Pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) offers a unique opportunity for students to explore various scholarship opportunities in India. Scholarships help students bear the PhD program fee cost, which typically spans 5 to 7 years and can be substantial.
PhD Scholarships help Indian students who want to pursue PhD abroad. PhD Scholarships are available for Indian students for top universities in the USA and top universities in Canada.
Also Read
- Why PhD Scholarships in India are Crucial?
- PhD Scholarships in India for Indian Students
- Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) for Doctoral Research
- Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships
- Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships
- Google Fellowship India Program
- ICHR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)
- Maulana Azad National Fellowships (MANF)
- NCERT Doctoral Fellowship for PhD
- CSIR-UGC JRF NET Fellowship
- PhD Scholarship in India through GATE
11.1 Gate Financial Assistance Eligibility
- PhD Fellowship in India
- PhD in Computer Science
- PhD Scholarships in India: MHRD
- PhD Scholarships in India for SC Students
- PhD Scholarship in India for ST Students
- PhD Scholarships in India for OBC
- PhD Scholarships in India For International Students
- PhD Scholarships in India For Single Girl Child
- PhD Scholarship in India: FAQs
Why PhD Scholarships in India are Crucial?
The PhD Program requires intense research, fieldwork and publications. PhD scholarships help scholars who dedicate years without a stable income. Scholarships are designed to:
- PhD Scholarships help with financial assistance and monthly stipends to meet the expenses.
- They offer research grants for field visits and other research-related projects.
- Helps in paying tuition fees and examination costs.
- Promote students from economically backwards communities (SC, ST, OBC, and other minorities) to pursue higher research.
- PhD scholarships also support Indian students studying abroad in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia.
PhD Scholarships in India for Indian Students
There are various PhD scholarships and fellowships available and offered to students in India to encourage students to pursue higher studies. A doctorate course generally lasts for 3 to 4 years, and sometimes it can cost more in some renowned institutes.
Scholarships are given by various organisations to Indian students to pursue their higher studies with ease. The eligibility for the PhD scholarships for Indian students varies. However, the basic requirements that they need to fulfil are to hold a master's degree in a relevant stream, and their age should be below 35.
| PhD Scholarship | Funded by | Application Time |
|---|---|---|
| SAARC Agricultural PhD Scholarships | SAARC Agricultural Centre | March and April |
| Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) | MHRD, Government of India | March and April |
| Swami Vivekananda Single Child Scholarship for Research in Social Science | UGC | November and January |
| Burning Questions Fellowship Awards | Tiny Beam Fund | May and June |
| Vision India Foundation (VIF) Fellowship | Vision India Foundation (VIF) | December and January |
| ESSO-NCESS Junior Research Fellowship | ESSO- National Centre for Earth Science Studies | Open throughout the year |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships | Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund | Between March and May |
Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) for Doctoral Research
The Prime Minister's Research Fellowships (PMRF) for Doctoral Research is an initiative by the central government of India to support meritorious PhD scholars. Under this scheme, the scholar gets a monthly stipend of INR 70,000.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Ministry of Human Resource Development |
| First Year Scholarships Amount | INR 70,000 |
| Second Year Scholarships Amount | INR 80,000 |
| Duration | Up to 4 years |
| Eligibilty | Must have completed post-graduation and enrolled in a PhD program |
| Application timeline | Between April and May (tentative) |
Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships
Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships are prestigious awards offered by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) for Indian PhD scholars.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) |
| Target Group | Indian scholars enrolled in a PhD program in India |
| Fellowship Duration | 6-9 months |
| Fields of Study | Agricultural Sciences, Bioengineering, Public Health, Environment, Economics, International Relations, History, Sociology, Gender Studies, Urban & Regional Planning, etc. |
| Eligibility |
|
| Application Timeline | Feb to May |
| Program Start | August–September (next year) |
Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships
The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships were established to honour the vision of India's first prime minister by promoting higher learning and research. It is designed to support the students pursuing doctoral programs in science, Sociology, Philosophy, etc, after completing their postgraduate studies. The duration of the scholarship is 2 years.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund (JNMF) |
| Scholarship Amount | INR 15,000 - INR 18,000 per month |
| Scholarship Type | Merit-based |
| Duration | 2 years (with the possibility of extension in special cases) |
| Eligibility |
|
| Application Timeline | December and May (tentative) |
| Fields of Study | Science, Sociology, Philosophy, Economics, History, International Relations, Comparative Studies in Religion & Culture, etc. |
Google Fellowship India Program
The Google PhD Fellowship India Program is an initiative by Google to support students pursuing PhD in Computer Science or related fields, completing their master's studies at recognised universities in India. The initiative of the fellowship program is to support the students in covering their expenses by offering a monthly stipend, and they also offer opportunities for an internship at Google.
