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Study US: Top scholarships for Indian students
Choose from a range of funding options and bring down your overall cost of education.
World-class universities, better career prospects and a dynamic campus experience attracts a vast number of students to study abroad.
Although the advantages of studying abroad are galore, the high cost remains one of the major drawbacks.
As a result study abroad aspirants look out for options that will help them decrease their financial burden of which scholarships are the most preferred and sought after.
Apart from concessions offered by a particular university, Indian students applying to the United States of America can consider scholarship schemes granted by the government, or sponsored by individual private, public or public-private organisations as well.
Despite the availability of these scholarships, most of them are unknown to prospective international students.
Although there are numerous subject-specific or programme-specific scholarships or other funding options offered by the universities or colleges, mentioned below are the top scholarships for Indian students wishing to study in USA.
1. Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship
The Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships are master's fellowships that are offered to outstanding Indians to pursue a master's degree programme at selected colleges and universities in USA.
The subject areas that can be pursued are arts and culture management including heritage conservation and museum studies, environmental science/studies, higher education administration, public health, urban and regional planning, and women's studies/gender studies.
The Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships cover J-1 visa support, round-trip economy class air travel from fellow's home city to the host institution in USA, tuition and fees, living and related costs, and accident and sickness program for exchanges as per USA government guidelines.
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Study US: Top scholarships for Indian students
2. Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship
The Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Programme is a Fulbright programme that provides an opportunity to young and mid-level career professionals from developing countries to pursue ten months of non-degree graduate study and related practical professional experiences in USA.
The Hubert H Humphrey Fellowships are awarded in the fields of:
- Agricultural and Rural Development
- Communications/Journalism
- Economic Development
- Educational Administration, Planning and Policy
- Finance and Banking
- Higher Education Administration
- HIV/AIDS Policy and Prevention
- Human Resource Management
- Law and Human Rights
- Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, and Climate Change
- Public Health Policy and Management
- Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration
- Substance Abuse Education, Treatment and Prevention
- Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (Teacher Training or Curriculum Development)
- Technology Policy and Management
- Trafficking in Persons, Policy and Prevention
- Urban and Regional Planning
Study US: Top scholarships for Indian students
3. Fulbright Foreign Student Programme
Administered by bi-national Fulbright Commissions or Foundations, or US Embassies, the Fulbright Foreign Student Programme provides an opportunity to graduate students, young professionals and artists from across the world to study and conduct research in USA.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Programme operates in more than 155 countries worldwide.
4. US colleges and universities offering Scholarships
Almost all of the leading universities in USA provide scholarship and fellowship opportunities administered by them.
Apart from the university-wide financial options, they also provide department-specific, country-specific, alumni-funded, ex-faculty funded options.
These scholarships are offered for various levels of education and for various durations of study.
Do not forget to log on the official sites of interested universities and find out about their funding options.
5. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme offers scholarships to students for pursuing graduate studies leading to a master’s degree in any development-related field from universities around the world.
Students applying to the regular programme may study at preferred universities in World Bank member countries, with the exception of their home countries.
6. AAUW International Fellowships
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowships are offered to non-US female citizens or permanent residents for pursuing full-time study or research in USA.
The fellowships are offered to pursue both graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited USA institutions.
Recipients of the AAUW International Fellowships are selected on the basis of their academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to women and girls.
7. Private Scholarships and Fellowships
Apart from the above mentioned options, a number of private organisations offer scholarships and fellowships to Indian students for studying in USA.
The scholarships and fellowships are offered for studies at various undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels.
Some private bodies may award country-specific or university-specific financial support.
The popular private scholarships for Indian students wishing to study in USA are Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship, scholarship by Asian Cultural Council, JN Tata Endowment, Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust Scholarship, Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships, Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme, etc.
8. Indian Government Award
The Indian Government also provides financial assistance to study abroad under various schemes, especially for the financially or socially deprived classes.
One such major initiative of the Indian Government is the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme.
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