Finding the right scholarship can significantly reduce the cost of higher education in India or abroad. For Indian students planning college, university, master’s, MBA, PhD or study-abroad programs in 2027, scholarships can help cover tuition fees, living expenses, travel, accommodation and other education costs.

However, scholarship applications are competitive. Some scholarships are based mainly on academic merit, while others consider family income, community or social background, leadership, extracurricular activities, research potential or career goals.

This complete guide explains the best scholarships for Indian students in 2027, eligibility requirements, scholarship types, application processes, important deadlines, study-abroad scholarships, government scholarships, university scholarships and how to improve your chances of winning financial aid.

Important 2027 update: Scholarship deadlines change every year. Some 2027–28 deadlines have already been announced, while others have not yet been released. Always verify the final deadline on the official scholarship website before applying.

Table of Contents

What Are Scholarships for Indian Students?

Scholarships are financial awards provided to students to support their education.

Unlike an education loan, a scholarship generally does not need to be repaid if the student meets the scholarship’s conditions.

Depending on the programme, a scholarship may cover:

Full or partial tuition fees
Living expenses
Accommodation
Books and study materials
Travel expenses
Health insurance
Visa-related expenses
Research expenses
Monthly or annual maintenance allowance

Not every scholarship covers all these expenses. Some provide only a tuition-fee discount, while others may offer comprehensive funding.

For students planning to study abroad, understanding the difference between fully funded scholarships, partial scholarships, tuition waivers and university grants is especially important.

Best Scholarships for Indian Students in 2027

There are thousands of scholarships available from governments, universities, foundations, companies and other organisations.

Some of the major opportunities Indian students should research include:

Scholarship	Destination	Main Level
National Scholarship Portal Schemes	India	UG, PG and other eligible programmes
National Overseas Scholarship	Abroad	Master’s/PhD
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships	UK	Master’sFor additional details, visit the official Commonwealth Scholarships portal.
Chevening Scholarship	UK	Master’sLearn more on the official Chevening Scholarship website.
GREAT Scholarships	UK	Postgraduate
Fulbright-Nehru programmes	USA	Master’s/ResearchExplore eligibility and details at the USIEF Fulbright-Nehru page.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters	Europe	Master’sFind available programmes on the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue.
DAAD Scholarships	Germany	Master’s/PhD/ResearchSearch for funding options in the official DAAD Scholarship Database.
University Scholarships	USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Europe	UG/PG/PhD
Private/Foundation Scholarships	India & Abroad	Depends on programme

The exact eligibility and funding vary considerably, so students should not assume that qualifying for one scholarship automatically qualifies them for another.

1. National Scholarship Portal Schemes

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is a primary platform providing scholarships for Indian students across central and state government schemes.

For academic year 2026–27, the NSP portal is open and provides access to multiple central government and other scholarship schemes.

The portal states that One Time Registration (OTR) is mandatory for students applying for scholarships through NSP.

Several schemes currently listed on NSP have a student application deadline of 31 October 2026, although individual schemes can have different rules and eligibility requirements.

Students should check the individual scholarship scheme before applying.

Who can apply?

Eligibility depends on the specific scheme.

Some scholarships are based on:

Academic merit
Family income
Category
Disability
Course
Institution
State or region
Specific employment or family background

Important NSP tip

Do not wait until the final day.

Students may need to complete:

OTR registration
Scholarship application
Document upload
Institute verification
Government verification
Bank/account verification where applicable

A mistake in the application or documents can delay or prevent scholarship approval.

2. National Overseas Scholarship for Indian Students

The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) offers crucial government funding via scholarships for Indian students from specified low-income and reserved communities pursuing master’s and PhD degrees abroad.

The scheme provides financial assistance to eligible low-income meritorious students from specified communities for higher education abroad.

Under the current scheme information, eligible categories include:

Scheduled Castes
De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes
Landless Agricultural Labourers
Traditional Artisans

The current scheme provides 125 slots annually, including reserved slots for the specified categories, and 30% of scholarships for each selection year are earmarked for female candidates.

The scholarship is intended for higher education such as master’s and PhD study abroad.

Students should check the latest scheme guidelines before applying because eligibility, income limits, courses, institutions and other conditions can change.

3. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for Indian Students

The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship is an important option for students from eligible Commonwealth countries who want to study a full-time master’s degree in the UK.

For the 2027/28 academic year, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission currently states that applications are open and the closing time is:

20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST

The scholarship is intended for talented candidates who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK and is linked to development-related themes.

