Scholarships for Indian students to study abroad in 2026: Fulbright-Nehru, Chevening, DAAD, Erasmus Mundus and more
Last reviewed 2026-10-21. Rules, fees and processing times in this area change often. Check the official source before you act, and tell us if something looks out of date.
Full scholarships are competitive, but they can turn an unaffordable degree into a realistic one. This guide lists major scholarships that Indian students commonly use, what they cover and the conditions to know before you apply. The details come from education-portal summaries gathered in October 2026. Deadlines move every year and eligibility rules change, so treat the dates as windows and confirm everything on the official scholarship website.
Main scholarships at a glance
| Scholarship | Where | Level | What it typically covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright-Nehru Master's | United States | Master's | Tuition, airfare, living costs, insurance, visa support |
| Chevening | United Kingdom | One-year master's | Tuition, living allowance, airfare, visa cost |
| Commonwealth | United Kingdom | Master's, PhD | Tuition, stipend, airfare, some extra grants |
| Rhodes | United Kingdom (Oxford) | Postgraduate | Tuition, stipend, airfare, visa and health surcharge |
| DAAD | Germany | Master's, PhD, research | Monthly stipend (about EUR 992 for master's, EUR 1,300 for PhD), insurance, travel allowance |
| Erasmus Mundus | Several European countries | Joint master's | Tuition, stipend, travel, insurance (varies by programme) |
| Eiffel Excellence | France | Master's, PhD | Monthly allowance, airfare, insurance. A French institution must nominate you |
| MEXT | Japan | Undergraduate, master's, PhD | Tuition, monthly stipend, airfare |
| Australia Awards | Australia | Undergraduate, master's, research | Tuition, airfare, living stipend, health cover |
| Inlaks Shivdasani | US, UK, Europe | Master's, PhD | Tuition and living support, up to about USD 100,000 |
When applications usually open
These are typical windows reported in summaries, not confirmed dates for your cycle.
- January to March: Inlaks (opens January 2027 in the summary we read), Fulbright-Nehru and Australia Awards.
- April to June: MEXT, Rhodes.
- August to October: Chevening, Commonwealth, DAAD, Eiffel.
- October to January: Erasmus Mundus, which has different deadlines by programme.
Because several of these open before you have finished your degree, start preparing 12 months before you plan to go.
What to know about conditions
- Return obligations. Fulbright has a two-year home-residence requirement, Chevening asks you to return for at least two years before long-term UK work or settlement routes, and Australia Awards require a return. Read the conditions before you accept.
- Work experience. Fulbright-Nehru and Chevening ask for professional experience (for example, three years and two years respectively in the summaries we read) as well as leadership.
- Admission first. Some, such as Inlaks, need an admission offer. Eiffel is nominated by the institution, so you cannot apply directly.
- Age limits. Eiffel and Rhodes have age limits that change. Check the current rules.
- Language. DAAD and MEXT may require language proof or a language year.
How to prepare a strong application
- Pick scholarships that match your profile, not the biggest names only. A smaller fit scores better than a long shot.
- Show leadership and impact in your work, studies or community, with specific results.
- Write a clear plan: why this course, why this country and how you will use it when you return.
- Choose referees early and brief them on the scholarship's aims.
- Prepare language tests such as IELTS or TOEFL early, since scores take time.
- Keep a calendar with the official deadlines and a buffer of at least two weeks.
- Apply to several scholarships and to universities at the same time.
University and government funding to look at too
- University merit awards, which often open when you apply for admission.
- Public universities in low-tuition countries such as Germany, where tuition is often zero at public universities and a semester contribution is small. See our Germany guide and engineering abroad guide.
- Government schemes from your own state or country, and education loans. Compare repayment terms with your expected earnings, and check post-study work options before borrowing.
Beware of scams
Real scholarships do not ask you to pay a fee to be selected. Be careful with unsolicited emails saying you have won something, agents who guarantee a scholarship, and websites that copy official names. Always apply through the official site.
Visa Ray can help you compare destinations, but it cannot select you for a scholarship.
Visa Ray is a rule-based reference tool, not a law firm. Rules and fees change, so always confirm current figures with the official government source before you apply. You can run a free assessment on Visa Ray to see which pathways fit your profile.
