The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) operates India's massive international scholarship scheme. It is an enormous soft-power initiative aimed primarily at students from Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, allowing them to study at central and state universities across India.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.0
- Offer Degrees
- Bachelors, Masters, PhD
- Subjects
- Agriculture, Arts, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, History, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, Psychology
- Seats Available
- Thousands annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- Optional
- Work Experience
- No
- Age Range
- 18 - 30
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- No
- TOEFL
- No
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- Hindi
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- See Description
- Monthly Stipend
- INR 18000/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- Yes / Yes
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
It provides a completely free education in one of the world's fastest-growing economies. It covers your full tuition fees, provides a monthly living allowance (approx. 18,000 INR for undergrads, more for grads), covers hostel accommodation, and usually pays for a round-trip economy flight.
Given the incredibly low cost of living in India, the stipend is sufficient for a comfortable student life.
Application Process
You apply through the central A2A (Admissions to Alumni) portal. You upload your documents and select up to five preferred universities. You must also write a mandatory English proficiency essay.
If shortlisted, you will be called for an interview and English test at the Indian Embassy in your home country.
How to Win This Scholarship
Do not just select universities in Delhi or Mumbai. The competition for spots in those megacities is brutal. You have a much higher chance of securing funding if you select high-ranking universities in tier-two cities like Pune, Hyderabad, or Mysore.
Furthermore, your English proficiency must be flawless; the embassy interview is almost entirely designed to ensure you can survive lectures taught in fast-paced Indian English.
Benefits After Completing Study
India’s tech and engineering sectors are booming; graduating from an Indian university provides a massive networking advantage if you wish to work in the IT hub of Bengaluru or Hyderabad.
The bureaucracy in Indian state universities can be overwhelming. Expect delays in receiving your first few stipends, meaning you must bring enough personal cash to survive the first month or two.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source