Medical Scholarships 2025-26 – Eligibility, List & Guide

The year 2025-26 is one wherein pursuing any medical degree without a scholarship can prove to be a financially exhausting experience. Wondering how? Pursuing any medical degree like MBBS, dentistry, nursing, and others usually costs higher as compared to other degrees.

Moreover, it may take a student 3 to 6 years to complete their professional degree (depending on whether you’re studying in India or any other study abroad destination), and so, a student might find it difficult to manage the per semester fee alone, which tends to increase every year (not necessarily).

In addition to tuition fees, a student must also consider other expenses such as accommodation, food, stationary, lab equipment, and cost of travelling (in case the student is made to attend off-campus clinical seminars and clinical training)

As a result, applying for a medical scholarship in 2025-26 can ideally help you bear the steep expenses associated with pursuing a medical degree..

List of Medical Scholarships (2025-26)

Here is a well-curated list of the most prestigious and recognized medical scholarships that students can apply for in the year 2025-26. Take a look –

S.No	Scholarship Name	Scholarship Reward Amount
1	Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PM-USP CSSS)	INR 12,000 to INR 20,000 per annum for UG and PG
2	ONGC Scholarship Scheme	INR 4,000 per month
3	Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship	INR 20,000 to Full tuition waiver
4	Charpak Exchange Programme	INR 87,748.38 (Approx
5	Aster DM Healthcare’s Dr Moopen’s Legacy Scholarship	100% tuition fee waiver (purely merit based)
6	Infosys Foundation STEM Stars Scholarship Programme	Up to INR 1 Lakh per year (for a maximum of 4 years)
7	Swami Dayanand Merit India Scholarship	Between INR 50,000 to INR 1 Lakh (based on AIR rankings)
8	Kotak Kanya Scholarship	Approx. INR 1.5 lakhs per year
9	Ishan Uday Scholarship	INR 7,800 per month for medical/paramedical courses
10	All India Pre Medical Scholarship Test (Secondary)	Complete tuition fee waiver to One-year tuition fee waiver (based on counselling & scores)
11	Vidyavridhi Medical Scholarship	Between INR 10,000 to INR 50,000
12	Lady Meherbai D TATA Education Trust Scholarship	Amount varies (usually between INR 3 Lakhs to 6 Lakhs)

* Please note that the scholarship amount listed in the above table and their disbursement are subject to the fulfilment of the eligibility criteria of the respective scholarship.

Medical Scholarships Eligibility Criteria

Listed below is the eligibility criteria for the students applying for the top medical scholarships. Take a look –

Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PM-USP CSSS) –

A score of 80% or above in class XII (10+2 pattern).
Students must pursue a regular degree (correspondence, distance learning or Diploma courses are not available for this scholarship).
The college/institution should be All India Council for Technical Education certified.
The student’s age should be between 18 to 25 years.
Gross family income should be up to INR 4.5 Lakh per annum.
The student must not hold any other scholarship or financial aid.

ONGC Scholarship Scheme –

The student must have an Indian nationality.
The age limit should not exceed 30 years as of October 1, 2025.
The student must be enrolled in a full-time regular MBBS course.
Minimum score of 60% or 6.0 CGPA in class XII.
The student must not hold any other scholarship or financial aid.
The student must have a standard savings bank account.
The annual family income bracket should be less than INR 4.5 Lakhs (for SC/ST), less than INR 2 Lakhs (for OBC), and less than INR 2 Lakhs (for General (EWS) category).

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship –

The student must be appearing for a state/national level medical examination (entrance exam).
Students who’ve previously appeared or are going to appear for their class XII examination can apply for this scholarship.
The applying candidate must demonstrate a financial need or a strong academic background.

Charpak Exchange Programme –

The applying student must have an Indian nationality or a valid OCI card.
The age limit should not exceed 30 years at the time of application.
The student should be enrolled in an Indian institution/college that has a tie-up with the French institution.

Aster DM Healthcare’s Dr Moopen’s Legacy Scholarship –

The student must hold a NEET Kerala State Rank of less than 3000 and should be a permanent resident of Kerala.
Must have scored 80% or above in class XII (Physics + Chemistry + Biology + English) and 85% attendance every year.
For students applying for BSc Nursing and B.Pharm the annual family income should not exceed INR 2.5 Lakhs.

