Students with different educational qualifications can find different scholarship opportunities in India. A scholarship suitable for a Class 10 student may not be available to a graduate, while a postgraduate or research student may qualify for a completely different type of financial support.
This is why looking for Qualifications Wise Scholarships In India can make the search easier. Instead of checking every scholarship randomly, students can first identify their current qualification and then look for schemes designed for that education level. Government departments, UGC, AICTE and other organisations offer scholarships and fellowships for students at different stages of education.
Scholarships According To Educational Qualification
Scholarships can broadly be explored according to the qualification a student has already completed or the course they are currently pursuing.
Select Your Qualification
For example, students who have completed Class 10 can look for schemes covering Classes 11 and 12. After Class 12, the options become wider and may include undergraduate, technical and professional education. Graduates can then look for postgraduate scholarships, while students with postgraduate qualifications can move towards research fellowships.
The National Scholarship Portal currently lists schemes for different student groups and educational levels for the 2026-27 academic year.
Scholarship Amount Based On Qualification
The financial support also changes as students move to higher levels of education. Some scholarships provide a fixed annual amount, while others offer monthly fellowships or larger academic support.
| Qualification / Level | Scholarship Scheme | Scholarship Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Class 10 / School Level | National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship | ₹12,000 per year |
| Class 12 Passed | Ishan Uday Special Scholarship | ₹80,000 per year |
| Graduation / UG | PM-USP Central Sector Scholarship | ₹12,000 per year |
| Graduation Rank Holder | UGC PG Scholarship for University Rank Holders | ₹37,200 per year during PG |
| Postgraduate | National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies | ₹1,50,000 per year |
| GATE/GPAT Qualified PG | UGC PG Scholarship for M.E./M.Tech/M.Pharm | ₹12,400 per month |
| PG Professional Course – SC/ST | UGC PG Scholarship | ₹78,000/year for M.E./M.Tech; ₹45,000/year for other professional courses |
| NET-JRF / Research | UGC Junior Research Fellowship | ₹37,000/month initially; ₹42,000/month later |
The amounts are based on the respective official scheme pages. Eligibility, duration and the number of available awards vary between schemes.
Scholarships After Class 10
Students who have completed Class 10 can start looking for scholarships that support higher secondary education.
One important example is the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme, which supports selected students continuing their education after Class 8. The scholarship provides ₹12,000 per year and is intended to reduce the chances of students leaving school because of financial difficulties.
Students at this stage should mainly look at school-level and state-specific schemes rather than applying for college scholarships that require admission to a degree programme.
Scholarships After Class 12
Passing Class 12 opens up a much wider range of scholarship opportunities.
Students entering undergraduate programmes can look for merit-based scholarships as well as schemes designed for specific regions, categories or financial backgrounds.
The Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme is one example for students from the North Eastern Region. Eligible students who have passed Class 12 from a school in the region and enter the first year of an eligible regular UG degree programme can receive ₹80,000 per year. The scheme has an annual family-income ceiling of ₹4.5 lakh.
Students should also check the Central Sector Scholarship and other UG-level schemes listed on NSP.
Scholarships For Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students have access to scholarships based on merit, category, income, institution and other factors.
The PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students is one of the major central scholarship programmes for higher education. Students should check the current NSP notification for the applicable academic-year conditions before applying.
UG students who perform exceptionally well can also become eligible for postgraduate opportunities later. For instance, UGC has a separate scholarship for university rank holders who move into regular postgraduate study.
This means academic performance during graduation can have financial benefits beyond the current course.
Scholarships For University Rank Holders
Students who finish graduation with a strong academic record may qualify for scholarships specifically linked to university ranking.
The UGC P.G. Scholarship for University Rank Holders is meant for first- and second-rank holders at the undergraduate level who take admission to a postgraduate course on a regular basis.
The scheme provides ₹37,200 per year for two years to selected eligible students.
This type of scholarship is different from income-based assistance because academic achievement plays the central role.
Scholarships For Postgraduate Students
Students entering a master’s degree can find scholarships specifically created for PG education.
The UGC’s National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies provides financial assistance to eligible students admitted to the first year of a regular PG degree programme. The current UGC scheme page lists ₹1.50 lakh per year, with a two-year tenure and 10,000 slots per year.
This is particularly relevant for students who have completed graduation and are moving directly into higher studies.
