Scholarships for Indian Students Pursuing Studies Abroad In recent years, Indian students have increasingly sought to expand their educational horizons by pursuing higher education abroad. Recognizing the financial challenges that often accompany such aspirations, the Indian government has developed several scholarship schemes aimed at providing financial aid to deserving students. These scholarships support not only those from disadvantaged backgrounds but also high-achieving individuals, thereby enabling a broader range of Indian students to experience international education. National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) The National Overseas Scholarship is one of the most comprehensive schemes offered by the Indian government. It is specifically targeted at students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), helping them to pursue postgraduate and doctoral studies abroad. This scholarship covers a wide range of fields, including Engineering, Management, Pure Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Social Sciences.   Eligibility for this scholarship is stringent. Applicants must meet specific academic and financial criteria. Successful candidates will receive funding for tuition fees, living expenses, and airfare. Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarships While the ICCR Scholarships primarily focus on fostering cultural exchange by bringing international students to India, they also provide opportunities for Indian students through bilateral agreements with other countries. The aim of these scholarships is to promote educational and cultural exchange, providing financial aid for students interested in studying abroad in a variety of fields.   ICCR Scholarships offer comprehensive coverage, including full or partial tuition, travel expenses, and living expenses. These scholarships are available for graduate and postgraduate students, with opportunities in diverse fields of study.  Scholarship Programs for Diaspora Children (SPDC) The Scholarship Programs for Diaspora Children are designed to help children of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who wish to pursue undergraduate courses, either in India or in select countries abroad. The primary aim is to connect the Indian diaspora with educational opportunities, particularly in fields such as Engineering, Medicine, and the Arts. SPDC Scholarships are vital in providing financial assistance to students of Indian origin residing abroad. These scholarships generally cover tuition fees and living expenses for undergraduate courses. Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies for OBCs and EBCs Another significant financial aid program is the Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy, which provides financial relief for students from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Economically Backward Classes (EBCs). This scheme focuses on offering an interest subsidy on educational loans taken by students to pursue higher education abroad. Eligible candidates can benefit from full interest subsidy on loans during the moratorium period, which makes overseas education more accessible. This subsidy applies to master’s, Ph.D., and M.Phil. programs, with priority given to students pursuing technical or professional courses. Padho Pardesh – Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies Similar to the Dr. Ambedkar Scheme, the Padho Pardesh initiative is designed to provide interest subsidies on educational loans for students from minority communities. This program helps students from economically weaker sections of minority communities pursue master’s and Ph.D. programs abroad, particularly in technical, management, and professional fields. To be eligible, students must come from a minority community and meet income criteria. The subsidy covers the interest on the loan during the study period, thereby easing the financial burden of education abroad. Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship The Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship is a prestigious scholarship awarded annually to a single Indian student. It provides an opportunity to pursue postdoctoral research at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, with a focus on History, Economics, and Political Science. This fellowship covers living expenses, airfare, and other incidental costs. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic achievements, particularly in their field of study, and show strong research skills. Ministry of Tribal Affairs Scholarships The Ministry of Tribal Affairs offers specialized scholarships aimed at students from Scheduled Tribes (ST) who wish to pursue higher education abroad. These scholarships are available for a wide range of disciplines, from Engineering and Medicine to Social Sciences and Arts, at both the master’s and doctoral levels.   Eligible students must meet specific academic and financial criteria and belong to the ST category. These scholarships provide financial aid covering tuition fees, living expenses, and airfare. K.C. Mahindra Education Trust – Mahindra Scholarships for Postgraduate Studies Abroad The K.C. Mahindra Education Trust offers the Mahindra Scholarships to support Indian students seeking postgraduate education abroad. These scholarships are geared towards students with excellent academic records who have gained admission to a recognized international institution. Mahindra Scholarships provide partial funding and interest-free loans for students pursuing various disciplines, from Humanities to Science and Technology.  Additional Resources for Indian Students Indian students seeking more information about these scholarships and others can explore the following resources: – Ministry of Education’s Website : Updated information on scholarships and fellowships for studying abroad. – Indian Embassies and Consulates: These institutions often announce international scholarship opportunities and can guide students through the application process. – National Scholarship Portal (NSP): A comprehensive platform where students can access various scholarships, including those for overseas studies. The Path to Global Opportunities The Indian government is committed to promoting global education and encouraging Indian students to pursue studies at some of the world’s best universities. Through a range of scholarships and financial aid programs, the government ensures that even students from economically weaker sections or marginalized backgrounds can realize their dream of studying abroad.  These initiatives not only support individual aspirations but also help to build a globally competitive workforce that contributes to India’s development on the international stage. Scholarships such as the National Overseas Scholarship, Padho Pardesh, and Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy are just a few examples of how the government is making global education accessible to all. By taking advantage of these opportunities, Indian students can immerse themselves in different cultures, gain international experience, and return home equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully to India’s growth and progress.

