For college and university students, the University Grants Commission (UGC) offers four scholarship programmes: the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship for the North Eastern Region (UGC Ishan Uday or UGC NER), the PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child (UGC single girl child scholarship), the PG Scholarship for University Rank Holders, and the PG Scholarship for SC, ST Students Pursuing Professional Courses. The National Scholarship Portal - scholarships.gov.in – is where you can apply for these scholarships.
UGC Ishan Uday Scholarship
Ishan Uday Scholarship is a special scholarship scheme for the students of the North East Region (NER) of India. UGC started distributing it from the 2014-15 academic year. Now, applications are hosted on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). UGC Ishan Uday scholarship aims to provide equal opportunities to students of North East for higher studies, increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and focus more on professional education in the region.
Number of scholarships under the scheme: 10,000.
Amount of scholarship: Rs 5,400 per month for general degree courses and Rs 7,800 per month for technical, medical, professional, paramedical courses.
Last date to apply: November 30.
PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship For Single Girl Child
PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship For Single Girl Child was introduced by the UGC to recognize the value of observance of the small family norm and to support education of single girl child in postgraduate courses. Girl students without a brother or girl students who are twin daughters or fraternal daughters can apply for this scholarship scheme.
Number of scholarships: 3,000.
Amount of Scholarship: Rs.36,200 per annum (for two years, which is the full duration of a PG course).
Last date to apply: November 30.
UGC Scholarship For University Rank Holders
The PG Scholarship for University Rank Holders is for students studying in postgraduate courses with “outstanding performance” at undergraduate level. Professional and distance learning programmes, however, are not covered under the scheme. First and second rank holders of a university, who have taken admission in a regular, full-time master’s degree course in any recognized university, deemed university, private university, autonomous college or a postgraduate college can apply for this scholarship.
Number of scholarships: 3,000.
Amount: Rs 3,100 per month (for two years, which is the duration of a PG course).
Last date to apply: November 30.
Postgraduate SC, ST Scholarship Scheme
UGC’s PG Scholarship Scheme For SC ST Students For Professional Courses is aimed at providing financial assistance to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates to pursue higher studies in Professional courses. Candidates who have taken admission in MA, MSc, MCom, MSW and Mass Communication and Journalism programmes are not eligible for this scholarship. These courses are treated as non-professional courses.
Amount: Rs 7,800 per month for ME, MTech courses, Rs 4,500 per month for other courses
Number of scholarships: 1,000
Last date to apply: November 30