Applicants generally need to:

Be a citizen or eligible resident of an eligible Commonwealth country
Meet the academic requirements
Be available to begin study in September 2027
Demonstrate financial need under the scholarship rules
Meet the specific programme and nominator requirements

An important point is that applicants do not simply submit an application directly and automatically compete for an award. The CSC uses participating nominators, and nominators can have their own deadlines and eligibility requirements.

Therefore, Indian students should check the relevant Indian nominating route well before the CSC deadline.

4. Chevening Scholarship for Indian Students

Chevening is one of the most popular UK government-funded scholarship programmes for international students.

It supports eligible students pursuing a master’s degree in the UK.

For the 2027–28 cycle, the application window has already closed as of October 2026.

This is important for students planning ahead.

The current Chevening timeline shows:

Applications opened in August 2026
Applications closed in October 2026
Shortlisting takes place later in the cycle
Interviews take place around March–April 2027
Results are expected from mid-June 2027
Successful candidates must meet the university offer requirement by the specified July 2027 deadline
Studies begin in September/October 2027

Therefore, students targeting the next Chevening cycle should begin preparing well before applications open.

Typical preparation includes:

Choosing eligible UK master’s programmes
Building leadership evidence
Preparing career goals
Collecting references
Preparing application essays
Understanding the eligibility requirements
Researching UK universities

5. GREAT Scholarships for Indian Students

GREAT Scholarships are another important opportunity for Indian students planning postgraduate study in the UK.

For the 2026–27 academic year, GREAT Scholarships provide £10,000 towards tuition fees for eligible one-year taught postgraduate courses.

The programme is jointly funded by the UK government through the GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council and participating UK universities.

For Indian students, participating universities have included institutions across the UK.

However, availability varies by university and course.

Students generally need to:

Be a passport holder and permanent resident of India
Have an undergraduate degree
Meet the university’s English-language requirement
Meet the specific university scholarship requirements
Apply according to the individual university’s instructions

The deadline is not necessarily the same for every GREAT Scholarship.

This makes it important to check the individual university page rather than relying on a single general deadline.

6. Fulbright Scholarships for Indian Students

Fulbright is another major scholarship opportunity for Indian students interested in postgraduate study, research and academic exchange in the United States.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program supports graduate students, young professionals and artists from eligible countries.

For Indian applicants, the relevant Fulbright programmes are administered through the India-specific Fulbright process.

Funding arrangements can vary depending on the programme and individual award.

Students should therefore avoid assuming that every Fulbright award automatically covers every expense.

Depending on the programme, funding may involve combinations of:

Scholarship/grant funding
University support
Tuition assistance
Living support
Other financial resources

Students should check the current India-specific programme requirements and application calendar before applying.

7. Erasmus Mundus Scholarships

Indian students looking at Europe should strongly consider Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters.

These are international master’s programmes delivered by a consortium of universities.

Students can study in multiple countries as part of the programme.

One of the biggest attractions is that selected Erasmus Mundus programmes offer full scholarships to highly ranked applicants.

Scholarship support can contribute toward:

Participation costs
Travel
Visa
Living allowance

Most Erasmus Mundus applications are submitted directly to the institution or consortium running the specific programme.

In many cases, applications for programmes starting the following academic year are submitted between October and January.

Therefore, students targeting a 2027 intake should start researching programmes well before the application period.

8. DAAD Scholarships for Indian Students

Germany is an attractive destination for Indian students because of its strong universities, research opportunities and comparatively different cost structures compared with countries such as the USA and UK.

The German Academic Exchange Service, or DAAD, offers a range of funding opportunities for international students and researchers.

DAAD opportunities can include:

Master’s scholarships
PhD scholarships
Research grants
Doctoral programmes
University summer courses
Research stays
Development-related postgraduate programmes

However, DAAD is not one single scholarship.

Different programmes have different:

Eligibility requirements
Academic requirements
Work-experience requirements
Application deadlines
Funding levels
Language requirements

Students should use the DAAD scholarship database to identify programmes matching their course and academic profile.

Fully Funded Scholarships vs Partial Scholarships

One of the biggest mistakes students make is assuming that every scholarship is fully funded.

There are three broad categories.

Fully Funded Scholarship

May cover most major expenses such as:

Tuition
Living expenses
Travel
Insurance
Visa or related costs

Partially Funded Scholarship

May cover:

A percentage of tuition
A fixed tuition amount
Living expenses
Travel or another specific expense

Tuition Fee Waiver

Usually reduces or eliminates tuition fees but may not cover:

Accommodation
Food
Travel
Insurance
Visa
Personal expenses

Always calculate the remaining cost after scholarship.

For example:

Total annual cost: ₹35 lakh
Scholarship: ₹10 lakh
Remaining amount: ₹25 lakh

A ₹10 lakh scholarship can be valuable, but it does not mean the programme is fully funded.

