Scholarship-Based Admissions for Engineering Students 2025

Securing admission into a dream college often feels like the culmination of years of hard work finally paying off. Yet, the soaring fee structures can force many students to reconsider their aspirations. Financial barriers, however, should never become the deciding factor between ambition and achievement. What often goes unnoticed is the wealth of scholarship opportunities offered by various institutions at the time of admission. Reserved for students demonstrating financial need, academic excellence, or outstanding extracurricular achievements, these scholarships can either cover the full tuition fee or significantly reduce it. For many, they become the much-needed bridge between potential and possibility, especially when financial resources are limited.

Among the most sought-after fields of study, engineering continues to attract countless students each year, thanks to the promise of a stable and rewarding career. Yet, the financial demands of an engineering degree often stand as a daunting obstacle at the starting line. Recognizing this challenge, numerous institutions have introduced scholarship programs specifically tailored for aspiring engineers. These scholarships not only ease the financial burden but also encourage talented minds to embark confidently on their professional journey. Today, the focus will be on exploring a range of admission-based scholarships curated exclusively for engineering students.

Best Scholarships for Engineering Students at the Time of Admission

Given below is the comprehensive list of the best scholarships for engineering students at the time of admission.

1. Scholarships provided by IITs: The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) offer a range of scholarships to support students at the time of admission, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder access to quality education. Awarded by the institutes themselves, these scholarships provide crucial financial assistance to deserving students right from the beginning of their IIT journey. Renewal of scholarship every semester is subject to a minimum GPA (Varies with institution) in the previous semester.

Merit-cum-means scholarship: Offered to undergraduate students from economically weaker sections with good academic performance. The annual income should not be more than ₹4,50,000 (Varies with institution). It typically covers tuition fees and includes a monthly stipend.
Institute free studentship: Granted to students whose parental income falls below the defined threshold, usually not exceeding ₹4,50,000 per annum. This scholarship provides a full or partial waiver of tuition fees. Awarded during the admission process, it is intended to support academically capable students from low-income backgrounds.
SC/ST scholarships: Available for students from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, covering tuition fees, hostel charges, and providing a monthly stipend.

2. Scholarships provided by NITs: The National Institutes of Technology (NITs) offer a variety of institutional scholarships to support students at the time of admission, ensuring that deserving candidates are not deprived of education due to financial constraints. Most scholarships are renewable each semester, subject to maintaining a minimum GPA as specified by the respective institute.

Merit-cum-means scholarship: Offered to undergraduate students from economically weaker sections with consistent academic excellence. The annual family income should not exceed ₹2,50,000 to ₹6,00,000 (varies with institution). This scholarship typically includes a full or partial tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend to support living expenses.
Fee waiver for economically weaker sections Institute Scheme: Provided to students who fall under economically weaker sections. Based on income certificate and academic merit, this scholarship offers partial or full tuition fee waivers to ease the financial burden of education.
Scholarships for girl students: Specifically instituted to promote gender diversity in technical education, this scholarship supports female students at the time of admission. Eligibility may include being among the top-ranking girl candidates or the first girl in the family to pursue engineering. Benefits include fee waivers or annual financial grants.
Institute-Funded SC/ST scholarships: Offered to students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, these scholarships are independent of central government schemes. They cover tuition fees, mess or hostel charges, and may include a monthly stipend. Academic performance and attendance are considered for renewal.

3. Scholarships Provided by CFITs : Centrally Funded Institutes of Technology (CFITs), which include institutions like the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), offer various scholarships to support students financially at the commencement of their academic programs. These scholarships aim to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder access to quality education.

Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarships: Many CFITs offer scholarships to undergraduate students from economically weaker sections who demonstrate strong academic performance. Eligible students can receive up to 100% tuition fee waiver, subject to maintaining a minimum CGPA of 7.0 and not having any plagiarism case .
Income-Linked Fee Waivers: Students whose parents are in the BPL category are eligible for this 100% fee waiver. Those with a gross parental income up to ₹6.0 lakh per annum and who paid less than ₹0.45 lakh per annum as the last school fee can receive a 50% fee waiver. Similarly, students with a gross parental income between ₹6.0 lakh and ₹8.0 lakh per annum and who paid less than ₹0.60 lakh per annum as the last school fee are eligible for a 25% fee waiver.
SC/ST Scholarships: CFITs offer scholarships specifically for students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
Scholarships for Female Students: To promote gender diversity in technical education, some CFITs offer scholarships specifically for female students. For example, IIIT-Delhi provides scholarships to top-ranking female candidates or the first girl in the family to pursue engineering. These scholarships may include fee waivers or annual financial grants .

4. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship (Jamia Millia Islamia): Jamia Millia Islamia offers the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship to support deserving undergraduate students from economically weaker sections. This scholarship aims to reduce the financial burden on students and promote equal access to higher education. It is particularly focused on those demonstrating both academic merit and financial need.

The selected students receive a financial aid of ₹10,000 as a one-time payment to support their educational expenses.
Female students are given preference under the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship, with at least 50% of the total scholarships reserved specifically for them.

5. Shiv Nadar University Scholarships: Shiv Nadar University offers a variety of merit-based scholarships to support talented students pursuing B.Tech programs. These scholarships are awarded based on performance in the SNUSAT entrance exam and academic achievements, including board exam results. The aggregate of Physics, Chemistry, and Maths must be greater than or equal to 98% for eligibility.

Students under this scholarship category will receive a 50% waiver on tuition fees for the four year duration of the program, subject to satisfying criteria for continuation of the scholarship.
Students with at least 95% in Class 12 Board, 98 percentile in JEE Mains, 40 points in IB (excluding bonus), or A in all subjects in Cambridge Board are eligible for the Merit-Based Scholarship, offering a 25% tuition fee waiver for the duration of the program.

6. VIT Vellore Scholarships (GV School Development Programme – GVSDP): Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) offers the GV School Development Programme (GVSDP) to reward academic excellence through merit-based scholarships granted at the time of admission. These scholarships are aimed at encouraging high-ranking students in the VIT Engineering Entrance Examination by waiving a portion of their tuition fees.

VITEEE rank 1–10: 100% tuition fee waiver for all four years
VITEEE rank 11–50: 75% tuition fee waiver for all four years
VITEEE rank 51–100: 50% tuition fee waiver for all four years
VITEEE rank 101–500: 25% tuition fee waiver for all four years

7. SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) B.Tech Scholarships: Instituted in 2010, the Founder’s Scholarship aims to attract and encourage top-performing students and exemplary sports personalities to pursue B.Tech or other diploma/undergraduate/postgraduate programs at SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST). It recognizes academic excellence and outstanding achievements in sports.

Early Bird:

Students who passed their HSC (+2) exam in the previous year and were unable to take admission due to any reason, provided they meet the required percentage in the qualifying examination. Award: Up to 100% tuition fee waiver.

Extremely Meritorious Students:

Top 100 ranks in SRMJEEE (UG), across all phases of the exam.
Top 20,000 ranks in IIT JEE (Mains).
State first rank in HSC from respective state boards or CBSE across India.
District topper in HSC in Tamil Nadu State Board or CBSE within Tamil Nadu.
Award: Up to 100% tuition fee waiver.

Exemplary Sports Persons:

Students who have represented their University, District, Zone, State, National, or International competitions. Award: Up to 100% tuition fee waiver.

8. Amity University Noida Scholarships: For those pursuing a B.Tech, Amity University provides a variety of scholarships that waive tuition fees. These scholarships, which are given out at the time of acceptance, are intended to help worthy students afford top-notch education. The following are Amity’s main scholarship categories:

According to a student’s JEE Main ranking, they can get scholarships with various ranges.

Ranking between 97-100 percentile will get a 100% scholarship.
Ranking between 94-96.9 percentile will get a 75% scholarship.
Ranking between 90-93.9 percentile will get a 50% scholarship.

Amity also offers scholarships based on a person’s board score.

95% and above in (CBSE/ISC) board of XII will get 100% scholarship.
90% – 94.99% in (CBSE/ISC) Board of XII will get 50% scholarship.

9. LNMIIT Scholarships (Laxmi Niwas Mittal Institute of Information Technology): Laxmi Niwas Mittal Institute of Information Technology, Jaipur, provides merit-based scholarships to support academically outstanding students pursuing B.Tech programs. These scholarships are primarily awarded based on performance in national-level entrance exams such as JEE Advanced or JEE Main.

