Postgraduate students in Kerala can apply for state government scholarships, central government scholarships, fee reimbursements, research grants, community-based financial assistance, and university-level aid.
The correct scholarship depends on the student’s course, admission year, family income, community, gender, academic performance, disability status, and institution.
A student pursuing M.A., M.Sc., M.Com., MBA, MCA, M.Tech., M.E., M.Pharm., M.Ed., or another recognized postgraduate programme should not rely on a generic scholarship list. Many schemes mentioned online are either restricted to undergraduate students or available at PG level only as renewals.
This guide separates:
Fresh scholarships for first-year PG students.
Scholarships that continue from undergraduate study.
Kerala government financial assistance.
Central government PG scholarships.
Community, gender, disability, and subject-based schemes.
Scholarships for students studying outside Kerala.
Which Scholarship Should a PG Student in Kerala Check First?
A PG student should check the portal that matches the student’s strongest eligibility condition.
Student profile
First scholarship route to check
First-year regular PG student with strong marks
National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies
GATE or GPAT-qualified student
GATE/GPAT PG Scholarship
First or second university rank holder
UGC PG Scholarship for University Rank Holders
Single girl child entering a master’s programme
Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child
SC or ST student in a professional PG programme
UGC Professional Courses Scholarship
SC, ST, OBC, OEC, or other notified Kerala student
e-Grantz
BPL student in a Kerala government or aided institution
Scholarships for PG Students in Kerala: Quick Comparison
Scholarship
Best suited for
Approximate benefit
Fresh PG application?
Application route
National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies
First-year regular PG students
USD 1,553 per year
Yes
NSP
GATE/GPAT PG Scholarship
Eligible M.Tech., M.E., and M.Pharm. students
USD 128 per month
Yes
Designated scholarship portal
UGC University Rank Holder Scholarship
First and second UG rank holders
USD 385 per year
Yes
NSP
Indira Gandhi Single Girl Child Scholarship
Eligible single girl children
USD 375 per year
Yes
NSP
UGC SC/ST Professional PG Scholarship
SC/ST professional-course students
Up to USD 808 per year
Yes
NSP
Suvarna Jubilee Merit Scholarship
First-year BPL students
USD 104 per year
Yes
DCE scholarship system
Kerala State Merit Scholarship
First-year merit students
About USD 16 per year for PG
Yes
DCE scholarship system
C. H. Muhammed Koya Scholarship
Eligible minority female PG students
USD 52 per year or hostel support
Yes
Current notified portal
Hindi Scholarship
PG students studying Hindi
About USD 10 per month
Yes
DCE scholarship system
Sanskrit Scholarship
PG students studying Sanskrit
About USD 2 per month
Yes
DCE scholarship system
ASPIRE Research Award
PG students completing short research
USD 83–104 for up to one month
Yes
DCE notification
e-Grantz assistance
Eligible SC/ST/OBC/OEC students
Fee and maintenance support varies
Yes or renewal
e-Grantz
KSHEC Higher Education Scholarship
Existing KSHEC scholars entering PG
Amount depends on renewal stage
No, continuation only
KSHEC portal
Prathibha Scholarship
Existing science scholars entering PG
As notified by KSCSTE
No, continuation only
KSCSTE portal
The amounts above are summaries, not payment guarantees. Students must read the current notification because benefit rates, slots, income limits, and application periods can change.
1. National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies
The National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies is one of the most valuable general scholarships available to Kerala PG students.
The University Grants Commission offers the scholarship to eligible students admitted to the first year of a recognized postgraduate degree through regular or full-time mode.
Eligibility
An applicant must generally:
Be an Indian citizen.
Be admitted to the first year of a recognized PG degree.
Be pursuing the course in regular or full-time mode.
Be below 30 years of age at the time of PG admission.
Be pursuing the first postgraduate degree.
Study at an eligible university, institution, or college.
