Muskaan Wadhwa
One of the most common questions surrounding a foreign LL.M. is that related to finance. When the tuition alone can touch sixty lakhs, this is quite understandable. One of the more common answers to this question relates to scholarships, and how one can go about applying for them.
For this purpose, we have compiled a list of ten scholarships that you, the LL.M. applicant ought to know about. Please do note that it is always advisable to go through the individual websites of these scholarships; the list below is meant to be indicative at best.
- The Rhodes Scholarship [Website]
If you’re a student, anywhere across the world, thinking about studying at Oxford University, then you would have definitely heard about the Rhodes Scholarship. Rhodes is not only a gateway to Oxford University but provides life-long access to an extremely supportive international community. Each year, there are 5 scholarships available for India, out which usually 1 or 2 are awarded to law students.
Eligibility: The applicant must be a citizen of India. PIO and OCI cardholders do not satisfy the Indian citizenship criteria. You must have undertaken formal education in India for 4 years in the last 10 years and must be above 19 years and below 25 years of age. The applicant must have completed their undergraduate degree with a First-Class equivalent.
Important Dates: The applications open on June 1, 2020, and end on July 31, 2020 (11:59 pm IST).
Application Process: The applicants are required to submit a personal statement along with six reference letters, a CV, transcripts, and other identification documents. Longlisted applicants are invited to a preliminary interview in New Delhi. Following this, shortlisted candidates partake in a social engagement event and a final interview.
Expenses Covered: Upto three years of study at Oxford University. Rhodes is not only a full-ride scholarship, but also provides an annual stipend, settling-in allowance, and economy class air tickets.
Interview/FPA: The 2017 Rhodes Scholar, Vanshaj Jain [SCC Online]
- Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship [Website]
Available for universities in America, Europe and UK, the Inlaks scholarship is provided to students with exceptional talents to improve upon their skills so they can be future vehicles of change.
Eligibility: The applicant must be a citizen of India and must hold a first-class undergraduate degree. Candidates less than 30 years of age who have secured admission in a top-ranking University are eligible to apply.
Important Dates: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the scholarship is not being offered for the year 2020. Scholarships will however be available for the next academic cycle.
Application Process: The application for the scholarship has to be made online. Two reference letters are mandatory, out of which, one must be an academic reference. The shortlisted candidates are invited for a preliminary interview, followed by a final interview.
Expenses Covered: The scholarship covers full tuition fees, living allowance, one-way travel allowance and health allowance. The maximum funding given to each candidate is USD 100,000.
Interviews/FPA: An FPA with Inlaks scholar, Sagnik Das (Harvard LLM Class of ’19)
- Commonwealth Scholarship [Website]
The Commonwealth Scholarship is available to students hailing from Commonwealth countries to pursue a one-year Masters course in the UK.
Eligibility: The candidate must be a citizen of India and should have attained 60% in their undergraduate degree to apply for Social Sciences and Humanities programs. A declaration needs to be also provided by the candidates that they will not be able to fund their education in the UK without this scholarship.
Important Dates: Application portal tentatively remains open between August-October for those applying to the next academic year.
Application Process: Applicants are required to submit two letters of reference, transcripts, identification documents, and a supporting statement from a proposed supervisor in the UK from one institution named on the application form. A preliminary interview is carried out by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD).
Expenses Covered: The scholarship covers tuition fees, economy return airfare, and living allowance.
- Chevening [Website]
A prestigious and competitive scholarship, the Chevening scholarship is awarded to students who showcase leadership potential and strong academic background to study in the UK.
Eligibility: Candidates must be citizens of India and must have preferably attained 2 years of work experience. They should have applied to three different UK University courses and must have received an unconditional offer from one of them. Candidates are also required to meet the English language requirements.
Important Dates: Applications usually open in August and close in November, with results being declared in June the next year.
Application Process: Applicants are required to submit transcripts, English language test scores, two letters of recommendation, and a scholarship essay.
Expenses Covered: The Chevening is a fully-funded scholarship which also provides for living allowance and travel costs.
Interviews/FPA: Read Chevening scholar Krishan Insan’s advice here.
- Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship [Website]
This scholarship is awarded to motivated Indian students who demonstrate leadership skills to study in US colleges.
Eligibility: To be eligible for the Fulbright scholarship, the applicant must have an equivalent of US’ bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks, three years of work experience and must have experience in leadership and community service.
