As a major actor of culture, one of the most important task of ICCR is to promote international mobility. For this, the ICCR’s main activity is to develop a whole scholarship programme in order to improve the rate of international students in India and thus promote cultural and academic exchanges.
Promoting international students of any kind
Altogether, there are more than 4 500 students from more than 130 countries who are currently studing in India. Most of them come from developing countries, such as Asia, Africa, but also South and Central America, but there are also quite a few coming from developing countries such as Europe and the United States.
Students following any kind of courses are concerned by scholarships, may it be under-graduate, post-graduate, doctoral programmes, but also any kind of professional courses, including any thematic like engineering, pharmacy, accountancy, business administration, management, but also artistics courses such as Indian dance, music, painting, sculpture, and so on.
Important information before applying for a scholarship
Any international student planning on applying for a scholarship must beforehand look into some important information, such as the courses and certificates equivalents with they home university. It is important to make sure that the course followed in India will match their course in their home university to guarantee that the final certificate will be equivalent and recognised in their home country. Note that choosing courses is the most important step while applying for a scholarship. Once application is sent, there is no way to switch courses, even on arrival.
Also, foreign students must first check the full list of Indian universities where ICCR usually secures admission. Indeed, some small or private universities are not included in the list of ICCR’s partnerships and would not accept ICCR foreign scholars. Note also that Indian universities are independent and thus have their own eligibility criteria. For this reason, the acceptance of a scholarship does not guarantee an acceptation at the university. Any application accepted will be confirmed by the university admission to courses.
Moreover, international students must note some specifications regarding studying in India. For instance, some courses will require a physical fitness verification, or health check-up. Also, the ICCR does not take in charge all practical but non-academic tasks, such as taking care of visas or looking for accomodations.
Additionaly, note that :
- Any scholarship application must come with certified copies of all documents, along with certified English translations.
- Application for doctoral or post-doctoral courses must include a synopsis of their suggested area of research.
- Candidates must obviously have a good level of English in order to follow their course, and possess a valid Visa.
- A priority will be given to students who come studying in India for the first time.
- No application will be accepted to courses in dentist and nursery field.
Presentation of the different scholarship schemes
The ICCR offers more than 3 300 scholarships every year, under 24 different scholarship scheme. Some are exclusive to certain countries, such as Afghanistan or African countries, as other are more general.
The ICCR scholarship programme
NO. | NAME OF THE SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME | FUNDED BY | COURSES |
1 | General Cultural Scholarship Scheme | ICCR | UG, PG, M Phil, Ph.D. Post Doctoral Courses |
2 | Scholarships under bilateral Cultural Exchange Programmes (CEP Scholarship/EEP/MOU)only where valid CEPs is in force | ICCR | UG, PG, M Phil, Ph.D. Courses |
3 | Scholarships for students from Commonwealth Countries (ICCR’s Commonwealth Scholarship Plan) | ICCR | UG, PG, M Phil, Ph.D. Courses |
4 | Special Scholarship Scheme for Mauritian Nationals (TC Division) | ICCR | Post Graduate Medical Courses at BHU, Varanasi |
5 | Scholarship Scheme for Training in Indian Music and Dance (ICCR Scholarship Scheme) | ICCR | Dance, Music, Yoga/Art Courses |
6 | Global Studies Programme | ICCR | Post Graduate Courses |
7 | Scholarship Scheme for Bangladeshi Nationals – Bangladesh Scholarship Scheme | ICCR | UG, PG, Ph.D./Post Doctoral Courses |
8 | Scholarship Scheme for Sri Lankan Nationals – Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme | ICCR | UG, PG Courses |
Scholarship schemes funded by the MEA
NO. | NAME OF THE SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME | FUNDED BY | COURSES |
9 | Scholarship for students from SAARC Countries – SAARC Scholarship Scheme | MEA | UG, PG, PH.D. Courses |
10 | Scholarships for students from African Countries – Africa Scholarship Scheme | MEA | UG, PG, M Phil, Ph.D. Courses |
11 | Scholarship for students from IOR – ARC Countries (IOR-ARC Scholarship Scheme) not valid 2014 onwards | MEA | Post Graduate/Ph.D. Courses |
12 | Scholarships for students from Mekong Ganga Co-operation (MGC) Countries – (Mekong Ganga Co-operation Scholarship Scheme) | MEA | UG, PG, M Phil, Ph.D. Courses |
13 | Scholarships for Afghan Nationals – Afghan Scholarship Scheme | MEA | UG, PG Courses |
14 | Scholarship for Nepalese Nationals (also known as SilverJubilee Scholarship Scheme) | MEA | PG, M Phil, Ph.D. Courses |
15 | Scholarships for Mongolian Nationals – Aid to Mongolia Scholarship Scheme | MEA | UG, PG, Ph.D. Courses |
16 | Scholarships for Bhutanese Nationals – Aid to Bhutan Scholarship Scheme | MEA | Under Graduate (Only Engg. Courses) |
17 | Scholarships for Maldivian Nationals – Aid to Maldives Scholarship Scheme | MEA | Under Graduate Courses |
18 | Scholarships to Bangladeshi Nationals – India Scholarship (Bangladesh) Scheme | MEA | UG, PG, Ph.D (General Courses excluding Engineering) |
Scholarships for Sri Lankan Nationals
NO. | NAME OF THE SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME | FUNDED BY | COURSES |
19 | Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme | MEA | Only UG Courses |
20 | Maulana Azad Scholarship Scheme | MEA | Master’s Degree in Agricultural Science & Engg. Courses |
21 | Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship Scheme | MEA | For study in the field of IT (BE/B.Tech Courses) |
22 | Ayush Scholarships to study Indian Traditional Medicine Systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy (available for students from all Countries, though priority is given to those from BIMSTEC Countries) | MEA | Undergraduate/Post Graduate /Ph.D. Courses in Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani, Siddha, Yoga |
Scholarships for Sri Lankan Nationals funded by the AYUSH
NO. | NAME OF THE SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME | FUNDED BY | COURSES |
23 | Ayush Scholarship Scheme for Non-BIMSTEC countries on behalf of Ayush Department to study in Indian Traditional Medicine Systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy | AYUSH | Undergraduate/Post Graduate /Ph.D. Courses in Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani, Siddha, Yoga |
24 | AYUSH Scholarships to study Indian Traditional Medicine Systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy (for Malaysian Nationals) | AYUSH | Undergraduate/Post Graduate /Ph.D. Courses in Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani, Siddha, Yoga |