Category 1.1: Top 20 rankers (up to top 5000 rank in General category) – Scholarship of up to ₹35,000 per semester
Category 1.2: Next 20 rankers (up to top 7500 rank in General category) – Scholarship of ₹30,000 per semester
Category 1.3: Next 20 rankers (up to top 12,000 rank in General category) – Scholarship of ₹25,000 per semester

10. Chandigarh University Merit Scholarship Scheme (CU-SAT): Chandigarh University offers the Merit Scholarship Scheme under the CU-SAT (Chandigarh University Scholarship Admission Test) to recognize academic excellence and special achievements. The scholarships are awarded based on performance in CU-SAT or board examinations and aim to make quality education more accessible. Up to 5% of total seats in each engineering course are reserved for scholarships under this scheme.

AIR up to 25,000: 100% scholarship on semester fee
AIR 25,001 to 50,000: 75% scholarship on semester fee
AIR 50,001 to 75,000: 50% scholarship on semester fee
AIR 75,001 to 1,00,000: 20% scholarship on semester fee
AIR 1,00,001 to 1,25,000: 10% scholarship on semester fee

11. Sharda University Scholarships: For B.Tech students, Sharda University provides a range of scholarships that prioritise diversity, financial need and merit. The purpose of these scholarships is to honour exceptional academic achievement and assist students from various backgrounds. The following are important aspects of Sharda University’s B.Tech scholarships:

Awarded to students scoring between 75%-95% in board examinations (CBSE/ICSE/State Board) or based on their JEE ranking score between 25,000-1,50,000.
Depending on the score secured, scholars can get between 100%-5% off the total fee.
Sports scholarships, which range from 10% to 100% off tuition fees in the first year, will be available to students who have excelled in athletics at the state and national levels.

Common mistakes to avoid while applying for scholarships

Applying for scholarships can be a critical step in securing financial assistance for an engineering education. However, many promising candidates miss out on valuable opportunities due to avoidable errors during the application process. Understanding these common mistakes can help applicants navigate the process more effectively and improve their chances of success.

Missing deadlines: One of the most frequent mistakes is failing to submit applications on time. Scholarship deadlines are often non-negotiable, and late submissions are typically disqualified automatically. Setting reminders and maintaining a calendar with all important dates is essential to stay on track.
Submitting incomplete applications: Leaving out mandatory documents such as transcripts, income certificates, or recommendation letters can render an application invalid. Carefully reviewing the application checklist before submission ensures that no required component is overlooked.
Ignoring eligibility criteria: Applying for scholarships without meeting the stated eligibility requirements, such as minimum academic scores, specific entrance exam rankings, or domicile restrictions—leads to wasted time and certain rejection. Applicants should thoroughly verify that they qualify before applying.
Using generic or poorly written essays: Scholarship essays and statements of purpose must be personalized and well-articulated. Generic, off-topic, or poorly written submissions fail to convey a genuine interest and often lack impact. Taking the time to craft a compelling narrative tailored to the scholarship’s objectives can make a significant difference.
Not proofreading the application: Spelling errors, incorrect details, and grammatical mistakes can undermine an applicant’s credibility. Proofreading the entire application or having someone else review it helps maintain professionalism and accuracy.
Overlooking lesser-known scholarships: Many students focus only on high-profile scholarships and ignore local or institute-specific options, which often have less competition. Exploring all possible opportunities, including those from trusts, foundations, and state bodies, increases the chances of receiving support.
Failing to follow up: Some scholarship programs may require additional steps after the initial application—such as interviews, document verification, or updates on admission status. Not responding promptly to such requests can result in disqualification.

FAQs

What happens if the required academic performance isn’t maintained after the first year?

Some scholarships are renewable based on consistent academic performance. If a student fails to maintain the minimum GPA or passes with backlogs, the scholarship may be reduced or cancelled.

Can a student hold multiple scholarships at once?

It depends on the individual scholarship policies. Many scholarships do not allow recipients to hold multiple awards simultaneously to avoid duplication of benefits.

Are there scholarships available for specific branches within engineering?

Yes, several scholarships are field-specific, targeting branches like computer science, mechanical, civil, or electrical engineering. These are often sponsored by corporates or industry-based foundations.

How important are extracurricular achievements in securing admission-based scholarships?

Extracurricular achievements play a valuable role, especially for scholarships that assess leadership, innovation, or social impact beyond academic scores.

Can students reapply for a scholarship if rejected in the first attempt?

Yes, students may reapply in the next academic year if allowed by the scholarship terms. Improving academic scores, documentation, or profile can increase the chances of selection.