₹1,000 Cr scholarship push by 6 FHEIs signals reverse Brain-Drain to India

• India sends ~19 students abroad for every 1 inbound; even a 15-20% shift to domestic global education could unlock $10-14Bn in annual forex savingsMulti-year scholarships by global universities to ease cost pressures and improve affordability for Indian households

MUMBAI:  As India accelerates plans to become a global education hub, six international universities have committed scholarship funding to widen access to globally benchmarked education in the country. The cumulative scholarship pool worth INR 1,000 crore will improve the access - expand seat capacity, program offerings across high-demand disciplines including within AI and STEM, while improving affordability for Indian students through merit- and need-based support.

The Scholarships are provided by The University of Aberdeen, University of Bristol, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Liverpool, Victoria University, and University of York, all of whom are opening doors to India campus intake, starting August / September this year. The scholarship framework would support students across undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate programmes (PG), as applicable, with tuition support ranging from 10% to up to 100% for selected students.

India continues to see a significant imbalance in student mobility, with nearly 19 Indian students going abroad for every 1 international student coming into the country, per reports. This outward flow translates into an estimated $70 billion annual spend on overseas education. Even a partial shift - if 15-20% of this demand is met domestically, could translate into $10-14 billion in foreign exchange savings.

“With programmes priced 30-40% lower than overseas options and supported by scholarships, these campuses could eventually strengthen our capacity in high-demand STEM fields, while opening up access to many (students & families) which never existed,’’ said Ashwin Damera, Co-founder & CEO of Eruditus Group, which is supporting these universities as a market-entry and operational readiness partner.

• Merit-based Access: Supporting high-achieving students who might otherwise pursue education abroad, with partial tuition waivers to enable access to global-quality degrees within India
• Broadening Access Across India:Need-based scholarships aimed at students from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, expanding access to international education beyond metropolitan centers and supporting first-generation learners, ensuring the Bharat opportunity.
• STEM & AI Education: Dedicated support for students in technology fields to address talent gaps in high-growth sectors.

Beyond affordability, the scholarships signal a broader capacity build-out in India’s higher education system, particularly in AI and STEM disciplines. By expanding access and increasing seat availability, the initiatives are expected to widen participation, including among women and support the development of a more industry-ready talent pool within the country.

‘’For decades, accessing an international degree meant going abroad, often requiring significant financial sacrifice. This model is now evolving. With enabling policy support, India is seeing early signs of a more globally integrated education ecosystem built on high-quality, globally aligned programmes,’’ added Ashwin. 

Student intakes across the seven India campuses are expected to commence in phases from August/September 2026.