Students in integrated programmes can receive support for the postgraduate component. Students who already hold a postgraduate degree are not eligible under the published guidelines.
Scholarship amount
The scholarship provides approximately USD 1,553 per year for two years.
UGC lists 10,000 annual scholarship slots and a maximum tenure of two years. Selection follows an all-India merit process and applicable reservation policies.
Application status for 2026–27
As of July 27, 2026, the National Scholarship Portal listed the UGC National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies as not yet opened for the 2026–27 cycle. Students should monitor the portal instead of relying on a deadline published by an unofficial website.
2. GATE/GPAT Scholarship for M.Tech., M.E. and M.Pharm. Students
The GATE/GPAT PG Scholarship supports eligible students who enter approved technical or pharmacy postgraduate programmes after qualifying the relevant examination.
Eligible courses
The scheme covers eligible students admitted to:
M.E.
M.Tech.
M.Pharm.
Certain approved integrated dual-degree programmes.
The course must normally be pursued through regular or full-time mode at an eligible institution.
Scholarship amount
The published assistance is approximately USD 128 per month for up to two years.
The award can be more valuable than small state merit scholarships. However, examination qualification alone does not guarantee payment. The student’s admission, institution, course, and portal record must satisfy the applicable rules.
5. PG Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST Students
This UGC scholarship supports Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students pursuing postgraduate professional courses through regular or full-time mode.
Eligible students
Applicants must:
Belong to the SC or ST category.
Study a recognized professional PG course.
Attend an eligible university, institution, or college.
Meet the current scheme and document requirements.
Scholarship amount
UGC publishes two benefit levels:
Course group
Approximate annual assistance
M.E. or M.Tech.
USD 808 per year
Other recognized professional PG courses
USD 466 per year
The scheme has a published tenure of two years and 1,000 slots.
The Kerala State Merit Scholarship is administered through the Directorate of Collegiate Education.
Who is eligible?
The published DCE page states that an applicant should:
Be a first-year undergraduate or postgraduate student.
Study in a government college, aided college, or university department.
Have at least 50% in the qualifying examination.
Meet the applicable family-income requirement or merit-based exemption in the current notification.
Scholarship amount
The older published programme page lists approximately USD 16 per year for postgraduate students.
That amount is low compared with central PG scholarships. Students should therefore treat this scheme as supplementary aid rather than their only funding strategy.
The current notification may revise income thresholds, merit cut-offs, slots, or benefit levels. The DCE published a 2024–25 provisional list connected with a higher merit and income threshold, which shows why the live notification must override old summary pages.
The Suvarna Jubilee Merit Scholarship is a Kerala merit-cum-means scheme for eligible first-year students.
Eligibility
The published DCE conditions require the student to:
Be in the first year of an undergraduate or postgraduate course.
Study in a government college, aided college, or university department.
Belong to a BPL family.
Have at least 50% in the qualifying examination.
Scholarship amount
The published award is approximately USD 104 per year.
This scholarship is more useful than the basic State Merit Scholarship but remains competitive. BPL status and first-year admission are central eligibility conditions.
The C. H. Muhammed Koya Scholarship supports eligible female students from specified minority communities.
Eligibility
The published DCE conditions include:
The applicant must be a female student.
The applicant must be a Kerala native.
The applicant must belong to the Muslim, Latin Christian, or Converted Christian community.
The applicant must study in the first year of graduation or a higher course.
The applicant must have at least 50% in the qualifying examination.
Family income must remain within the notified limit.
Merit-seat students in self-financing colleges may be eligible.
Scholarship and hostel assistance
The published benefit for postgraduate students is approximately USD 52 per year.
Eligible hostel residents may receive approximately USD 124 per year instead. A student approved for the hostel stipend cannot also receive the ordinary scholarship under the published conditions.
The Hindi Scholarship supports eligible students who study Hindi as a subject in their current course.
