- The National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27 offers 125 awards with an annual maintenance allowance of USD 15,400 for study in the USA, a family income ceiling of Rs 8 lakh and a 60 percent minimum in the qualifying examination
- The Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship is worth up to USD 120,000 and is open to applicants born on or after 1 January 1996
- Rotary no longer runs Ambassadorial Scholarships and now funds graduate study through Global Grant Scholarships
- A US F-1 student visa costs USD 185 in visa application fee plus a USD 350 SEVIS I-901 fee, a total of USD 535.
Studying in USA can be affordable if you plan ahead of time and apply for a variety of scholarships offered by American universities, Indian foundations and the Government of India before the deadlines. These financial aids are available to deserving international students including Indian students. Depending on your qualifications, course and institution, the support can be partial or, in a few cases, cover the full cost of study. Double-check the qualifying requirements as well as the application deadlines before applying for any of these scholarships.
What Scholarships Are Available for Indian Students After 12th in USA?
Indian students who have finished Class 12 can apply for the Tata Scholarship at Cornell University, funded by a USD 25 million endowment that supports about 20 Indian scholars at any point in time. There is no separate application form, because Cornell considers you through its normal admission and financial aid process.
The following are the main routes open to Indian students who wish to pursue undergraduate studies in the United States after completing their 12th grade:
Tata Scholarship for Cornell University
The Tata Education and Development Trust and Cornell University established a USD 25 million endowment that provides need-based financial aid to Cornell undergraduate students from India. The endowment supports approximately 20 scholars at any point in time.
How to apply: there is no separate Tata Scholarship form. Applicants are considered if they complete the Cornell admission application and apply for financial aid through the CSS Profile by the standard admission deadlines, which are 1 November for Early Decision and 2 January for Regular Decision.
Tata Scholarship Eligibility
- You must have attended secondary school in India.
- You must be offered admission to Cornell as an undergraduate student.
- You must be eligible for need-based financial aid.
Tata Scholarship Benefits
The award is renewed each year for up to eight semesters. The exception is the five-year architecture programme, for which funding runs to ten semesters.
Rotary Global Grant Scholarships
Rotary discontinued its Ambassadorial Scholarships, which were once the world's largest privately funded international scholarship programme. Rotary today funds study through three routes, so any article still describing an Ambassadorial award of USD 25,000 is out of date.
- Club and district scholarships, which clubs and districts offer for secondary, undergraduate or graduate study using locally raised or Foundation-supported funds.
- Rotary Peace Fellowships, for college graduates and professionals studying peace and conflict resolution at Rotary partner universities.
- Global grant scholarships, for graduate students studying abroad in one of Rotary's seven areas of focus, lasting from one to four years and able to cover an entire degree programme.
Rotary's seven areas of focus are promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies and protecting the environment. Clubs and districts apply to The Rotary Foundation for the grant, so an Indian applicant should approach a local Rotary club first.
| Scholarship (2026) | Study Level | What It Covers | Key Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tata Scholarship, Cornell University | Undergraduate | Need-based aid from a USD 25 million endowment, up to eight semesters | Secondary school in India and an offer of admission from Cornell |
| Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowship | Master's | Tuition and fees, living costs, return economy airfare, J-1 visa support, accident and sickness cover | 55 percent in a US-equivalent bachelor's degree plus three years of full-time work experience |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship | Master's and doctoral | Up to USD 120,000 covering tuition, living expenses, one-way travel, visa costs and a health allowance | Born on or after 1 January 1996, with 65 or 70 percent minimum marks depending on subject |
| National Overseas Scholarship | Master's and PhD | Tuition, USD 15,400 maintenance and USD 1,500 contingency a year, visa fees, medical insurance and air passage | SC, denotified or landless and artisan category with family income up to Rs 8 lakh |
| K C Mahindra Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies | Postgraduate | Interest-free loan scholarship up to Rs 10 lakh for the top three fellows and up to Rs 5 lakh for other awardees | A first-class degree or equivalent diploma from a recognised university |
| Narotam Sekhsaria PG Scholarship | Postgraduate | Repayable interest-free financial assistance plus a mentoring programme | Indian national under 30 years of age as on 31 January 2026 |
| Rotary Global Grant Scholarship | Graduate | One to four years of graduate study abroad in a Rotary area of focus | Sponsorship by a Rotary club or district, which applies for the grant |
What Scholarships Can Indian Students Get for Masters in USA?
For Masters study in USA, Indian students can apply for Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships, the Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship worth up to USD 120,000, and the National Overseas Scholarship, which pays USD 15,400 a year in maintenance to eligible Scheduled Caste and other notified categories. Each award sets its own marks, age and experience conditions.
Some of the scholarships for Indian students to study in USA for a Masters degree are as follows:
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships
The Fulbright programme promotes academic and professional exchange between India and the United States and is administered in India by the United States-India Educational Foundation, or USIEF. The Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships are awarded for up to two years of masters study at US colleges and universities.
