Scholarships Opportunities for Indian Students for the year 2024 are funds granted to deserving and meritorious students to pursue courses in various subjects of their choice. There are a variety of scholarships available for studies abroad as well in India. These help many students who have the potential to qualify but do not have the financial means to pursue their courses.
Scholarships funding could be total financial support for studying in a course or obtaining a degree in the subject of your choice. Some of the scholarships are part funding for the course duration and may include tuition fees or travel and stay expenses. Some of the scholarships are as loan scholarships, where you are expected to pay back after a few years as yearly instalment.  Some trusts offer scholarships in the subjects of their choice and the recipient has to work with the trust, once the course is finished. There are a lot of limited scholarships for funding of short term courses or travel fellowships to cover the expense to attend a workshop or present a paper in an overseas conference.

Each trust, body or university offering scholarships have a detailed laid out application process. Most of the scholarship applications are done online, have opening and closing dates and may include rounds of the interview or written tests. Needless to say, the application process is the key for your selection and has to be supported with the required credentials, work details, projects and certificate. Some applications require you to attach an essay portraying your interest and desire to join a course or program. Usually, the application processes are annual; though travelling fellowship application can be done year-round.
The subjects and courses for which scholarships available are very varied. Quite a lot of these are for pursuing masters or doctoral in various subjects. Plenty is for one-year post-graduate diplomas and fellowships.

The associations offering scholarships have their own websites and publish information and details along with dates on these portals. However, the information may not be very easily available and has to be sought by interested students. The time for applying is usually fixed and limited. Innovation Centre at MyNextExam is keen to present viable and current information on available scholarships for Indian students to pursue further studies in India and overseas. The innovation centre will bring out a few articles showcasing some of the better opportunities to apply for scholarships. As the application process is long, complex and seats are limited, it is advisable to start early and not to wait for the last date to apply. Please read ahead to learn about a few important ones.


Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from select developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies to prepare them for employment, primarily within the foundation.  Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant and 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year in June or July.  The Foundation gives priority to requests for Master's level courses but is willing to consider applications for PhD programmes, only in the case of outstanding students who are highly recommended for doctoral studies by their professors and who need a PhD for the fulfilment of their career objectives (academic or research-oriented). Applications for short-term courses are not considered; neither are applications from students who have already started their course of study.

Eligibility criteria for Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

The Foundation accepts applications from nationals of the following countries: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar and Mozambique.  In France, Portugal, UK, USA and Canada, applications are accepted from those who are originally from one of the above-developing countries, are interested in development-related studies and who have no other means of financing their education.
The Foundation only accepts applications of eligible nationals listed above who are residing in one of the countries where there are local Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Aga Khan Education Services (AKES), or Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB) offices which process applications and interview candidates.
Preference is given to students under 30 years of age.

Application Process for Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

Deadline for submitting completed applications is usually in the month of March. Further details about the application process can be obtained from https://www.akdn.org/our-agencies/aga-khan-foundation/international-scholarship-programme

Inlaks Scholarships

Inlaks Scholarships provide the opportunity to young people with exceptional talent in any field to broaden their vision abroad and improve their skills to operate in society, thus making them a future vehicle of change in their environment. It offers scholarships in various courses; four of them are listed here.

Inlaks Theatre Award 2024

Depending on the proposal and the length of the proposed programme, the Foundation will provide an allowance of Rs. 15,000 per month for the duration of the programme, which should not exceed one year. The applicant must send a letter from the mentor/institution under whom the applicant proposes to undergo the skill enhancement programme.

 Application information is available at https://www.inlaksfoundation.org/theatre/theatre-awards-2/theatre-awards/

Inlaks  Fine Arts Awards 2024

The award is intended to help young artists in their formative years to develop their creative talent. It provides financial assistance to enable them to work independently anywhere in India. The Award is worth Rs.3,00,000/- (Three Lakhs Only) for a period of one year. The awardee will have to attend an art residency programme within India for a period of 4 weeks during the course of the year.

. Application Information is available at https://www.inlaksfoundation.org/art/fine-art-award/how-to-appply/

Inlaks Fellowships for Indian Classical Music (Hindustani Raag Sangeet and Carnatic Music) 2024.

This fellowship is intended to help vocal musicians in their formative years to develop their creative talent. Applications are invited from young vocal musicians to either pursue additional training with a musician (vocalist or instrumentalist), other than one’s regular guru or with artists from other areas of performance or to undertake performance-related research (Including language and poetry) that enriches their own practice. The award is a sum of Rs.1, 20,000/- (Rupees One Lakh Twenty Thousand Only) for a period of one year. The fellowships could number around 2-3, depending on the merit of the applications received.

 Application details are available at https://www.inlaksfoundation.org/music/indian-classical-music/

Inlaks Research Travel Grants in 2024.

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation has been supporting innovative work in research and scholarship for more than four decades. The Inlaks Research Travel Grant assists registered PhD. students at Indian universities to undertake short-term visits to institutions abroad to collect material, use facilities and consult experts.
It is available for a registered PhD candidate at an Indian university for at least two years but not more than four years at the time of the application, has a first-class degree at the Bachelor’s (Honours) and Master’s level, must be under 35 years of age as on 31 December in the year of application and be an Indian citizen, currently resident in India. The award is given only in Humanities and Social Sciences related subjects.

 The application process can be initiated at https://www.inlaksfoundation.org/irtg/inlaks-travel-and-research-grant/

Chevening Global Scholarship Programme

Chevening is the UK Government’s global scholarship programme that offers future leaders the unique opportunity to study in the UK. These scholarships are awarded to outstanding professionals from all over the world to pursue a one-year master’s degree in any subject at any UK university. Applications for Chevening Scholarships and some Chevening Fellowships are now open.

Chevening Scholarships are fully-funded and the award includes the following:
•    university tuition fees
•    a monthly stipend
•    travel costs to and from the UK
•    an arrival allowance
•    a homeward departure allowance
•    the cost of one visa application
•    a travel grant to attend Chevening events in the UK
 The application details are available at https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/guidance/online-application-system/

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge; this is the largest ever single donation to a UK university.
For 2024 entry, Gates Cambridge will offer 80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the 

More information is available at https://www.gatescambridge.org/apply-overview

J.N. Tata Endowment Awards

The J. N. Tata Endowment awards a one-time loan scholarship to Indian nationals only at the beginning of the course for full-time Postgraduate/Ph.D./Postdoctoral studies/Research Fellowships studies abroad, in all fields, irrespective of caste, creed, gender or community. The amount to be awarded to each scholar by way of loan scholarship is determined on the basis of the norms laid down for the purpose and does not cover the full cost of studies. The amount awarded as the loan scholarship ranges between Rs.1,00,000/- and Rs.10,00,000/-. All selected scholars do not necessarily qualify for the maximum amount.
The selected scholars may also be recommended for a gift scholarship and travel assistance from our allied Trusts as may be decided at the sole discretion of the Trustees of the concerned Trusts. A gift scholarship can be for a maximum amount of Rs.7,50,000/- and the travel grant can be a maximum of Rs.50,000/-.
Applicants should be Indian nationals who are graduates of a recognised Indian University and have secured at least 60% in their last academic examination. Students in the final year of the degree course and those awaiting results are eligible to apply. . Mid-career professionals not older than 45 years, with a good academic record and experience in their fields, specialisation or training may also apply.

More information is available at http://www.jntataendowment.org/loan-scholarship-process