Quick answer: the strongest scholarship routes for Indian students in Europe are Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, country-funded schemes such as DAAD or Campus France-linked awards, university merit or need-based funding, and research positions. There is no single scholarship form for Europe. Match the award to your degree level, nationality, subject and destination, then verify it on the funder’s official call.
In this guide
Start with the scholarship type, not a viral list
| Route | Best fit | Where to apply | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters | Students open to studying at multiple European universities | The individual consortium | Admission and scholarship competition are programme-specific |
| DAAD | Germany-focused graduate study and research | DAAD scholarship database and named call | Benefits and eligibility vary by programme |
| France-linked awards | Applicants to eligible French programmes | Campus France India, embassy and institution | Some awards require institutional nomination |
| University scholarship | Applicants with a confirmed target programme | University funding page or admission portal | May reduce tuition without covering living costs |
| Research funding | Doctoral candidates and researchers | Funded vacancy, doctoral school, EURAXESS | Often a job or project application, not a general scholarship |
Erasmus Mundus for Indian students
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are international master’s programmes delivered by a consortium of universities. The European Education Area states that Erasmus Mundus scholarships can contribute to participation costs and cover travel, visa and living allowance. Funding is competitive; being admitted does not mean every student receives a scholarship.
Use the official catalogue to find the current programme, then open the consortium’s own website for the intake, eligibility, documents, mobility path and deadline. Do not apply through someone claiming to be a central Erasmus agent. In 2025, the EU Delegation reported that 101 Indian students received Erasmus+ scholarships for joint master’s programmes across 19 European countries—evidence that the route is real, but not a probability guarantee for the next call.
Germany: search DAAD by the exact programme
DAAD is a funding organization, not one universal scholarship. Filter its official database by country of origin, degree level, subject and purpose. Read the named call for academic requirements, professional-experience rules, language evidence, benefits and deadline.
Keep the scholarship application separate from admission and the German visa process. Indian qualifications may require APS, and the visa still requires the official financial evidence applicable to your case if the scholarship certificate does not meet the full requirement.
France: combine Campus France, embassy and university sources
Campus France India publishes scholarships and explains the application pathway for Indian students. Some French government or institution awards are attached to a level, subject or nomination process. Confirm whether you apply directly, through Études en France or after receiving an offer.
“France scholarship” is too broad to be a useful search result on its own. Record the award name, funder, covered cost, duration, renewal rule and whether a separate university application is required.
University scholarships across Europe
After creating a programme shortlist, inspect each university’s official funding page. Search for international tuition waivers, excellence scholarships, faculty awards and hardship funds. A 25% tuition reduction can be valuable, but it is not a full scholarship; label every award by what it actually removes from your budget.
For each option, capture:
- Indian nationality eligibility and country of residence rule.
- Degree level, subject and intake.
- Automatic consideration or separate application.
- Tuition coverage, monthly stipend, travel, insurance and visa support.
- Payment date and whether you must pre-finance a deposit.
- Renewal conditions such as credits or grade average.
Avoid scholarship fraud
- Do not pay a personal account for a “guaranteed” government scholarship.
- Verify the domain and navigate to the call from the funder or university homepage.
- Do not confuse admission, a tuition discount and a funded scholarship.
- Check the academic year: an old PDF can rank in Google after its deadline has passed.
- Read whether the stipend arrives before or after enrolment.
Build a scholarship calendar
12–10 months before intake
Define subject and countries, prepare passport, transcripts, CV and references, and identify any test or APS timeline.
10–7 months before
Complete early Erasmus Mundus, government and university applications. Ask referees before the holiday period and tailor the statement to the named programme.
After offers
Compare net cost, not award prestige. Subtract confirmed funding from tuition and living costs, then map when each payment and stipend happens.
How to choose between two awards
Compare the entire degree: covered tuition, stipend in the actual city, programme duration, mandatory mobility, insurance, travel, family constraints and career fit. A larger nominal scholarship in an expensive city can leave a bigger funding gap than a smaller award in an affordable location.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erasmus Mundus fully funded for Indian students?
Some awarded scholarships provide broad support for participation, travel, visa and living costs under the programme rules. Scholarships are limited and competitive, and coverage must be checked in the specific consortium call.
Can I apply for scholarships before university admission?
It depends. Erasmus Mundus commonly combines the programme and scholarship application, while some university or government schemes require an offer or nomination. Follow the named call.
Does DAAD fund every course in Germany?
No. DAAD manages many programmes with different objectives and eligibility. Use the official database and read the exact call instead of assuming a German admission includes DAAD funding.
Should I use an education consultant?
A consultant can help organize documents, but cannot change official eligibility or guarantee an award. Submit through the official university, consortium or funder system and keep control of your account.
Continue planning
- Read the India-to-Europe application and visa guide
- Understand Erasmus Mundus applications
- Calculate the remaining funding gap
- Compare European countries and universities
Official sources
- European Education Area — scholarships and funding
- European Commission — Erasmus Mundus catalogue
- DAAD — scholarship database
- Campus France India — scholarships for Indian students
- EU Delegation to India — 2025 Erasmus Mundus awardees
Funding routes checked 17 September 2026. Deadlines and benefits change by call; the linked official programme is authoritative.