Scholarships in USA for Indian and International Students 2024

Pursuing a career in the USA is a dream opportunity for numerous applicants. But this dream came up with various challenges, such as the high cost of living in the USA, personal expenses, tuition costs, travel expenses and many more. To ease the financial burden, there are many scholarships in the USA. However, for Indian students, it might become difficult for them to manage their expenses due to the fluctuation of currency so knowing about scholarships in USA for Indian students is important.

This Story also Contains

1. Types of Scholarships in USA for Indian Students
2. Scholarships in USA
3. AAUW International Fellowship Programme
4. Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students in USA
5. Fulbright Scholarships
6. The Robertson Scholarship
7. Scholarships in USA for Masters
8. How to Apply for Scholarships in USA for Indian Students?
9. Document requirements for scholarships in the USA

The USA remains the top choice amongst Indian students due to its high-quality academic profiles, modern facilities, and new cultural dimensions. To support these dreams, many scholarships in USA for Indian students 2024 help the students support their finances for education.

Scholarships in USA for Indian students are offered based on merit, financial need, talent, extracurricular activities, etc. The funding amount covers both study and living expenses in the USA. Indian students can avail scholarships in USA to study at top universities in the USA. However, for scholarships in the USA 2024, students must demonstrate their eligibility for the specific programmes and universities through proper documentation.

In this article, we have covered a few of the popular scholarships in USA for international students 2024 for students studying in the USA. Interested candidates are encouraged to read the complete article to learn more about different scholarships for studying in the USA, their eligibility, the application process, and many more.

Also Read: Cheapest Universities in USA

Types of Scholarships in USA for Indian Students

Scholarship in USA for international students can be categorised into four major categories. Before checking the US scholarships for Indian students, check out the categories of scholarships in the USA mentioned below.

Government-funded scholarships: There are many government-funded scholarships available to international students who want to study in the United States. These scholarships are generally funded by the government of the United States to assist students financially in managing their higher education.

Non-government scholarships: Many non-governmental organisations offer scholarships to international students to continue their study in USA. A few popular non-government-funded scholarships in the USA include the Tata Scholarship for Cornell University, the Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme, AAUW International Fellowships, the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme, and others.

University-funded scholarships: There are universities in the USA that offer scholarships to Indian students. These scholarships are generally offered based on a candidate's financial situation, academic performance, and extracurricular activities.

Merit-based scholarships: Students with outstanding academic track records will be allowed partially or fully funded merit-based scholarships to assist with tuition fees and books. E.g., the Tata Scholarship for Cornell University.

Need-Based Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded based on the financial needs of the student and their family. Financial information, such as income and assets, may be required to determine eligibility.

Scholarships in USA

Candidates need to apply for scholarships in the USA to ease their financial burden at the university with tuition fees or accommodations in the USA. Details on scholarship in USA for undergraduate and graduate students both are available below.

To know more about these scholarships in the USA for Indian students, check out the scholarships mentioned below:

AAUW International Fellowship Programme

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) supports women pursuing full-time graduate studies in the United States to non-U.S. female citizens. AAUW International Fellowship is a non-government scholarship that funds educational expenses, living costs, child care, and travel expenditures, along with degrees like UG, masters, and doctoral. Applicants receive the scholarship award in between USD 20,000 and USD 50,000.

Eligibility of AAUW International Fellowship Programme

• Female Student should have nationality other than US

• Academic degree that should be equivalent to a US degree.

• Should apply for full time course.

• They intend to return to their home country to pursue a professional career upon completion of their studies.

Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students in USA

For overseas students who are willing to apply for undergraduate programmes, the United States offers a wide range of scholarships. In the USA, pursuing an undergraduate degree entails a number of costs, including tuition, living expenses, registration fees, and other expenses. Therefore, potential students can apply for undergraduate scholarships for international students in USA 2024 to manage the course requirements.

Check out some of the popular scholarships in USA 2024 for undergraduate studies:

• Fulbright Scholarships (US Department of State)

• AAUW International Fellowships.

• The Robertson Scholarship (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

• Boren Awards (National Security Education Programme)

Fulbright Scholarships

The Fulbright scholarships In USA is divided under two sections for US citizens and the other one is for Non US citizens. Over 160 countries run the Fulbright Scholarship and provide the awards on the basis of student’s merit in major academic disciplines and fields of study. For the international students the US department of state offers the Fulbright Foreign Student Programme for the foreign graduate students, young professionals and artists to study from different countries, conduct research, and teach their native language in the U.S.

Eligibility for Fulbright Scholarship

To avail the benefits of the Fulbright scholarship in USA, candidates must fulfil the eligibility requirements which are mentioned below:

• Candidates should meet citizenship requirements provided by the binational agreement.

