Nalanda University Scholarships & Eligibility

Nalanda University, Nalanda – Scholarships

Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar, offers a robust portfolio of scholarships tailored to its international student body, emphasizing merit, regional partnerships, and financial accessibility for postgraduate and doctoral programs in fields like ecology, Buddhist studies, and sustainable management. These awards, supported by the Government of India, university endowments, and international collaborations, cover tuition waivers, stipends, accommodation, and travel, prioritizing students from developing and partner nations. Over 100 scholarships are disbursed annually, reflecting the university's mission to revive ancient Nalanda as a global knowledge hub accessible to diverse scholars.

Types of Scholarships

Nalanda provides merit-based, need-based, and region-specific scholarships, many fully funded through government schemes.

• NU International Scholarships for Developing Countries: Targets students from developing nations, covering full tuition waivers for MA/MSc/MBA/PhD programs.
• ICCR Scholarships: Offered by Indian Council for Cultural Relations for students from 140+ countries, including tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend (INR 20,000-25,000), and one-time travel.
• ASEAN Scholarships: 20 slots yearly via ASEAN-India Fund for Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam; covers tuition, living expenses, and airfare.
• BIMSTEC Scholarships: 50 slots (24 MA, 6 PhD) for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand; includes tuition, accommodation, stipend, and to-and-fro airfare.
• NU-Bhutan Scholarship: Up to 30 slots under Aid to Bhutan Fund, fully funding tuition, housing, contingency (INR 10,000/year), and stipend for Bhutanese students.
• Merit Scholarships: For high-achieving students (top 10-20% GPA) from any country, covering partial to full tuition post-semester results.
• Special Named Scholarships: Shri Narsingrao Gangaram Pimple for meritorious monks (tuition + stipend); Smt Saraswati Narsingrao Pimple for Tanzanian students (full coverage).

Domestic students access additional UGC schemes like single-girl child scholarships or national merit aids, often topping INR 12,400/month.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must secure admission first (55% minimum in prior degree, entrance test clearance), demonstrating academic excellence (GPA 3.0+/4.0 or equivalent), financial need (income < INR 8 LPA for some), and alignment with program themes like sustainability or Buddhist philosophy.
• Region-specific awards require citizenship from target countries; monks/nuns qualify via additional monastic endorsements.
• Merit scholarships renew based on 8.0+ CGPA and no backlogs; internationals need valid visas and TOEFL/IELTS scores.

Application Process

• Scholarships integrate with admissions via nalandauniv.edu.in portal.
• Submit admission application (INR 500 fee) by March-April deadlines, indicating scholarship interest.
• Shortlisted candidates attend online/video interviews assessing motivation, financial status, and research fit (15-30 minutes).
• Upload supporting documents: income proof, recommendation letters, SOP, passport, marksheets.
• ICCR/ASEAN/BIMSTEC apply via respective portals (iccr.gov.in, mea.gov.in) by December-January, nominating through embassies.
• Merit/renewals post-semester: pay dues, submit grades; committee decides within 2-4 weeks.
• Awards announced with admission offers (May-June); appeals via scholarship committee.

Financial Aid Options

• Beyond scholarships, options include fee waivers (up to 100% for extreme need), education loans via SBI tie-ups (up to INR 20 lakhs at 8-10% interest), and work-study roles as teaching assistants (INR 5,000-10,000/month stipend).
• International students leverage home-country aids or Fulbright-like grants, while university endowments fund emergency funds (INR 20,000 one-time).
• In 2025-26, over 40% of enrollees received aid, with BIMSTEC/ASEAN slots expanded amid growing applications.
• Verify updates on official site, as quotas adjust yearly per diplomatic agreements.