The average fellowship given to the students in 4 years is around 26,89,160.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | |
| Fellowship Amount | INR 26,89,160 |
| Fellowship Type | Merit-based |
| Eligibility |
|
| Application Timeline | Between March and April (tentative) |
| Duration | Up to 4 Years |
ICHR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)
The Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) offers Junior Research Fellowships to support candidates pursuing doctoral research in the field of Historical Studies. To get the benefits of this scheme, students must qualify for an online entrance exam followed by presentation-cum-interview. On average, candidates receive INR 16,500 to INR 17,600 per month for 2 years as a Junior Research Fellowship under ICHR.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) |
| Fellowship Amount | INR 16,500 - INR 17,600 per month |
| Fellowship Type | Entrance Exam + Presentation-cum-Interview Based |
| Eligibility |
|
| Duration | 2 years |
| Application Timeline | November and December (tentative) |
| Selection Process | 1. Online entrance examination2. Presentation-cum-interview of the research proposal |
Maulana Azad National Fellowships (MANF)
The Maulana Azad National Fellowship is a scholarship launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, to provide financial assistance to students from the economically weaker sections of the minority communities who wish to pursue research or doctoral courses. Candidates whose family income is less than INR 6,00,000 can apply for the scholarship.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |
| Fellowship Amount | INR 28,000 per month |
| Fellowship Type | Entrance Exam-Based (UGC NET or CSIR NET qualified candidates only) |
| Fellowship Duration | 5 years |
| Eligibility |
|
| Application Timeline | Twice a year (June and December) |
NCERT Doctoral Fellowship for PhD
The NCERT Doctoral Fellowship is an initiative by the National Council of Educational Research and Training to support meritorious PhD students to cover their expenses on tuition fees, accommodations, books and other research-related expenses. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must enroll for PhD programmes in a recognized university and must also qualify for an entrance test, such as the NET exam.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) |
| Fellowship Amount | INR 25,000 per month (for NET-qualified candidates)INR 23,000 per month (for non-NET candidates) |
| Fellowship Type | Merit-Based or NET Score-Based |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Eligibility |
|
| Application Timeline | Between September and November (tentative) |
CSIR-UGC JRF NET Fellowship
CSIR- UGC JRF NET Fellowship is one of the most prestigious and competitive fellowship programs in India for students pursuing research or doctoral courses in the field of Life Science, Chemical Science, Engineering, Earth & Atmosphere and other related fields. Candidates are selected based on their performance in the NET examination conducted by CSIR.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | HRD Group of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) |
| Amount | INR 20,000 to INR 31,000 per month |
| Fellowship Type | Based on NET scores |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility |
|
| Application Timeline | Between July and August (tentative) |
PhD Scholarship in India through GATE
The Graduation Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) not only helps candidates secure admission into top M.Tech and PhD programs but also makes them eligible for a scholarship during their doctoral research.
The GATE Financial Assistance Scholarship is available for 5 years.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Ministry of Education (via IITs, IISc, NITs, and recognized institutes) |
| Scholarship Type | GATE-based Fellowship (Half-time Research Assistantship) |
| Fellowship Amount | INR 25,000 - INR 28,000 per month |
| Fellowship Duration | Up to 5 years |
Gate Financial Assistance Eligibility
To get the GATE-based scholarship, the candidate must:
- The candidate must have a valid GATE score at the time of application to be eligible.