Application Process: Applicants are required to submit transcripts, English language test scores, three letter of recommendations, personal statement, study objectives, and a writing sample.
Important Dates: Applications open in January with the deadline for submitting the application mid-May. Please note that applications open a year earlier, ie for the academic year 2021-22, the applications will open in 2020.
Expenses Covered: Funding for tuition, living allowance, J-1 visa support, and accident and sickness coverage are provided for by this scholarship.
Interviews/FPA: Rupavardhini B.R., a Harvard LL.M. graduate, and Fulbright scholar
- The Felix Scholarship [Website]
Felix Scholarship is available for students from India and other developing countries to get a chance to study at Oxford University, University of Reading, and SOAS, London.
Eligibility: Academically gifted students who hold a first-class degree from a recognized Indian University are eligible to apply.
Important Dates: The closing dates for application forms this year was in January.
Application Process: The applicants can apply for only one of the three Universities. Except for Oxford, a separate form has to be filled to avail the Felix Scholarship.
Expenses Covered: Felix is not only a fully-funded scholarship but also provides a stipend to cover living expenses, allowance for books, clothes, and a return flight home.
Interviews/FPA: Read accounts of previous Felix Scholars here [Felix Scholarship]
- The Schwarzman Scholarship [Website]
The Schwarzman Scholarship is an extremely competitive and prestigious scholarship that aims at introducing young leaders to China and its role in the changing global dynamics. These Scholars can pursue a Masters in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
Eligibility: Schwarzman looks for students who are not only academically and intellectually gifted, but also those, who have leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, exemplary character, and willingness to understand other cultures. Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree and should demonstrate strong English skills. They must be above 18 years but should not have completed 29 years of age.
Important Dates: The applications for the next academic year opened on April 15, 2020, and close on September 22, 2020.
Application Process: Candidates are required to submit a resume, academic records, two essays, three letters of recommendation, and an optional video.
Expenses Covered: The Scholarship cover tuition fees, room and board, travel to and from Beijing, in-country study tour, books and supplies, health insurance, and a stipend of USD 4000.
Interviews/FPA: Arnaaz Nizami Ameer shares her experiences here.
- K.C. Mahindra Scholarship [Website]
Also popular amongst Indian law students is the interest-free loan scholarship provided by K.C. Mahindra Education Trust to pursue post-graduate studies abroad.
Eligibility: Applicant must be a citizen of India and should have attained a first-class degree from a recognized University.
Important Dates: The applications for this scholarship tentatively begin in December or January every year.
Application Process: Candidates are required to submit an admission letter from the University, Letter of Recommendation, personal statement, transcripts, and a CV.
Expenses Covered: The Scholarship selects a pool of 50 most deserving students. Out of these, the top 3 are awarded a grant of INR 8,00,000 and the remaining candidates are awarded INR 4,00,000
Interviews/FPA: Sneha Priya Yannappa(BCL, Oxford University)
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship [Website]
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is a result of a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and UK Universities to enable students from Commonwealth countries to study in the UK.
Eligibility: Candidates must be citizens or should have been granted refugee status by a Commonwealth country. They should also have attained a first-class degree and should meet the English language requirements. Candidates who opt for this scholarship are however required to return to their home country after the course completion.
Important Dates: Application portal tentatively remains open between August-October.
Expenses Covered: The scholarship pays your tuition fees, living expenses, and airfare.
Interviews/FPA: Raushan T Jaswal (LLM, Cambridge University)
- J.N. Tata Endowment [Website]
Open to all disciplines, this is a one-time loan scholarship to Indian students so that they can pursue postgraduate studies abroad.
Eligibility: Candidates who are citizens of India and have secured a minimum of 60% from recognized Universities are eligible to apply.
Application Process: Besides academic records, this scholarship gives emphasis to the applicant’s statement of purpose, extra-curricular activities, and English test scores. The initial screening process of applications is followed by a Thinking Skills Assessment and a personal interview.
Expenses Covered: The amount of loan scholarship ranges between INR 1,00,000 to INR 10,00,000. A gift scholarship to students with excellent academic performance abroad may also be awarded INR 7,50,000.
[Lead image taken from here]
(Muskaan Wadhwa is a fourth-year law student at Christ University)
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