The Ministry of Education offers scholarships to provide financial assistance to meritorious college and university students from poor families to meet a part of their daily expenses while pursuing higher studies.
Also read: CUET UG result 2025 news live updates
Every year, 82,000 scholarships are awarded on the basis of the Higher Secondary or Class 12 board exam.
- Name of the scheme: Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students
- Where to apply: NSP portal (scholarships.gov.in)
- Type of scholarship: Means-cum-merit scholarship offered to students pursuing graduate / postgraduate degrees in colleges and universities and for professional courses, such as Medical, Engineering, etc.
- Last date to apply: October 31
Also read: Rahul Gandhi writes to PM over delays in scholarships for students from marginalised communities
The total number of scholarships is divided among the state board for 18-25-year-old students after segregating the share of CBSE and ICSE students. Fifty per cent of the scholarships are earmarked for girls.
{{/usCountry}}The total number of scholarships is divided among the state board for 18-25-year-old students after segregating the share of CBSE and ICSE students. Fifty per cent of the scholarships are earmarked for girls.
{{/usCountry}}Eligibility
- Students who are above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in their respective streams in the Class 12 board examination.
- Pursuing regular degree courses and not correspondence or distance learning mode or pursuing diploma courses.
- Pursuing at-AICTE recognised colleges, institutions.
- Not availing the benefit of any other scholarship scheme, including state scholarships, fee waiver and reimbursement scheme.
- Students with gross parental/family income of up to Rs. 4.5 lakh per annum.
- For renewal of the scholarship, a student must secure at least 50 per cent marks in the annual examination and maintain at least 75 per cent attendance.
Also read: Rhodes scholarship for studying at University of Oxford to be available to more Indians from 2028
Amount of scholarship
The amount of scholarship is ₹12,000 per annum at the graduation level for the first three years and ₹20,000 per annum at the postgraduate level.
For students pursuing professional courses where the duration of the course is five years and students pursuing integrated courses will get ₹12,000 per annum for the first three and ₹20,000 per annum in the fourth and fifth years.
Similarly, students pursuing technical courses such as BTech, BEngg. will get ₹12,000 per annum up to graduation level and ₹20,000 in the fourth year.
For more details and to apply online, click here.