Eligibility
Hindi must be one of the subjects in the postgraduate programme. Merely having studied Hindi during school may not satisfy the condition when Hindi is absent from the current PG course.
Scholarship amount
The DCE programme page lists approximately USD 10 per month for postgraduate students.
The published page also mentions a limited number of PG awards. Selection may therefore depend on the current notification, available slots, course verification, and institutional approval.
The Sanskrit Scholarship supports eligible students studying Sanskrit as part of their present course.
Eligibility
Sanskrit must be a subject in the student’s current programme. Applicants should not assume that previous Sanskrit study automatically creates eligibility.
Scholarship amount
The older DCE scheme page lists approximately USD 2 per month for postgraduate recipients.
The amount is modest. The scholarship may still provide useful recognition and limited educational support for eligible Sanskrit students.
ASPIRE is a short-term research award rather than a general tuition scholarship.
The programme gives eligible postgraduate students exposure to research institutions and supervised projects.
Eligibility
The published guidelines cover regular PG, M.Phil., and Ph.D. students in government or aided colleges under specified Kerala universities.
University-department students were excluded under the cited guidelines. Applicants must verify whether this condition remains unchanged in the current cycle.
Funding for PG students
The published monthly assistance is approximately:
USD 83 for research completed within Kerala.
USD 104 for research completed outside Kerala.
PG students can receive assistance for a maximum of one month under the cited guidelines. DCE published PG selections for the 2024–25 research-award cycle, confirming that postgraduate students remain part of the programme.
e-Grantz is Kerala’s centralized application and disbursement platform for post-matric educational assistance available to eligible SC, ST, OBC, OEC, and other notified students.
The portal supports scholarship processing and Direct Benefit Transfer.
What can e-Grantz cover?
Depending on the student’s category, course, institution, and applicable department, assistance may include:
Admission fees.
Tuition or course fees.
Examination fees.
Maintenance allowance.
Other notified educational allowances.
The portal displays eligible schemes after the student enters personal, community, and academic information. Every registered student will not see the same scheme options.
Vidya Samunnathi provides educational assistance to selected students from economically disadvantaged forward communities in Kerala.
The Kerala State Welfare Corporation for Forward Communities operates the scheme.
PG eligibility
The official Samunnathi system publishes a separate postgraduate scholarship category. Students should download the current PG guidelines because income limits, reservation rules, required certificates, and benefit rates may change.
The official system requires one-time registration. The student must complete the profile before submitting a scholarship application. Uploaded files must meet the portal’s format and size rules.
The 2025–26 Vidya Samunnathi application deadline was November 4, 2025. That cycle is over, and students should wait for the next official notification rather than submitting through unofficial agents.
Scholarships That Usually Cannot Be Started Fresh at PG Level
Two important Kerala scholarships can support postgraduate study but normally require the student to have received the scholarship during undergraduate education.
14. KSHEC Higher Education Scholarship
The Kerala State Higher Education Council Higher Education Scholarship is a renewable merit-based award.
Fresh selection begins with first-year undergraduate students in eligible non-professional disciplines. Selected recipients can continue receiving support during postgraduate study after meeting renewal requirements.
A student entering PG without previously receiving the KSHEC award should not describe this scheme as a fresh PG scholarship.
KSHEC states that 1,000 first-year undergraduate students are selected annually and that eligible recipients can continue into postgraduate programmes. The scheme covers fields such as basic sciences, humanities, social sciences, and business studies.
The 2025–26 renewal deadline was May 24, 2026. That renewal window has closed.
The Prathibha Scholarship promotes higher education in basic and natural sciences.
Fresh selection occurs during undergraduate or integrated-PG entry. Postgraduate funding is generally a continuation benefit for existing Prathibha scholars.
PG continuation requirements
KSCSTE states that continuation to postgraduate level is available when a scholar:
Completes the undergraduate course with at least 75%.
Received the Prathibha Scholarship during all three undergraduate years.
Enters an eligible postgraduate basic or natural science programme.