Scholarships Based on Academic Merit

Merit-based scholarships generally consider academic performance.

Universities may look at:

Class 10 marks
Class 12 marks
Bachelor’s CGPA
Master’s performance
Entrance test scores
Research achievements
Academic awards

For international universities, there may not be one universal percentage requirement.

Each institution can establish its own criteria.

A strong academic record can improve your chances, but scholarship decisions may also consider leadership, personal statements, work experience and extracurricular achievements.

Scholarships Based on Family Income

Some scholarships focus on financial need rather than only academic performance.

Students may be required to submit documents such as:

Income certificate
Tax documents
Salary slips
Bank statements
Family financial information
Government certificates
Other supporting documents

Never submit incorrect income information.

Scholarship providers can verify documents and may cancel awards if information is found to be false.

Scholarships for Studying Abroad

Indian students looking abroad should search for scholarships at three levels.

1. Government scholarships

Examples include:

National Overseas Scholarship
Commonwealth Scholarships
Chevening
Fulbright
Erasmus Mundus
DAAD

2. University scholarships

Universities may provide:

Merit scholarships
International student scholarships
Tuition discounts
Department scholarships
Research assistantships
Graduate assistantships

3. Private scholarships

Private foundations, trusts, corporations and charitable organisations may also provide funding.

The best strategy is not to depend on only one scholarship.

Apply to several suitable opportunities.

Scholarships for USA, UK, Canada, Australia and Europe

USA

Indian students should research:

University merit scholarships
Departmental funding
Graduate assistantships
Research assistantships
Fulbright-related programmes
Need-based institutional aid where available

Funding is particularly important for master’s students because costs can be high. Explore Wisdomland USA Study Guides for deeper insights into managing tuition and assistantships.

UK

Important opportunities include:

Chevening
Commonwealth Scholarships
GREAT Scholarships
University scholarships
Department-specific awards

Canada

Check out Wisdomland’s Canada Guide for detailed breakdowns on living expenses and funding.

Students should investigate:

University entrance scholarships
Graduate funding
Research scholarships
Departmental awards
Provincial opportunities where applicable

Australia

Students can research:

University scholarships
Research training funding
Government-supported scholarship programmes
Institution-specific international scholarships

Europe

How to Apply for Scholarships in 2027

A good scholarship application should be prepared months in advance.

Step 1: Choose your course

Decide:

Bachelor’s
Master’s
MBA
PhD
Research programme
Professional programme

Step 2: Select the country

Compare:

Tuition fees
Living costs
Visa requirements
Scholarship availability
Job opportunities
Post-study work options
Career prospects

Step 3: Build a scholarship list

Create a spreadsheet containing:

Scholarship

Country

Level

Amount

Deadline

Eligibility

Status

This prevents missed deadlines.

Step 4: Check eligibility

Before spending time on an application, verify:

Nationality
Age
Academic qualification
GPA/percentage
Income
Work experience
English-language requirement
Course eligibility
University eligibility

Step 5: Prepare documents

Common documents include:

Passport
Academic transcripts
Degree certificates
CV/resume
Statement of purpose
Personal statement
Recommendation letters
Income documents
Research proposal
English-language test score
University offer letter

Not every scholarship requires every document.

Scholarship Application Timeline for Indian Students

For students targeting 2027 admission, a useful planning schedule is:

October–December 2026

Research:

Universities
Courses
Scholarships
Eligibility
Tuition fees
Education loans

Start preparing essays and documents.

January–March 2027

Focus on:

University applications
Scholarship applications
English-language tests
Recommendation letters
Financial planning

April–June 2027

Review:

Scholarship decisions
University offers
Financial requirements
Education loan options
Visa requirements

June–August 2027

Prepare:

Final university documents
Funding proof
Visa application
Accommodation
Travel arrangements

September–October 2027

Begin the academic programme where applicable.

Remember that every scholarship has its own timeline. Some scholarships for a September 2027 intake may require applications much earlier, including during 2026.

How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Scholarship

Scholarships can be highly competitive.

Use these strategies.

1. Apply early

Do not wait for the final week.

2. Apply for multiple scholarships

A single scholarship should not be your only funding plan.

3. Write a strong personal statement

Explain:

Who you are
What you have achieved
Why you selected the course
Why you selected the university
Your career goals
How the scholarship will help
How you intend to create impact

4. Show measurable achievements

Instead of writing:

“I am a good leader.”

Write:

“I led a student project involving 20 students and delivered the project two weeks before the deadline.”

Specific evidence is stronger.

5. Connect your goals to the scholarship

Explain why you are a strong fit for that particular programme.

