PG Scholarships in India: How to Fund Your Master's Degree Without Missing Opportunities
Planning to pursue an MSc, MA, MCom, MTech or another postgraduate degree?
Before spending money on higher education, explore the scholarships and financial assistance available to you.
India offers different funding opportunities based on academic merit, field of study, financial circumstances and eligibility.
Major postgraduate funding opportunities
Scholarship / Scheme | Who should explore it? |
UGC National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies | Eligible first-year students pursuing regular postgraduate degrees. |
AICTE PG Scholarship | Eligible GATE/GPAT-qualified students in approved postgraduate technical programmes. |
ICAR PG Scholarship | Eligible students pursuing postgraduate agricultural and allied sciences programmes. |
DST INSPIRE-SHE | Eligible scholars continuing studies in basic and natural sciences, including supported master's pathways. |
State Government Scholarships | Students meeting state-specific income, category, domicile or academic criteria. |
These schemes have different eligibility rules, funding amounts and application procedures. Not all are open to new applicants throughout the year.
Important scholarship deadlines for 2026–27
31 October 2026: Application deadline for the UGC National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies and listed ICAR PG scholarship schemes.
Institution verification deadline: 15 November 2026. Other scholarship programmes may follow separate schedules.
How to find and apply for scholarships
Visit the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Complete your mandatory One-Time Registration (OTR).
Use the scholarship eligibility checker.
Review academic, income, course and institution requirements.
Submit the application and monitor institutional verification.
For 2026–27, NSP permits applications under one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes, subject to eligibility and applicable rules.
Official scholarship resources
Choosing the right PG degree matters too
A scholarship can reduce your educational expenses, but selecting a postgraduate programme that matches your interests, aptitude and career goals is equally important.
CareerNest helps students identify suitable postgraduate programmes, specialisations and career pathways through scientific career assessment and personalised counselling.
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