India is full of young talent, but countless Indian students struggle to achieve their international educational goals due to financial challenges. Despite being one of the largest markets for study-abroad providers, a large chunk of the population is deprived of opportunities. Fortunately, Indian students can access several global scholarship opportunities to fulfill their aspirations regardless of their constraints.

In fact, they can even get a few fully-funded programmes to study for free at some of the top universities in the world. These programmes cover different levels of studies, from undergraduate to postgraduate and doctoral courses. They are also available for diverse academic fields.

Here is a list of fully-funded global scholarship opportunities Indian students can explore.

GKS UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

The Global Korea Scholarship is a programme by the South Korean government to nurture global talent and foster cultural exchange. With this programme, exceptional students worldwide can pursue their undergraduate studies free of cost in South Korea. Scholarship benefits include a 100% tuition fee waiver, air tickets, accommodation, resettle allowances, health insurance, and a language programme.

Deadline: October 2023

CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIPS

Funded by the UK government, Chevening Scholarships are for outstanding students looking for free postgraduate studies in the UK. The programme is among the most prestigious scholarships in the world. Candidates should be from a Chevening-eligible country and meet the Chevening English Proficiency requirement. They must have an Undergraduate degree to pursue a postgraduate programme in one of the best UK universities.

Deadline: November 2023

LESTER B. PEARSON SCHOLARSHIPS

The University of Toronto offers the acclaimed Lester B Pearson Scholarship to meritorious international students based on their achievements in academics and creative pursuits. Prospective undergraduate students can apply for these scholarships. This fully-funded programme includes tuition fees, incidental fees, the cost of books and study material, and full residence support for four years.

Deadline: January 2024

INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS AWARDS AT UBC

The University of British Columbia is another Canadian university offering fully-funded programmes for outstanding international students. The International Scholars Awards at UBC enables bright students to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies at the university. The programmee offers four need-and-merit-based awards:

• Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award
• Karen McMillan International Leader of Tomorrow
• Vantage One Excellence Award
• International Impact Award

Deadline: November 2023

DEAKIN VICE-CHANCELLOR’S MERITORIOUS SCHOLARSHIP

Australia’s Deakin University offers the prestigious Vice-Chancellors meritorious scholarship to students with excellent academic standards and the ability to contribute to the institution and its communities. The programme is available for postgraduate students studying general studies, STEM, sports studies, creative arts, and creative writing disciplines. It includes 100% of the tuition fee and priority for the on-campus accommodation.

Deadline: February 2024

MONASH INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP

The Monash International Leadership Scholarship is another fully-funded option for Indian students to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Australia. Besides exceptional academic performance, students must demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities and a commitment to positively impacting their communities to qualify for the programme. The scholarship covers 100% of the course fees except for OSHC, housing, and living expenses until students earn the required points for their degrees.

Deadline: 15 October 2023 (Round 1) and 15 November 2023 (Round 2)

COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS

The Commonwealth Scholarship is a collaborative initiative of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and universities in the UK to encourage international students from countries such as India, Malaysia, Belgium, and Bangladesh. They can apply for Masters and doctorate programmes of their choice in UK universities. Students get tuition fees, accommodation costs, airfare, warm clothing allowance, study travel grants, thesis grants, and stipends under Commonwealth and fellowship plans.

Deadline: October 2023

Scholarships open doors to learning, future achievement, and personal development for students not having adequate resources. They enable people from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds to overcome financial obstacles and level the playing field. As an Indian student chasing the dream of international education on a budget, you can check these options across the globe.