How the Indian government is supporting Indian students studying abroad

Many Indian students aspire to study at international destinations due to a myriad of reasons. It is an opportunity to gain a world-class education, experience new cultures, and build a global network of contacts. However, studying abroad can also be expensive and challenging. Hence Government backing and support helps in a big way to fuel the students aspirations by making international education accessible and affordable for the common masses.

The Indian government is committed to supporting Indian students who wish to study abroad. It offers a variety of initiatives and programs to help students finance their studies, find and apply to programs, and prepare for their study abroad experience.

Financial Assistance

One of the biggest challenges for Indian students who want to study abroad is financing their studies. The Indian government offers a variety of scholarships and loans to help students meet the costs of studying abroad.

Some of the most popular scholarships and fellowships initiated by the central government of India and various state governments are,

USA:

• Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships: For Indian students pursuing a master's degree in select U.S. fields.
• Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships: For Indian students doing part of their doctoral research in U.S. institutions.

UK:

• Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship: For Indian students to pursue studies in the UK. Includes master's, doctoral studies, and certain short-term research.
• Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarship: For doctoral studies at St. John’s College, University of Cambridge.

France:

• Raman-Charpak Fellowship: For Indian and French Ph.D. students for part of their research work in the other country.

General (Multiple Countries/Global):

• JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarships: For Indian students going to various countries for higher education.
• KC Mahindra Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad: For postgraduate studies in multiple countries.
• National Overseas Scholarship (NOS): For SC/ST students for higher studies in various countries, including master's, Ph.D., and post-doctoral levels.
• S.N. Bose Scholars Student Exchange Program for Indian Students: For research in U.S. institutions in select fields.

State-specific scholarships (Initiated by respective state governments in India):

• Maharashtra State Government International Merit Scholarship: For students from Maharashtra admitted to top global universities.
• Karnataka State Government Scholarship for Minorities: For minority students from Karnataka.
• West Bengal Government Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme: For students of West Bengal for postgraduate studies abroad.

Special Categories:

• Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme For Central Armed Police Forces And Assam Rifles: For wards/widows of deceased CAPFs & AR personnel and wards of personnel below officer rank for diverse country focuses.
• Saksham: By AICTE for differently-abled students to pursue technical education abroad.
• Prabuddha: By the Karnataka government for students from backward classes for higher studies abroad.

List of few other scholarships applicable for students desiring to study in USA, Europe and UK are as follows:

• Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships

• Erasmus Mundus Scholarships for International Students

• WISE (funded by DAAD)

• Orange Tulip Scholarship (OTS)

• British Council GREAT scholarships for Indian Students

• LSE Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)

• Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Postgraduate

• Chevening Scholarships

• Cornell University Tata Scholarship

• British Council-IELTS Prize

Some scholarships applicable for students desiring to study in Australia are as follows:

• University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) Future of Change India

Scholarship

• India Global Leaders Scholarship

• University of Adelaide Ashok Khurana Scholarship for Indian Students

Some scholarships applicable for students desiring to study in China and Japan are as follows:

• Peking University Scholarship

• Asian Development Bank Scholarship

In addition to scholarships, the Indian government also offers loans to students who wish to study abroad. These loans are typically offered through banks and financial institutions at subsidized interest rates.

Finding and Applying to Programs

The Indian government also offers a variety of services to help students find and apply to study abroad programs. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has a dedicated portal called the Student Registration Portal (SRP) where students can register themselves and access information on study abroad programs, scholarships, and other resources.

The MEA also has a network of Indian Missions/Posts in different countries that can provide students with information and assistance on study abroad programs and the application process.

