ICCR Scholarship Programme (A2A) — Study in India

The ICCR Scholarship Programme is a fully funded Government of India scholarship for foreign nationals to study for a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree at a public university in India. It is run by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) under the Ministry of External Affairs, and all applications are made through the ICCR A2A (Admissions to Alumni) Scholarship Portal.

Overview

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) runs more than 20 scholarship schemes for international students, including the Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme and the Suborno Jayanti Scholarship scheme (500 slots in the 2026–27 academic year). Scholars are placed at empanelled central universities, state universities and National Institutes of Technology in India. The programme is one of the Government of India’s flagship international education programmes, covering tuition, a monthly stipend, housing support and other allowances for the full duration of the course.

Scholarship Benefits

For the academic year 2026–27, the award provides:

• Full tuition fee coverage at empanelled public universities, paid to the university.
• A monthly stipend: INR 18,000 for Bachelor’s students, INR 20,000 for Master’s students and INR 22,000 for PhD students.
• House Rent Allowance where hostel accommodation is not available: INR 6,500 per month in Grade I cities and INR 5,500 in other cities for Bachelor’s students; INR 7,000 per month for Master’s students; INR 12,500 in Grade I cities and INR 10,000 in other cities for PhD students.
• An annual contingent allowance for books and study material: INR 5,000 for Bachelor’s, INR 7,000 for Master’s and INR 10,000 for PhD students.
• A one-time thesis/dissertation grant of INR 7,000, only for courses where a project report must be submitted.
• Return economy-class airfare on successful completion of the course, under the schemes that provide it (including the Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme).

Funding lasts for the prescribed duration of the course.

What it does NOT cover: medical expenses are not covered. Every selected scholar must buy a medical insurance policy with a minimum cover of INR 500,000 per annum at their own expense. Hostel, mess, security deposit, caution money, library and other university charges must be settled by the student on time. The award does not cover private colleges or universities.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following conditions for the 2026–27 cycle:

• Be a foreign national from an ICCR partner country. Indian nationals are not eligible, and OCI/PIO card holders are not eligible.
• Age: 18 to 40 years for Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes (18 years as on 1 July 2026); up to 50 years for PhD programmes.
• For undergraduate entry, 12 years of schooling (10+2) is compulsory. For BE/B.Tech programmes, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Grades 11 and 12 are mandatory.
• Meet the admission criteria of the chosen Indian university. Academic transcripts and certificates must be in English or accompanied by certified English translations.
• Be proficient in English: the medium of instruction is English in all universities in India. Applicants write a 500-word essay in English on the A2A portal; TOEFL or IELTS scores may be added as supplementary proof. For MBA programmes a GMAT score is mandatory.
• Be medically fit, with a medical fitness certificate from a registered medical practitioner.
• Hold a passport valid for at least two years as on 1 July 2026.
• Not already be enrolled at an Indian university.

Courses NOT covered: Medical and Paramedical courses (including Nursing, Physiotherapy and anaesthesia), fashion, law, and integrated courses such as a 5-year BA-LLB or a 5-year BSc and MSc. Admission to IITs for B.Tech courses is excluded from this portal.

Available Fields

All fields offered by empanelled Indian universities are covered, except the excluded courses listed above — including engineering, science, literature, humanities, fine arts, music, pharmacy and management, subject to the chosen university’s own admission rules. There is no separate priority-field list for the programme as a whole.

Required Documents

Upload clear, colour-scanned copies on the A2A portal (all documents in English, or with certified English translations):

• A recent passport-size photograph with a white background and both ears visible.
• Certified copies of all academic transcripts and certificates, from school level upwards.
• A certified copy of the syllabus of the last qualifying examination.
• A valid passport.
• A 500-word essay in English, written on the portal on one of the topics given there.
• Two recommendations or character certificates from the applicant’s school or university.
• A medical fitness form (downloadable from the portal).
• A research synopsis or proposal (PhD applicants).
• A GMAT score (MBA applicants).
• Association of Indian Universities (AIU) equivalence, if required.

Application Process

1. Register and submit the application only on the ICCR A2A Scholarship Portal. Applications sent by any other mode to the Indian Mission, ICCR or a university are not accepted.
2. Choose your universities and courses on the portal and upload all required documents.
3. Universities scrutinise applications on the portal and upload provisional admission confirmations.
4. The Indian Mission or Post in your country conducts the selection process, including a proficiency test or interview where applicable.
5. If selected, you receive an offer letter on the portal. Accept or reject the offer within seven days of issue, then upload the medical fitness certificate and complete the Study in India portal registration and student-visa steps set out in the offer.
6. Join the university in June–August 2026, in the joining period given in the offer letter. Bring original qualification documents, English translations and the certified syllabus copy for verification by the university.

Important Dates

Event	Date
A2A portal opens for student applications (2026–27)	27 February 2026
Deadline for student applications (2026–27)	15 April 2026
Universities scrutinise applications	27 February – 30 April 2026
Indian Missions conduct selection	27 February – 15 May 2026
Indicative joining period	June – August 2026

Applications for the 2026–27 round closed on 15 April 2026. Dates for the 2027–28 round have not been published yet — check the official portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the ICCR scholarship pay?

For 2026–27 it pays full tuition at an empanelled public university, a monthly stipend of INR 18,000 for Bachelor’s, INR 20,000 for Master’s and INR 22,000 for PhD students, plus House Rent Allowance, an annual contingent allowance and, under the schemes that provide it, return airfare on completion.

Who can apply?

Foreign nationals from ICCR partner countries who meet the age, schooling and university admission rules above. Indian nationals and OCI/PIO card holders are not eligible.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?

Not as a mandatory requirement. You write a 500-word English essay on the portal, and you may add TOEFL or IELTS scores as supplementary proof. The Mission may also test or interview you in English.

Can I study medicine or law on this scholarship?

No. Medical and Paramedical courses, fashion, law and integrated 5-year courses are not admissible under the ICCR schemes.

The 2026–27 deadline has passed. What should I do?

Prepare your documents for the next cycle and watch the official A2A portal — no dates for the 2027–28 round have been published yet.

Official source: Indian Council for Cultural Relations — ICCR A2A Scholarship Portal