Are you a science student pursuing a BSc or BSMS but need some financial support? Every year, thousands of students with financial constraints drop out of college. In order to stop this and encourage students to pursue careers in science, governments and many private organisations provide scholarships worth more than Rs 45,000 per annum to eligible students. So, if you are one such student and need a scholarship, this blog will help you learn about various scholarships you can apply for.
Scholarships for Science Students:
BSc scholarships are designed to offer financial aid to students pursuing a Bachelor of Science (BSc/BS) or integrated master’s degree (BSMS) after the 12th. The various scholarship programs offered by the government and other private institutes provide monetary assistance to deserving, eligible candidates exhibiting excellent academic performance but unable to pursue higher education due to poor economic conditions. Here are some of the most popular scholarships after class 12th:
| Scholarship | Provided by | Reward |
| INSPIRE Program | DST | Rs. 60,000- Rs. 80,000 per annum |
| Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship Programme | Narotam Sekhsaria Group | Rs. 20 lakhs |
| HDFC Educational Crisis Scholarship Support (ECSS) | HDFC | Rs. 30,000- Rs. 75,000 |
| Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child | UGC | Rs. 37,200 per annum |
| Merck India Charitable Trust (MICT) Scholarship Program | MERK India Trust | Rs. 35,000 per annum |
| Santoor Scholarship | Wipro Group | Rs. 24,000 per annum |
| Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship Programme | Reliance Limited | Rs. 41,000 per annum |
| IGCAR Junior Research Fellowship | IGCAR | Rs. 35,000 per month |
| Kotak Kanya Scholarship | Kotak Group | Rs. 1.5 lakhs per year
(T&C applied) |
| AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls | AICTE | Rs. 50,000 per annum |
INSPIRE Program-
It is given to students pursuing Basic Science at the Undergraduate level, the top scorers in 12th Board exams of any recognised board, or those with a NEET/JEE rank among the top 10,000 examinees. It is provided by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Most students in IISERs and NISER get this scholarship. Rs. 60,000 per annum are awarded, along with Rs. 20,000 if you do any summer internship. You can apply for the scholarship through the DST INSPIRE portal.
Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship Programme-
It is given to Indian students who are in their final year or have graduated from any recognised institute like IISc, IISERs, IITs, etc. The scholarship aims to provide funds to students aiming to pursue postgraduate studies in India or at top universities in the UK, Australia, USA and other countries. It is provided by a private organisation, and it rewards with a one-time scholarship of Rs. 20,00,000.
HDFC Educational Crisis Scholarship Support (ECSS)-
It is provided by HDFC to students with a postgraduate, graduate or diploma degree. The annual income of the family should not be more than Rs. 2.5 lakhs to be eligible for this scholarship. The student must have ask the previous qualify exams with atleast 55% marks. This is a one-time scholarship and awards Rs. 30,000- Rs. 75,000.
Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child-
This scholarship is provided by the UGC to single girl children pursuing any postgraduate degree. The girl needs to be a single child without any brothers. However, twin daughters are allowed to apply for the scholarship. Also, the student must be in the first year of their degree to avail of financial assistance. It rewards a scholarship of Rs. 37,200 per annum for 2 years.
Merck India Charitable Trust (MICT) Scholarship Program-
Merck India Charitable Trust (MICT) Scholarship Program is an initiative of Merck India that aims to support underprivileged students keen to pursue higher education. The scholarship program is open for students residing and studying in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Bengaluru. It offers financial assistance to Class 10 passed students until they graduate in a chosen discipline. The family income should be less than Rs. 2.4 lakhs per annum. Under this scholarship program, MICT scholars receive INR 35,000 per year.
Santoor Scholarship-
This scholarship is provided by the Wipro group to underprivileged female students from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana or Chhattisgarh. Students must have passed 10th and 12th classes from a local government school. They need to be enrolled in a full-time graduation program. The scholarship rewards Rs. 24,000 until the completion of their degree.
Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship Programme-
This scholarship program is provided by Reliance Foundation to class 12th students with an aim to encourage them to continue their further studies. About 50% of the beneficiaries are females and 20% are specially-abled. The selection criteria are based on the merit list of the CBSE/State board. The family’s annual income should be less than Rs. 4.5 lakhs (specially-abled don’t have any income criteria). The scholarship amounts to approximately Rs. 41,000 per annum.
IGCAR Junior Research Fellowship-
This fellowship is provided by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research to students with a graduate or postgraduate degree with at least 55% marks. It awards Rs. 31,000 per month for the first two years.
Kotak Kanya Scholarship-
This scholarship is provided by Kotak Group to support meritorious female students from low-income families financially. Students must have completed class 12th from any recognised board with more than 85% marks and be in the first year of the graduation program. The family income must be less than Rs. 3.2 lakhs. The scholarship amounts to Rs. 1.5 lakhs per year till the completion of their degrees. However, the amount is subject to terms and conditions, which you can learn by visiting their official website.
AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls-
This scholarship is provided by AICTE to female students. Students should be in the first year of their degree, and their family income should be less than Rs. 8 lakhs per annum. The scholarship amounts to Rs. 50,000 per annum.
How to Apply?
The application process for most scholarships usually starts in November and lasts till February. However, the only efficient way to apply for these scholarships is to visit their official websites and apply from there. There are specific application portals for all scholarships from where you can get further details about application processes.
Conclusion:
These are some of the most popular scholarships for science students provided by government as well as private organisations. These scholarships have proved useful in reducing the college-dropout rates of students and encouraging students to pursue higher education in India and abroad. You can learn more about these scholarships by visiting their official websites. Many central government and state government scholarships for and after class 12th are available, which we have discussed in this blog. Check this out to learn more about them.
Now, you know about science scholarships, but if you are confused about the best science colleges in India, we have you covered. Check out this blog to learn how to choose a dream college for a career in science.
FAQs:
Ques: How can I apply for the scholarships?
Ans: You must keep looking at their official websites for the registration dates and other details.
Ques: Are there scholarships for students below class 10th?
Ans: Yes, there are many central and state government scholarships available. Every state government provides scholarships for students below class 10th, depending on their financial conditions.
Ques: What documents are required for scholarship application?
Ans: Commonly required documents include proof of identity (such as Aadhar card), proof of residence, academic transcripts or mark sheets, income certificate of parents/guardians, caste/category certificate (if applicable), and bank account details.
About us:
SciAstra is a team of scientists and research scholars from the top research institutes around the world like Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, and so on. Our vision is to promote critical thinking and scientific temperament by helping students in their careers in science.
We offer many free and paid courses where our mentors from the top research institutes like IISER, NISER, IACS, CMI,ISI IISC Bangalore, etc teach students in live classes, with study materials, mock tests, books, and everything needed. We have taught more than 10,000 students already since 2021 and achieved over 1000 selections with AIR 1, 7,10, 12, and 13 in IISc Bengaluru, IISERs, NISER, IACS, and so on. If you are looking to prepare for IAT / NEST 2024, you can check out our courses and get access to live classes, recorded lectures, study material, mock tests, doubt-clearing classes, and much more!
To know more about us, click here OR download the SciAstra App from the Play Store!