Initiatives taken by Indian Missions/Posts

High Commission of India, Canberra, Australia

Indian Student Advisory

Registration for Indian students

Website: hcicanberra.gov.in/

 

High Commission of India, Ottawa, Canada

Registration for Indian students

Website: hciottawa.gov.in

 

Embassy of India, Paris, France

Indian Student Advisory

Registration for Indian students

Website: eoiparis.gov.in/

 

Embassy of India, Berlin, Germany

Dedicated website (https://www.indianstudentsgermany.org)

Registration for Indian students

Website: indianembassyberlin.gov.in/

 

Embassy of India, Wellington, New Zealand

Indian Student Advisory

Website: hciwellington.gov.in/

 

Embassy of India, Moscow, Russia

Indian Student Advisory

Registration for Indian students

Website: indianembassy-moscow.gov.in/index.php

 

High Commission of India, Singapore

Indian Student Advisory

Registration for Indian students

MADAD portal registration for Indian students

Website: hcisingapore.gov.in/

 

Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Comprehensive PDF for Indians in UAE

Registration for Indian students

Website: indembassyuae.gov.in/

 

High Commission of India, London, UK

Student Advisory (Do’s and Don’ts)

Registration for Indian students

Website: hcilondon.gov.in/

 

Embassy of India, Washington DC, USA

Dedicated website (Student Hub)

Website: https://www.ishubus.com/

Registration for Indian students

Website: indianembassyusa.gov.in/

 

 

Contact Information

Indian High Commission, Canberra, Australia

Address: 3-5 Moonah PI, Yarralumla ACT 2600, Australia

Tel: +61 (0) 3 8593 9124 (Mon to Fri, 9:00 - 03:30 PM)

Website: www.hcicanberra.gov.in/

E-mail: ociinfo.inau@vfshelpine.com

 

High Commission of India, Canada

10, Springfield Road, Ontario, K1M 1C9, Ottawa.

Tel: 6137443751, 6137443752, 6137443753

Fax: 6137443033 / 6137440913

Website: https://www.hciottawa.gov.in/

 

Embassy of India, Paris, France

13-15 rue Alfred Dehodencq

75016 - Paris, France

Tel: 00 33 1 40 50 70 70

Fax: 00 33 1 40 50 09 96

Website: www.eoiparis.gov.in/

 

Embassy of India, Berlin, Germany

Tiergartenstr.17 10785 Berlin, Germany

Tel: +49-30-25795-0

Website: indianembassyberlin.gov.in/

 

High Commission of India, New Zealand

Ranchhod Tower, Level-2, 102-112, Lambton Quay,

Wellington-6011,

PO Box:4045

Tel: +64-4-4736390

Fax: +64-4-4990665

Website: hciwellington.gov.in/

 

Embassy of India, Moscow, Russia

6-8 Vorontsovo Polye Street

Moscow (Russia) 105064

Tel:(495) 783 7535

Fax:(495) 9172285, 916 3632

Website: www.indianembassy-moscow.gov.in

 

High Commission of India, Singapore

31, Grange Road Singapore 239702.

Tel: +65-6737-6777 / 91729803

Whatsapp helpline: +65 - 94519814 (during office hours)

Website: www.hcisingapore.gov.in/index

 

Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Plot No. 10, Sector W-59/02, Diplomatic Area, Off the Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Street,

P. O. Box 4090, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Tel: 00-971-2-4492700

Fax: 00-971-2-4444685

Website: www.indembassyuae.gov.in

 

Indian High Commission, London, UK

India House, Aldwych, Wc2B 4NA, UK

Tel: 00 44 (0) 20-7632-3035 / 20-8629-5950 (between 10 am to 5 pm on all working days)

E-mail: info.London@hcilondon.in

Website: www.hcilondon.gov.in/index

 

Embassy of India, Washington, D.C, USA

2107 Massachusetts Avenue,

NW Washington, DC 20008

Tel :(202) 939-7000

Website: indianembassyusa.gov.in/

Preparing For Study Abroad

The Indian government also offers a variety of programs to help students prepare for their study abroad experience. The MEA has a program called the Pre-Departure Orientation Program (PDOP) which provides students with information on the visa application process, cultural adjustment, and other important topics.

The MEA also has a network of Cultural Centers in different countries that offer a variety of programs and activities to help students learn about the culture and language of their host country.

