The Study in India Programme (SII) confuses a lot of applicants because the name suggests one scholarship with one deadline. It is closer to a central admissions portal. The Government of India runs it under the Ministry of Education, and through it you can apply to more than 500 partner institutions, including central and state universities, IITs and IIMs, from a single account. Some of the offers you receive carry money attached. Many do not.
So the real question is whether the funding on offer fits your situation. This guide walks through what SII pays, what it leaves to you, and how to put together an application that has a fair shot at a fee waiver. You can also read the full scholarship details on our listing.
Two kinds of money, and they do different jobs
Financial support through SII comes in two separate forms, and mixing them up is the most common misunderstanding.
The first is the Study in India Scholarship, valued at roughly USD 3,200. It goes to top-performing applicants based on their score in the PRAGATI assessment that the programme uses for merit ranking. It is meant to offset living costs. It does not, by itself, cover tuition.
The second is the institute fee waiver. Partner institutes award their own tuition waivers of 25% to 100%, competitively, based on your academic merit and the preferences you pick. The programme says more than half of admitted SII students receive some level of fee waiver. That makes the waiver the more realistic target for most applicants, while the USD 3,200 award is reserved for the strongest scorers.
Put plainly: a student could get a 100% tuition waiver and no scholarship, a 25% waiver and the scholarship, or an admission with no funding at all. Each outcome is possible, and the total cost changes a lot between them.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding type | Partial funding: merit scholarship of roughly USD 3,200 plus institute tuition waivers of 25-100% |
| Study levels | Bachelor's, Master's, diploma and certificate programmes |
| Fields | Engineering, management, sciences, humanities and all fields offered by partner institutes |
| Deadline | Rolling and intake-based. Institute windows typically run through spring for the August/September intake, and exact dates vary by institute |
| Country | India |
| Provider | Ministry of Education, Government of India |
| Official site | studyinindia.gov.in |
What you will still be paying for
SII is partial funding, and it is better to plan around that from day one. The programme estimates living costs at roughly USD 400 per month for accommodation, food, transport and personal expenses. That is low compared with most Western destinations, but it is still yours to cover.
Tuition is the other open item. Fees vary significantly by institute and course, even after a waiver is applied. A 25% waiver at an expensive programme can leave you with a bigger bill than a cheaper course with no waiver. Before you rank your preferences, look up the actual fee for each course and work out what you would owe at each waiver level.
If you win the USD 3,200 scholarship, think of it as living-cost support. It will not stretch to tuition at most institutes, and the programme does not present it that way.
Beyond money, the platform gives access to guidance on visa, accommodation and pre-departure logistics. Useful, but it does not replace doing your own homework on the visa side.
Is it open to Pakistani students?
The programme describes the SII platform as open to international applicants from any country. On paper, that includes Pakistani nationals. In practice, before you spend time on test scores and a personal statement, register on the official portal and check that Pakistan is available in the nationality options and that your chosen institutes accept applicants from Pakistan. Also read the Study in India FAQ for any country-specific conditions. Do not assume eligibility until the portal itself confirms it for your nationality.
One group is clearly limited. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) can register and apply for admission, but they cannot receive the Study in India Scholarship or the institute fee waivers. That funding is reserved for foreign, non-NRI applicants.
The rest of the eligibility picture
- International (non-Indian) student status.
- A completed qualification suited to your level: secondary schooling for undergraduate study, a Bachelor's degree for postgraduate study, and so on.
- English proficiency through IELTS, TOEFL or an institute's own English test.
- GRE, GMAT or other standardised scores where the course or institute asks for them.
- A minimum academic performance threshold, set separately by each partner institute for scholarship or waiver consideration.
- A valid passport and the ability to get an Indian student visa.
Notice that the merit threshold is per institute. There is no single cut-off you can check against. Two institutes on your list could judge the same transcript very differently.