Infosys Foundation STEM Stars Scholarship Programme –

All female candidates who’ve completed class XIIth can apply.
The student must be enrolled in an NIRF-accredited institution.
The annual family income of the candidate should be less than or equal to INR 8 Lakhs.

Swami Dayanand Merit India Scholarship –

Students must have a NEET AIR rank under 30,000 (students with more than one gap year/drop year are not eligible).
The annual family income of the candidate should not exceed INR 15 Lakhs.
First-year applicants should have scored 80% or above in class XII, and second-year students must have scored more than 8.0 CGPA in their respective first-year.
Preference will be given to students who’ve completed their education from government schools.

Kotak Kanya Scholarship –

A merit-based scholarship for girls who’ve secured 75% or above marks in class XII.
The annual family income of the students must not exceed INR 6 Lakhs.
The student should be enrolled in an NIRF/NAAC accredited institution.

Lady Meherbai D TATA Education Trust Scholarship –

The applying candidate must hold an outstanding academic history.
Graduates with work experience (minimum 2 years) are eligible.
The applying candidate must have applied or secured admission to a recognized institution in the USA, UK, or Europe.

All India Pre Medical Scholarship Test (Secondary) –

Students who’ve applied for NEET (MBBS, BHMS, BUMS, BAMS, BDS) are eligible.
Students who’re appearing or have qualified their CBSE, ICSE and other government recognized class XII board examinations (Physics + Chemistry + Biology) are eligible.
Students born on or after October 1, 1997 can apply for this scholarship examination.
Students born on or after October 1, 1992 who belong to SC, ST, and PH category are eligible.

Vidyavridhi Medical Scholarship –

The applying candidate must be an Indian citizen.
The student must have a valid NEET scorecard.

Ishan Uday Scholarship –

The students are required to submit a valid domicile certificate (any state in the North Eastern region).
Applicable to students who’ve passed their class XII examination from Northern Eastern Region (NER).
Students who are pursuing their UG degree from a NAAC certified college/university under section 2 (f) of the UGC act 1956, deemed to be universities under section 3 of UGC act 1956, institute of National importance, and institutions recognized by statutory councils (both within and outside) are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Why Choosing Right Medical Scholarship Matters?

Yes it is true that any scholarship you apply for will help you ease the financial burden that you’re currently facing, but choosing the right scholarship can do so much more – you can secure financial help that aligns perfectly with your academic merits and financial needs by placing you on a pedestal to unexplored opportunities and long-term professional success.

By choosing the right medical scholarship you can –

Apply for institutions that align with your career goals
Add value to your resume, since a holder of a meritorious & prestigious scholarship will surely prove a point that you’re otherwise trying to make.
Entirely focus on your studies, considering the fact that your finances are now being taken care of.
Enjoy impeccable research and pathway opportunities.
Visit partner countries with the help of certain exchange programmes, thereby, expanding your horizon both, as a student and an individual.

Tips for Choosing Most Appropriate Medical Scholarship

Plan ahead and plan early.
Always match the scholarship’s benefits with your current academic and financial requirements.
Make sure that you are thorough with the terms and conditions of the scholarships you are applying for.
Don’t ever settle for the reward amount. Always consider the total value.
Applying for multiple scholarships can increase your chances of securing a scholarship. So, apply without hesitating.
Always check the requirements, the eligibility criteria, and the reputation of the scholarship provider.

Medical Scholarships FAQs

What documents are required to apply for a medical scholarship?

Commonly requested: recent passport-size photographs; Aadhaar/PAN; income certificate; previous academic transcripts; caste certificate; bank details; domicile certificate.

Does a medical scholarship cover other expenses other than tuition fees?

Yes.Most cover living expenses,lab equipment,stationery,and travel costs in addition to tuition fees.(Benefits vary by scheme.)

Can a student apply for more than one medical scholarship/financial aid?

Yes,applications to multiple schemes are allowed,but availing benefits is typically limited to one at a time unless guidelines explicitly permit combining awards.

How much time does it take for a medical scholarship to be disbursed?

Typically 3–4 months (about 150–180 days) after successful document verification and processing timelines set by the provider.

How many types of medical scholarships are available for students?

Major types: merit-based (Class 12/NEET/academic record); need-based (financial criteria); category-based (SC/ST/OBC/EWS); gender-based.