- Must be admitted into a full-time PhD course only.
- The bank account should be a single-holder savings account in the candidate's name.
- Students should not be receiving any other scholarship at that time.
- Students from non-sponsored categories admitted with a valid GATE score card are eligible.
Also Read
PhD Fellowship in India
India offers a wide range of fellowships to encourage scholars in pursuing PhD degree. While most are provided by the Government of India, several fellowships are also offered by private organisations and international agencies. The minimum eligibility to secure a PhD fellowship in India by acquiring a master's degree with at least 50% to 60% aggregate scores. Some fellowship requires candidates to qualify national entrance exam, such as UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, or GATE.
| PhD Fellowship | Funded by | Application Time |
|---|---|---|
| CSIR-UGC JRF Fellowship | Government of India | October |
| DBT-JRF Fellowship | Government of India | March |
| FITM AYUSH Research Fellowships Scheme | Forum on Indian Traditional Medicine (FITM) & Ministry of Ayush | November-December |
| Vision India Foundation (VIF) Fellowship | Vision India Foundation (VIF) | December-January |
| ESSO-NCESS Junior Research Fellowship | ESSO - National Centre for Earth Science Studies | Open throughout the year |
| ICHR Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) | Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) | November-December |
| Burning Questions Fellowship Awards | Tiny Beam Fund | May-June |
PhD in Computer Science
| PhD Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) | Students in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree in Science or a Technology-related stream can apply if they have at least 8 CGPA. | 70,000 - 80,000 |
| GATE Financial Assistance (HTRA) | Students with a valid GATE score and studying computer science are eligible. | 25,000 - 28,000 per month |
| Google PhD Fellowship India Program | PG students enrolled in Computer Science or related PhD programs at a recognized university. | 26,89,160 (total support for 4 years) |
| CSIR-UGC JRF Fellowship | PG with 55% marks in Sciences/Engineering + CSIR-NET qualification. | 20,000 - 31,000 |
| UGC NET JRF Fellowship | Students who clear the UGC NET in Computer Science & Applications | 31,000 |
Also Read
PhD Scholarships in India: MHRD
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), now known as the Ministry of Education, offers several PhD scholarships and fellowships to students pursuing doctoral research. These are available not only for Indian students but also for ASEAN countries.
| PhD Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| MHRD PhD Fellowships for ASEAN Students 2025 | PhD applicants from ASEAN countries applying for PhD programs in India. | 35,000 per month |
| Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) | Candidates who have completed M.Tech and apply for PhD in a recognized university. | 70,000 - 1st & 2nd year75,000 - 3rd year80,000 - 4th year |
| ICSSR Doctoral Research Fellowship | Candidates with a Master’s degree (First or Second class) registered for a PhD in Social Sciences | 20,000 per month |
PhD Scholarships in India for SC Students
There are some exclusive scholarships and fellowships for candidates from the Scheduled Castes (SC) to encourage students for higher education and research. Candidates belonging to the SC category can apply for these scholarships.
| PhD Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Jadavpur University Post-doctoral Fellowship | Candidates should be PhD degree holders | 58,500 per month |
| INMAS-DRDO Research Associateship/Junior Research Fellowship 2025 | PhD or PG degree holders | Up to 54,000 per month |
| IIT Kanpur SERB Dept. of Chemical Engineering Post Doctoral Fellowship (PDF) | PhD degree holders | Up to 60,000 |
| Tezpur University Dept. of Environmental Science Research Fellowship | PhD degree holders | 47,000 per month + 8% HRA |
| IIT Bhubaneswar School of Basic Sciences (SBS) Research Associateship (RA) 2025 | PhD degree holders | 47,000 per month |
| Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students, Uttarakhand 2025 | SC students from Class 11 and above | Up to 1,200 per month |
PhD Scholarship in India for ST Students
ST or Scheduled Tribes students are eligible for these exclusive scholarships for doctoral and post-doctoral studies, along with post-matric scholarships that support them from class 11 onwards. These scholarships help and encourage ST category students in pursuing higher education.