Scholarships For Professional Qualifications
Professional qualifications can lead to separate scholarship opportunities because courses such as M.E., M.Tech and M.Pharm often have different academic and entrance requirements.
UGC currently lists a PG scholarship for GATE/GPAT-qualified students pursuing full-time M.E., M.Tech or M.Pharm. The financial assistance is ₹12,400 per month for up to two years.
There is also a UGC PG scholarship for SC/ST candidates pursuing professional courses. The current listed assistance is ₹78,000 per year for M.E./M.Tech and ₹45,000 per year for other professional courses.
Therefore, students with a professional qualification or relevant entrance qualification should search for scholarships connected with their specific field.
Scholarships After Postgraduation
Students who have completed postgraduate education can move beyond conventional scholarships and look for research fellowships.
For example, UGC’s Junior Research Fellowship provides financial assistance to eligible NET-JRF or UGC-CSIR qualified candidates pursuing advanced research leading to M.Phil./Ph.D. The current UGC page lists ₹37,000 per month for the initial JRF period and ₹42,000 per month for the remaining SRF period, along with contingency support.
This makes research fellowships an important option for students who want to continue into academic or scientific research.
Scholarships For PhD And Research Students
At the research stage, financial assistance is generally structured as a fellowship rather than a simple annual scholarship.
UGC runs several research-related programmes for students pursuing doctoral work. Some are based on research qualification, while others target specific groups such as single girl children or particular academic categories.
For example, the Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship for Single Girl Child supports eligible single girl children pursuing Ph.D. research. Its current listed fellowship rates are ₹37,000 per month for JRF and ₹42,000 per month for SRF, along with contingency assistance.
The important difference is that research fellowships normally require students to meet additional research, registration and academic conditions.
Qualification Wise Scholarships For Different Goals
A student’s qualification is only one part of the scholarship search. The purpose of further education also matters.
A student completing Class 12 and entering a degree course should search for undergraduate scholarships. A graduate preparing for M.Tech should look at GATE-linked opportunities, while a postgraduate student preparing for Ph.D. should explore fellowships.
This approach can save time because students can search according to both qualification and next academic goal.
| Current Qualification | Next Study Level | Scholarships To Explore |
|---|---|---|
| Class 10 | Class 11-12 | School and pre-matric/post-matric schemes |
| Class 12 | UG / Professional Course | Central, state and category-based scholarships |
| Graduation | PG | UGC PG scholarships and merit schemes |
| Graduation + GATE/GPAT | M.E./M.Tech/M.Pharm | UGC professional PG scholarship |
| PG | Ph.D./Research | JRF and other research fellowships |
| UG Rank Holder | PG | UGC University Rank Holder Scholarship |
| PG + NET-JRF | Research | UGC Junior Research Fellowship |
The exact availability depends on the student’s course, institution, category and the current academic year.
How To Search For A Qualification Based Scholarship
Students do not need to check hundreds of schemes individually. They can begin with their highest completed qualification and the course they want to pursue next.
For central schemes, the National Scholarship Portal is the main starting point. The portal allows students to view schemes available for the current academic year and check their respective conditions. For UGC scholarships, students can also check the latest information published by UGC.
For state-specific scholarships, students should additionally check the official scholarship portal of their state.
What Students Should Check Before Applying
The qualification alone does not guarantee a scholarship. Each programme can have separate requirements related to marks, income, age, admission mode, institution and course.
Students should especially check whether the scholarship is meant for fresh applicants or renewals, because these can have different conditions. The NSP currently shows separate application information for several fresh and renewal schemes for 2026-27.
Students should also confirm the latest scholarship amount instead of relying on figures from older articles or social media posts.
Qualification Is The Starting Point, Not The Only Requirement
Qualifications Wise Scholarships In India make it easier for students to narrow down the huge number of scholarship opportunities available across different education levels.
The options can change significantly after Class 10, Class 12, graduation and postgraduate study. At higher levels, scholarships can become more specialised, including rank-based PG support, professional-course assistance, GATE/GPAT scholarships and research fellowships.
For the 2026-27 academic year, students should check the latest information on the official National Scholarship Portal and UGC website before applying. The right scholarship is usually found by matching qualification + course + eligibility + academic goal, rather than looking at the scholarship amount alone.