USIEF offers the following fellowships to Indian citizens:
- Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships
- Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships
- Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
- Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships
- Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators Award
- Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
- Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program
- Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program
- Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers
Fulbright-Nehru Master's Eligibility
- Indian citizenship and residence in India.
- The equivalent of a US bachelor's degree from a recognised Indian university with at least 55 percent marks, held as a four-year bachelor's degree, a completed master's degree or a postgraduate diploma.
- At least three years of full-time paid professional work experience relevant to the proposed field of study.
- Demonstrated leadership and community service experience.
- You must not already hold a US degree or be enrolled in a US degree programme.
- Employees of the Government of India and of state governments are not eligible.
Fulbright-Nehru Master's Benefits
- J-1 visa support.
- Round-trip economy class air travel from the fellow's home city to the host institution in the US.
- Funding for tuition and fees.
- Living and related costs.
- Accident and sickness coverage as per US Government guidelines.
- No financial support is provided for dependents, and the grant may not cover every cost.
Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship
The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation offers a scholarship to academically high-achieving Indian graduate applicants, at masters and doctoral level, who show extraordinary talent.
Inlaks Eligibility
- You must hold a degree from a recognised university in India. If your undergraduate degree is foreign, you must have lived, worked or studied continuously in India for at least two years after graduating.
- You must have been born on or after 1 January 1996, which sets the maximum age at 30 at the time of application.
- Minimum marks are 65 percent for social sciences, humanities, law, fine arts and architecture, and 70 percent for mathematics, sciences and environment subjects.
Inlaks Benefits and Timeline
A maximum of USD 120,000 is available, covering tuition fees, living expenses, one-way travel, visa costs and a health allowance. Applications for the 2026 round have closed. In that cycle applications were reviewed in April 2026, with preliminary interviews around May and final interviews in the third or fourth weekend of May.
National Overseas Scholarship
The National Overseas Scholarship is run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for Scheduled Caste candidates, denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans. It funds Masters and PhD study at accredited universities abroad in any field of study. In each selection year 125 fresh awards are given, of which 115 go to Scheduled Castes, 6 to denotified and nomadic tribes and 4 to landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans. Thirty percent of the awards each year are earmarked for women.
National Overseas Scholarship Eligibility
- At least 60 percent marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying examination, which is the bachelor's degree for Masters applicants and the master's degree for PhD applicants.
- Not more than 35 years of age as on the first day of April of the selection year.
- Gross annual family income from all sources must not exceed Rs 8 lakh per annum in the last completed financial year.
- Admission must be secured at an institution ranked within the latest QS World University Rankings top 500.
- Topics or courses concerning Indian culture, heritage, history or social studies based on India are not covered by the scheme.
National Overseas Scholarship Benefits
- Annual maintenance allowance of USD 15,400 for the USA and other countries except the UK, where the rate is GBP 9,900.
- Annual contingency allowance of USD 1,500 for the USA, or GBP 1,100 for the UK.
- Tuition fees, visa fees and medical insurance premium as actually charged.
- Air passage to and from India, plus an incidental journey and equipment allowance.
- Financial assistance runs for up to three years for a Masters degree and four years for a PhD.
S N Bose Scholars Program
The S N Bose Scholars Program was a research exchange run by the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum with WINStep Forward, open to Indian bachelors and masters students in atmospheric and earth sciences, chemical sciences, engineering, mathematical and computational sciences and physical sciences, and offering a stipend, airfare and health insurance. WINStep Forward states that the programme is currently on hold and is not accepting participants, so applicants should check the IUSSTF website before planning around it.
K C Mahindra Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies
The K C Mahindra Education Trust, which has promoted scholarships since the mid-1950s, offers an interest-free loan scholarship for postgraduate study. A minimum of 50 students are awarded each year.
K C Mahindra Eligibility and Benefits
- Indian citizenship is required.
- You must hold a first-class degree or an equivalent diploma of a similar standard from a recognised university. Final-year students are eligible if they can prove degree completion and first-class marks by the end of June.
- Up to Rs 10 lakh for the top three K C Mahindra Fellows and up to Rs 5 lakh for other awardees, as an interest-free loan scholarship.
- The 2026 cycle closed on 30 April 2026, and the scholarship now covers premier institutions within India as well as overseas study.
Narotam Sekhsaria Postgraduate Scholarship
The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation awards merit-based, repayable interest-free financial assistance to students pursuing postgraduate study at leading institutions in India or abroad, along with a mentoring programme and access to a global scholar network. More than 280 scholars have been supported since 2005.
Narotam Sekhsaria Eligibility and Timeline
- Indian national residing in India.
- Under 30 years of age as on 31 January 2026.
- Graduated from an accredited Indian university, with final-year students also eligible.
- Pursuing postgraduate studies in India or abroad from Fall 2026, with the award subject to securing admission.