Paperwork to have ready before you register
The document list is short, which is good news, but each item needs to be in order:
- Valid passport
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- English proficiency scores (IELTS/TOEFL) where applicable
- Standardised test scores (GRE/GMAT) where applicable
- Statement of purpose or personal statement
- Passport-size photograph
- Financial capability documentation for visa purposes
The last item matters more than students expect. Since SII rarely covers everything, you will need to show you can fund the gap. Our guide to bank statements and proof of funds covers how to prepare that properly. For a broader list that applies across scholarships, see the international scholarships documents checklist.
Applying through the portal, from account to visa
- Register for a free account on studyinindia.gov.in.
- Build your academic profile. If applicable, take or submit the PRAGATI assessment score that is used for scholarship ranking.
- Search the 500+ partner list and shortlist at least three institute and course preferences.
- Submit applications to your chosen institutes through the portal.
- Review your offers and accept one. Only one offer can be accepted at a time.
- Complete your visa application and pre-departure formalities once admitted.
Why your preference list decides so much
Fee waivers are awarded partly on the preferences you select, and you can accept only one offer. That combination rewards a thoughtful list. Picking three near-identical courses at institutes with the same profile gives you three chances at roughly the same outcome. A better list spreads the risk: perhaps one highly competitive institute, one where your grades sit comfortably above typical admits, and one in between. You can list more than three if you want.
When the August/September intake actually gets decided
Registration on the portal is rolling and open year-round, but the decisions cluster around one main cycle. The general pattern looks like this:
| Period | What happens |
|---|---|
| Year-round | Registration on the SII portal |
| January-May | Main application window for the August intake (varies by partner institute) |
| May-July | Offer allocation |
| July-August | Visa and travel |
| August/September | Academic session begins |
Treat these months as a guide, not fixed dates. Each partner institute sets its own window, so confirm the exact deadline for every course on your list on the official portal. Waiver seats at top institutes fill on a rolling, merit basis, which is a strong reason to apply early in the cycle instead of in the final weeks.
Who should apply, and who should look elsewhere
SII suits a student who wants a lower-cost degree, has solid grades, and can cover living expenses and part of tuition from family funds. For that student, a large or full waiver at a good institute can make the total cost far smaller than most Western options.
It is a poor fit if you need a fully funded package to travel at all. Even the best outcome (a 100% waiver plus the USD 3,200 scholarship) leaves living costs of around USD 400 a month partly on you, and many admitted students get neither. If you need full coverage, compare SII with fully funded options in our all India scholarships roundup before committing.
Mistakes that cost applicants a waiver
- Treating the PRAGATI assessment as a formality. Ranking for the USD 3,200 award is merit-based, so preparation pays off.
- Listing near-duplicate preferences when only one offer can be accepted.
- Leaving English test requirements until late. They differ by institute and course, and some accept an institute-specific test instead of IELTS or TOEFL.
- Budgeting as if a waiver means free study. Tuition after a partial waiver and monthly living costs remain your responsibility.
- Applying at the end of the window, after rolling waiver seats at top institutes have already gone.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Study in India Programme a single scholarship?
No. It is an admissions platform covering 500+ Indian institutes. Funding comes as a merit-based Study in India Scholarship of roughly USD 3,200 plus separate, institute-driven tuition fee waivers of 25-100%.
Does the USD 3,200 scholarship pay my tuition?
No. It is intended to offset living costs. Tuition support comes only through fee waivers from individual partner institutes.
How many institutes can I choose?
You must select at least three preferences and can list more. In the end you can accept only one offer of admission.
Can NRIs get the funding?
NRIs can register and apply for admission, but they are not eligible for the Study in India Scholarship or the institute fee waivers.
How much should I budget for living in India?
The programme estimates roughly USD 400 per month for accommodation, food, transport and personal expenses, on top of whatever tuition remains after any waiver.
Do I need GRE or GMAT scores?
Only where the specific course or institute requires them. English proficiency, through IELTS, TOEFL or an institute's own test, is expected in all cases.
Before you register, read the scholarships and fellowships section on the official Study in India portal and check the full scholarship page for a quick summary of eligibility and links.