| PhD Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Gandhinagar Discipline of Chemistry (DOC) Research Associateship (RA) 2025 | Candidates should be PhD degree holders | 47,000 per month |
| IIT Ropar NSM Department of Chemistry (DC) Research Associateship 2025 | Candidates should be PhD degree holders | As per DST and Institute rules |
| IIT Kharagpur School of Medical Science and Technology Research Associateship 2025 | Candidates should be PhD degree holders | Up to 47,000 per month |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students, Uttarakhand 2025 | ST students of Class 11 and above | Up to 1,200 per month |
| Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Hostel Maintenance Allowance Scheme 2025 | Students pursuing a medicine related course. | Up to 30,000 per year |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students, Puducherry 2025 | ST students of Class 11 and above | Variable awards |
PhD Scholarships in India for OBC
The Government of India provides various PhD scholarships and fellowships for Other Backwards Class (OBC) students to encourage higher education and ensure equal access to higher education. OBC Candidates get scholarship support right from class 11 up to PhD and postdoctoral level.
| PhD Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students, Uttarakhand 2025 | OBC students of Class 11 and above | Up to INR 750 |
| Tuition Fees and Examination Fees to OBC Students, Maharashtra 2025 | OBC students from Class 11 to the PhD level | Reimbursement of tuition and exam fees |
| Post Matric Scholarship to OBC Students, Maharashtra 2025 | Class 11 to PhD students | Multiple awards |
| Post Matric Scholarship for OBC Students, Manipur 2025 | OBC students of Class 11 to PG | Multiple awards |
| Post Matric Scholarship for OBC Students – Andaman and Nicobar 2025 | Class 11 to Postdoctoral students | Variable awards |
| Post Matric Scholarship for OBC Students – Puducherry 2025 | Class 10 passed students and above | Multiple awards |
Also Read
PhD Scholarships in India For International Students
India is becoming a global hub for higher education and research. To attract more international students, there are various scholarships and fellowship programs. PhD scholarships for international students are available to students of various countries, including Australia, Singapore, the UK, South Africa, Indian Nationals, and many more.
| PhD Scholarship | Open To | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| John Monash Scholarships 2025 | Open to Australian nationals | 70,000 AUD per year |
| Tan Kah Kee Postgraduate Scholarships 2025 | Open to citizens and permanent residents of Singapore | SGD 12,000 |
| Post Graduate Scholarships for Professional Courses for SC/ST Candidates | Open to Indian nationals (SC/ST) | Variable |
| Women in Finance Scholarship 2025 | Open to all nationals | 20,000 USD |
| Tata African Scholarships in Science, Engineering and Technology 2025 | Open to female citizens and permanent residents of South Africa | Variable |
| IMU Breakout Graduate Fellowship Program 2025 | Students from developing countries | Tuition fee & other benefits |
PhD Scholarships in India For Single Girl Child
To encourage and promote higher education for women in India, several Government as well as private institutions offer PhD scholarships for single girl child candidates. These scholarships and fellowships are designed to empower female researchers
| PhD Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Ministerial Fellowship for Doctoral Research | Candidates should have registered for a PhD course. | 6 lakhs per annum |
| NCERT Doctoral Fellowship for PhD | Candidates should have 50% aggregate marks in the Master's. | 12,000 - 16,000 |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Scholarship for Doctoral Research | Candidate must have a minimum 60% aggregate in Master's and should not be above 35 years of age. | 15,000 - 18,000 |
| Maulana Azad National Fellowship | At least 50% marks in graduation from a recognized institute | 16,000 - 25,000 |
| IIT Bombay PhD Admission Fellowship | Candidate must have obtained a First-class Master's in Science/Engineering/Technology and should have a valid GATE score. | 2.24 lakhs |
| ICSSR Doctoral Research Fellowship | Candidate must have secured 60% marks in a Master's in Social Sciences from recognized university | N/A |
| Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education Scholarship (PhD in Science Education) | Candidate must have a M.Sc. (in any subject), M.S.W./M.A (Cognitive Science, Education, Psychology) or B.Tech/B.E./MBBS or equivalent degree. | 16,000 - 20,000 |
PhD Scholarship in India: FAQs
Ques. Are there scholarships for PhD?