A first-year M.Sc. student who never held the undergraduate Prathibha award should not assume eligibility for fresh PG entry.
The National Scholarship Portal opened its 2026–27 academic-year system on June 1, 2026. Individual schemes have separate opening dates and deadlines.
As of July 27, 2026, relevant schemes included:
Scheme
Status
Student deadline
UGC National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies
Not yet opened
Not announced
ICAR Post Graduate Scholarship
Open
October 31, 2026
ICAR National Talent Scholarship for PG students
Open
October 31, 2026
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
Open
October 31, 2026
Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities
Open
October 31, 2026
PM YASASVI Top Class College Education
Open
October 31, 2026
Top Class Education for SC Students
Open
October 31, 2026
Higher Education Scholarship for ST Students
Open
October 31, 2026
Post-matric assistance for eligible worker families
Open
October 31, 2026
The portal lists defective-application and institutional-verification deadlines separately. Submission alone is not enough. The student’s institution must verify the application within the applicable period.
Can Kerala Students Studying Outside Kerala Apply?
Yes, some Kerala students studying outside the state can receive scholarships.
Eligibility depends on the scheme.
National UGC, ICAR, disability, SC, ST, OBC, and professional-course scholarships may cover students at eligible institutions anywhere in India.
Certain e-Grantz categories may also support outside-state study. The student must satisfy domicile, course-recognition, institution, community, and department conditions.
A student studying outside Kerala should verify:
Whether the destination institution is recognized.
Whether the course is approved.
Whether the institution is registered on the relevant portal.
Whether fees are paid to the institution or the student.
Whether private accommodation receives any maintenance support.
Do not use “Kerala scholarship” and “scholarship for studying in Kerala” as interchangeable terms. One may depend on Kerala domicile. The other may depend on the location of the institution.
Documents Required for PG Scholarship Applications
Document
Purpose
Aadhaar card
Identity and portal authentication
Aadhaar-linked mobile number
OTP and verification
Student bank passbook
Scholarship payment
Admission letter
Proof of current PG admission
Bonafide certificate
Confirmation from the institution
Undergraduate mark sheets
Merit and qualification verification
University rank certificate
Rank-holder scholarship
Income certificate
Need-based eligibility
Community or caste certificate
Category-based eligibility
Nativity or domicile certificate
Kerala residence requirement
BPL certificate or ration-card proof
BPL scholarship
Disability certificate
Disability scholarship
Fee receipt
Fee reimbursement
Hostel certificate
Hostel stipend
Single girl child affidavit
Single-girl-child scholarship
GATE or GPAT scorecard
Technical PG scholarship
Research proposal
ASPIRE or research assistance
The name, date of birth, bank details, and Aadhaar information should match across documents. Small inconsistencies can delay authentication or institutional verification.
Do not let an agent retain the login password or OTP access.
Step 5: Upload readable documents
Blurred, cropped, expired, or inconsistent documents can make an application defective.
Step 6: Submit before the deadline
Do not wait until the final day. Portal traffic, certificate delays, and institution-data errors can prevent submission.
Step 7: Confirm institutional verification
An application marked “submitted” may still require verification by the college or university nodal officer.
Step 8: Track the application and payment
NSP students can monitor verification on NSP and payment through the relevant PFMS tracking facility. Official NSP guidance states that payment status can be checked using the application ID.
Can a Student Receive Two Scholarships?
A PG student cannot assume that two scholarships can be combined.
Some schemes prohibit recipients from receiving another scholarship or stipend. Other programmes may permit a tuition waiver alongside a private award. The rule depends on both schemes.
Before accepting multiple awards:
Read the “other scholarship” clause.
Declare existing financial assistance.
Ask the institution’s scholarship nodal officer.
Obtain a written answer where possible.
Do not submit duplicate claims for the same expense.
