Top Fully funded Scholarships for Study Abroad 2026

Studying abroad opens doors to global career opportunities, but the steep financial barrier often deters Indian students from targeting top-tier institutions. Fully funded scholarships directly eliminate this constraint. This article covers some fully funded scholarships for Indian students to study abroad.

Fully funded scholarships are also called 100% scholarships. Most of the fully-funded scholarships are offered by the government or state of the country where you are going to study, or even by the government of your country sometimes. However, most of the top colleges and universities abroad also offer 100% tuition fee waivers to some students based on need and/or merit, but they generally do not provide the other benefits that the fully-funded scholarships cover. So, here are the general offerings that fully funded scholarships to study abroad cover for students:  

• Full tuition fees (with rare exceptions, such as Chevening's specific cap on MBA programs). 
• Monthly living stipends to cover accommodation and day-to-day food expenses.
• Round-trip International airfare to and from your destination country.
• Student visa and English test fees (very few scholarships cover the English test fees)
• Health insurance fees

With a fully-funded scholarship, students can make better choices in selecting the right college and course, as their decision will not be biased towards courses that have lower fees. This helps students put their entire focus into getting a quality education. In this article, we will provide details on the top fully funded scholarships for Indian students. 

Types of Fully Funded Scholarships Abroad 2026

There are three main types of fully funded scholarships for Indian students to study abroad, which are distinguished based on the sponsoring body of the scholarship. These scholarships are listed below.

• Fully Funded Government Scholarships: These scholarships are very competitive and are awarded on a merit basis. Generally, millions of international students apply for these scholarships every year, which creates a scarcity and high competition among the applicants. Most government-funded 100% scholarships abroad provide a monthly stipend (to cover the monthly living costs of the students), complete tuition fees, health insurance, accommodation and travel allowances. It must be noted that there are many Indian government scholarships to study abroad for highly meritorious students. 
• University-sponsored Fully Funded Scholarships: Some of the top universities abroad also offer 100% scholarships to students. Every university has different criteria for awarding its much-desired scholarships. The selection criteria of these universities include good grades, work experience, participation in extracurricular activities, and the requirement of financial aid demonstrated by the students in their application. So, to earn a fully-funded scholarship from the university, the student must submit a strong application. However, only a few universities abroad offer a complete scholarship. 
• External Scholarships: Businesses, charities and higher education organisations abroad form the external bodies that also aim to sponsor the higher education of only the promising students abroad. These scholarships are often awarded on the basis of a personalised test and conclude with a job/internship offer at the end of the awardee’s degree/diploma program. 

It's important to note that "fully funded" does not mean "zero upfront costs". In fact, major fellowships such as the UK’s Chevening Scholarship or the US’s Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship do not pay for your IELTS, TOEFL, or GRE exams. You will be required to take the required test, get the desired scores, apply to university, and if you receive an offer, then you may stand a chance to win the scholarship.

List of Top 20+ Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad

Here are some of the best fully funded scholarships for Indian students who wish to pursue their higher education in a foreign country. 

Note:- Mostly all of the fully funded study abroad scholarships have started accepting applications for the September-October 2027 cohort.  

Students are advised to check the requirements and the list of necessary documents that will go with the scholarship application. This will help to avoid the last-minute hassle and delays so that you do not end up missing the submission deadline. If you miss the application deadline, there is no other way around. Then, you will only have to wait for the same applications to open next year or simply just go by with other scholarships.     

Indian students must read the top 5 Things to consider before choosing a Study Abroad Destination

Details on Top 5 Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad

Below are some of the best fully funded scholarships for Indian students to study abroad.

1.  Fulbright Scholarships

One of the most sought-after fully funded scholarships in USA, Fulbright Scholarships are 100% scholarships that cover your complete tuition fees in college. Administered by the US Embassies or binational Fulbright Commissions/Foundations under the Fulbright Foreign Student Program across 160 countries, the Fulbright Scholarship benefits over 4000 students every year and is the largest educational scholarship program in the world. The selection criteria and eligibility criteria are subject to change according to the country of the student applying. 

Sponsored by the US government, the Fulbright Fellowships for Indian students cover the complete tuition fee of the course applied to, along with the airfare, cost of living in the USA and health insurance for each student. For Indian students, 16 types of Fulbright Fellowships are available for different courses and students can visit the United States – India Educational Foundation (USIEF) website for more information. The website is a one-stop solution for all Indian students planning to study, do research and/or teach in the USA and vice versa for American students when coming to India. 

2. DAAD Scholarships

DAAD scholarships provide both - full and partially-funded scholarships for Indian students to study a master's, PhD or research course in Germany. The common benefits of DAAD Scholarship generally include a monthly stipend, travel allowance, health insurance and tuition coverage

Confused about choosing the right university? Read on to know "How should students shortlist colleges and look beyond rankings?"