• Applicants must hold a valid passport.

• Applicants should also meet the language requirements and are required to submit the proof of their English language test scores. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are highly accepted.

• Candidates should have all the required documents and be accepted by the university. They may also be required to submit their test scores, including GRE scores for graduate programmes and GMAT scores for business programmes.

The Robertson Scholarship

The Robertson Scholars Leadership Programme is a Scholarship in the USA for Undergraduate students that accepts applications globally regardless of citizenship or nationality. The Robertson Scholarship offers different programmes including On-Campus Community Building Off-campus community building, First Year Programme, Sophomore Programme and Junior and Senior Programme which provide students the opportunity to discuss various topics and grow with different community and allow them to contribute their expertise and wisdom, explore their curiosity, and expand their leadership through a variety of experiences throughout the academic year.

In the Lead Grants of the Robertson Scholars Leadership Programme applicants can avail the benefit with up to USD 1,000 per academic year to support their professional needs.

Eligibility for the Robertson Scholarship

• Candidates should apply for undergraduate admission to Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill the same year they apply to the Robertson Scholars Leadership Programme.

• Students need to apply by the respective Early or Regular deadlines.

• Applicants should have a valid passport and student visa for USA.

Scholarships in USA for Masters

For international students, pursuing a master's degree at top universities in the USA can be expensive. However, the availability of several partially as well as fully-funded scholarships in the USA for international students 2024 can help students overcome their financial burden to a certain extent. A few popular scholarships in USA for masters are given below:

• Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships (US Government)

• Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships

• Tata Scholarships for Cornell University

• Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship

• Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship (CSOS) (Indian Government)

Tata Scholarship

The Tata Scholarship is a need-based, non-government scholarship in the USA. This scholarship in the USA is administered by the Tata Education and Development Trust. This Tata Scholarship in the USA for undergraduates is offered to approximately 20 Indian scholars annually at Cornell University. The scholarship amount awarded is USD 25 million.

Eligibility for Tata Scholarship

• Be a citizen of India and have attended secondary school in India.

• Students must take admission to Cornell at undergraduate level.

• Be eligible for need-based financial aid.

Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships

The Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships are US scholarships for international students with leadership qualities. This is a fully funded scholarship in the USA that provides J-1 visa support, a round trip economy class ticket, tuition costs, living expenses, sickness, and accident coverage as per government guidelines.

Eligibility of Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships

• Candidates must have completed the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from a recognised Indian university with at least 55% marks.

• Applicants must have a four-year bachelor's degree, a completed master's degree, or a full-time postgraduate diploma from a recognised Indian institution if the bachelor's degree is of less than four years' duration.

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships

Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships in the USA have been offered to over 480 Indian students. The applicants will receive a scholarship of up to USD 100,000.

Eligibility Criteria for Inlaks Scholarship

• The candidates are expected to hold a good first degree from a recognised university in India

• Indian passport holders who have an excellent undergraduate degree from a recognised university.

• The candidates who have an English language certification as a conditional part of their offer letter need to obtain that certificate before applying for the Inlaks scholarship.

Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship

The Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship is a scholarship in the USA for master’s programmes and in many other countries. This scholarship also considers applications for PhD studies.

Eligibility criteria for Aga Khan Foundation scholarships in USA

To be eligible for an AKF ISP award, candidates must:

• Candidates must have excellent academic records.

• Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent training/professional experience.

• have strong leadership potential, professional experience, extracurricular and/or entrepreneurial achievements, and volunteer contributions.

How to Apply for Scholarships in USA for Indian Students?

The application process to apply for scholarships in the USA can vary depending on the specific programmes, university, and course duration. However, a general overview of the scholarship application process in the USA is given below:

• Research for scholarships that match your academic profile, financial need, and field of study. Candidates can choose different types of scholarships in USA, including government funded, merit-based, and university scholarships, as per their needs.

• Meet all the eligibility requirements, including academic performance, language proficiency tests, and work experience.

• Gather all the necessary documents.

• Complete the scholarship application by filling out the required information.

• Attach the required documents.

• Submit the scholarship application on or before the deadline.

For university-funded scholarships, students are advised to visit the official website of the university to get more information.

Document requirements for scholarships in the USA

Students applying for scholarships in USA need certain documents, which may vary as per the type of scholarship or the university and level of study they are applying for. For the general document requirements fo scholarships in the USA, look at the points mentioned below:

• Academic and transcript scores

• Standardised test scores (SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT score)

• A copy of passport

• Photo Id

• Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL exam score)

• Statement of Purpose

• Letter of recommendation

• Resume

• Proof of financial need