Top International PhD Scholarships in 2020!
(This is Part 14 of the Precisely 2020 Series -Providing Great Opportunities for All! To Check out other Opportunities List for yourself , click here!!)
Studying abroad can prove to be quite heavy on your pockets which is why most of the times, it stays as a dream and never gets a chance to become your reality.
But for those who refuse to give up on their dreams because of the inability to afford, there are numerous financial aids available around the world, as scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans.
To help you get an idea of the way the scholarship program works, here is a list of the top international doctoral scholarships from all over the world to not let you miss what your future has waiting for you.
International PhD Scholarships For Indian Students
In America:
1. American Association of University Women International Fellowship (USA)
The American Association of University Women offers international fellowships for non-US women applicants enrolled in full-time postgraduate, doctoral or postdoctoral programs in any field of study in the US.
Eligibility: Only female students who are not a resident of the United States can apply. Also, the students must have scored a minimum score of 550 for TOEFL PBT, 79 for TOEFL iBT or 60 for Revised TOEFL Paper-Delivered Test.
Duration: The AAUW International Fellowship provides a one-time award amount of $20,000 to the students, covering educational expenses, living and health costs and course-related travel expenses (as long as it does not exceed 10 percent of the fellowship).
Number of Seats: Up-to 5 students are offered the fund every year.
How to Apply: The applications for the fellowship open from August to November each year. Students need to log in here and fill all the details with the supporting documents required: CV, admission offer from the institution of study or research, TOEFL report, at least three recommendations from professors or colleagues and a proof for the highest degree obtained.
For more information, check out the official Tata Scholarship at Cornell’s website here.
2. Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship (USA)
In the honour of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the United States-India Education Foundation (USIEF) offers the Fullbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships helps meritorious Indian students to conduct doctoral research in any US university or other academic institution by providing a monthly stipend, travel and other costs along with visa support.
Eligibility: To be eligible for the fellowship, students must have performed suitable research in the desired field of study and must be registered for a PhD in the US at an Indian institution. Added to that, the students shall not be in the final PhD thesis submission stage, failing which their application shall not be considered.
Areas of Study: Preference is given to the students interested in Agricultural Sciences, Bioengineering, Computer Science, Economics, Education Policy and Planning, Energy Studies, History International Law, International Security and Strategic Studies, Materials Science, Mathematical Sciences, Neurosciences, Performing Arts, Physical Sciences, Public Health, Public Policy, Sociology, Urban and Regional Planning, Visual Arts and Women’s Studies/ Gender Studies.
Duration: The Fullbright-Nehru Fellowship provides funding for six to nine months. The funding includes a monthly stipend, travel expenses, accident and sickness coverage and J-1 visa assistance.
How to Apply: Online applications open in May and interested students need to complete and submit their forms at the Application Portal as per FNDR Applicant Instructions and FNDR Applicant Checklist. Along with the form, the FDNR Annexure Form and FDNR Endorsement Form (if applicable) must be attached.
For more information, check out the Fulbright Nehru Fellowship details at the official USIEF’s website here.
3. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Canada)
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada together provide the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships for international students to help them conduct doctoral research in Canada.
Eligibility: All applicants from Canada or non-Canadian countries are eligible for the scheme, provided they are nominated by one and only one Canadian institution under Vanier CGS quota, are pursuing their first full-time PhD (or a combined MA/PhD, MD/ PhD etc.) degree and have not completed more than 20 months of studies yet.
Areas of Study: The students who wish to conduct research in Health, Natural Sciences and/or Engineering, and Social Sciences and Humanities are considered for the scholarship selection.
Duration: The scholarship covers three years by providing Can$50,000 each year of study and research. In the case of a combined degree, only the PhD years of the study and research are covered under the scholarship.
Number of Seats: About 167 PhD scholarships are provided every year to domestic and international students. Though the number may increase according to the availability of funds.
