Studying abroad can be financially challenging for many meritorious students who often opt out due to the expensive course fee, visa charges, accommodation and food expenses. Therefore, scholarships help many to pursue their dreams.
News18 ‘Scholarship Guide’ brings the best and most prestigious grants for Indian students to study abroad, with most of them covering flight tickets, accommodation and course fee; and some also providing stipend.
Studying at premier colleges across the world is not a pipe dream anymore, with many top universities offering 100% waiver on tuition fee to meritorious and needy students.
Securing such scholarships or even admissions at top universities is highly competitive. “Scholarships at highly competitive colleges is challenging yet achievable, and setting yourself apart from other applicants is the key. First and foremost, maintaining a robust academic record is crucial, as it demonstrates commitment to excellence. However, it’s not just about grades. Engaging in extracurricular activities, showcasing leadership skills, volunteering, and pursuing distinctive experiences or projects related to your field of interest can significantly enhance your scholarship prospects,” said Vibha Kagzi, a Harvard graduate and founder and CEO of ReachIvy.com.
News18 dives into world’s best colleges according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and brings out scholarship and funding options for Indian students.
Oxford University
Ranked first in the world by the Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking, Oxford University in the United Kingdom offers a wide range of scholarships and funding options. As many as 42% of the total students at the varsity are from different countries, as per the THE data.
The university offers between five and 10 Commonwealth Shared Scholarships each year. The scholarship covers course fees in their entirety and provides a grant for living costs for full-time students of at least £16,164, return airfares and a warm clothing allowance, study travel and thesis grants.
Who can apply: Candidates from least developed and lower or middle-income Commonwealth countries including India who are applying to study full-time master’s degree can apply.
Selection Procedure: Students’ academic as well as financial backgrounds are considered. Focus is given to students who would have otherwise not been able to afford to study in the UK.
Where to apply: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-shared-scholarships/
Other scholarships an Indian student can apply to include Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme in Humanities,
Felix Scholarships, Helmore Graduate Scholarships, Oxford-Anderson Graduate Scholarship in History, Oxford-Ashton Graduate Scholarship in Engineering. Students can also apply for need-based assistance while submitting applications. They can also apply for external grants and loans.
Harvard University
With an aim to make education affordable, Harvard offers up to 100% scholarships covering all costs of education and associated funds. The varsity claims that as many as 55% of students studying there receive need-based grants. And one in every five students pays nothing at Harvard. Students can apply for need-based scholarships at the time of admission.
Who can apply: Students who are otherwise eligible for studies but cannot afford the finances at Harvard can apply. The varsity offers one-by-one guidance in funding options and drafts scholarships suiting the family.
Selection Procedure: Students need to submit income proofs, tax documents of parents. Students’ profiles including employment and awards are considered. After assessing the contribution that can be made by the students and their families, the rest of the fee comes in the form of alumni and endowment funds, and state-based grants among others.
Where to apply: https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/how-aid-works/types-aid
Cambridge
Cambridge offers several scholarships to international students such as Cambridge Commonwealth or GATES for post-graduation. Some colleges also provide partial financial support for overseas students.
Indian students can apply for several scholarships including Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute Studentship, MRC studentship, Herchel Smith Research Studentship, Trinity External Research Studentship, Krishnan-Ang Studentship for Overseas Students among several others.
GATES Cambridge Scholarship is one of the highest funding option worth between GBP 35,000 to 65,000. It covers fee, maintenance, student visa cost, student immigration health surcharge and other finances.
Who can apply: Students from 255 nationalities including Indians can apply. This is applicable for PhD and master’s courses at Cambridge. Applicable for both full-time and part-time courses.
Selection Procedure: Students will be chosen based on merit. They will also be assessed on several parameters including outstanding intellectual ability for choice of course, commitment to improving the lives of others and leadership potential.
Where to apply: https://www.student-funding.cam.ac.uk/fund/gates-cambridge-scholarship-2023
Stanford
Students looking for funding from Stanford need to make that specification on their admission application.
Who can apply: Students eligible for admission can apply for scholarships.
Selection Procedure: Scholarship eligibility is determined by subtracting the amount paid by parents towards the child’s studies and the rest is considered for financial aid.
Where to apply: https://financialaid.stanford.edu/undergrad/how/international.html
Some scholarships available for Indian students include Bridging scholarships, Banyan Impact Fellowship, Fund for Education Abroad, Luce Scholars Program among several others. International scholarships, loans, and external grants are also available.
MIT
MIT charts out a tailored plan for students based on their financial needs and capabilities. The financial options for international and domestic students are similar.
Who can apply: Students aiming to study at MIT and meeting all other admission guidelines are eligible for scholarships.
Selection Procedure: Students on meeting the admission eligibility will have to show proof of financial situation including parents’ tax documents. A specific funding plan will be offered to students based on their needs.
Where to apply: https://sfs.mit.edu/undergraduate-students/apply-for-aid/international/
As per THE, California Institute of Technology stands number 6 while Princeton University is at the seventh spot. University of California, Berkeley, and Yale University secure eight and seventh positions internationally. UK-based Imperial College London is at tenth position.
“When considering colleges abroad, university rankings can indeed provide valuable insights into an institution’s overall quality, reputation, and networking opportunities. However, it is vital to remember that while rankings are a useful starting point, they should not be the sole determinant in your decision-making. This is because they might not fully align with your specific needs, such as subject-specific strengths, personal preferences, and cultural fit,” said Kagzi.
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