Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship is a prestigious merit-based award that provides financial assistance of up to USD 100,000 (≈ INR 95 L) for exceptional Indian students pursuing full-time Master's, MPhil, or Doctoral programs at top-rated universities in USA, universities in UK, and universities in Europe. 

The scholarship provides financial assistance towards tuition fees, living expenses, one-way travel, visa costs, and health allowance.

Applicants must already have secured admission to an eligible overseas institution before applying.

For the latest completed cycle, applications opened on 14 February 2025 and closed on 31 March 2025 at 12:00 PM (Noon) IST.

Who is Eligible for Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship 2026? 

The Inlaks 2026 is intended for academically outstanding Indian students who have secured admission to a postgraduate or doctoral programme at a reputed institution abroad.

Along with this, there are a few important criteria you need to meet, which are listed below:

Academic Eligibility Requirements for Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship 

The Scholarship requires applicants to hold a strong undergraduate degree from a recognized university. 

Candidates must have proof of admission (or an application receipt) for a postgraduate program. 

Applicants must meet the following conditions as well:

• You must hold a valid Indian passport. 
• You should be residing in India at the time of application. 
• Applicants in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Fine Arts, Architecture, and related disciplines should have at least 65% marks, CGPA 6.8/10, or GPA 2.6/4. 
• Applicants in Mathematics, Sciences, Environment, and related disciplines should have at least 70% marks, CGPA 7.2/10, or GPA 3/4. 
• You must already have an admission offer from an eligible university in USA, UK, or Europe. 
• Conditional admission offers are accepted only if the pending requirement relates to English language certification. 
• Applicants who completed their undergraduate studies abroad should have lived, studied, or worked continuously in India for at least two years after graduation. 

Who cannot apply for the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship? 

Individuals who already hold a postgraduate degree from abroad, non-citizens, and in the following case may not be eligible for the scholarship: 

• Do not hold an Indian passport. 
• Residing outside India during the application period. 
• Already possess a postgraduate qualification obtained abroad. 
• Currently pursuing postgraduate studies overseas. 
• Intend to study Business, Finance, Computer Science, Hospitality, Tourism, Management Studies, Medicine, Dentistry, or Fashion Design. 
• Applying for an undergraduate degree. 
• Admission offer does not satisfy the scholarship eligibility requirements. 

Benefits of the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship provides Indian students with full or partial funding to pursue full-time Master's, MPhil, or Doctoral programs at top-rated American, UK, and European institutions. 

To understand this better, here is a detailed breakdown of the benefits offered under the scholarship:

Benefit Type	Coverage
Scholarship Value	Up to USD 100,000 (≈ INR 95 L)  up to USD 120,000 (≈ INR 1Cr) (in specific cases)
Tuition Fees	Full or partial support
Living Expenses	Monthly maintenance allowance
Airfare	One-way economy-class ticket from India
Health Allowance	Covered under scholarship provisions
Visa Expenses	Included
Additional Funding	Required if study costs exceed USD 100,000 (≈ INR 95 L)

The Scholarship aims to reduce the financial burden associated with studying at leading international universities.

Read More: How to Study Abroad for Free?

How to Apply for Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship?

To apply for the Scholarship, complete the online application on their official portal Inlaks Foundation Scholarship. 

The process opens in early spring, and applicants can fill in their details, upload supporting documents, and submit the application.

Here is the step-by-step procedure for applying for the Inlaks:

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Visit the official Inlaks Foundation Scholarship page and carefully review the eligibility requirements, subject restrictions, and participating institutions.

Step 2: Secure Admission

Obtain admission to an eligible university in USA, UK, or Europe before starting the scholarship application.

Step 3: Register on the Application Portal

Create an account on the Foundation's online application portal and complete your profile information.

Step 4: Fill the Application Form

Enter personal, academic, professional, and university admission details accurately.

Step 5: Upload Documents

Attach all required documents, including academic transcripts, admission letters, statement of purpose, references, and passport copies.

Step 6: Review and Submit

Cross-check all information carefully before submitting the final application.

Documents Required for Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship

To apply for the Scholarship, applicants need to upload documents proving your academic standing, university admission, financial situation and overall profile.

