Scholarships for Commerce Students: The Ultimate Guide

As per ICAI, India will need more than 30 lakh chartered accountants by 2047. This is to help the country reach its target of becoming a $30 trillion economy. This means that with the growth of every $1 trillion, about 1 lakh chartered accountants will be needed. That’s why the demand for professionals with a commerce background will continue to see a spike in the coming years. Thus, to push a greater number of commerce professionals into the economy, various government and private entities are offering scholarships, especially for those who don’t have the luxury to afford higher education. To fund their education, students who wish to pursue courses like BCom, MCom, CA, CMA, etc, can get a scholarship to fund their educational expenses. 

Scholarships for Commerce Students in 2025

HDFC Bank Parivartan’s ECSS Programme	Commerce Undergraduate International Merit Scholarship	SBIF Asha Scholarship Program for Overseas Education	Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship	Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship Program
Commerce Ka Arjun Scholarship Programme	Guardian Trust Master’s Scholarship in Commerce	G.P. Birla Scholarship	Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship Program	Azim Premji Scholarship

Detailed Information on Scholarships for Commerce Students

Now that you know which scholarships are available for commerce students, it is time to learn about their eligibility criteria and benefits. 

HDFC Bank Parivartan’s ECSS Programme 

HDFC Bank, under its social initiative ‘Parivartan’, offers a scholarship programme called the HDFC Bank Parivartan’s ECSS Programme that aims to support meritorious and needy students from disadvantaged sections of society. It is open to students from all over India.

This social initiative has played a transformative role in improving lives through efforts in rural development, education, skill enhancement, healthcare, hygiene, and financial literacy.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Open for Indian students.
• Open to students from classes 1 to 12, ITI, Diploma, UG, and PG courses.
• Applicants must have passed their previous qualifying examination with a minimum of 55% marks.
• Annual family income should be less than or equal to ₹2.5 LPA.

Benefits: 

• Students from a general undergraduate program can get ₹30,000 in scholarships. 
• Applicants studying in general postgraduate courses will get ₹35,000 as financial aid under this scholarship. 

Commerce Undergraduate International Merit Scholarship

Commerce Undergraduate International Merit Scholarships is an initiative by the University of Melbourne for international students who wish to pursue a BCom. The scholarship will be granted on the basis of marks obtained by the applicant in the most recent examination. After getting the scholarship in the first year, it is possible to get it again during the course duration if the candidate performs well academically. A total of 10 such scholarships will be awarded to eligible students. Students from all over India can apply for the Commerce Undergraduate International Merit Scholarship.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be an international student. 
• The applicant must have completed Class 12 or equivalent
• Must have an unconditional admission letter for the Bachelor of Commerce.

Benefits:

• 50% of the yearly fees will be waived off.

SBIF Asha Scholarship Program for Overseas Education

SBI Foundation, under its education vertical – Integrated Learning Mission (ILM), offers a scholarship programme for students of India who are pursuing a PG in a foreign country. The SBIF Asha Scholarship Program for Overseas Education is offered to students who are meritorious and needy. Also, they must be pursuing a master’s from a premier university which are ranked in the QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicants must be Indian nationals belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories.  
• They must be pursuing or accepted into a PG course outside India.  
• Applicants should have secured at least 75% marks in their previous academic year.  
• The gross annual family income must not exceed ₹6 LPA.  
• Preference will be given to applicants with a family income of up to ₹3 LPA. 

Benefits:

• A maximum of ₹20 lakhs or 50% of the course-related expenses, whichever amount is lower.

Azim Premji Scholarship

The Azim Premji Scholarship is an initiative of the Azim Premji Foundation, which is committed to supporting girls in pursuing their college education. The scholarship is for girls from underprivileged backgrounds looking for support for a UG course. The scholarship is offered for the duration of the course, and it covers the course fees of the candidate. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• The student must have studied in a government college for Class 10, 11, and 12. 
• Must have secured admission as a regular student in a government institution’s first year of a recognised undergraduate degree or diploma course.
• Only the students from Madhya Pradesh (selected few districts*), Rajasthan (selected few districts*), Uttar Pradesh, and Itki block, Ranchi, Jharkhand are eligible for the scholarship.