LIST OF INDIAN CULTURAL CENTERS ABROAD

Sr. No. Name of Centres with country

1. The Nehru Centre

London (U.K.).

2. The Tagore Centre

Berlin, Germany.

3. Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre

Moscow, Russia.

4. Indian Cultural Centre

Astana, Kazakhstan.

5. Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture

Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

6. Indian Cultural Centre

Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

7. Indian Cultural Centre

Kabul, Afganistan.

8. Indian Cultural Centre

Colombo, Sri Lanka.

9. Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Centre

Jakarta, Indonesia.

10. Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture

Port Louis, Mauritius.

11. Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture

Cairo, Egypt.

12. Indian Cultural Centre

Durban, South Africa.

13. Indian Cultural Centre

Johannesburg, South Africa.

14. Indian Cultural Centre

Georgetown, Guyana.

15. Mahatma Gandhi Institute For Cultural Cooperation

Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.

16. Indian Cultural Centre

Paramaribo, Suriname.

17. Indian Cultural Centre

Suva, Fiji.

18. Indian Cultural Centre

Beijing, China.

19. Indian Cultural Wing

Kathmandu, Nepal.

20. Indian Cultural Centre

Bangkok, Thailand

21. Indian Cultural Centre

Abu Dhabi, Dubai.

22. Indian Cultural Centre

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

23. Indian Cultural Centre

Tokyo, Japan

24. Indian Cultural Centre

Mexico.

25. Indian Cultural Centre

Thimphu, Bhutan.

26. Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre

Dhaka, Bangladesh.

27. Indian Cultural Centre

Yangon, Myanmar.

28. Indian Cultural Centre

Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

29. Indian Cultural Centre

Seoul, Korea.

30. Indian Cultural Centre

Budapest, Hungary.

31. Indian Cultural Centre

Prague, Czech Republic

32. Indian Cultural Centre

Male, Maldives.

33. Indian Cultural Centre

Sao Paulo, Brazil.

34. Indian Cultural Centre

Riyadh.

35. Indian Cultural Centre

The Hague, Netherlands.

36. Indian Cultural Centre

Tehran, Iran

Sub-Centres

1. Sub-Cultural Centre

Lautoka, Fiji.

2. Sub-Cultural Centre

Bali, Indonesia.

Support Services for Indian Students Studying Abroad

The Indian government also offers a variety of support services for Indian students studying abroad. The MEA has a portal called the MADAD portal where students can register and access information on a variety of topics, including visa issues, travel advisories, and consular services.

Indian students studying abroad can also contact the Indian Mission/Post in their host country for assistance.

MEA Contact Details

Address: SO(DB), 74B South Block, New Delhi

Phone No: 23794753

Email: aord[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

Website: http://www.mea.gov.in 

Twitter: @MEAIndia, @DrSJaishankar

Facebook:  facebook.com/MEAINDIA

YouTube: youtube.com/user/MEAIndia

Conclusion

The Indian government is committed to supporting Indian students who wish to study abroad. Indian students who are considering studying abroad should take advantage of the government's support programs. These programs can help to make study abroad more accessible and affordable for Indian students. These initiatives can help in transforming the career journey of aspiring students and make them more capable.

Here are some additional tips for Indian students who are considering studying abroad:

Start planning early: The application process for study abroad programs can be time-consuming, so it is important to start planning early.

Do your research: There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing a study abroad program, such as the cost, location, and academic curriculum. It is important to do your research and choose a program that is a good fit for your needs and interests.

Be prepared for cultural adjustment: Studying abroad can be a culture shock, so it is important to be prepared for the changes that you will experience. Try to learn about the culture of your host country before you go, and be open to new experiences.

Get involved: Once you arrive at your study abroad institution, get involved in extracurricular activities and clubs. This is a great way to meet new people and learn about the local culture.

Make the most of your experience: Studying abroad is a unique and unforgettable experience. Make the most of it by traveling, meeting new people, and learning about new cultures.