Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu supports its students through a wide network of scholarships and fellowships. These come from the Central Government, the Tamil Nadu State Government, and the university itself.
Every Bharathidasan University scholarship is designed to reduce the financial burden on students and reward academic merit at the same time. Postgraduate students can access fee waivers and monthly stipends, while PhD scholars receive research fellowships that often exceed INR 35,000 a month.
The university also runs its own Earn While You Study plan and awards four fellowships to research scholars in each department. Below are the complete Bharathidasan University scholarship details, including eligibility, documents, benefits, and how to apply.
Table of Contents
- Bharathidasan University Scholarships Overview
- Bharathidasan University Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- Documents Required for Bharathidasan University Scholarships
- How to Apply for Bharathidasan University Scholarships
- Bharathidasan University Scholarships for PG Programmes
- Bharathidasan University Fellowships for PhD Scholars
- Bharathidasan University Scholarship Renewal Rules
- Bharathidasan University Scholarship FAQs
Bharathidasan University Scholarships Overview
The university offers financial support at two levels. Postgraduate students can apply for merit based, need based, or category based scholarships funded by the Central and State Governments. PhD scholars can apply for research fellowships that pay a monthly stipend along with an annual contingency grant for books, travel, and research expenses.
Most schemes fall under three broad categories. Merit based awards reward high academic scores. Need based awards support students from low income families, usually where the family income is below INR 2 to 2.5 lakh a year. Category based awards are reserved for SC, ST, OBC, minority, and single girl child applicants. Together these schemes cover a large share of the student population at Bharathidasan University.
Bharathidasan University Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility depends on the type of scholarship a student applies for. Merit based schemes usually require 60 percent marks or higher in the qualifying exam. Need based schemes look at family income, which is often capped between INR 2 lakh and INR 4.5 lakh a year depending on the scheme.
Reserved category schemes ask for a valid caste or community certificate. PhD fellowships such as CSIR and UGC JRF require candidates to qualify a national level exam like NET or GATE before they can apply. Full time enrollment in a recognized program at Bharathidasan University is compulsory for almost every scheme, and distance education students are excluded from most Central Government scholarships.
Documents Required for Bharathidasan University Scholarships
Every Bharathidasan University scholarship application asks for a set of standard documents to confirm identity, income, and category. Missing even one document is a common reason applications get rejected, so students should keep certified copies ready before the application window opens.
Bharathidasan University Scholarship Documents Checklist
| Document | Purpose |
| Mark sheets or transcripts | Proves academic performance for the latest qualifying exam |
| Caste, community, or minority certificate | Required for reserved category and minority scholarships |
| Family income certificate | Confirms eligibility for need based and EWS schemes |
| Bonafide or enrollment certificate | Confirms current enrollment at the university |
| Bank passbook copy or account statement | Used for direct transfer of scholarship funds |
| NET, GATE, or other qualifying exam scorecard | Required specifically for PhD fellowship applications |
How to Apply for Bharathidasan University Scholarships
Applying for a Bharathidasan University scholarship follows a different route depending on the scheme. Students should apply within the window announced for each academic year, since late submissions are usually not considered.
- Central Government schemes are applied for through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in
- Tamil Nadu State Government schemes are applied for through the Tamil Nadu e Scholarship portal
- University level schemes such as Earn While You Study are applied for directly at the campus scholarship office
- PhD fellowships like CSIR SRF and UGC JRF require the candidate to first qualify NET, GATE, or another national exam before applying on the fellowship's own portal
- Applications must be submitted along with all required documents before the official deadline for that scheme
- Renewal applications for existing scholarship holders follow a separate window, usually at the start of each new academic year
- Students should keep a copy of the submitted application and acknowledgment for future reference
Bharathidasan University Scholarships for PG Programmes
Postgraduate students at Bharathidasan University can choose from Central Government, State Government, and university funded schemes. Some of these carry a fixed annual amount rather than a monthly stipend. For example, the PG Merit Scholarship for university rank holders currently pays around INR 37,200 a year for two years, while the PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship for single girl children pays INR 36,200 a year for the same duration.
The table below sets out the full list of PG scholarships available at Bharathidasan University, split by funding source.