How to Apply: There is no direct application for the Vanier CGS program. The students have to approach the desired institution of study and obtain the nomination for application, and then prepare and submit the application to the institution via the ResearchNet application system before the internal deadline. The institute then passes the select nominations to the Vanier-Banting Secretariat by November.
For more information, check out the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship website here.
In Europe:
1. Erasmus Mundus Scholarship (Europe)
Funded by the European Commission, Erasmus Mundus is a scholarship program that aids international students and staff to undertake undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees as well as training anywhere in Europe, covering up to 12 months of the doctoral program under the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorates (EMJD).
Eligibility: Students must be registered and enrolled in their PhD program at a recognised institute, and the home institution as well as the receiving institute must have an inter-institutional agreement under Erasmus+ and must hold the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education.
Duration: EMJD covers educational fees, travel and living costs, along with providing free access to library memberships, exemption of examination and other charges for up-to three to twelve months of study abroad program.
How to Apply: The interested students need to apply for Erasmus+ via their institution of the study program. The application details, selection process, documents, European university recommendations as well as other requirements are to be acquired from the International Office of the institution and application shall take place through the institution only. All students need to be passed by their home institution so as to be considered at the Erasmus+ office.
For more information, check out the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship program details at the official European Commission website here.
2. Commonwealth PhD Scholarship (UK)
Jointly managed by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission, the British Council, the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Ministry of Human Resource Development in India, the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan awards promising students from Commonwealth nations who can contribute to the betterment of their home country post their study program from any university in the UK.
Eligibility: The student must be a permanent resident of India and must have financial incapability to fund their study in the United Kingdom without any aid. The students must not already be enrolled in a doctoral degree program in India, UK or anywhere else, and should have scored a minimum of 60% in their Master’s (if in Social Sciences) and a minimum of 65% (if in Sciences).
Areas of Study: The scholarship is available to the students interested in conducting research on these themes: Science and Technology for Development, Strengthening Health Systems and Capacity, Promoting Global Prosperity, Strengthening Global Peace, Security and Governance, Strengthening Resilience and Response to Crises, and Access, Inclusion and Opportunity.
Duration: The selected candidates benefit tuition fees, travel and accommodation expenses and adequate maintenance for three to four years of study in their Doctoral program.
Number of Seats: 13 nominations are made for the PhD program.
How to Apply: To apply for the scholarship, the candidates need to apply at both MHRD Portal and CSC Online Application System before the deadline in December. The required documents to be attached are proof of citizenship, all certificates and mark sheets of higher education qualifications and directly submitted references by two referees.
For more information, check out the Commonwealth Scholarship details here.
3. Eiffel Scholarship Program of Excellence (France)
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs awards the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program to allow deserving international students to study PhD programs in France.
Eligibility: Non-French students who are not more than 35 years of age as per the campaign dates are eligible to apply for the scholarship program. They must have already been accepted at a French educational institution and have to apply for the scholarship grant via the same institution.
Areas of Study: Students undertaking research in Economics and Management, Sciences, Law Studies and Political Sciences are preferred for the scholarship program benefits.
Duration: Though the tuition fees have to be born by the students, the Eiffel Scholarship Program of Excellence provides a monthly stipend of €1,400 (i.e. ₹1,10,000) along with travel expenses to and from France, national and local transportation expenses as well as health and cultural allowances, for 12 months of the program.
How to Apply: Application process commences in October and the students must apply via the International Relations department of their university or school or via the French Embassy or Campus France office in their home country. Applications directly submitted by the students are rejected, hence the applications must be submitted only by the university, French Embassy or Campus France on the behalf of the student before the deadline of submission.
For more information, check out the Eiffel Scholarship Program of Excellence details here.
In Asia:
1. Chinese Government Scholarship (China)
The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (Zhōnghuá Gònghéguó Rénmín Gémìng Zhèngfǔ: Fujian), in a collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource Development in India, offers about 39 government PhD scholarships annually to the students interested in pursuing degree programs in educational institutions in China.
