Can Indian Students Get Scholarships to Study in the USA?
Absolutely — and in significant numbers. India sends more international students to the United States than any other country, with over 330,000 students enrolled in 2024. While US universities are expensive, there are dozens of scholarship programs specifically available to Indian students, in addition to the university-specific funding that many students secure through merit, teaching assistantships, and research positions.
This guide covers the top scholarships for Indian students to study in the USA in 2025, organised by degree type.
Government and Bilateral Scholarships for Indian Students
1. Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship
The Fulbright-Nehru Program is a bilateral scholarship between the United States and India, administered through the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF). It is the most prestigious scholarship for Indian students heading to the USA.
- Types: Master’s Fellowships, Doctoral Research Fellowships, Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships
- Covers: J-1 visa support, tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance, airfare
- Who can apply: Indian citizens with an excellent academic record and professional experience
- Deadline: Typically May 15 each year for awards starting the following August
2. Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships
The Inlaks Foundation awards scholarships to outstanding young Indians to study at leading universities in the USA and Europe. This is one of the most generous private scholarships available to Indian students.
- Covers: Up to USD 100,000 over the scholarship period
- Eligible fields: Arts, sciences, social sciences, medicine, engineering
- Requirements: Age below 30, Indian citizenship, admission to a top global university
- Deadline: Typically April each year
University Merit Scholarships for Indian Students
3. Stanford University Graduate Fellowships
Stanford offers a range of fellowship programs for international graduate students. PhD students at Stanford are typically fully funded through combinations of fellowships, TA positions, and research assistantships.
- Covers: Full tuition, stipend of approximately USD 50,000 per year for PhD students
- Requirements: Admission to a Stanford graduate program; funding is offered as part of admission to most PhD programs
4. MIT Presidential Fellowship
MIT offers the Presidential Fellowship to exceptional incoming doctoral students in any discipline.
- Covers: Full tuition and living stipend
- Requirements: Must be admitted to MIT for doctoral study; fellowship awarded by the department
5. University of Michigan Rackham Merit Fellowship
The Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan offers merit fellowships to outstanding international graduate students.
- Covers: Full tuition plus stipend
- Requirements: Exceptional academic record; nomination by the department upon admission
Private and Foundation Scholarships
6. Tata Scholarship at Cornell University
The Tata Scholarship Fund at Cornell University provides need-based financial aid specifically to Indian undergraduate students admitted to Cornell.
- Covers: Need-based financial aid to cover the full demonstrated financial need
- Requirements: Admission to Cornell University, Indian citizenship, demonstrated financial need
- How to apply: Apply for financial aid as part of the Cornell admissions application
7. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship
The Aga Khan Foundation offers scholarships to outstanding students from developing countries including India for postgraduate study at top institutions worldwide, including in the USA.
- Covers: 50% grant and 50% loan (fully need-based)
- Requirements: Indian citizenship, demonstrated academic excellence, financial need, admission to a competitive international university
- Deadline: March to May depending on country
8. American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowship
The AAUW International Fellowship is specifically for women from countries outside the USA who are pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral study at accredited US institutions.
- Covers: USD 18,000 for master’s / USD 20,000 for doctoral / USD 30,000 for postdoctoral
- Requirements: Female, non-US citizen, admission to a US institution, intent to return to home country
- Deadline: November 1 each year
Graduate Assistantships: The Most Common Funding Path
The reality is that most Indian students who are fully funded at US universities — particularly for master’s and PhD programs — receive their funding through Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) or Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA). These positions:
- Provide a tuition waiver covering full or partial tuition
- Include a monthly stipend of USD 1,500 to USD 3,500 depending on the university and program
- Require 15 to 20 hours of work per week assisting professors with teaching or research
To be competitive for assistantships, Indian students should target a GRE score of 320 or above for STEM programs and maintain a strong undergraduate GPA of 8.0 or higher on a 10-point scale.
Tips for Indian Students Applying for US Scholarships
- Apply early — most scholarships have deadlines 6 to 12 months before the program start date.
- Maintain a strong GPA — most scholarships have a minimum undergraduate GPA threshold.
- Score well on the GRE — even for test-optional programs, a strong GRE score strengthens funding applications.
- Write strong personal essays — tailor every essay to the specific values of each scholarship.
- Contact faculty before applying — for PhD programs, a positive response from a potential supervisor can be the difference between funding and no funding.
Final Thoughts
Indian students have access to a remarkably diverse range of scholarship and funding opportunities for study in the USA — from prestigious bilateral programs like Fulbright-Nehru to university fellowships and private foundation awards. Start researching and applying at least 12 months before your intended program start date, and cast a wide net across multiple scholarship programs.