Education and Career Forum

Respected expert,

I am UGC NET qualified in June 2006. I have registered for Ph.Din Rajasthan University. I really need finance for my study. Kindly tell me if there is any sort of scholarship for me. I shall be obliged.

Aarti chopra

With UGC NET qualification, there are reasonable prospects of getting scholarships and financial aid for doctoral studies at Rajasthan University. Some key options to explore are:

UGC JRF and fellowships: UGC provides Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) of Rs. 31,000 per month and Senior Research Fellowships (SRF) of Rs. 35,000 per month for NET qualified candidates pursuing MPhil or Ph.D. You can apply through online application on ugc.ac.in with your UGC NET score and selected research topic. Top scorers get fellowships for 5 years extendable to 6 years. This can cover most or all of your tuition and living expenses.

Rajasthan government scholarships: Rajasthan government provides scholarships and fellowships for SC/ST, economically backward and meritorious students including those for higher studies like Ph.D. Check eligibility criteria and apply on relevant departments' websites before deadlines. Scholarships of up to 100% tuition fees and Rs. 10,000 per month as fellowship are provided based on merit and availability of funds. Required documents include income proof, category proof, etc.

University scholarships/fellowships: Some universities provide scholarships/fellowships for doctoral studies based on merit and need. This includes waivers/reimbursements of tuition fees, contingencies, library fees, etc. and/or a monthly fellowship amount. Contact the university scholarship committee or department for details on scholarships offered, eligibility, application process and benefits for Ph.D. students at your university. Meeting high merit is essential, financial profile may also be evaluated.

Teacher fellowship: If selected as a research fellow or assistant professor at the university, you may get a monthly fellowship of Rs. 16,000-28,000 or more based on qualifications and experience. This can be used to support your Ph.D. studies and partly finance living expenses. Appear for walks-in or apply on university website for any open positions matching your profile.

Bank education loans: Take an education loan from banks for tuition fees and living expenses for Ph.D. studies. Interest rates are 7-9% for 5-10 years. Loan amounts of up to Rs. 25-30 lakhs are sanctioned for doctoral courses based on your and co-applicant's income and repayment capacity. This can cover most expenses if scholarships are not meeting complete needs. Co-applicant income is prime criterion, your UGC NET qualification and skills support eligibility.

Some additional tips for scholarships:


Meet basic eligibility, criteria and deadlines for different scholarships to maximize your chance of selection and benefits.

Prepare well for any written tests, interviews or counselling that may be part of selection process. High merits do not guarantee scholarships/fellowships.

Apply for multiple relevant scholarships to improve your opportunities. But do not apply for schemes covering same components of fees/expenses.

Check recipients list of previous years to have reasonable expectations of scholarships and amounts you may get.

Keep applying in subsequent years if not selected to improve your chances with higher qualifications, experience, research contributions, etc.