Published on: July 30, 2026

Scholarships are one of the most underused resources available to IB and A-Level students. Families often assume they are too competitive, too complicated, or not relevant to their child’s profile. In most cases, all three assumptions are wrong.

Why Scholarships Matter More Than Most Families Realise

A degree at a leading UK university costs international students between £25,000 and £40,000 per year in tuition alone. A four-year degree at a leading US university can total over $80,000 per year. A single scholarship worth £5,000 to £10,000 per year across three or four years represents a saving of £15,000 to £40,000.

Beyond the financial dimension, scholarship applications build the same skills as university personal statements. Students who go through a serious scholarship process in Grade 11 or early Grade 12 arrive at university applications significantly better prepared.

Scholarships Within India

The Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and Pinky Dalal Scholarship at JBCN School

JBCN School offers this scholarship to recognise academic excellence within the school community. It honours two of India’s most significant figures in business and philanthropy. Students being considered demonstrate outstanding academic performance across the programme alongside genuine character and contribution to school life. Families should speak directly with the JBCN admissions and counselling team for current eligibility criteria and the application process.

KVPY and INSPIRE

The Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY), funded by the Department of Science and Technology, identifies students with genuine aptitude for science research, providing both a monthly stipend and contingency grant. The INSPIRE scholarship supports students in the top one percent of their board or equivalent examination who intend to pursue natural and basic sciences at undergraduate level. IB students with strong science results and AIU recognition are eligible for both.

UK University Scholarships

• University of Edinburgh Global Scholarships: Awards of up to £5,000 per year for outstanding international undergraduate students. Strong IB results, typically 38 points and above, are a key criterion.
• University of Warwick International Undergraduate Scholarships: Competitive awards based on academic achievement demonstrated through predicted and actual IB or A-Level results.
• University of Bath Excellence Scholarships: Awards to high-achieving international students across a range of programmes.
• UCL, Durham, St Andrews, and Exeter: All have scholarship programmes for international students that IB and A-Level graduates from India have accessed. Check each university’s international scholarships page for current amounts and deadlines.

US University Financial Aid and Scholarships

Need-Based Aid at Need-Blind Universities

A small number of highly selective US universities, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, and Amherst, are need-blind for international students and meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. For families who qualify, these programmes can make an Ivy League education more affordable than some private universities in India. At JBCN, the career counselling team supports families in understanding and navigating need-based aid applications where this is relevant.

Merit Scholarships at US Universities

Outside the Ivy League, many US universities offer significant merit scholarships to attract high-achieving international students. New York University, Northeastern, Tulane, Rochester, and Case Western Reserve have offered substantial merit awards to strong international applicants. For families not qualifying for need-based aid at elite institutions, researching merit scholarships at a broader range of strong US universities is genuinely worthwhile.

Europe, Canada, Singapore, and Australia

• Netherlands: The Holland Scholarship offers 5,000 euros for the first year of study. Dutch universities including Delft, Leiden, and Maastricht participate. English-medium undergraduate medical degrees in the Netherlands are popular among Indian families.
• Canada: The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto covers full tuition, books, fees, and residence for four years. It is among the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships available globally. UBC, McGill, and Queen’s also have international scholarship programmes.
• Singapore: NUS and NTU offer scholarships covering full tuition with living allowances for outstanding international students. Singapore has become an increasingly popular destination for Indian families.
• Australia: The University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, and Australian National University offer merit scholarships to outstanding international undergraduate students.

What Makes a Strong Scholarship Application

• Academic distinction that is genuine and documented: Strong IB predicted grades or actual results, strong IA performance, and evidence of academic engagement beyond the required curriculum.
• A clear and honest articulation of who you are and what you want to contribute: Generic essays about wanting to make a difference do not distinguish candidates. Specific, honest accounts of what has driven a student’s thinking do.
• Evidence of impact outside the classroom: CAS experiences at JBCN that involve genuine initiative and impact, real leadership, sustained commitment to a meaningful project.
• Strong academic references: The teacher and counsellor recommendations that scholarship applications require are most compelling when built on years of genuine engagement rather than brief Grade 12 interactions.

How JBCN Supports Scholarship Applications

At JBCN School, scholarship support is integrated into the broader university counselling programme. From Grade 11, students identified as strong candidates are alerted to relevant opportunities and supported in understanding application requirements.

The Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and Pinky Dalal Scholarship process within the school gives students direct experience of the formal scholarship application process. Personal statement and essay support is individualised, with counsellors working through multiple drafts to help students identify what is genuinely distinctive about their profile. Teacher recommendation support includes guidance on what scholarship committees are looking for.

A Practical Timeline

• Grade 9 and 10: Build the academic foundation and extracurricular record that scholarships draw on. Understand broadly what scholarships exist.
• Grade 11: Identify specific scholarships relevant to your university targets and note deadlines. Begin building scholarship essay material through personal statement work. Apply for Grade 11-eligible awards like KVPY if relevant.
• Early Grade 12: Confirm scholarship shortlist alongside university shortlist. Begin formal scholarship essays. Request teacher recommendations with sufficient lead time.
• October to January of Grade 12: Submit scholarship applications noting that some deadlines are earlier than university deadlines.

The Bottom Line

Scholarships for IB and A-Level students are more accessible than most Indian families realise. The students who benefit most are those who understand the landscape early, build the profile that scholarships reward throughout school, and approach applications with the same seriousness they bring to university applications.

Want to understand how JBCN supports students through scholarship applications and university placement? Speak to our admissions team or attend one of our open days.

Considering the IB Diploma Programme at JBCN? Speak to our admissions team about subject selection, university pathways, and how we support learners through both years.

Related Reading

• JBCN IB and A Level scholarships
• JBCN 2026 University Placements: 488 Offers and USD 6M in Scholarships
• How University Counselling Works at International Schools in Mumbai
• Which Universities Accept the IB Diploma

Share