How to fund your PhD study in India?

PhD is a time taking a degree and it takes a lot of resources to pursue PhD study. In this article, we are sharing how to fund your phd study in india. It takes you typically 4 to 5 years to complete the PhD. Devoting this much time to education after post-graduation is a big decision.

One of the common constraints candidates who applied for a PhD face is the cost of a PhD program. Scholarships offered by various institutions can help you to tackle this problem.

With the help of these fellowship programmes, you can receive funding for your PhD studies and focus on your research without worrying about finances.

In this article, we are going to mention some of the renowned fellowship programs available for Indian students. Keep reading to know more.

Why a fellowship for PhD study is necessary?

PhD fellowships allow you to deal with financial constraints while focusing on your research. It will assist you in meeting multiple expenses such as tuition, admission fees, and travel expenses for research, among others.

A scholarship will provide you with financial independence while you pursue your PhD and excel in your field of study. You can apply for various fellowships at the national and international levels to receive the benefits.

How to apply for a fellowship in PhD study?

The application process for any fellowship is simple and clear. You can apply for any fellowship you are eligible for by following a few simple steps. Here are a few steps you can take to apply for a PhD fellowship programme:

Visit the official website of UGC or the own website of a particular fellowship program.
Click on the scholarship you want to know about.
Check the eligibility criteria.
Fill out the form on the website if you are eligible.
Submit the important document and research proposal as per the requirement of the scholarship.
You might have to go through the interview for some scholarship.
You can track the progress from the website directly or you will be contacted if you are selected.

Top fellowship programs in India for PhD study

Below are the top fellowship programs in India for PhD study you can apply for:

Prime Minister Fellowship for Doctoral Research

This is a fellowship programme run by the central government to encourage and assist deserving students pursuing a PhD. This programme provides an eligible candidate with a monthly stipend of INR 70,000. After completing your post-graduate studies, you can apply for this scholarship between April and May.

Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships

This fellowship is given to students pursuing a PhD at an Indian university. The duration of this scholarship is between six to nine months and allows students to further their research in fields such as public health, machine learning, sociology, and others. USIEF provides the scholarship, which you can apply for between March and June.

Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships

The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund awards this scholarship to students enrolled in PhD programmes in science, sociology, philosophy, and other fields. This scholarship will provide you with monthly stipends ranging from INR 15,000 to INR 18,000 for a period of two years. To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, the candidate must be under the age of 35 and have a minimum grade point average of 60% in their postgraduate studies.

Google PhD Fellowship India Program

Google is offering this fellowship to Indian students who want to pursue a PhD in computer science or a related field after completing their postgraduate studies. Google will provide funding to a candidate for a minimum of four years in the amount of INR 26, 89,160 to cover programme expenses. Under this fellowship, Google also offers eligible candidates an internship at Google. You can apply for this scholarship between the months of March and April.

ICHR Junior Research Fellowships (JRF)

This scholarship is intended primarily for candidates pursuing a PhD in historical studies. You must pass an entrance exam and an interview to be considered for this fellowship. The Indian Council of History Research will provide a monthly stipend of INR 16,500 to INR 17,600 to the candidate for the next two years (ICHR). You can apply for this fellowship between November and December.

Maulana Azad National Fellowship

Candidates from low-income families who want to pursue a PhD are eligible for this fellowship. This programme is run by the Indian government’s Ministry of Minority Affairs to encourage economically deprived students to pursue higher education. Your family income should not exceed INR 600,000 per annum to be eligible for this fellowship. This scholarship has a 5-year duration and a monthly stipend of INR 28,000 you will receive. This is available twice a year, in June and December.

NCERT Doctoral Fellowship for PhD

Candidates who have passed the NET and are enrolled in a recognised university for a PhD programme are eligible for this fellowship. The NCERT board funds the candidates’ tuition, housing, books, and other expenses for a period of three years under this scholarship. You will be paid INR 25,000 per month and can apply for this fellowship between September and November.

CSIR-UGC JRF NET Fellowship

Candidates who have qualified for the NET and are pursuing a PhD in life science, chemical science, earth & atmosphere, or a related field are eligible for this scholarship. This scholarship is for two years and has a monthly stipend of INR 20,000 to INR 31,000. You can apply between July and August.

Other fellowship programs for PhD

Aside from these fellowship programmes, other programmes for financial support of doctorate candidates are run by various government and non-government organisations.

These scholarships differ in terms of eligibility, duration, and monthly stipends. You can apply for these fellowships if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Some of the other fellowships are:

PhD Scholarships in India through GATE
PhD scholarships in India for Computer Science
PhD Scholarships in India MHRD
PhD scholarships in India for SC
PhD scholarships 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

Conclusion

These are the fellowships offered by various institutions for the PhD study in India. You can check the eligibility and apply as per your requirement, university and field of research. To know more about the admission process in PhD you can also check academically.com.