How to do PhD abroad with scholarships for Indian students

In this guide, we will list the 7 popular PhD scholarships for Indian students to study abroad.

Why study your PhD abroad?

There are many benefits of studying a PhD from abroad for Indian students. The top 3 benefits are

Better funding: It is comparatively cheaper to do your PhD abroad than in India, as the tuition fee is generally lower around the globe. Moreover, you can complete your PhD abroad with scholarships for Indian students.

Wide network: By doing your PhD abroad, you can extend your network by getting to know individuals from different parts of the world.

Different culture: By doing your PhD abroad, you will develop a global perspective as you will be introduced to new concepts, ways of instruction, and academic communities.

Also read: What are the scholarship exams?

List of popular PhD scholarships for Indian students

• Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship
• Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships
• Gates Cambridge Scholarship for International students
• DAAD Scholarships
• President's PhD Scholarships
• Eiffel Scholarship Program
• Cambridge International Scholarships

Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship

The Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships are six to nine-month fellowships designed for Indian scholars registered for a PhD at an Indian institution. The applicant will be affiliated with one U.S. host institution for his grant, so he should, in advance, identify institutions to be affiliated with and correspond with potential host institutions. The selected scholars can audit non-degree courses, conduct research, and gain practical work experience in the U.S.

The fellowship provides a monthly stipend, J-1 visa support, an accident and sickness program, round-trip air travel, applicable allowances, and modest affiliation fees. It does not provide any dependents allowance and is insufficient to support family members. It is intended for PhD students to conduct research essential to their dissertations/thesis, so the candidates should submit the expected PhD thesis at least three months after the Fulbright-Nehru grant end date.

Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation has supported innovative research and scholarship work for over four decades. Since 2016 the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation has been working with the Cambridge Trust to offer scholarships to Indian students at the PhD level in various academic subjects. Till now, over 350 scholars have benefited from these scholarships. The selection process for the scholarship consists of 2 rounds: shortlisting candidates based on the written evidence submitted and personal or zoom interview with a panel of experts.

The scholarship provides financial support to undertake research at an institution that must be utilized within nine months of being awarded. It provides a travel allowance of up to $1000, monthly maintenance expenses of up to $2000, up to $500 for buying materials, and a health allowance of up to $500.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship for international students

A donation of $210 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation established the Gates Cambridge Scholarship program. Each year Gates Cambridge offers 55 full-cost scholarships to PhD students outside the UK. The candidates are selected based on exceptional intellectual ability, reasons for choosing the course, a commitment to improving other's lives, and leadership potential.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides funding for both core and discretionary components. The core components include University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance for up to 4 years, return airfare, inbound visa costs & Immigration Health Surcharge cost. The discretionary components include academic development funding of up to £500 to up to £2,000, family allowance of up to £10,944 for one child and up to £15,612 for two or more children, fieldwork funding, maternity/paternity funding, and hardship funding. Although the scholarship covers most of the costs, it does not cover bench fees or scientific equipment costs, or similar academic resources.

DAAD Scholarships

DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) is one of the world’s largest funding organizations for international students. Each year, DAAD supports over 100,000 German and international students and researchers around the globe. The DAAD scholarship provides a monthly stipend of 1,200 Euros as a monthly stipend, travel grant, free accommodation in the university dorms, insurance and health coverage.

An independent selection committee of specialist scientists reviews the applied candidates and selects them based on their qualifications, the quality of the research project, and the applicant's potential. The qualification selection criteria include academic achievements, academic progress, and knowledge of the working language. The quality of research selection criteria includes originality and relevance of the project, feasibility and consistency of the study plan, and incorporation of the project within the overall doctorate. The potential of applicant selection criteria includes career prospects, German language skills, and non-study-related activities.

President's PhD Scholarships

Imperial College London provides 50 President’s PhD Scholarships to attract candidates that show excellent academic performance and promising research potential. The President’s PhD Scholarships provides full tuition fees, a stipend of £22,900 per annum to assist with living costs, a consumables fund of £2,000 per annum for the first 3 years of study, and access to the full range of support at Imperial. The scholarship is available for both full-time and part-time study.

The President’s PhD Scholarships is a highly competitive scheme and has higher than usual eligibility requirements. The Faculties and College Selection Panel assess the candidates on academic excellence (past academic results, relative class position, awards and distinctions) and research potential (candidate’s research, the research plan and its potential contribution).

Eiffel Scholarship Program

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs developed the Eiffel Scholarship Program to assist French higher education institutions in attracting the best international students to PhD programs. French higher education institutions submit the applications for the scholarship, and applications sent directly by students or foreign institutions are declared ineligible.

The Eiffel program is awarded for 12 months in France. It does not cover the tuition fees but provides benefits like a monthly stipend of €1,700, international transportation, national transportation, insurance, housing searches, cultural activities, etc.

Also read: Can I get a 100% scholarship to study abroad?

Cambridge International Scholarships

The Cambridge Trust offers Cambridge International Scholarships to Indian students for undertaking research leading to a PhD degree at the University of Cambridge. The Cambridge International Scholarships aim to ensure that the highest-scored Indian students receive full financial support to undertake PhD studies. The selection criteria include the candidate's academic qualifications, references, and research potential, not the financial situation.

The Scholarships pay the University Composition Fee and a maintenance allowance sufficient for a single person. If the student receives a full-cost scholarship from any other source (excluding Gates Cambridge and Harding), then he can attend the Trust's events but will not get any monetary value. If the student accepts a Gates Cambridge Scholarship or a Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholarship, then his scholarship will immediately lapse.

Also read: Can I get a 100% scholarship for studying MS abroad?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of the Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships grant?

The Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships provide a monthly stipend, J-1 visa support, an accident and sickness program, round-trip air travel, applicable allowances, and modest affiliation fees.

What is the selection process for Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships?

The selection process for the Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships consists of 2 rounds: shortlisting candidates based on the written evidence submitted and personal or zoom interviews with a panel of experts.

What does Gates Cambridge Scholarship funding for International students cover?

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides funding for both core and discretionary components. The core components include University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance for up to 4 years, return airfare, inbound visa costs & Immigration Health Surcharge cost. The discretionary components include academic development funding, family allowance, fieldwork funding, maternity/paternity funding, and hardship funding.

What are the benefits of the DAAD Scholarships grant?

The DAAD scholarship provides a monthly stipend of 1,200 Euros, travel grant, free accommodation in the university dorms, insurance, and health coverage.

What cover does the President's PhD Scholarships provide?

The President’s PhD Scholarship provides full tuition fees, a stipend of £22,900 per annum to assist with living costs, a consumables fund of £2,000 per annum for the first three years of study, and access to the full range of support available to postgraduates at Imperial.

Who developed the Eiffel Scholarship Program?

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs developed the Eiffel scholarship program to assist French higher education institutions in attracting the best international students to PhD programs.

Will I receive monetary benefits from Cambridge International Scholarships if I get any other scholarship?

No, you will not receive monetary benefits from Cambridge International Scholarships if you get any other scholarship. However, you can attend the Trust's events if you receive a full-cost scholarship from any other source (excluding Gates Cambridge and Harding).