Top Fully funded Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad in 2026

Studying abroad is a dream for many, as it brings with it various advantages. Not only that, but students who study abroad open the doors to many worldwide opportunities for themselves. However, studying abroad comes with a fairly high price. This article covers some fully funded scholarships for Indian students to study abroad.

Fully funded scholarships cover the tuition, living expenses, travelling costs, sometimes even visa fee and English or any other standardised exam fees and more. These scholarships are aimed at relieving students from the financial burden of the high costs of studying abroad. This helps students put their entire focus into studying. 

Fully-funded scholarships for Indian students to study abroad can ease their financial burden that comes with this cherished dream. Students can make better choices in selecting the right college and course, as, upon securing a 100% scholarship, their decision will not be biased towards courses that have lower fees. The fully funded scholarships generally cover the living expenses along with the complete tuition fees. It must be noted that some of the most prestigious scholarships also cover the airfare, English exam fee, visa fee and a stipend along with the tuition and living expenses. In this article, we will cover the top fully funded scholarships for Indian students to study abroad, highlighting their coverage, applicable courses and deadlines.

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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 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 have different criteria for awarding its much-desired scholarships. The selection criteria of these universities include having - good grades, work experience, participation in extra-curricular 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. 

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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 gain their higher education in a foreign country. 

Also Read: 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 for Indian students to study 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 Fullbright Foreign Student Program across 160 countries, the Fullbright 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. GREAT Scholarship

The GREAT scholarships are jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council with participating UK higher education institutions. Provided to Indian students for pursuing master’s degrees in the UK, there are 26 postgraduate GREAT scholarships available. 

Also Read: 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. 

Also Read: 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. 

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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%.

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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 the 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 the 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 them 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 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 the 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]
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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.