ICCR Scholarships

Indian Council for Cultural Relations administers various scholarships programs annually and awards about 3000+ scholarships under 21 different schemes to foreign students from about 180 countries. Amongst these 21 schemes, six are funded by ICCR from its grant and others are administered on behalf of MEA and Ministry of Ayush. The courses offered for studies are for Under-graduation, Post-graduation, and Ph.D. levels. Each academic year, ICCR has about 6000+ of its foreign scholars who are studying at various Central/State Universities, Institutes, NITs, and Agricultural Institutions etc.

In a step forward towards “Digital India” ICCR developed the “Admissions to Alumni (A2A) Portal” to streamline the enrolment process. The portal was launched on January 17, 2018 by then Honorable External Affairs Minister Late Smt. Sushma Swaraj. With the introduction of the portal from the academic year 2018-19 onwards, ICCR Scholarship programs are not only digitised but also have become an effortless exercise. The portal contains all relevant information regarding ICCR sponsored scholarship schemes and other information like names of the Indian Universities, courses offered by them and guidelines of scholarship schemes etc.

Applications for the ICCR scholarship for the academic year (AY) 2026-27 are not yet open. Based on previous years' schedules, the application portal is expected to open around February 2026. Interested candidates should monitor the official ICCR A2A Scholarship Portal (https://a2ascholarships.iccr.gov.in/) for the latest information. 

Key Details (Based on previous academic years)

The scholarship is fully funded and covers various expenses: 

• Full tuition fees
  

• Monthly living allowance (stipend)
  

• Housing allowance/hostel accommodation
  

• Return economy-class airfare
  

• Medical insurance (compulsory for all students)
  

• A yearly contingent grant for study materials 
  

Eligibility Criteria (General): 

• Nationality: Must be a citizen of an eligible country under the respective ICCR scheme.
  

• Age Limit:
  

  • Undergraduate (UG) / Postgraduate (PG) courses: 18 to 40 years.
    

  • PhD programmes: Maximum 50 years.
    

• Academic Qualification:
  

  • UG courses: Completion of 12 years of schooling (10+2 level).
    

  • PG courses: A relevant undergraduate degree.
    

  • PhD programmes: A relevant Master's degree.
    

• English Proficiency: Applicants must have a good command of English. A 500-word essay is required to assess proficiency, and TOEFL/IELTS scores can also be submitted.
  

• Non-Eligible Courses: Scholarships are generally not offered for medical/paramedical (nursing, physiotherapy, etc.), fashion, law, or integrated courses (e.g., BA LLB). 
  

Application Process

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the ICCR's A2A Scholarship Portal. The process generally involves: 

1. Registration: Register on the ICCR A2A Scholarship Portal once applications open.
   

2. Document Upload: Upload certified copies and English translations of all academic documents and transcripts.
   

3. University Preference: Select up to five universities/institutes and courses in order of preference.
   

4. Submission: Submit the complete application online before the deadline, which is typically around April for the respective academic year. 
   

Please find attached the following:

1. A copy of the 'Terms and Conditions/General Guidelines' for international students under ICCR scholarships (AY 2025-26).
   

2. A copy of financial terms and conditions for scholarship handles by ICCR.
   

3. A copy of certificate of physical fitness to be filled by a Registered Medical practitioner in the applicant’s country of domicile.
   

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Policy_Guidelines

Financial_terms_2024

Fitness