The e-Grantz FAQ indicates that access to multiple schemes depends on the student’s category and the rules of the administering departments. Students should not treat portal visibility as automatic permission to receive both awards.
Common Reasons Scholarship Applications Get Rejected
Application problem
Likely reason
Corrective action
Scholarship not visible
Profile does not meet scheme rules
Recheck course, category, year and institution
Institute verification pending
College has not processed the application
Contact the scholarship nodal officer
Defective application
Missing or inconsistent document
Correct it within the portal window
Duplicate application
Multiple registrations or matched records
Contact the official helpdesk
Course not found
Course or institution data is incomplete
Ask the institution to update its portal record
Payment failed
Bank or Aadhaar linkage problem
Verify the active account and mapping
Renewal unavailable
Original award not approved or renewal not open
Check the current renewal notification
Application rejected
Eligibility condition was not satisfied
Read the rejection reason before appealing
Selected but unpaid
Payment processing is incomplete
Track portal and PFMS status
Hostel stipend rejected
Hostel is unrecognized or certificate missing
Obtain the prescribed institutional certificate
How to Choose the Best PG Scholarship
The scholarship with the highest advertised amount is not always the best option.
Compare each scheme using five factors:
Eligibility certainty
A category-based fee reimbursement may be more realistic than a national merit scholarship with limited slots.
Total financial value
Calculate tuition support, maintenance allowance, hostel assistance, and duration.
Renewal probability
A renewable two-year scholarship can provide more value than a larger one-time grant.
Application urgency
Prioritize an eligible scheme with an approaching deadline.
Exclusivity risk
A small scholarship that blocks a larger fee reimbursement may be a poor choice.
The strongest application strategy is to identify every eligible scheme, compare the restrictions, and submit the highest-value compatible applications before their deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there any scholarship for PG students in Kerala?
Yes. PG students in Kerala can apply for UGC scholarships, Kerala DCE scholarships, e-Grantz assistance, Vidya Samunnathi, subject-based awards, disability schemes, and research support. Eligibility depends on course mode, admission year, academic merit, income, community, gender, disability, institution, and whether the scheme accepts fresh PG applications.
2. Which scholarship offers the highest amount to general PG students?
The National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies offers one of the highest general PG benefits at approximately USD 1,553 per year for two years. It is competitive and limited to eligible first-year regular or full-time students below the prescribed age who are pursuing their first recognized postgraduate degree.
3. Can PG students apply through e-Grantz?
Yes. Eligible SC, ST, OBC, OEC, and other notified students pursuing approved post-matric courses can apply through e-Grantz. The portal determines which schemes appear based on the student’s profile, community, course, institution, income, and study location. The amount and coverage differ between departments and applicant categories.
4. Can general-category PG students receive scholarships in Kerala?
Yes. General-category students may qualify for merit scholarships, UGC schemes, university-rank awards, GATE or GPAT assistance, single-girl-child scholarships, subject scholarships, research awards, and institutional aid. Economically disadvantaged students from eligible forward communities should also examine Vidya Samunnathi. Each scheme has independent eligibility rules.
5. What is the income limit for PG scholarships in Kerala?
There is no universal income limit. Suvarna Jubilee uses BPL status. State Merit, minority assistance, e-Grantz, Vidya Samunnathi, and disability schemes have separate income rules. Some national merit scholarships do not use the same income test. Applicants must follow the current notification for the specific academic year.
6. Can students in private colleges receive PG scholarships?
Some schemes cover recognized private or unaided institutions, while others cover only government, aided, or university departments. Certain programmes also distinguish merit seats from management seats. A student should verify the institution type, course approval, portal registration, and seat category before assuming that a private-college admission is eligible.
7. Are distance-education PG students eligible?
Many major PG scholarships require regular or full-time study. The Indira Gandhi Single Girl Child Scholarship explicitly excludes distance education. Other schemes may impose similar restrictions. Distance and online students should search for institution-specific aid or schemes that expressly permit their mode instead of applying under regular-course categories.