6. Prepare strong recommendations

Choose people who know your academic or professional work well.

7. Keep financial documents ready

Some scholarships require detailed financial information.

Can Students Get a Scholarship and Education Loan?

Yes, depending on the scholarship and lender terms.

This can be an effective strategy for expensive study-abroad programmes. For more guidance, explore Wisdomland for educational planning tools and resources.

For example:

Total education cost: ₹40 lakh
Scholarship: ₹8 lakh
Remaining cost: ₹32 lakh

The student may then explore an education loan for the remaining eligible expenses.

However, students should check whether the scholarship is:

Paid directly to the university
Paid to the student
A tuition reduction
Reimbursed later
Conditional on academic performance

The remaining funding requirement should be calculated before accepting an overseas university offer.

Scholarships vs Education Loans

Feature	Scholarship	Education Loan
Repayment	Generally no	Yes
Interest	Usually no	Yes
Selection	Competitive	Based on lender criteria
Academic criteria	Often	Depends on lender
Income criteria	Sometimes	Often financial assessment
Collateral	Usually no	Depends on loan
Amount	Varies	Can cover eligible expenses
Best use	Reduce total cost	Fund remaining expenses

For expensive international programmes, combining scholarships with other funding can reduce the amount you need to borrow.

Common Scholarship Application Mistakes

Avoid these mistakes:

Applying after the deadline

Late applications are usually not accepted.

Using the same essay everywhere

A generic essay may not demonstrate why you fit a specific scholarship.

Ignoring eligibility

Do not apply simply because a scholarship appears popular.

Providing inaccurate information

Incorrect academic or financial information can result in rejection or cancellation.

Forgetting university admission requirements

Some scholarships require an offer or admission from a university.

Ignoring smaller scholarships

A ₹1 lakh or ₹2 lakh award can still reduce your overall education cost.

Waiting until admission is complete

Some scholarships close before university admission decisions are issued.

Scholarship Checklist for Indian Students

Before submitting an application, check:

Passport available
Academic transcripts ready
Degree/certificates ready
CV updated
Personal statement completed
Recommendation letters arranged
Income documents prepared if required
English test completed if required
University application submitted if required
Scholarship eligibility checked
Deadline verified
Application form reviewed
Documents uploaded correctly
Confirmation email saved

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best scholarship for Indian students in 2027?

There is no single best scholarship for everyone. Chevening, Commonwealth, Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus, DAAD, National Overseas Scholarship and university scholarships can be excellent options depending on the student’s course, destination, academic profile and eligibility.

Can Indian students get fully funded scholarships abroad?

Yes. Some international programmes offer substantial or full funding. However, funding terms differ by scholarship and programme. Students should carefully check what expenses are actually covered.

Which scholarships are available for Indian students to study in the UK?

Major options include Chevening, Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, GREAT Scholarships and university-specific scholarships.

Which scholarships are available for Indian students to study in the USA?

Students can explore Fulbright programmes, university scholarships, departmental funding and graduate assistantships.

Is IELTS required for scholarships?

It depends on the scholarship and university. Some scholarships may not directly require IELTS, but the university may require proof of English proficiency.

Can I apply for multiple scholarships?

Yes, where the individual scholarship rules permit it. Applying for multiple suitable scholarships can improve your overall funding chances.

Can I get an education loan after receiving a scholarship?

Potentially, yes. A scholarship can reduce the amount you need to finance, and students can explore an education loan for remaining eligible costs.

When should Indian students start applying for 2027 scholarships?

Ideally, start researching during 2026. Some scholarships for 2027 study have deadlines during 2026, so waiting until 2027 can mean missing important opportunities.

Are all scholarship deadlines for 2027 announced?

No. Scholarship providers release their deadlines at different times. Some 2027/28 deadlines are already available, while others will be announced later.

Final Thoughts

Scholarships can make higher education significantly more affordable, but students should treat scholarship planning as a separate project from university admission.

For Indian students planning to study in 2027, the best approach is to start early, identify several suitable scholarships, verify eligibility, prepare documents and track every deadline.

Government scholarships such as National Scholarship Portal schemes and the National Overseas Scholarship can be important for eligible Indian students. For international study, opportunities such as Commonwealth, Chevening, GREAT, Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus and DAAD can provide valuable funding depending on the destination and academic level.

Most importantly, never rely on an old scholarship deadline or an unverified social-media post. Scholarship rules, funding amounts and deadlines can change every year.

Before submitting an application, always check the official scholarship provider and the university’s current requirements.

Before submitting an application, always check official portals or consultation platforms like www.wisdomland.in for current requirements and guidelines regarding scholarships for Indian students.