Private Organization Funded Scholarships for MS Students

Graduates from universities such as Stanford, Oxford, and Harvard, among others, are sought after by employers due to the superior quality of education imparted there. Sadly, the fees incurred by students to be a part of this educational experience can be hefty. However, all hope is not lost for driven students. There are several private organizations that aim to alleviate the monetary constraints that impede the pursuit of quality education by funding talent. 

They provide financial aid to meritorious students who wish to pursue their Master’s at a university abroad that can help them secure their dream job at a prestigious company. Below are some of the private organization funded scholarships for M.S. students.

 Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

The foundation offers a limited number of scholarships every year for postgraduate studies to outstanding candidates–only to students who have no means of financing their education–from developing countries. Scholarships are awarded as a combination of a loan and a grant; 50 percent each. Thus, the granted scholarship will cover the fees of the desired programme in its entirety. The competitive application process for the blended scholarship provided by the private organisation is held once a year.

• Scholarship Value/Inclusions/Duration

Costs covered by the scholarship includes only the tuition fees and living expenses. The portion of the scholarship that is offered as a loan must be eventually repaid with a service charge of 5 percent. A guarantor is required to co-sign the loan agreement. The payback period is five years, beginning six months after the study period.

• Level of study

The foundation gives priority to requests for Master’s level courses. However, applications for Ph.D. programmes are considered occasionally. Applications for short-term courses are not accepted.

• Host Institutions

All universities, except those located in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, Norway, and Ireland.

• Field of Study

Not specified.

• Target Group

Students who are citizens of the following developing countries are eligible for the scholarship: India, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, Mozambique, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. 

Applications from students belonging to one of the above-mentioned countries are accepted in colleges and universities in Canada, France, Portugal, the UK, and the US. The applicants must be interested in development-related programmes. 

• Eligibility Criteria
• Age Limit: Preference is given to students under 30 years of age.
• Residency Requirement: The foundation only accepts applications of eligible nationals who are residing in one of the countries where local offices of Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Aga Khan Education Services (AKES), or Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB)–which process applications and interview candidates–are located. 

Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust Scholarship

The Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust offers scholarships to Indian women who have acquired undergraduate degrees from recognized Indian universities to pursue their higher education in universities abroad.

1. Level of Study

Postgraduate

• Fields of Study

The Trust invites applications for the following fields of study:

• Education and Welfare of Children with Special Needs
• Status – Health and Empowerment of Women
• Gender Studies
• Social work
• Social Science
• Education
• Rural Development Work (with a focus on women and children)
• Communication for Development (with a focus on women’s issues)
• Development Studies
• Child Health, Development and Nutrition
• Health Policy and Health Education
• Public Health – Community Health Services, Reproductive Health

• Value of Award

The value of the scholarship varies depending upon the individual’s financial status.

• Eligibility Criteria:

The applicant must:

• Be an Indian woman who has an undergraduate degree from a recognized Indian university.
• Have applied for admission/secured admission to reputed and accredited universities or institutions in the United States, UK, or Europe.
• Have a meritorious academic record.
• Work experience in the requisite fields will be considered as an added qualification.

• Deadline for Applying

None

Inlaks Scholarship

The Inlaks-Shivdasani Foundation has been awarding scholarships to young deserving Indians since 1976. Inlaks has been funding talented individuals across fields to broaden their vision through global exposure and acquire skills to work for the betterment of society.

• Scholarship Value

Scholarships are granted to students securing admissions in top institutions in Europe, the US, and the UK. The funding includes tuition fees and living allowance. Under this scholarship, the maximum value of the fund that is awarded to students is US$100.000. If the total funding required exceeds US$100,000, candidates must show evidence that they have the ability to cover additional funding required for their courses at the time of their interviews in May/June. 

In case the total funding required exceeds the limit of US$100,000, the applicant must provide proof for the requirement of extra funding. Applications displaying incomplete/incorrect tuition fees will be auto-deleted. 

The foundation has joint scholarship schemes with the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, Imperial College, London, Royal College of Art (RCA), and the Cambridge Trust.

• Terms of the Scholarship

• Scholarships are awarded in May/June (generally for commencement in September and October). Any scholarship not commenced within 9 months will be forfeited.
• The grant will not be provided to candidates whose intended course of study or project requires conducting field trips in India during its tenure.
• Tuition fees, adequate living expenses, and one-way travel are covered by the scholarship. 
• Acceptance of other scholarships, teaching assistantships, and part-time jobs are permitted following approval from the foundation.

• Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must be below 30 years of age as of the first of July in the year of application.
• It is essential to have prior admission to the institution and the chosen course. The foundation will not entertain candidates pending admission or without one.
• The institutions concerned must be top-ranked only.
• Scholarships are open to all Indian citizens who are residing in India at the time of application.
• The award of other grants, teaching assistantships, and support from other sources for the proposed program will be regarded by the foundation as a positive factor.
• People having a postgraduate degree (e.g. Master’s or Ph.D.) from a university outside India are not eligible; those who began a postgraduate degree outside India but did not complete the course are also ineligible.
• Candidates who are already studying or have started their program abroad are not eligible.
• Indian citizens who hold an undergraduate degree from a recognized university outside India must have resided continuously and been employed or been studying in India, for at least two years after their under-graduation.

• Application Process

The application must include:

• Evidence of admission to a university or a course, and full details of the institute’s financial requirements.
• Candidates in architecture, fine and applied arts, and related subjects must submit a maximum of 10 samples of their work.
• Evidence of any outstanding achievements in extra-curricular activities in any field.
• Photocopy of the first and last pages of your passport.
• Submit three recommendation letters together with your application. It is preferable that two of your referees should be academicians who have taught you in your undergraduate studies.
• In case you have applied for another course – for which you are not applying for funding – at the same or another institution and have an offer of funding from elsewhere, you must inform Inlaks of the same even if it is not your intention to avail that offer.

Your application should be submitted with these enclosures in the mentioned order:

• 2 sets of application forms
• Writing samples (if any)
• CV/ Resume
• Language test results (if any)
• Recommendation letters (3)
• Offer letter
• Fee Statement
• Photocopy of the first and last page of your passport
• Additional Certificates
• Portfolios if not too bulky / DVD (architecture/fine arts/ film/ media).

• Selection Procedure

The selection process is undertaken by an independent Inlaks selection committee. Applications received are evaluated, and the most deserving candidates are called for an interview – which is held in Delhi or Mumbai – by the committee. Shortlisted candidates must arrange for their own travel and accommodation.

Now that you have an idea of the private organization funded scholarships for M.S. students, you can start checking your eligibility for each scholarship, and start applying for the same.

Good luck!