Scholarships to Study Abroad After 10th : 2027 Guide

Scholarships to Study Abroad After 10th: 2027 Guide

Yes, there are scholarships to study abroad after 10th, but far fewer than most families expect, and almost none are run by the Government of India. The real options fall into two groups. A small set of programmes fund Indian students to finish school overseas, through exchanges or a two-year diploma. A much larger set of undergraduate scholarships open after Class 12, and the work for them starts the day Class 10 ends.

This guide covers both routes, who qualifies, what each award pays for and when to apply. If you'd like a second opinion on which route suits your child, our K-12 counsellors can help you shortlist schools and programmes.

Can You Get a Scholarship to Study Abroad After 10th?

You can, but you need to be clear about which kind of study you mean. Families often search for "abroad scholarship for Indian students after 10th" and land on lists of master's awards that a Class 10 student cannot apply for. Here is how the two routes differ.

Route 1: Study abroad straight after Class 10

This means completing Class 11 and 12 (or their equivalent) outside India. The options are a short exchange of a few months to a year, a two-year IB Diploma at an international school, or admission to a boarding school. Scholarships here are competitive, limited in number and usually need-based.

Route 2: Plan after Class 10 for an undergraduate scholarship

Most fully funded awards for Indian students begin at bachelor's level. Selection panels look at Class 11 and 12 marks, test scores and two years of activities. Starting your plan after Class 10 is what makes a strong application possible.

Scholarships to Study Abroad After 10th: School-Level Options

These are the programmes that fund Indian students to study abroad during their school years.

Kennedy-Lugar YES Programme (USA)

The Youth Exchange and Study (YES) programme is funded by the US Department of State, and India is a participating country. According to the official YES India page, over 700 Indian students have taken part since 2005. In India it is managed by AFS Intercultural Programs India.

• What it covers: Round-trip airfare, orientation, a screened host family, a modest monthly stipend, health insurance and programme activities.
• What it doesn't cover: Passport costs, required medical exams and pocket money.
• Who can apply: Indian citizens resident in India, enrolled in Class 8 to 11, with at least a B average and intermediate English.
• Selection: An English test, a proctored essay, an application and an interview.

The YES India page currently describes a five-month exchange and gives a specific date-of-birth window for the cycle. Both change each year, so check the live page before applying.

UWC Scholarships through UWC India

United World Colleges is a network of 18 schools and colleges on four continents. UWC India, a volunteer-led national committee, selects Indian students for places at these schools. Scholarship support is needs-based, and every student who applies is eligible to be considered for it. Students joining UWC take the two-year IB Diploma Programme.

• Who can apply: Indian nationals, PIO/OCI cardholders or residents of India currently in Class 10 or 11, aged 16 to 18 at enrolment.
• Cost without aid: UWC India lists annual fees of about INR 11.5 lakh to INR 35.5 lakh, depending on the college.
• Support: UWC India says 80% of IB Diploma students selected by a national committee receive full or partial support.

Full eligibility details are on the UWC India candidates page. Some families are asked to contribute part of the cost after a financial assessment.

AFS Intercultural Programs India

Apart from YES, AFS India runs high school exchange programmes for students aged 15 to 18. Durations range from under a month to eight months or more, in countries such as Japan, Denmark, France, Italy and New Zealand. AFS India's site does not list a standing scholarship, so ask its office directly about funding for the programme you choose.

Boarding School Scholarships and Bursaries

Many independent schools in the UK, Canada and other countries offer Sixth Form or Grade 11 entry scholarships (for academics, music or sport) and means-tested bursaries. Eligibility for overseas students varies school by school, and some awards are open only to local students. Read each school's scholarship page carefully before shortlisting.

If you want a Canadian secondary diploma without relocating at 15, MetaApply also offers access to NOIC Academy's online Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) from India.

School-Level Programmes at a Glance

Undergraduate Scholarships to Plan for From Class 10

If your child stays in India for Class 11 and 12, these are some of the best-known fully funded undergraduate scholarships open to Indian students. The common thread is that every one rewards a strong school record built over two years.

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (Canada)

The University of Toronto's Pearson scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years. About 37 scholars are named each year. Your school must nominate you, and each school can nominate only one student. For September 2027 entry, school nominations closed on 9 October 2026, so Class 10 students today should plan for the 2029 cycle.

MEXT Undergraduate Scholarship (Japan)

The Japanese government's MEXT award waives tuition and pays a monthly allowance of 117,000 yen (about INR 68,800, per the Embassy of Japan), plus return airfare. For the 2027 intake, Indian applicants needed 80% in Class 12, or 80% in Class 10 with a school letter predicting above 80% in Class 12. Japanese language skills earn preference.

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) for Undergraduates

GKS funds full bachelor's degrees in South Korea, including a year of Korean language study. Applicants must have completed Class 12 and meet an age limit. Our guide to scholarships to study in South Korea covers the GKS tracks in detail.

Tata Scholarship at Cornell University (USA)

Cornell offers a scholarship for Indian citizens joining its undergraduate programmes, assessed alongside the family's financial aid application. Check Cornell's financial aid office for current terms.

A Note on Postgraduate Awards

Earlier versions of this article listed the National Overseas Scholarship, the Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships and Commonwealth Scholarships. These fund master's or PhD study, so a Class 10 student cannot apply for them yet. Keep them on your radar for later.

For scholarships that open after Class 12, read our guide to scholarships to study abroad after 10th or 12th.

How to Apply: A Class 10 to Class 12 Timeline

1. Right after Class 10 results: Decide between Route 1 and Route 2. Shortlist three to five programmes and note each one's age and class window.
2. Class 11, first term: Apply for school-level programmes such as YES or UWC if you are going abroad now. If you are staying in India, choose subjects that match your target degree.
3. Class 11, second term: Take a first attempt at the SAT or IELTS if your target universities need them. Plan attempts so they don't clash with board exams.
4. Summer before Class 12: Draft essays and request recommendation letters. Build a record of one or two activities you've stuck with.
5. Class 12, October to January: Submit undergraduate and scholarship applications. Be application-ready before the earliest deadline on your list.

What Parents Ask: Cost, Safety and Return on Investment

A common concern we hear from parents is whether a scholarship will cover everything. Usually it won't. YES pays for most essentials but not pocket money or medicals, and UWC support can be partial. Use our budget calculator to estimate the gap before you commit.

On safety, YES and AFS place students with screened host families, and UWC schools are residential. Ask each programme how students are supervised and who to call in an emergency.

On return on investment, an early international experience can strengthen later university applications. It is not a guaranteed advantage, though, and two strong years in India often matter just as much. If you need to cover a funding gap later, MetaFinance helps families compare education loan options.

How MetaApply Helps

MetaApply's K-12 counselling helps families shortlist international schools and understand curriculum differences. For students aiming at undergraduate scholarships, our Premium Counselling team supports university selection and application planning. Our test prep team covers the SAT, IELTS and other entrance tests.

Ready to Study Abroad?

MetaApply's counsellors help Indian families choose the right programme, prepare applications, plan for scholarships and work through the visa process, all under one roof. Scholarships to study abroad after 10th reward families who plan early. Start with the route that fits your child, then build a two-year plan around it.

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