Why Study in Ireland? A Comprehensive Guide For Academic Degrees, Qualifications, And Scholarship Opportunities Not making a roadmap for your studies beforehand can cost you a lot in the future. When you know what you want to pursue and have a plan in your hand with execution in mind, then you are already one step closer to your success. Every student wants a quality education; they dream about their university, the campus, the environment, and the courses that excite them.  You can’t deny the fact that the quality of education in Ireland is way more worthy and creditable. No wonder why students show a keen interest in moving to Ireland as this place is packed with exceptional universities, scholarship opportunities, brilliant academic degrees, and many more things to explore with no end. What are the perks and other related benefits you can avail yourself of while studying in Ireland, and what makes it a preferred choice among students now? You will get to know the answers to all these questions in this blog. Let’s learn what Ireland can offer you. Why Study in Ireland? The very first and foremost question arises: why only Ireland? What is there in Ireland that other countries lack? Well, there is a full-fledged list on this, which you can refer to below: Affordable Education When we think of studying abroad, the first thing that stresses everyone out is the cost. We check whether we can afford the cost of accommodation and studying abroad. When it comes to a country like Ireland, you don’t need to worry about it.  The top-ranked universities of Ireland offer reasonable tuition fees and a range of scholarships, too. Apart from this, you can also explore part-time work to cover your expenditure. However, your fees vary depending on the course and university you choose to study at. Academic Performance In the case of academic excellence, the universities of Ireland are listed among the top 100 universities in the world. They are known to serve students in every field, from the humanities to science to business, at its best.  Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, and University College Dublin bear an excellent rank in the world. Here, you get to collaborate with internationally acclaimed faculty and research facilities to expand your horizons and excel academically and intellectually. Diverse Range of Courses Irish universities are limited to certain courses. They are continuously flourishing themselves with wider choices in the courses they offer to every student. From the very basic to the advanced subject matter, Irish universities know no boundaries.  Arts, business, engineering, commerce, medicine, sciences, digital marketing, and artificial intelligence are also part of the list of courses that you can easily ask for at any university in Ireland. Together, these significant courses with extraordinary teaching staff create a path of success for you. Post-Study Work Visa One more privilege which can be added to this list is a post-study work visa. This specific visa you avail after the completion of your studies. One year stay-back visa for bachelor students and two years stay-back visa for masters students. This is how the Irish government offers you a chance to apply for permanent residency in Ireland. Most of the students chose to stay and work in Ireland because of the vibrant and diverse community of people and culture there.  Mesmerizing Landscape Ireland is known for its breathtaking beauty and mesmerizing landscapes. The quality of life in Ireland ranks in the top 20 countries in the world. Ireland is packed with iconic scenery and greenery all around. Studying at such a place lightens up your mind and mood.  You can feel the peace in the air and environment of Ireland itself. If you are someone who never leaves a chance to explore the distinctive and surreal sides of nature, then Ireland awaits you. The mountains, the oceans, and the green landscape of Ireland have beauty that you won’t ever witness in other countries of the world. What Are The Featuring Academic Degrees At Irish Universities? Irish universities offer you a plethora of academic degrees in every field that interests you. These degrees are as follows: Artificial Intelligence Business Analytics Digital Marketing Computer Science Education Engineering Management Mathematics Agriculture Art  Bachelor’s of Arts Chemistry  Finance Bachelor of Engineering Development Practice Digital Media Economics Healthcare Master Degrees Medicine Social Sciences Environmental Science and Technology  Accounting Data Science Cyber Security Pharmaceuticals Cloud Computing These are the popular courses in which you can bear a bachelors or masters degree. You can explore many more other courses in different universities and areas of study. Qualifications And Scholarship Opportunities To get into top-notch universities in Ireland, there are some qualifications or verified documents you need to submit. The list of these documents is attached below: Portfolio (If you are applying for an architecture program or any art and design course) Statement of Purpose (SOP) Letter of Recommendation (If you have some work experience, you can showcase your skills through LOR) Academic Resume IELTS or Internet-based TOEFL Marksheet of X and XII standard Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education Proof of Funds Health Insurance Passport  Additional Certificates or Achievements Study Visa What Are The Scholarship Opportunities? You can minimize the cost of studying abroad by passing the scholarship tests or opportunities offered to international students.  These scholarships are majorly divided into three types: University Scholarships Government of Ireland Scholarships Scholarships offered by other organizations Given below is the set of some of the most popular scholarships in Ireland for international students to pursue their education in their dream university of Ireland: Ireland Government Scholarships Fulbright Scholarships Walsh Fellowship Centenary Scholarship Program Central Bank of Ireland Undergarments Scholarships for International Students NUI Galway International Students Scholarship To grab a seat in these scholarships, you are strongly advised to maintain good academic scores, relevant letters of recommendation, written proposals (if needed), and English proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. Scholarships make your academic journey more smooth and convenient, and you don’t have to

