Top 10 Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students 2025
Introduction
As the cost of higher education continues to rise, fully funded scholarships are becoming essential for Indian students aiming to study abroad or at top domestic institutions. These scholarships not only cover tuition fees but also living expenses, travel costs, and sometimes even health insurance—making education truly accessible.
In this post, we bring you the Top 10 Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students in 2025, including eligibility criteria, benefits, deadlines, and how to apply.
Chevening Scholarships – UK
Eligibility: Indian graduates with at least 2 years of work experience
Covers: Tuition fees, airfare, living stipend, and more
Deadline: November 2024
Details: Offered by the UK government, Chevening is highly competitive and targets future leaders.
Apply at :https://www.chevening.org
FulbrightNehru Master's Fellowships – USA
Eligibility: Indian citizens with a bachelor's degree and three years of work experience
Covers: Tuition, airfare, living expenses, and health insurance
Deadline: May 2025 (tentative)
Note: Applicants must return to India upon completion of the program.
DAAD Scholarships – Germany
Eligibility: Indian students pursuing a Master's or Ph.D. in Germany
Covers: Monthly stipend (\~€934), travel allowance, and full tuition
Deadline: Programspecific (varies by university)
DAAD also provides a database of 100+ funded programs.
Australia Awards Scholarships
Eligibility: Citizens of India pursuing postgraduate studies in Australia
Covers: Full tuition, return airfare, establishment allowance, and living stipend
Deadline: April 2025
Note: Requires applicants to return to India after graduation
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Eligibility: Doctoral students applying to Canadian institutions
Covers: CAD \$50,000/year for 3 years
Deadline: November 2024
Focus: Researchbased programs in health, natural sciences, engineering, or social sciences
MEXT Scholarship – Japan
Eligibility: Indian undergraduates, Master’s, and Ph.D. candidates
Covers: Tuition, monthly allowance (~¥117,000), airfare
Deadline: April–May 2025 (Embassy route)
Extra: No IELTS/TOEFL required if medium of instruction is English
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees – EU
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree holders from any field
Covers: Full tuition, travel, and monthly stipend (~€1000)
Deadline: October to January (varies per program)
Highlights: Study in 2–3 European countries within one program
SINGA – Singapore International Graduate Award
Eligibility: PhD applicants in science and engineering
Covers: Full tuition, monthly stipend (SGD $2,200–2,700), airfare
Deadline: June and December 2025 (2 cycles)
New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships
Eligibility: Indian postgraduate and doctoral students
Covers: Tuition, travel, establishment allowance, and living costs
Deadline: Usually February or March
Note: Preference for developmental impact in home country
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships – India & Abroad
Eligibility: Indian citizens under 30 years for Master’slevel courses
Covers: Up to USD $100,000 for tuition, livi
ng expenses, and oneway airfare
Fields: Humanities, social sciences, fine arts, architecture
📚 Summary of Top 10 Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students in 2025
| Scholarship | Coverage | Study Level |
|---|---|---|
| Chevening (UK) | Tuition, stipend, travel | Postgraduate |
| Fulbright-Nehru (USA) | All-inclusive | Postgraduate |
| DAAD (Germany) | Tuition, stipend | PG / PhD |
| MEXT (Japan) | Tuition, stipend, airfare | UG / PG / PhD |
| Erasmus Mundus (EU) | Tuition, stipend, travel | Postgraduate |
| SINGA (Singapore) | Tuition, stipend, airfare | PhD |
| Inlaks Shivdasani (India) | Up to $100,000 | Postgraduate |
| Vanier CGS (Canada) | CAD $50,000/year | PhD |
| Australia Awards | All-inclusive | Postgraduate |
| NZ Commonwealth | Tuition, stipend, airfare | PG / PhD |
FAQ – Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students
Q1: Do I need IELTS to apply for these scholarships? A: Most require IELTS/TOEFL, but some (like MEXT or Erasmus) accept English-medium degrees as proof.
Q2: Can undergraduate students apply for fully funded scholarships? A: Yes, programs like MEXT (Japan) and some DAAD options offer UG funding.
Q3: Is it possible to get a fully funded scholarship without work experience? A: Yes, many scholarships do not require work experience, especially for UG and PhD programs.
Q4: Are private scholarships also fully funded? A: Rarely. Most private or NGO scholarships offer partial funding. Government-backed programs offer full coverage.
Q5: Can I apply to multiple scholarships at the same time? A: Yes, and it’s recommended. Just ensure you meet the specific eligibility criteria for each.