Ans. Candidates pursuing PhD courses are offered a variety of scholarships and fellowship schemes. Students are awarded with various kinds of funds which help them to cover their tuition fees, books or accommodation charges and other fees. To take advantage of scholarship schemes, one must have very good academic results, or students may also be required to qualify for the entrance exam.
Ques. How much is a PhD scholarship?
Ans. Scholarships for PhD candidates are given based on the categories of students. For candidates belonging to SC/ST categories, the amount of scholarships is more than that of candidates belonging to OBC and General categories. On average, students receive a scholarship amount between INR 25,000 to INR 28,000 in the first two years.
Ques: Is it easy to get scholarships for a PhD?
Ans. Getting scholarships in PhD programs is highly competitive; one must secure excellent scores before applying for the scholarship.
Ques. How to get Google PhD Fellowships?
Ans. To get a scholarship offer from Google for Indian students, applicants must fulfil the eligibility requirements for the fellowship.
- Be enrolled in a PhD program in Computer Science or related fields at a recognized Indian university.
- Demonstrate outstanding academic performance and research potential.
- Apply through Google’s fellowship portal.
Google pays around INR 29,54,142 to the Indian students as a fellowship to pursue PhD courses.
Ques. What are the basic eligibility requirements of PhD Scholarships?
Ans. To be eligible to apply for the scholarship program offered to PhD students, one must have secured at least 75% in this master's degree. For some scholarships, aspirants should also qualify for the test to be an eligible candidate.
Ques. What are some of the PhD Fellowships in India?
Ans. India offers a wide range of fellowships to encourage scholars in pursuing PhD degree. While most are provided by the Government of India, several fellowships are also offered by private organisations and international agencies. The minimum eligibility to secure a PhD fellowship in India by acquiring a master's degree with at least 50% to 60% aggregate scores. Some fellowship requires candidates to qualify national entrance exam, such as UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, or GATE.
| PhD Fellowship | Funded by | Application Time |
|---|---|---|
| CSIR-UGC JRF Fellowship | Government of India | October |
| DBT-JRF Fellowship | Government of India | March |
| FITM AYUSH Research Fellowships Scheme | Forum on Indian Traditional Medicine (FITM) & Ministry of Ayush | November-December |
| Vision India Foundation (VIF) Fellowship | Vision India Foundation (VIF) | December-January |
| ESSO-NCESS Junior Research Fellowship | ESSO - National Centre for Earth Science Studies | Open throughout the year |
| ICHR Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) | Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) | November-December |
| Burning Questions Fellowship Awards | Tiny Beam Fund | May-June |
Ques. What scholarships and fellowships are there for PhD in Computer Science?
Ans. These are some of the scholarships and fellowships available for PhD in Computer Science:
| PhD Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) | Students in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree in Science or a Technology-related stream can apply if they have at least an 8 CGPA. | 70,000 - 80,000 |
| GATE Financial Assistance (HTRA) | Students with a valid GATE score and studying computer science are eligible. | 25,000 - 28,000 per month |
| Google PhD Fellowship India Program | PG students enrolled in Computer Science or related PhD programs at a recognized university. | 26,89,160 (total support for 4 years) |
| CSIR-UGC JRF Fellowship | PG with 55% marks in Sciences/Engineering + CSIR-NET qualification. | 20,000 - 31,000 |
| UGC NET JRF Fellowship | Students who clear the UGC NET in Computer Science & Applications | 31,000 |
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