UGC Scholarship 2026: Master's Students Can Get Financial Aid—Check Eligibility and Available Scholarship Schemes

If you dream of pursuing a Master’s degree but financial constraints are standing in your way, here is some useful news for you. Let’s explore how you can benefit from various scholarship opportunities.

There is good news for the millions of students who aspire to pursue higher education. It often happens that after completing their undergraduate studies, students wish to pursue a Master’s degree, but financial difficulties become a hurdle in their path. To assist such students, the University Grants Commission (UGC) administers several scholarship schemes. The objective of these schemes is to facilitate the education of promising and deserving students by providing them with financial assistance.

If you have completed your undergraduate studies and are now preparing to enroll in a postgraduate—specifically a Master’s—degree program, these UGC scholarship schemes could prove to be immensely helpful for you. Under these schemes, students receive financial assistance on a monthly or annual basis, making it easier for them to cover their educational expenses.

A Special Scheme for Meritorious Students

One of the most popular schemes offered by the UGC is the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies (NSPGS). This scholarship is designed for students who have completed their undergraduate studies with excellent grades and are currently pursuing their first Master’s degree program.

Under this scheme, selected students receive financial assistance of ₹15,000 per month. This assistance is provided for a duration of two years. Every year, thousands of students benefit from this scheme, enabling them to complete their studies without the burden of financial worries.

Benefits for University Toppers as Well

The UGC has also formulated a special scheme for students who secure top ranks within their respective colleges or universities. Under the ‘Post Graduate Scholarship for University Rank Holders’ (URH) scheme, financial assistance is provided to students who have secured the first or second rank in their undergraduate examinations.

Under this scheme, students receive a monthly stipend of ₹3,100. This financial support is provided for a period of two years. Its objective is to encourage talented students to pursue further studies.

Special Assistance for SC and ST Students

To facilitate the advancement of students from socially backward classes in higher education, the UGC has launched a distinct scheme. Under the Professional Post Graduate Course Scholarship for SC/ST students, financial assistance is provided to students pursuing Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, and other professional courses.

Students enrolled in courses such as M.E. and M.Tech. receive assistance of up to ₹7,800 per month. Meanwhile, students pursuing other professional courses are provided with ₹4,500 per month.

Special Scholarship for the Single Girl Child

To promote the education of girls, the UGC has launched the Indira Gandhi Single Girl Child Scholarship. This scheme is designed for female students who are the only child of their parents and are pursuing post-graduate studies.

Under this scheme, female students receive financial assistance of ₹36,200 per annum. This assistance is provided for a duration of two years. The objective of this scholarship is to encourage girls to pursue higher education.

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility criteria may vary for different scholarship schemes; however, generally, an applicant must be an Indian citizen. The student must be regularly enrolled in a post-graduate course at a recognized university or institution. Some schemes also stipulate conditions regarding age limits and minimum academic scores.

How ​​to Apply?

First, a One-Time Registration (OTR) must be completed. Subsequently, the applicant must log in and select the relevant UGC scholarship scheme. Along with filling in the information requested in the application form, the necessary documents must be uploaded. After submitting the application, students can also check the status of their application on the portal.