

• This award is administered by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• It is for full-time undergraduate and postgraduate study at Australian universities and TAFE institutions.
• The scholarship covers full tuition fees, airfare to and from Australia, a once-only payment called an establishment allowance for accommodation, books, and other study materials, basic living expenses (provided as a fortnightly contribution), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of the award and fieldwork expenses.
• Note: Indian students are not eligible for this scholarship. Citizens of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka can apply. Please refer to the Australian government website for more details.

Royal Society Grants: These grants are offered to researchers.

In addition, several other universities offer scholarships to Indian international students. These include the India Global Leaders Scholarship offered by the University of Queensland, the Future of Change Scholarship offered by the University of New South Wales, the University of Lincoln India Scholarship offered by the University of Lincoln and so on. These are not 100 per cent scholarships, but will support you in your study abroad journey.

Our website lists hundreds of scholarships offered by foreign universities. Find the best scholarship based on your preferred country or subject and go ahead and apply!

How to apply for a fully funded scholarship to study abroad?

Fully funded or full-ride scholarships are limited in number and highly competitive. Nevertheless, your chance of receiving a scholarship increases with meticulous planning and effort.

• Do thorough research to identify scholarships offered by universities, governments, or organisations.
• Ensure that the subject/course you apply to is eligible for scholarships.
• Maintain a good academic record to qualify for a merit-based scholarship.
• Academic performance is not the sole criterion that affects your scholarship application. Scholarship-granting bodies value applicants who demonstrate their social commitment through volunteer activities.
• Your leadership skills will also add value to your application. Highlight your skills and talents too, while getting your scholarship application ready.

Some points to keep in mind while you prepare for scholarship applications are:

• Be prepared with the basic requirements: Some of the obvious requirements for a scholarship to study abroad include your academic certificates, reference letters and university offer letter. Decide who you would like to contact for a referral and keep them informed.
• Understand the scholarship-specific requirements: You should read the scholarship requirements and application guidelines carefully. Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria. Also, check out the specific requirements as to what documents are to be submitted. Adhere to the deadlines.
• Write a convincing cover letter for your application: Along with the other documents that you submit, you will have to write a cover letter that stands out. Include points that demonstrate your skills and achievements. You should be able to convince the panel that you deserve the scholarship.
• Most importantly, stay safe from scholarship scams.

FAQs on fully funded scholarships for Indian students

Can I study abroad for free?

While you might not be able to study abroad free of charge, a full-ride scholarship can significantly reduce the financial burden. There is also more than one way to fund your studies. With most banks offering student loans at attractive rates and repayment plans that start with instalments once you start earning, combining education loans with scholarships can help you fulfil your study abroad dream. All the very best for your scholarship search and studies!

How can an average student get a scholarship to study abroad?

Some scholarships look at the overall profile of the applicant rather than their academic scores alone. But if you are an academically average student, your chances of being granted a merit-based scholarship are very low. Hence, it is best to look for other types of scholarships. Highlight your extracurricular activities in your application. Write a compelling personal statement and obtain strong letters of recommendation. Submit your application on time and ensure it is complete in every aspect.

Which countries offer fully funded scholarships for Indian students?

Several countries, such as the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, France, and Australia, offer 100% scholarships to deserving and exceptional candidates.

Can Indian students get undergraduate scholarships abroad?

Yes. The UK, USA, Australia, and Canada offer fully funded scholarships to Indian students pursuing undergraduate programmes in certain universities.

What exams should Indian students take to qualify for scholarships?

Indian students should demonstrate English language proficiency to study abroad and qualify for a scholarship. These tests include TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or other equivalent tests. Other standard tests students may take include the GRE, GMAT, SAT, or others, as applicable or mandated by universities.

Best of luck with your scholarship application!

Editor's note: This article was last updated in August 2025. We have revised it to include up-to-date information and ensure its comprehensiveness.