- Applications are invited in January each academic year, interviews run between April and June, and a mandatory orientation is held in Mumbai in July.
How Can Indian Students Get Scholarships to Study in USA?
Indian students get USA scholarships by applying through government portals, university financial aid offices and foundation websites. Start at least twelve months before your intended intake, because Fulbright-Nehru and the Inlaks Scholarship both close roughly a year ahead. Keep strong marks, prepare a clear statement of purpose and apply to several awards at once.
Although the United States is one of the costliest study destinations, Indian students can bring the cost down by applying for a mix of government-funded, foundation and university funding. Applications for each scholarship are made online through their respective portals, and most awards ask for an admission offer or proof that an application is in progress, so the university application and the scholarship application usually run in parallel.
Budget for the visa as well. A US F-1 student visa costs USD 185 as the visa application, or MRV, fee, plus a separate SEVIS I-901 fee of USD 350, giving a total of USD 535 before travel and living costs.
Government scholarships for Indian studentsRead →What Scholarships Are Available for MBBS Studies in USA?
USA awards the MD rather than the MBBS, and according to the AAMC only 43 US medical schools accepted international applicants in the 2025 cycle. Financial aid is limited, and several schools ask international students to hold the full four-year cost in an escrow account before enrolment.
Indian students planning medicine in the United States should understand the structure first. There is no MBBS in the US system. Medicine is a graduate-entry MD programme that follows a bachelor's degree, and funding for international applicants is far tighter than for Masters or PhD study.
| Medicine Funding Route (2026) | What It Means for Indian Applicants |
|---|---|
| US qualification is the MD, not the MBBS | Entry follows a bachelor's degree rather than Class 12, so plan an undergraduate degree first |
| 43 US medical schools accept international applicants | Of 3,404 international applicants in the 2025 cycle, 845 were accepted and 755 enrolled, per the AAMC |
| Federal student aid | Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans are available only to those who meet federal eligibility requirements, which excludes most Indian applicants |
| Escrow or proof of funds | Several schools require applicants to prove they can pay for all four years, or to hold the full amount in an escrow account |
| Private and institutional loans | International students typically rely on private loans or institutional financing arranged through the school |
| Institutional need-based scholarships | A small number of well-funded schools offer their own need-based aid, so contact each financial aid office directly |
Harvard Medical School, for example, states that it runs one of the most generous MD financial aid programmes in the country and keeps average graduating debt at roughly half the national average for private medical schools. Eligibility rules for non-US citizens differ by school, so confirm them with the financial aid office before you apply.
What Engineering Scholarships Are Available for Indian Students in USA?
Most engineering funding in USA comes from the university itself rather than from external scholarships. At Cornell, 99 percent of PhD students are fully funded through fellowships or assistantships that cover tuition, fees, health insurance and a living stipend. Many named engineering society awards are restricted to US citizens or residents.
Some of the realistic funding routes for Indian students who want to study engineering in USA are as follows:
- Graduate funding packages at the university itself. Cornell's Graduate School reports that 99 percent of its PhD students are fully funded, and that funding packages include tuition, fees, health insurance and a living allowance or stipend.
- Teaching and research assistantships, awarded by the department rather than a central scholarship office, which normally combine a tuition waiver with a stipend in exchange for teaching or research work.
- Fellowships, which provide financial support with no associated work requirement, and external government, foundation and corporate fellowships that the graduate school encourages applicants to pursue.
- Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships, which accept engineering applicants who hold at least three years of full-time professional work experience.
- The National Overseas Scholarship, which covers any field of study including engineering, provided the university sits within the QS World University Rankings top 500.
- Be careful with named US engineering society awards. Many, including regional chapter awards and society undergraduate scholarships, are limited to US citizens, permanent residents or students in a single US state.
Research masters and professional degree programmes receive only limited financial assistance compared with PhD programmes, so a funded doctoral place remains the most reliable route to a fully paid engineering education in the United States.
Which Fully Funded Scholarships Can Indian Students Get for USA?
Fully funded options are rare and highly competitive. Fulbright-Nehru covers tuition, living costs, return airfare and insurance. The National Overseas Scholarship pays tuition plus USD 15,400 maintenance and USD 1,500 contingency each year. Funded PhD places at US universities remain the single largest source of full support for Indian students.
A genuinely fully funded award is one that covers tuition, living costs and travel together. In practice three routes reach that level for Indian students: a Fulbright-Nehru fellowship, the National Overseas Scholarship for eligible categories, and a funded PhD offer from a US university. The Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship comes close, since its maximum of USD 120,000 covers tuition, living expenses, one-way travel, visa costs and a health allowance.
Everything else, including most foundation awards from India, is partial funding or an interest-free loan that must be repaid. Plan on combining an award with savings, an education loan or an assistantship, and apply to several schemes in the same cycle rather than relying on one.