Inlaks Scholarships (University Courses)

Inlaks Scholarships (University Courses) is the brainchild of Indoo Shivdasani, who wished to create a scholarship programme to incorporate his philanthropic activities and to establish a permanent, independent body for the expansion of his benevolent activities. This scholarship is funded through the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation. The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation is responsible for providing scholarships, grants, and awards in diverse fields to exceptional young Indians to enable them to develop their professional, scientific, artistic, and cultural abilities, both abroad and in India. 

Over the last four decades since the inception of the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation, more than 460 scholars have benefited from overseas scholarships while over 600 others have received awards and Take-Off Grants in India and abroad. The very fact that the Inlaks Scholarships (University Courses) is open to a wide range of subjects, many of which are not covered by other fund-giving bodies, is what set the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation apart from its contemporaries.

Shortlisting Process

Interview-

• The selection process is in two stages: A preliminary interview stage and if successful at the preliminary stage a Final interview round.
• Candidates short-listed for the interviews will have to arrange for their own travel and accommodation.
• The interviews usually take place in either Mumbai or Delhi in the months of May or June.

Terms and Conditions

The continuation of the scholarship depends on the good academic performance of the scholars in the examinations conducted by their respective universities.

Renewal cases of stipend holders who are not promoted to the next year will not be considered for further renewal.

• The Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships are open to all Indian citizens who have been continuously resident in India for the past six months, at the time of making the scholarship application.
• Applicants are expected to hold a first-class degree or equivalent from a recognized university/institution in India.
• Applicants who are Indian citizens and hold a good undergraduate degree from a recognized institution abroad, must have resided continuously or been employed or have been studying in India, for at least two years, post their return to India to be eligible to apply for the scholarship.
• Applicants applying for scholarships in art and design (fine/performing arts) will be judged primarily on the basis of their portfolio.
• Applicants having a postgraduate qualification (e.g. Master’s or Ph.D.) from an institution abroad are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants must hold the prior admission to the institution and course chosen at the time of the application. The Foundation will not consider candidates without admission or pending admission.
• Applicants must be below 30 years of age in the year of application.
• Applicants who are already studying or have started their program abroad are not eligible.

• Application for the scholarship has to be made online on the portal which is accessible from the website. No physical application forms will be accepted.
• Only one submission per candidate is allowed.
• A valid passport is the only identification document that will be accepted when making the online application.
• A clear declaration must be made of all funding received for the course. In case the offer of funding comes in after the application has been submitted, it will be necessary to inform the Foundation in writing via email.
• If you have applied for a course at the same institution or another institution and have procured funding for it, you will have to declare this, even if it is not your intention to avail of that offer when making an application for the Inlaks scholarship.
• Candidates must input official email addresses for both their referees while filling in the online application form. Personal email addresses especially for the academic referee will not be accepted.
• The referees must upload their letters of reference in confidence to the Foundation directly.
• For the online submission of the reference letters, the referee whose name has been indicated on the application form will receive a link to upload the reference which will remain valid for 7 days.
• Preferably, the reference letters should be on a letterhead. Email references will not be accepted.

Application Documents

• Two reference letters are mandatory. It is preferred that the letters of recommendation be uploaded with your application. However, if the applicant's referee would rather send in the letter in confidence, they should email it to applications@inlaksfoundation.org.
• The subject line must read as follows: Reference Letter | Name of Applicant | Email Address of Applicant. In case the references are being sent directly by the referees then a word document should be uploaded in place of the reference letter stating your name, the referee's name, and the date by when the reference is expected.
• Evidence of any outstanding achievements in extra-curricular activities in any field.

Additional Documents:

• Applicants must submit evidence of admission to a university or a course, and a full detail of the institute’s financial requirements.
• Applicants applying in the field of architecture, fine and applied arts, and related subjects must upload their portfolio as a PDF file or share a website/online portfolio link.
• Applicants applying for film, dance, acting, and music (Western classical singing) must also upload their portfolio through a link.
• Photocopy of the first and last pages of the passport.
• A declaration of all funding received for the course.