Why Do QS Rankings Matter? – The Importance of University Rankings in Abroad Admissions Are you a student looking for a university to study abroad in? Are you wondering which university to pick? Too many options to choose from and don’t know how to make the best choice?  Every student is faced with a dilemma of how to choose a good university, which specialty to choose in their preferred subject/field, how easy it is to find a job after graduation, how to choose between the UK or Australia as their study destination, or how do universities support international students?  What are QS World Rankings? Quacquarelli Symonds rankings, also known as QS rankings will make these decisions easier for you. They are one of the most prestigious international rankings that assess the popularity and performance of institutions worldwide. They have published a list of top universities every year since 2004 and are considered to be the most popular amongst the top three ranking systems: QS Rankings, Shanghai Rankings, and The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.  The QS system is split into mainly three parts: a global overall ranking, subject rankings that identify the best universities in the world for 51 different subjects and five composite faculty areas, and five independent regional tables, namely Asia, Latin America, Emerging Europe and Central Asia, the Arab Region, and BRICS Factors Considered In QS World Rankings:  QS University Rankings are a set of criteria that organizations use to measure how universities perform. In 2024, these factors include:     Performance Criteria 2024 Edition Weightage  Academic Reputation 30%  Citations Per Faculty 20% Employer Reputation 15% Faculty/Student Ratio 10% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5% International Research Network 5% Employment Outcomes 5% Sustainability 5% Academic Reputation:  Academic reputation is related to academic excellence and the scholarly esteem in which the world’s universities are held. It collates more than 150,000 responses from academics in more than 140 countries and locations. Combined with the Employer Reputation Index it is one of the most key factors which sets this ranking most clearly apart from any other. It seeks to answer the powerful question: Which universities are showcasing academic excellence?  Citations Per Faculty:  Research output is as important as teaching quality to establish university credentials. University research quality is measured using the Citations per Faculty metric, taking into account the size of the institution. It includes taking the total number of citations received by all research papers published by a university across five years by the number of faculty members at that institution. Citations are a well-accepted and widely popular measure of research strength. QS attempts to measure the density of research-active staff at each institution.  Employer Reputation:  Employer Reputation is a unique factor amongst current international evaluations in taking into consideration the important component of employability. It is a famously problematic factor to measure. The reputation of the university amongst employers is of critical importance since the majority of undergrad students leave the university in search of employment after their first degree. Employment reputation looks at how effective a university is at preparing the student for the employment market. It asks employees a critical question: Which institutions do they source their most effective, skilled, and innovative graduates from?  Faculty/Student Ratio:  For any student, the standard of teaching quality is one of the most important criteria when picking a university. The factor/student ratio is a measure of staff resources provided to students, which includes the teaching capacity, size of the class, curriculum development, lab and seminar delivery, pastoral care, teaching capacity, and class size. It is difficult to quantify and measure teaching quality. Hence, QS Rankings provide an alternative to measuring teaching quality by outlining the Faculty/Student Ratio.  International Faculty Ratio:  If a university is attracting a substantial population of international faculty then this benefits students in terms of the research and teaching diversity and collaboration. Also, if a university is attracting a sizable number of overseas staff it follows that it is lucrative and credible enough to do so. It evaluates the ratio of international faculty staff to overall staff. It shows whether a university is putting effort into global collaboration and diversity, but also because it indicates global appeal for researchers around the world.  International Student Ratio:  If a university is attracting a sizable population of international students this has benefits in terms of networking, cultural exchanges, a more diverse learning experience, and alumni diversity.    International Research Network:  The International Research Network is a reflection of global engagement, specifically on how universities create, maintain, and repeat research partnerships resulting in internationally co-authored publications with other universities across borders to collaborate on solving the world’s challenges and disseminate important research to wider audiences.  Employment Outcomes:  A successful career is the primary goal of any student planning to pursue an education in any international university. Employment outcomes are a reflection of any university’s ability to ensure a high level of employability for its students. QS Graduate Employability Rankings combine the following factors: Graduate Employment Index  Alumni Impact   The Alumni Impact Index is balanced against student numbers to ensure that larger and smaller institutions are equitably evaluated. Sustainability:  Sustainability is a new metric for calculating QS rankings, introduced in 2024, to help emphasize the importance of this topic to students, institutions, national policymakers, and the wider sector. It is a reflection of a university’s ability to showcase a sustainable existence. The rankings are based on all the data collected through surveys and external sources such as the World Bank and the UN to provide a resource for students, academics, and policymakers to assess universities’ sustainability performance and identify best practices for achieving sustainability goals. Why Do QS Rankings Matter To Students?  Rankings are a great place to start when you’re doing your initial research on where to study. They can help you figure out which universities offer a good student experience, and which universities have better employment outcomes. Mentioned below are reasons as to How and