Rs 125 crore in scholarships: How Indian students are funding their study-abroad dreams

Indian students heading overseas in 2025-26 have secured Rs 125 crore in scholarships, with the UK taking the largest share, followed by Canada, US, Ireland and Australia. The lion's share going to the UK also highlights the approach adopted by its universities and why the country remains one of the most sought-after destinations for Indian students.Indian students leaving for study abroad in the academic year 2025-26 have received scholarships worth Rs 125 crore, according to data shared by StudyIn. The scholarships were offered across more than 7 destinations, with the UK rising as the largest destination and accounting for over 90 per cent of the total scholarship value, the data shows.Other destinations included Ireland, the UAE, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada.The data comes at a time when Indian students are exploring more destinations for higher education, even as the UK, US, Canada and Australia continue to account for a large share of India's overseas student population. Ministry of External Affairs data presented in Parliament shows that 12.54 lakh Indian students were enrolled in universities and tertiary institutions across the world in 2025.Canada had the largest number at 4.27 lakh, followed by the US with 2.55 lakh, the UK with 1.73 lakh and Australia with 1.38 lakh. Also, over 6 lakh went to study in several universities during this period.The UK remains at the centre of this scholarship landscape. StudyIn's data puts the value of scholarships offered to Indian students in the UK at about Rs 113 crore during the 2025-26 academic year. UK also saw a 6.9% rise in applications last year despite the stricter visa rules.THE SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTWhat is crucial for students studying aborad? Mostly, surveys highlight that, it is the tuition fee, cost of living and post work opportunities and if students can secure one out of three, much of the work has been done."These scholarships are crucial to students. They help them focus on their studies and create something unique instead of thinking about the heavy loans and finances that many arrange while planning to study abroad," said Lakshmi Iyer, Managing Director, India, StudyIn.Iyer has more than two decades of experience in international education and currently leads StudyIn's India operations.According to StudIn, scholarships worth Euro 98.72 lakh were awarded to Indian students across seven countries, translating to approximately Rs 122.9 crore at the June 25, 2026 exchange rate.The UK accounted for the largest share, with scholarships worth Euro 90.86 lakh, or around Rs 113.1 crore. Australia followed with around Rs 3.95 crore, while the UAE accounted for Rs 3.86 crore.Ireland contributed about Rs 1.20 crore, followed by the US at Rs 56.8 lakh, New Zealand at Rs 10.4 lakh and Canada at Rs 10 lakh.On average, studying in the UK can be a significant financial commitment for Indian students. International undergraduate tuition fees range from around Rs 14 lakh to Rs 48 lakh a year, while postgraduate fees can range from Rs 11 lakh to Rs 38 lakh, excluding living expenses.With accommodation and other costs added, the overall financial burden can be substantial, making scholarships a sought-after source of support for many students."Among the scholarships secured by our students were awards worth up to Euro 15,000 (around Rs 18.75 lakh). Several other merit-based scholarships offered between Euro 5,000 and Euro 10,000 (around Rs 6.25 lakh to Rs 12.5 lakh), including both full and partial tuition fee waivers," adds Iyer discussing the relevance of these scholarships.HOW UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS WORKNot every single scholarship needs a separate application by the students. Some universities prefer students by default during the admission process, based on their academic record and eligibility.Universities such as UEA, Brunel, Newcastle, Lancaster, Manchester, Durham, SOAS, LSE and UCL offer scholarships to international students. The amount depends on the university and the course, with some awards ranging from around Rs 6 lakh to Rs 19 lakh or more.For example, UCL's Global Master's Scholarship offers around Rs 18.75 lakh for one year to eligible students from lower-income backgrounds.SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE CHANGING STUDY ABROAD MARKETThe scholarship data also comes as Indian students continue to reassess where they want to study.MEA data shows that the number of Indian students in higher education abroad rose from around 7.5 lakh in 2022 to 9.3 lakh in 2023 and 13.3 lakh in 2024. The figure fell to 12.54 lakh in 2025, marking the first decline after three years of growth.Decline does not mean that the demand for studying abroad has disappeared.US and UK are facing challenges in the form of tighter immigration rules, while countries like Australia and Canada are changing visa policies after demands from netizens.Policies under the Trump administration are pushing international students away, say many experts, while they also highlight that, as India forms the biggest cohort of this group, it is likely to feel the impact the hardest.The establishment of foreign university campuses in India is now reshaping the sector and changing the game. Most of these universities are keeping the admission process similar while also offering scholarships and exchange programmes, making the whole process more accessible.The trend also shows that scholarship support is no longer limited to a small group of globally known universities.Universities across the UK and other destinations are offering country-specific, merit-based and automatic awards to attract international students.For Indian students planning their 2025-26 or subsequent study-abroad applications, the message is straightforward: the cost of an overseas degree is not limited to the headline tuition fee.Scholarships, university grants and other forms of funding can significantly change the final amount a student and their family need to arrange.With more than 12 lakh Indians currently pursuing higher education overseas, financial support is likely to remain an important part of how students choose their destination, university and course.- EndsPublished By: Rishab ChauhanPublished On: Aug 17, 2026 07:00 IST