For most students, sponsoring one’s own education is a badge of independence and scholarships offer a vital stepping stone for those who wish to acquire quality education from India’s top institutes, but may shackle their dreams due to economic constraints. As we progress in our academic pursuits, the expenses become quite a hike, particularly for highly expensive degrees, wherein premier institutes in the nation charge around 20 to 30 lakhs for a two-year program. Although banks in the government sector provide collateral-free loans for students from reputed institutes, additional financial support will be beneficial for every student. Here are some scholarships to apply for this year or keep a lookout for next year.
UG Scholarships
1. Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girls (Degree)
- Eligibility: Female students pursuing technical UG programs.
- Scholarship Amount: ₹50,000 per annum.
- Family Income Limit: Less than ₹8 lakh per annum.
- Application Deadline: October 31
2.Saksham Scholarship Scheme for Differently Abled Students (Degree)
- Eligibility: Students with more than 40% disability pursuing technical UG programs.
- Scholarship Amount: ₹50,000 per annum.
- Family Income Limit: Less than ₹8 lakh per annum.
- Application Deadline: October 31, 2024.
3. ISHAN UDAY – Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region
- Eligibility: Students from the North Eastern Region (NER) pursuing UG courses.
- Scholarship Amount: ₹5,400 per month for general degree courses and ₹7,800 per month for technical/medical courses.
- Family Income Limit: Less than ₹4.5 lakh per annum.
- Application Deadline: October 31, 2024.
4. Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PM-USP)
- Eligibility: Students with at least 80% in Class 12 pursuing UG/PG degrees, with a family income below ₹4.5 lakh annually.
- Scholarship Amount: ₹12,000/-per annum for UG and ₹20,000/-per annum for PG
- Family Income Limit: Less than ₹4.5 lakh per annum.
5. ONGC Merit Scholarship 2024-25
An exciting opportunity awaits degree students with the ONGC Merit Scholarship! This prestigious program provides financial assistance to deserving students, helping them achieve academic excellence and pursue their dreams.
- Eligibility: For students pursuing professional courses in Engineering, MBBS, and Master’s degree in Management, Geology, and Geophysics.
- Benefits: ₹48000 per annum
- Application Timeline : 30th November.
Some non-government scholarships are available for students in undergraduate programs. While the deadlines for this year have already passed, you can consider them for next year. Keep an eye out for these opportunities and focus on maintaining good academic grades, as most of these scholarships require a minimum CGPA or percentage to qualify.
1. Dr. Reddy’s Foundation Sashakt Scholarship
- Eligibility: Female students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds pursuing BSc in pure or natural sciences.
- Benefits: Up to ₹80,000 per annum for three years.
2. G.P. Birla Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students from West Bengal with excellent academic records pursuing undergraduate degrees in arts, science, commerce, or professional courses like engineering or medicine.
- Benefits: Up to ₹50,000 per year with additional benefits.
- Application Timeline: July 2024.
3. Raman Kant Munjal Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students with at least 65% in Class 12 pursuing UG degrees, with a family income below ₹6 lakh annually.
- Benefits: Up to ₹2.7 lakh per annum for three years.
- Application Timeline: September 2024.
Coming to our Postgraduate courses, the mindset of students changes a little bit when they apply for post-graduation, as most of the students have either worked or are taking the course for certain specializations, extending their academic journey by 2-3 more years along with the added fees. A scholarship can be a great way to get financial aid and ease the journey during your postgraduate studies.
Some PG scholarships you have to be ready for next year –
1.PG Scholarship Scheme for SC/ST Students for Professional Courses
- Eligibility: Open to SC/ST students in the first year of professional postgraduate courses like MBA.
- Benefits: ₹7,800 per month for M.E./M.Tech students; ₹4,500 per month for other professional courses for two years.
- Application Process: Apply through the NSP portal by submitting required documents.
2. Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses (for Minorities)
- Eligibility: For minority students with an annual family income of less than ₹2.5 lakh, pursuing professional courses, including MBA.
- Benefits: Maintenance allowance of ₹10,000 per annum for hostellers and ₹5,000 for day scholars, along with tuition fee reimbursement up to ₹20,000 per annum.
- Application Deadline: Check the NSP website for updates.
3. Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities
- Eligibility: For students with disabilities pursuing professional postgraduate courses.
- Benefits: Covers tuition fees up to ₹2 lakh per annum, a monthly maintenance allowance, and book allowances.
- Application: Details are available on the NSP.
Recognizing the significance of such programs and the substantial fees associated with them, several non-government organizations offer financial support to aspiring young professionals. These scholarships are primarily merit-based and awarded to top performers at premier institutes, enabling them to excel in their academic pursuits.
1. IDFC FIRST Bank MBA Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students enrolled in the first year of a two-year full-time MBA program, with a family income less than ₹6 lakhs per annum.
- Award: ₹2,00,000 for two years (₹1,00,000 annually).
- Application Details: The application process for the 2024-26 batch is open.
2. Aditya Birla Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students admitted to premier institutes like IIMs and XLRI. Selection is based on merit and academic performance.
- Award: ₹3,00,000 for the two-year MBA program.
3. OP Jindal Engineering and Management Scholarships (OPJEMS)
- Eligibility: Based on academic and leadership excellence for students in their first or second year of MBA.
- Award: ₹1,50,000 per student.
4. Citi Women’s Leader Award
- Eligibility: Female students in the top 25% of their MBA batch after the first year. Selection is based on a statement of purpose and interviews.
- Award: Covers tuition fees for the second year.
5. Reliance Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to students in disciplines like Computer Science, AI, Mathematics, Engineering, Life Sciences, etc., with a GATE score of 550–1000 or a minimum 7.5 CGPA in their undergraduate program.
- Benefits: Provides up to INR 6 lakh for the duration of the postgraduate program.
- Application Details: Check eligibility and apply on the Reliance Foundation website
6. Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Scholarship
- Eligibility: Indian students pursuing PG studies in India or abroad, especially in fields such as Engineering, Management, or Social Sciences.
- Benefits: Offers an interest-free loan of up to INR 20 lakh.
What are the Scholarships that you are surely going to apply for next year ? Write it in our comments.