3. Rhodes Scholarship

Indian students were first nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship in 1947, and ever since, 200 Indian students have been awarded this scholarship. Eligible for students doing their master’s degree at Oxford University, a total of 5 Rhodes Scholarships are available for Indian students each year. 

Do you know how universities 'Select' the Right Applicants?

4. Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded to students coming from Commonwealth countries who have the potential to bring a positive impact on a global scale but cannot fund their studies in the UK. The scholarships are provided to 700 students willing to pursue master’s programmes in UK universities. 

You may also want to know more about - 

• Best Countries for Studying Abroad
• 5 Things to consider before choosing a Study Abroad Destination

5. British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM

The British Council has introduced this excellent initiative for South Asian women willing to pursue a master’s program in STEM courses at the top universities in the UK. This came as a result of a study conducted by UNESCO which stated that the global number of women pursuing research in STEM courses is below 30%.

6. MEXT Scholarships 

The MEXT (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship is a prestigious, fully-funded award offered by the Government of Japan (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology). It is one of the most comprehensive scholarships globally - designed to attract international students to Japanese universities.

Relevant reads - 

• Bursary Vs Scholarship: Definitions, Types and Benefits
• How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay to Study Abroad?

What are the Selection Criteria of Fully Funded Scholarships?

The selection committees of fully funded scholarships evaluate candidates based on exceptional academic performance, demonstrated leadership potential, clear career objectives, social impact and a strong fit for the specific scholarship's mission. These committees also look at your ultimate objectives for applying for the scholarship, which should generally be - getting a good education to bring change in your society/enviroment in your home country. Once won, you'll always be referred to as the "scholar" of that scholarship, such as - Chevening scholars, Commonwealth scholars and so on. These scholarships keep organising events for students - which should ideally be attended by all old and newly-awarded scholars.

When Should You Start Applying for the Fully-funded Scholarships?

Scholarships are the first thing that you must look for and start applying for when you start planning to study abroad, for most scholarship applications are released a year or 6 months before the start of the next session. Hence, the best time to start applying for fully-funded scholarships is at least 8–12 months before your intended intake (especially for Fall or Spring semesters).

Fully-funded Scholarships for Master's Abroad

Prospective Indian students willing to study abroad must note that, in addition to the more than 100% scholarships for UG courses that there are, there are PG scholarships. Hence, Indian students can depend big on the scholarships and can find several options available to them, which is not the case with finding scholarships for UG courses. 

Some of the top fully funded scholarships for master's include the Chevening Scholarships, USA's Fulbright Scholarships, Japan's MEXT Scholarships and university-specific scholarships like Gates Cambridge, Stanford or Yale, plus regional scholarships like Erasmus Mundus Scholarships. 

How To Apply for Fully Funded Scholarships to Study Abroad?

The application processes for various scholarships are different. For example, for government scholarships, you may have to apply directly from the dedicated authorised scholarship portal, upon which your application will be assessed based on merit. To apply for the scholarships, it is important to know which country you want to study in. Read the instructions to apply for fully funded scholarships to study abroad below.

1. Apply to your chosen university in your target country at least 2-3 months before the application for scholarships starts. This is because your scholarship application would require you to attach the offer letter from your college/university. So, this must be your first step. Note that if your offer gets delayed for any reason and the application window for the scholarship closes, you will not get any extension for it, unless requested by a large chunk of students in exceptional cases. For example, the Ministry of Education, India, extended the deadline for the Commonwealth Master's Scholarships last year from 4 PM on Nov 30, 2025, to 4 PM on 24 Dec 2025. Check how to select the right college abroad.
2. Login on the scholarship portal and start filling in your personal details like your name, address and contact details.
3. If you have not checked the eligibility for your chosen scholarship already, check it on the website at this stage. Check all the desired documents and the format in which they're required.
4. Collect your documents, write a strong essay, update your resume and get 2-3 references from your ex-faculty and employer. 
5. Apply for the scholarship in time. Try to submit it early, not close to the deadline.  

Check: How to get a scholarship to study abroad?

Key Information About Fully-Funded Scholarships to Study Abroad

While fully-funded scholarships may look like a very attractive option that may ease all your financial stress, you must not completely rely on your study abroad dream. Below are some of the realities about fully funded scholarships that nobody will tell you about:

1. Most of the fully-funded scholarships are provided only for 1 year. While the duration of most other 100% scholarships depends on a specific course (a 3- or 4-year course) and whether you achieve the minimum desired scores in your semesters.
2. Universities abroad need proof of financial stability in case your scholarship is due only for a year or is conditional upon your academic performance. You need to describe how you are going to manage your finances for the subsequent years of studies.  

Also Read:

• How Students Are Paying for Study Abroad in 2025 [Insights from 1,630 Students]
• Top 10 Life-Changing Scholarships to Study Abroad for Free

This was all about fully funded scholarships for Indian students to study abroad. If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services to get a hassle-free and smooth study abroad journey for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.