Scholarship travel funding for Indian students — does your scholarship cover flights?
By Priya Nair (Priya Nair is an education-abroad counsellor and travel writer who has helped over 2,000 Indian students navigate the journey from acceptance letter to first day on campus. She holds a Masters from the University of Edinburgh and writes about visas, flights and settlement logistics for Indian students heading overseas.) · Published · 9 min read
Some scholarships cover flights, some do not. Here is how Indian students can figure out what their scholarship pays for and how to fund the rest.
Quick answer
Some scholarships include a travel component that covers round-trip airfare — notably the Chevening Scholarship (UK), DAAD Scholarship (Germany), Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship (US) and Australia Awards. Most university-specific scholarships and merit-based tuition waivers do not cover travel. If your scholarship does not include flights, you fund them through education loans, family support or separate travel grants. Always read the scholarship terms carefully — the travel component is often listed separately from tuition and living stipend.
Scholarships that typically include travel
Chevening Scholarship (UK): Fully funded, including return economy airfare from India to the UK. The scholarship covers flights, tuition, living stipend and additional allowances. One of the most comprehensive scholarships for Indian postgraduates.
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship (US): Covers round-trip airfare, living stipend, tuition (at some institutions), health insurance and incidentals. The travel component is handled by the Fulbright Commission — they book the flights directly in many cases.
DAAD Scholarship (Germany): Many DAAD programmes include a travel allowance (approximately EUR 1,000-1,500 for a round trip from India, depending on the programme). Some programmes book the flights; others provide a lump-sum travel grant that you use to book your own flights.
Australia Awards (formerly AusAID): Cover return airfare from India to Australia, tuition, living stipend, OSHC health insurance and establishment allowance. Travel is typically booked through the programme's travel office.
Erasmus Mundus (Europe): Include a travel component and monthly living allowance for non-EU students. The travel amount varies by programme but is designed to cover a round trip from India to the study destination in Europe.
Scholarships that usually do not cover travel
Most university-specific scholarships — merit scholarships, tuition waivers, graduate assistantships and departmental fellowships — cover tuition and sometimes a living stipend but not travel. This is the majority of scholarship situations Indian students find themselves in.
Examples: a 50% tuition scholarship from a Canadian university does not cover your Delhi-to-Toronto flight. A graduate assistantship at a US university covers tuition and provides a monthly stipend but does not fund your airfare. A merit scholarship at a UK university reduces tuition but does not include travel.
In these cases, travel is funded separately — through education loans (which typically include a travel allowance component), family funds, or separate travel grants.
Separate travel grants and bursaries
Some organisations offer travel grants specifically for students who need help funding their journey:
Your university's international office: Many universities have small travel bursaries or emergency funds for international students who cannot afford their airfare. Ask your university's financial aid or international students' office about available support.
Government schemes: The Indian government's National Overseas Scholarship (for SC/ST students) and various state-government scholarship schemes include travel components. Check the UGC and your state government's higher education department website.
Community foundations: Some religious and community organisations (Tata Trusts, Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation, KC Mahindra Education Trust) offer interest-free loans or grants that can cover travel costs for students heading abroad on merit-based programmes.
Apply to these early — most have deadlines months before your departure date. Do not wait until the last minute to seek travel funding.
How to check if your scholarship covers travel
Read the scholarship's offer letter and terms of reference (ToR) carefully. Look for specific mentions of:
'Travel allowance' or 'airfare' — this means flights are covered. The amount may be specified (e.g., 'up to GBP 1,200 for return airfare') or described as 'economy class return airfare'.
'Living stipend' or 'maintenance grant' — this usually does NOT include travel unless specifically stated. A monthly stipend of GBP 1,000 covers your living expenses in the host country, not your flight from India.
'Establishment allowance' — some scholarships include a one-time lump sum for settling-in costs, which may or may not include airfare. Check the specific terms.
If in doubt, email the scholarship provider directly and ask: 'Does this scholarship include funding for travel (airfare) from India to [destination]?' Get a clear answer before planning your budget.
Once you know your travel funding situation, search for the best fares on FlightGPT. Compare routes like Delhi to London or Delhi to Toronto to find affordable options.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Chevening Scholarship cover flights for Indian students?
Yes. Chevening covers return economy airfare from India to the UK as part of the fully funded package.
Do most university scholarships cover travel?
No. Most university-specific scholarships (merit scholarships, tuition waivers, assistantships) cover tuition and possibly a stipend but not airfare. Travel is usually funded separately.
Where can I find travel grants for study abroad from India?
Check your university's international office for bursaries, Indian government schemes (National Overseas Scholarship, state scholarships), and community foundations (Tata Trusts, Narotam Sekhsaria, KC Mahindra).