Eligibility: Candidates must be a normal resident of a country other than the People’s Republic of China, must hold a master’s degree from a recognised institution and must not be more than 50 years of age when applying for a doctoral program.
Areas of Study: Preference is given to the students interested in Philosophy, Economics, Legal Studies, Education, Literature (excluding Fine Arts), History and Management for the first Field of Study; Science, Engineering and Agriculture for the second; and Fine Arts and Medicine for the third.
Duration: The Chinese Government Scholarship students are full tuition waivers, a monthly accommodation subsidy holders of CNY 1000, a separate monthly stipend of CNY 3500 for up to three to four years of the research program.
Number of Seats: 39 slots are available for the Chinese Government PhD Scholarships in total.
How to Apply: Students need to apply via the online MHRD Portal as well as the China Scholarship Council by the deadline in May. No hard copy of the application form is required throughout the process. However, the students need to attach a self-attested scanned copy of the mark sheet, degree/diploma and the relevant certificates along with the 10th certificate (for the proof of the date of birth) with the online application.
For more information, check out the Chinese Government Scholarship details here.
2. Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship (Japan)
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology of the Government of Japan, (Mongukagakusho: MEXT) offers its own scholarship program to international research students who wish to conduct doctoral researches in Japanese Universities.
Eligibility: Students of all nationalities are eligible for the Japanese Government Scholarship Program as long as their date of birth lies on or before April 2, 1985, and have completed their master’s degree in the relevant field of research with a minimum score of 65%. In addition, the students must be willing to learn the Japanese language and must not have any physical or mental condition that might be an obstacle during the accommodation in Japan.
Areas of Study: The MEXT Scholarships are available only for the students who wish to conduct their research in Japan related Humanities, Japan-related Social Science, Mathematical Science, Physics, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Biology and Biotechnology, Agriculture and Fishery, Environmental Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Geology and Geoinformatics, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Material Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Information Technology and Sports Science.
Duration: The MEXT Scholarship lasts for three years counting from April including a year of preparatory education in the Japanese language and other subjects that shall be provided upon or before the commencement of the course. It covers the tuition and other fees to the extent of ¥1,45,000/month along with the travel costs to and from Japan and provides a monthly stipend of ¥2000–3000 for the students studying or researching in specially designated regions.
How to Apply: The deadline for the application process is in May every year. All interested candidates need to apply according to and with the references of the local Japanese embassies and with all the required documents the Japanese embassy may ask for.
For more information, check out the official Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship details here.
In Australia:
1. Australian Government Scholarship
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia funds long term development awards as Australian Government PhD Scholarships for the prestigious students who will contribute towards the long term development needs for the partner nations of Australia.
Eligibility: Only the students nominated by the ten targeted institutions of India are eligible for the scholarship award (refer to the list of institutions here). Further, these students must hold a relevant academic background with proficiency in the English language and a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. All applicants must be willing to engage in relevant Australian activities and return to their home country after completing their studies in Australia.
Duration: The scholarship funds include the tuition fees, round ticket to and from Australia, Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), Introductory Academic Program (IAP) and Pre-Course English (PCE) fees and are offered for the minimum duration essential for the student to complete the program at the Australian institute, including any preparatory training required.
How to Apply: Applicants can apply online via the Online Australia PhD Scholarships Information System (OASIS) with all the required details and supporting documents. They may refer to the Applicant’s Online User Manual for the OASIS User Guide.
For more information, check out the Australian Government Scholarship program details here.
We hope the aforementioned list of the most popular international PhD scholarships and details prove to be the fish food for you and help you catch your fish sooner. Do not stop applying and trying, you do not know when your lucky wand spins.
Check out the Top International Scholarships to look out for in 2020!!
(Article contributed by Shifali Gulati, Graphics by Anulipi Debnath for Precisely)
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