Bharathidasan University Scholarship Details for PG programmes
| Scheme | Funded by | Benefit |
| Government of India Scholarship for SC and ST Students | Central | Tuition and exam fee waiver plus maintenance allowance |
| Government of India Scholarship for Minority Students | Central | Tuition and maintenance fee support |
| National Merit Scholarship for Meritorious Students | Central | Fixed annual grant based on merit rank |
| National Loan Scholarship for Meritorious Students | Central | Interest subsidized education loan |
| Government of India Scholarship for Single Female Child | Central | Around INR 36,200 per annum for two years |
| Government of India Scholarship for Distance Learning SC/ST Students | Central | Fee reimbursement for distance mode PG courses |
| Tamil Nadu Higher Education Loan Scholarship for SC/ST and Christian Adidravidar Students | State | Loan scholarship for higher education fees |
| Tamil Nadu Scholarship for BC, MBC and DNC Students | State | Tuition and hostel fee concession |
| Tamil Nadu Scholarship for Distance Learning Christian Adidravidar Students | State | Fee support for distance mode courses |
| Earn While You Study Plan | University | Stipend for part time work in the Library, Distance Education, or Examinations Wing |
| Study Loan from Nationalized Banks | Other | Bank facilitated education loan, not a direct scholarship |
Bharathidasan University Fellowships for PhD Scholars
PhD scholars at Bharathidasan University have access to a much larger set of research fellowships, most of them run by Central Government bodies like CSIR, UGC, and DST. These pay considerably more than PG scholarships since they double as a working stipend for full time research.
The CSIR Senior Research Fellowship currently pays INR 42,000 a month for the full tenure of the fellowship. The UGC Research Fellowship pays INR 37,000 a month for the first two years as a Junior Research Fellow, rising to INR 42,000 a month once upgraded to Senior Research Fellow, along with house rent allowance and an annual contingency grant.
The DST Inspire Fellowship follows a similar structure at INR 37,000 rising to INR 42,000 a month. A few fellowships listed on the university's own page, such as the Moulana Azad Research Fellowship, have since been discontinued or renamed at the national level, so scholars should confirm current status before applying.
The table below lists every PhD fellowship available through Bharathidasan University.
Bharathidasan University Scholarship Details for PhD Programme Fellowships
| Fellowship | Funded by | Benefit |
| CSIR Senior Research Fellowship | Central | INR 42,000 per month for the full tenure |
| UGC Research Fellowship for Meritorious Students | Central | INR 37,000 per month for two years, then INR 42,000 per month, plus HRA and contingency grant |
| DST Inspired Fellowship | Central | INR 37,000 per month for two years, then INR 42,000 per month, plus annual contingency grant |
| Kothari Fellowship | Central | Research stipend, amount as per current UGC guidelines |
| ICHR Research Fellowship | Central | Research stipend for history scholars, amount as per ICHR norms |
| ICMR Research Fellowship | Central | Research stipend for medical science scholars, amount as per ICMR norms |
| CSIR Enhancement Research Fellowship | Central | Enhanced stipend for extended CSIR fellows |
| Moulana Azad Research Fellowship | Central | Scheme discontinued from 2022 to 23, confirm current status before applying |
| Rajiv Gandhi Research Fellowship | Central | Renamed at the national level, confirm current scheme name before applying |
| UGC Post Doctoral Research Fellowship | Central | Stipend for postdoctoral research, amount as per UGC norms |
| UGC PG Professional Fellowship | Central | Support for professional postgraduate research |
| PG Professional Fellowship for SC/ST | Central | Reserved category research support |
| Tamil Nadu Educational Assistance for Minorities | State | State level fee and maintenance support |
| Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology | State | Research grant support for science scholars |
| University Research Fellowship | University | Internal fellowship, four awarded per department |
| Fellowships and Assistantships through Research Projects | Other | Paid through externally funded research projects |
| Student Helper Scheme | Other | Hourly part time work in Library, Distance Education, and Examinations Wing |
Bharathidasan University Scholarship Renewal Rules
Almost every Bharathidasan University scholarship comes with a renewal condition attached. Students are usually expected to maintain a minimum CGPA of around 6.0, keep regular attendance, and maintain good conduct through the academic year.
Renewal is not automatic. Students must reapply each year and submit fresh proof of eligibility, especially income certificates that can expire. A student can generally hold only one government funded scholarship at a time.
Combining two central schemes, or a central and a state scheme, is usually not allowed unless the scheme guidelines say otherwise. Quotas and the number of beneficiaries under each scheme are revised annually, so the number of students who can benefit changes from year to year.
Bharathidasan University Scholarship FAQs
Is there an age limit for PG scholarships at Bharathidasan University?
Most Central Government PG scholarships, including the merit and single girl child schemes, set an upper age limit of 30 years at the time of admission.
Can a distance education student at Bharathidasan University get these scholarships?
Only a few schemes cover distance learning students, mainly the SC/ST and Christian Adidravidar distance education schemes. Most other schemes require full time enrollment.
Do PhD scholars need to qualify NET before applying for university fellowships?
For CSIR and UGC fellowships, yes. A valid NET or GATE score is compulsory. The university's own Research Fellowship and the Student Helper Scheme do not require NET.
What happens if a scholarship recipient's CGPA drops below the minimum requirement?
Renewal can be denied for that year if the CGPA falls below the prescribed minimum, which is commonly 6.0. The student would need to reapply once the score recovers.
Where can a Bharathidasan University student track new scholarship notifications?
The university scholarship office and the National Scholarship Portal both publish fresh notifications every academic year. Tamil Nadu state scheme updates appear on the state e Scholarship portal.
