Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India Scholarships & Eligibility

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), situated in Bhat, near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is an autonomous, non-profit institution set up in 1983. Sponsored by financial institutions including IDBI Bank Ltd., IFCI Ltd., ICICI Bank Ltd., and State Bank of India (SBI), alongside support from the Government of Gujarat, EDII is a center for entrepreneurship education, venture incubation, and research.

Recognizing that financial constraints should not hinder entrepreneurial talent, EDII has instituted financial aid schemes, institutional fellowships, tuition fee waivers, and startup incubation grants. These financial support mechanisms cater to post-graduate students in programs like PGDM-Entrepreneurship (PGDM-E) and PGDM-Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Venture Development (PGDM-IEV), as well as research scholars in the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM).

1. Categories of Institutional Scholarships and Fellowships

EDII provides institutional funding opportunities categorized by academic performance, socioeconomic background, and venture potential.

Institutional Merit-Based Fellowships

Merit-based fellowships target high-performing students who demonstrate academic distinction and strong performance in national management entrance examinations. Under this scheme, top-ranked students entering the first year receive financial awards up to 50% of the tuition fee, with specific standard awards set at INR 50,000 per academic year.

Merit-cum-Means Scholarships

Designed to support meritorious candidates from lower-income families, the Merit-cum-Means scheme ensures that socio-economically disadvantaged students can complete their post-graduate studies without financial disruption.

• Income Slab 1: Students whose parents' total annual family income is up to INR 4,50,000 are eligible for financial support of up to INR 50,000.

• Income Slab 2: Students whose parents' total annual family income falls between INR 4,50,001 and INR 8,00,000 per annum can receive support up to INR 40,000.

Full Tuition Fee Waiver (TFW) Scheme

Under AICTE guidelines and internal institutional policies, EDII grants a complete Tuition Fee Waiver to select meritorious candidates hailing from low economic strata. Recipients of the TFW scheme are exempt from paying tuition fees across the program duration, subject to maintaining academic performance.

Special Support for Girl Candidates

To encourage female entrepreneurship, EDII offers a dedicated scholarship for female students pursuing management degrees. A minimum of five female candidates are awarded a financial grant of INR 25,000 per year under the merit or merit-cum-means selection criteria.

Second-Year Continuation Scholarships

For students advancing to their second year of study, scholarships are awarded based on a cumulative evaluation matrix:

• EDII First-Year Academic Result (CGPA)

• Previous academic performance in graduation

• National management entrance examination scores

• Recognized accomplishments in hackathons, business plan (B-Plan) competitions, and extra-curricular entrepreneurial activities

Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) Research Fellowships

Full-time doctoral scholars enrolled in the FPM program receive comprehensive financial fellowship support. This includes a monthly stipend alongside a contingency grant to cover research expenditure, field surveys, data collection, and conference presentations.

2. Startup Grants, Government Schemes & Venture Funding Assistance

Beyond academic tuition support, EDII serves as a grantee and implementation institute for national and state government innovation schemes. Students with viable, scalable business concepts can access seed capital and proof-of-concept funding while studying.

Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP) Grant, Gujarat

EDII acts as a grantee institute for the Government of Gujarat’s SSIP policy. Under this initiative, student innovators and early-stage startup founders (where at least one co-founder is a current student or recent alumnus) can secure proof-of-concept (PoC) and prototyping grants of up to INR 15,00,000 per approved idea.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

Through EDII’s on-campus incubator, the Centre for Advancing & Launching Enterprises (CrADLE), admitted students and incubatees can apply for financial assistance under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme. Funding is provided for proof-of-concept development, prototype construction, product trials, and market entry via grants, debt, or convertible debentures.

Project Facilitation Grant by EDII

EDII awards institutional project facilitation grants specifically to students developing viable, impactful ventures. Special preference is given to first-generation entrepreneurs and women-led startup projects.

Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM)

For Scheduled Caste (SC) student entrepreneurs, EDII facilitates access to ASIIM funding, offering equity-based funding up to INR 30,00,000 over three years to translate technology-driven business concepts into commercial enterprises.

