Scholarship travel funding for Indian students — does your scholarship cover flights?
By Ritu Bhalla (Ritu Bhalla writes for Indian parents travelling with children — infants to teens — covering flight logistics, jet lag, baggage, pet travel and family-friendly destinations.) · Published · Last updated · 9 min read
Some scholarships pay your airfare; many do not. Here is how to tell whether your funding covers flights, and where to find separate travel grants if it doesn't.
Quick answer
It depends entirely on the scholarship. Fully-funded government and prestige scholarships (Chevening, Fulbright-Nehru, DAAD, many Commonwealth and Erasmus Mundus awards) often include a return airfare or travel grant. University merit scholarships and most partial awards usually cover only tuition or fees, not flights. Always read the official award letter or scheme guidelines — the word to look for is 'travel', 'airfare' or 'settling-in/relocation' allowance.
Scholarships that typically include travel
Several flagship, fully-funded schemes for Indian students explicitly cover international travel, usually as a return economy airfare or a fixed travel grant:
- Chevening (UK) — includes return airfare to the UK plus living costs and tuition.
- Fulbright-Nehru (USA) — typically includes round-trip international travel for the fellow.
- DAAD (Germany) — many DAAD scholarships include a travel allowance and monthly stipend.
- Commonwealth Scholarships — generally cover return airfare for the scholar.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — include a travel and installation allowance scaled by distance, which is generous for Indian students.
- Many government-to-government and Inlaks-type awards — vary, but several include travel.
Even where travel is covered, it is almost always one return economy ticket for the scholar only — not family, not business class, and not multiple trips home.
Scholarships that usually do not cover travel
- University merit scholarships — these are typically tuition fee waivers or discounts and rarely include flights.
- Partial / tuition-only awards — cover a slice of fees; living and travel are on you.
- Departmental and assistantship funding — a stipend or fee waiver for teaching/research, but generally no airfare.
- Loan-linked or need-based institutional aid — usually applied to tuition, not relocation.
If your award is described as a 'tuition scholarship', 'fee waiver' or 'merit discount', assume flights are not included unless the letter says otherwise.
Separate travel grants and bursaries
If your main scholarship excludes flights, look for separate funding pots:
- University hardship or travel funds — many universities have small bursaries for international students' relocation; ask the international office.
- Department or faculty travel grants — especially for PhD students attending conferences or fieldwork.
- External charitable trusts and foundations — several India-focused education trusts offer top-up or travel grants.
- Education-loan travel components — most Indian education loans can include airfare and initial expenses within the sanctioned amount (see below).
How education loans cover the flight gap
For the majority of Indian students whose scholarships do not pay for flights, the education loan is the practical answer. Most Indian education loans cover not just tuition but also a defined list of incidental costs — and airfare to the destination is usually an eligible expense within the sanctioned amount, alongside living costs, laptop and insurance.
The key is timing: loan disbursement is often tied to admission confirmation and visa, and the money may go directly to the institution, so plan to fund the ticket either from the loan's incidental component or from your own funds, claiming it back where the lender allows. Confirm exactly what your loan covers with your bank before booking.
How to check if your scholarship covers travel
- Read the official scheme page, not a third-party blog. Look for 'travel', 'airfare', 'travel grant', 'relocation' or 'installation allowance'.
- Read your individual award/offer letter. The general scheme may include travel, but your specific award tier may not — the letter is decisive.
- Email the scholarship administrator and ask directly: 'Does my award include a return international airfare or travel grant, and if so, how is it paid?'
- Ask how it is paid. Reimbursement-after-arrival is common — meaning you pay upfront and claim it back, so you still need the cash for the ticket initially.
- Clarify class and route restrictions. Most cover economy only and may require booking through a specific agent.
Booking the flight once you know your funding
Once you know whether travel is covered, plan the ticket early. Student-relevant fares and baggage allowances vary widely by airline, and the start-of-term period (August–September for most Western universities, January for spring intakes) is high-demand, so book ahead. Compare routes and one-stop options in the FlightGPT search, check which carriers offer student baggage allowances, and keep all receipts if your scholarship reimburses travel. If a loan is funding the flight, align the booking date with your disbursement timeline.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Chevening scholarship cover flights from India?
Yes. Chevening is a fully-funded UK scholarship that includes a return economy airfare to the UK, along with tuition and a living stipend. As with most such schemes, it covers one return ticket for the scholar only — not family members or premium cabins. Always confirm current terms on the official Chevening site.
Do university merit scholarships include airfare?
Usually not. University merit scholarships are typically tuition fee waivers or discounts and rarely cover flights or living costs. If your award letter describes a 'fee waiver', 'tuition scholarship' or 'merit discount', assume travel is excluded unless the letter explicitly states a travel grant.
Can I use my education loan to pay for my flight?
Generally yes. Most Indian education loans cover incidental costs including airfare within the sanctioned amount, alongside tuition, living expenses, laptop and insurance. Confirm with your lender exactly what is eligible and how it is disbursed, since the loan may pay the institution directly rather than reimburse you.
What is a travel grant in a scholarship?
A travel grant is a fixed sum or a return airfare provided specifically to cover your international travel to and from the study destination. Schemes like Erasmus Mundus give a distance-based travel and installation allowance, while others book or reimburse one economy return ticket for the scholar.
How do I find out if my scholarship pays for flights?
Read the official scheme page and your individual award letter, looking for words like 'travel', 'airfare' or 'relocation allowance'. If unclear, email the scholarship administrator directly and ask whether a return airfare is included and how it is paid — reimbursement-after-arrival is common.
If my scholarship reimburses travel, do I still pay upfront?
Often yes. Many scholarships reimburse the airfare after you arrive and submit receipts, meaning you must buy the ticket with your own funds or loan first and claim it back later. Always ask whether payment is upfront or reimbursement-based so you can plan your cash flow.
Are there separate travel grants if my scholarship excludes flights?
Yes. Look into university hardship or relocation bursaries, departmental travel grants (especially for PhD students), and external education trusts that offer top-up funding for Indian students. Your university's international office is the best first stop to ask what travel support exists.
Does a DAAD scholarship cover travel to Germany?
Many DAAD scholarships include a travel allowance plus a monthly stipend and tuition coverage, but terms vary by programme. Check the specific DAAD scheme you are applying to and your individual award confirmation, as not every DAAD award includes the same travel component.