Realistic Ways to Find Fully Funded Scholarships for Studying Abroad

Share this post

Have you looked at international college fees lately? There is a separate section of fees for international students with blown-up tuition figures than regular or domestic students. So we are not surprised that you are here looking for scholarship options that you can get as an Indian student, and trust us when we say you can get them!

In this blog, we’ll provide you with information on scholarships, where to find them, when and where to apply, how to get a fully funded scholarship and what are your chances of getting one. 

In this blog:

1. Where to look for scholarships for studying abroad?
2. What are the types of scholarships for studying abroad?
3. What are merit-based scholarships for studying abroad?
4. Do you need to apply for merit-based scholarships for studying abroad?
5. What are need-based scholarships for studying abroad?
6. Is applying for scholarships for studying abroad ever a bad idea?
7. Are there any fully funded scholarships for Indian students?
8. What else can you do to cover the costs of studying abroad?

Where to look for scholarships for studying abroad?

Almost instinctively, your first stop should be the official website of the universities you are planning to apply to. You can easily find this information under the tuition and aid or scholarships, grants and aid section on the university’s website.

The next step is to list down all external scholarships that you can get your hands on. These can be government scholarships or scholarships funded by organisations, charities, etcetera. Resources such as InternationalScholarships.com or FastWeb.com are especially helpful in discovering active scholarships.

If this already sounds overwhelming, take a deep breath! 

What are the types of scholarships for studying abroad?

Now let’s talk about the types of scholarships for studying abroad that you can apply to as an Indian student. 

Depending on the country to which you’re going, there are different types of scholarships that Indian students can apply for but broadly, there are merit-based and need-based scholarships.

What are merit-based scholarships for studying abroad?

Merit-based scholarships are awarded to high-achieving students who are academically bright or have distinct athletic, artistic, or special-interest merit. 

These scholarships do not necessarily consider a student’s financial situation and, in many cases, don’t even require any additional application. On average, an international student receives more than INR 7,00,000 in merit-based scholarships, as reported by the US News. The next obvious questions should be – how to apply for it and who can get one.

Do you need to apply for merit-based scholarships for studying abroad?

Typically, if you stand in the top 3 to 5% of your class or have shown incredible extracurricular achievements in your school or community, you will be considered for merit aid. 

As a routine, most colleges and universities go through college applications to identify students who qualify for merit scholarships based on their criteria. You are not required to fill out an extra application to get most merit scholarships.

Also, if you keep your grades up, there is a good chance you can request to renew your scholarship every year till your course ends.

Is there a catch? Yes, there is. Ivy League schools and other selective schools such as Stanford, MIT and Caltech do not offer scholarships based on academic merit because, well, if you’re applying to these schools, it is kind of a given that you have academic merit.  

Again, if it’s any consolation, these schools are awfully generous with need-based fully funded scholarships.  

What are need-based scholarships for studying abroad?

Need-based scholarships are a form of financial aid that will be awarded to you based on your family income and financial situation. These scholarships will require you to submit a separate application along with documents in support of the financial background of you and your family. Every country has their own criteria for offering these scholarships.

As an example, if you are an Indian student applying to study undergrad at a US university through need-based financial aid, you need to fill out the College Board’s CSS or College Scholarship Service application.

Before doing so, be extra careful to make sure you indicate your financial aid requirements while filling out your college application as well, even if you eventually plan to send your CSS Profile to the university you’re applying to.

Is applying for scholarships for studying abroad ever a bad idea?

So indicating your financial situation sometimes might misfire with need-aware universities. Need-aware universities are those universities that also factor in your financial income or wealth to determine whether you can afford the college or not and will give you an admission offer based on that (among other factors).

Does it seem unfair? It’s because it kind of is for a student. Let’s discuss some happy thoughts!

Are there any fully funded scholarships for Indian students?

Full ride or fully funded scholarships for studying abroad, typically cover the entire amount of your 2-4 years of education, this could include all the expenses related to college such as tuition fees, books, rent and possibly living costs and airfare as well!

There are numerous government scholarships or scholarships funded by organisations and charities that offer fully funded scholarships for Indian students. Fulbright Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarship, Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme are some examples.

You might have already sensed, it’s not that easy! Full ride or fully funded scholarships that cover everything from tuition fees to living and travel expenses are naturally very competitive, with often a limit on the number of awardees. You need to be exceptionally bright and talented to get one.

Another way to secure 100% financial aid is through college-specific scholarships (if there are any). Although there isn’t a set benchmark for the amount of student aid you will receive, each college’s financial aid committee can offer you a fully funded scholarship based on your application or CSS Profile.

What else can you do to cover the costs of studying abroad?

Since tuition takes the biggest bite of your savings, choosing a low-cost program will only help! If full or part of your tuition is covered through scholarships, you can manage your expenses, cook your meals, get a student travel pass and simply take up a part-time job at your university to take care of the rest.

Part-time jobs such as teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and paid lab positions in the university can cover a good portion of your tuition or even your living expenses while studying abroad.

Hey! You made it to the end of this blog and in return, we’d like to help. So, if you are struggling with any aspect of your study abroad dream or need scholarship guidance hit us up here and get a chance to talk directly to an admissions expert for free. See you next time!  

Share this post