8. Can second-year PG students submit a fresh application?
Most entry-based PG scholarships accept fresh applications only during the first year. Second-year students can usually apply only through renewal when they received the scholarship in the previous year. Exceptions may exist for research grants, institutional aid, or newly announced schemes that do not impose a first-year condition.
9. Can students receive e-Grantz and another scholarship together?
The answer depends on both schemes. Some scholarships prohibit any simultaneous scholarship or stipend. Others may permit private awards or non-overlapping assistance. Students should disclose existing support, read both scheme guidelines, and obtain clarification from the institution or department before accepting two awards for the same academic expenses.
10. How are PG scholarships paid?
Government scholarships are generally transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer or another approved payment system. Some amounts may enter the student’s bank account, while tuition reimbursement may go to the institution. Students should use an active bank account, maintain correct Aadhaar-linked details, and track verification and payment separately.
11. Why is my scholarship application still pending?
A pending application may be waiting for institution verification, district or state approval, document correction, merit selection, or payment processing. Check the exact portal status first. Contact the level where the application is pending. Do not create a second application unless the official helpdesk specifically instructs you to do so.
12. What does “duplicate found” mean on a scholarship portal?
“Duplicate found” usually means that the system detected another registration, application, Aadhaar record, bank record, or overlapping scholarship claim connected with the student. Save both application references and contact the official helpdesk. Creating additional accounts can worsen the problem and delay resolution.
13. Does a PG scholarship cover hostel expenses?
Some schemes include a maintenance allowance or separate hostel stipend. The C. H. Muhammed Koya scheme publishes hostel assistance for eligible students in recognized hostels. e-Grantz and other category-based programmes may also provide maintenance support. Private accommodation is not automatically treated as an approved hostel.
14. Can an integrated PG student receive a scholarship?
Yes, when the specific scheme covers integrated programmes. The National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies provides assistance only for the postgraduate component of an eligible integrated course. Other schemes may treat integrated study differently. Students should verify the course structure, year, degree nomenclature, and fresh-application rules.
15. Can a student apply after completing one master’s degree?
The National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies is restricted to the first postgraduate degree. A student who already holds a master’s degree is therefore ineligible for that scheme. Other subject-based, professional, research, institutional, or category-based programmes may have different rules and should be checked separately.
16. When do PG scholarship applications open in Kerala?
There is no single opening date. NSP began its 2026–27 academic-year portal on June 1, 2026, but individual schemes opened on different dates or remained unopened. Kerala schemes publish separate notifications. Students should begin monitoring official portals after admission and continue checking through October or November.
17. Is Aadhaar mandatory for PG scholarship applications?
Aadhaar is required or heavily integrated into many government scholarship systems, including e-Grantz registration and NSP identity processes. Applicants should ensure that their name and date of birth match the academic records. The associated mobile number and bank information should also remain active throughout verification and payment.
18. Can Kerala students studying in another state receive scholarships?
Yes. National scholarships can cover eligible students at recognized institutions across India. Some Kerala category-based assistance may also cover outside-state study under additional conditions. Students must verify domicile, course recognition, institution registration, fee structure, and whether the responsible Kerala department approves the programme and destination institution.
Conclusion
Several scholarships are available for PG students in Kerala, but no single scheme covers every postgraduate applicant.
First-year regular PG students should examine the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies. GATE and GPAT-qualified students should prioritize technical PG assistance. SC, ST, OBC, and OEC students should complete an e-Grantz eligibility check. Minority female students, forward-community students, university rank holders, single girl children, students with disabilities, and language students should use the corresponding targeted schemes.
Students should also distinguish fresh PG scholarships from continuation-only programmes. KSHEC and Prathibha can fund postgraduate study, but PG support normally depends on receiving the scholarship during undergraduate education.
Apply only through official portals. Read the current notification. Confirm institutional verification. Track the application until payment.
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