All documents must be clear, well-formatted, and typically combined into PDF or JPEG formats.

Here is the complete list of documents generally required for the scholarship.

• Admission or offer letter from the overseas university 
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates 
• Statement of Purpose (SOP) 
• Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
• Two letters of recommendation 
• Valid Indian passport 
• Recent passport-size photograph 
• Portfolio, if applicable for Art, Design, Architecture, or Documentary Film applicants 
• IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, or other test scores, if required by the university 
• Proof of additional funding, if tuition fees exceed the scholarship amount 

Note: Make sure all documents are clear, valid, and meet the format and size requirements specified in the application portal.

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship Deadline

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship follows a fixed annual application cycle, with applications usually opening in February and closing in March each year.

For the most recent scholarship cycle, applications for the 2026 intake opened on 14 February 2025 and closed on 31 March 2025 at 12:00 PM (Noon) IST.

Below is how the application timeline generally works:

• Applications usually open once every year in February. 
• The application deadline generally falls on 31 March. 
• Preliminary online interviews are typically conducted during May. 
• Final interviews are usually held in Mumbai in late May or early June. 
• Selected candidates are informed about the results around July. 

Note: Because the scholarship follows a yearly application cycle, applicants should regularly check the official Inlaks Foundation website for the latest announcement and exact dates.

Also Read: Top Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students: Best Study Abroad Scholarships

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship Selection Process

The Inlaks selection process is rigorous and designed to identify highly talented students with strong academic achievements, clear career goals, and the potential to excel at leading universities abroad. 

Following is the detailed description of the process involved in the selection of candidates:

• Application Screening: All applications received are reviewed to verify eligibility, academic qualifications, admission offers and supporting documents.
• Candidate Shortlisting: Eligible applicants are shortlisted based on academic performance, statement of purpose, recommendation letters, portfolio (where applicable), and overall profile strength.
• Preliminary Interview: Shortlisted candidates are invited for an online interview to assess their subject knowledge, motivation, future plans, and suitability for the scholarship.
• Final Interview: Candidates selected from the preliminary round appear for a final interview, generally conducted in Mumbai, before an independent selection committee.
• Approval of Selected Candidates: Final scholars are selected after evaluating their complete application, interview performance, and overall merit.

How to Check Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship Status?

To check your status, rely primarily on the email address you registered with, as they notify shortlisted candidates directly.

Applicants can check their scholarship status through the process communicated by the Foundation during the selection period.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Check Your Registered Email

Regularly monitor the email address used during application submission for updates from the Foundation.

Step 2: Review Interview Invitations

Shortlisted applicants receive invitations for preliminary and final interviews through email.

Step 3: Wait for Final Communication

Selected candidates are notified individually after completion of the interview rounds.

Step 4: Contact the Foundation

Applicants requiring clarification may reach out to the Foundation through the official contact details provided on its website.

Suggested Read: How to Get a Scholarship to Study Abroad from India?

Common Reasons for Rejection of Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship

Rejection of the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship happens, as it is competitive.

Applications for the Scholarship may be rejected if applicants do not satisfy the eligibility requirements or fail to submit a strong overall profile.

Some common reasons for rejection include:

• Not holding an Indian passport or not residing in India during the application period.
• Applying for subjects that are excluded under the scholarship guidelines.
• Not obtaining admission to an eligible university before applying.
• Academic scores below the minimum eligibility requirements.
• Weak statement of purpose or unclear study objectives.
• Incomplete application form or missing supporting documents.
• Poor performance during interviews.
• Failing to demonstrate how the proposed studies will contribute to future academic or professional goals.

Conclusion

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship is one of India's most prestigious overseas study scholarships for students aiming to pursue master's, MPhil, or doctoral programmes at leading institutions in USA, UK, and Europe.

With funding support of up to USD 100,000 (≈ INR 95 L), the scholarship helps reduce major study expenses and allows students to focus on academic and professional growth.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements should secure admission early, prepare their application documents carefully, and submit the scholarship application within the stipulated timeline to improve their chances of selection.

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