3. Eligibility Criteria for Financial Aid

To qualify for institutional scholarships and fellowships at EDII, candidates must fulfill standard parameters:

• Academic Performance: A solid background with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) in graduation, along with qualifying test scores in CAT, CMAT, MAT, XAT, ATMA, GMAT, or CUET.

• Income Limit for Need-Based Aid: Applicants seeking Merit-cum-Means support must present a valid Income Certificate issued by a competent government authority showing gross annual family income within the prescribed limit (e.g., under INR 8,00,000 per annum).

• Disciplinary & Academic Integrity: To maintain scholarship disbursement during the course, students must maintain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA of 2.5 or above out of 4.0), pass all examinations on the first attempt, and comply with campus disciplinary policies.

4. Application Process for EDII Scholarships

The scholarship application follows a systematic, multi-step process:

1. Submission of Institutional Application: During online admission registration or upon securing admission to EDII, candidates fill out the dedicated Fellowship/Scholarship Application Form.

2. Document Upload & Verification: Applicants attach essential supporting documents, including previous academic mark sheets, national entrance exam scorecards, category certificates (if applicable), and official income proof.

3. Screening by the Fellowship Committee: The EDII Fellowship Committee reviews applications, evaluates candidates based on merit scores, entrance test percentiles, personal interview performance, and family income details.

4. Director General Approval & Award Letter: Recommendations from the committee are submitted to the Director General of EDII for final approval. Award letters detailing the sanctioned scholarship amount are issued to selected students.

5. Disbursement Terms: Institutional fellowship funds are generally adjusted directly against semester tuition fee dues. EDII retains 10% of the sanctioned fellowship amount, which is released upon successful completion of the academic program without academic or disciplinary backlogs.

5. Education Loans & External Financial Options

To assist students in covering remaining tuition, hostel, and study material costs, EDII facilitates access to external financial resources:

• Bank Tie-ups & Premier Bank Loans: EDII is listed among recognized institutions for premier education loan schemes offered by major Indian banks, including State Bank of India (SBI), IDBI Bank, Bank of Baroda, and ICICI Bank. Students can secure collateral-free education loans up to prescribed limits based on their admission offer letter.

• Special SBI-Digital Business Loans: EDII-trained entrepreneurs and graduating business founders can access specialized digital business loan assistance schemes through SBI to launch their enterprises.

• State & Central Government Schemes: Students belonging to reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC, EWS) can also apply for post-matric scholarships and welfare grants through their respective state government portals (such as Digital Gujarat, NSP portal, etc.).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does EDII offer scholarships to all PGDM students?

A: EDII provides limited, merit-based and merit-cum-means scholarships and fellowships. Scholarships are awarded to deserving candidates who fulfill academic, entrance test, and financial eligibility criteria evaluated by the institute's scholarship committee.

What is the maximum scholarship amount provided by EDII for PGDM programs?

A: Under institutional merit-based fellowship schemes, selected students receive fee waivers up to 50% of the tuition fee or standard grants ranging between INR 40,000 and INR 50,000 per year. Additionally, eligible candidates under the Full Tuition Fee Waiver (TFW) scheme receive a complete tuition fee waiver.

Are female candidates eligible for special financial support at EDII?

A: Yes. EDII has a dedicated scholarship scheme for female candidates under which a minimum of five female students receive a financial grant of INR 25,000 per year based on merit or merit-cum-means criteria.

Can EDII students access startup funding while studying on campus?

A: Yes. Student founders can apply for prototype development and proof-of-concept grants of up to INR 15,00,000 under the Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP) and the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) through EDII’s on-campus incubator, CrADLE.

What documents are required to apply for the Merit-cum-Means scholarship at EDII?

A: Applicants must submit their graduation mark sheets, national entrance exam scorecards, government-issued photo ID, proof of admission, and an official Income Certificate issued by an authorized government official (such as a Tehsildar or Revenue Officer) verifying that annual family income falls within the eligible bracket.