Benefits:

• Selected students will get ₹30,000 per year for the minimum prescribed duration of their UG course. 

Approved Districts

Rajasthan (22 districts)

Ajmer, Alwar, Balotra, Banswara, Baran, Barmer, Chittorgarh, Dudu, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jaipur (Gramin), Jalore, Jhalawar, Jodhpur, Kekri, Pali, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Salumbar, Sawai Madhopur, Sirohi, Tonk and Udaipur.

Uttar Pradesh (35 districts)

Ambedkar Nagar, Amethi, Ayodhya (formerly Faizabad) , Azamgarh, Bahraich, Ballia, Balrampur, Banda, Bara Banki, Basti, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Deoria, Fatehpur, Ghazipur, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Kaushambi, Kushinagar, Lucknow, Mahrajganj, Mau, Mirzapur, Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli, Sant Kabir Nagar, Sant Ravidas Nagar (formerly Bhadohi), Shrawasti, Siddharthnagar, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Sultanpur and Varanasi.

Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship Program

If eligible, students studying in a UG program in India can apply for the Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship Program. It applies to students who belong to the economically weaker sections of society and have merit. This scholarship is provided by Tata Capital Limited as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Students studying in courses like B.Com, B.Sc, BA, etc., are eligible for this scholarship. 
• Students whose family annual income is less than or equal to ₹2.5 lakhs are eligible.
• The applicant must be an Indian citizen who is enrolled in a recognised college or university.
• The candidate should have achieved 60% marks or more in the previous semester or in the qualifying exam. 

Benefits:

• 80% of the course fees or ₹12,000 (whichever is less) is awarded as a scholarship.   

Commerce Ka Arjun Scholarship Programme

The Commerce Ka Arjun Scholarship Program is a competitive national-level examination conducted by Vidya Sagar Institute. This initiative aims to provide financial and educational assistance to talented young individuals in commerce who wish to get admission to CA/CMA Foundation coaching. The institute conducts a scholarship exam, the duration is 90 minutes, the total mark is 100 and one mark is awarded for each correct answer. The exam is conducted in online and offline modes. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Class 12 appearing students are eligible for the scholarship exam. 

Benefits: 

Based on the marks obtained, the students will be awarded a scholarship in the coaching fees for CA/CMA Foundation. 

Marks Range	Scholarship Percentage
100	100%
96–99	80%
91–95	70%
86–90	60%
81–85	50%
76–80	40%
71–75	30%
66–70	25%
61–65	20%
56–60	15%
51–55	10%

Guardian Trust Master’s Scholarship in Commerce

The Guardian Trust Master’s Scholarship in Commerce is for students interested in studying MCom at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Students who are selected will get monetary aid in financing their studies every year till they reach 120 credits in their studies. It is important to note that only one scholarship per academic year will be awarded under this scheme. The scholarship is awarded by the University of Canterbury based on the recommendation of a selection committee, which includes the Vice-Chancellor (or nominee) and the Associate Dean Research of the UC Business School (or nominee).

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time or part-time Master’s program in Commerce at the University of Canterbury.

Benefits:  

• The selected students will receive annual financial assistance of NZ$16,500.

G.P. Birla Scholarship

The G.P. Birla Scholarship is an initiative of the G.P. Birla Educational Foundation. It aims to support needy and meritorious students from West Bengal by enabling them to pursue undergraduate studies. The scholarship provides financial support that covers a substantial part of educational and living costs, ensuring students can fully concentrate on their education. G.P. Birla Scholarship is offered for the first year only, and if the candidate demonstrates satisfactory performance in the semester exams, then they will also be offered the scholarship in the next year.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The applicant must be from West Bengal.
• Candidates must have secured at least 85% in their Higher Secondary exams under WBCHSE or 90% under CBSE/ISC.
• The candidate must be pursuing a course in science, commerce, arts, engineering, medicine, architecture, law, chartered accountancy, company secretary, and cost accountancy.
• Family annual income should be lower than ₹3 lakhs per annum. (In some cases, the family income limit may not be applicable if the student demonstrates merit).

Benefits:

• A scholarship of up to ₹50,000 per year is available to cover tuition and hostel fees.
• An additional one-time scholarship of ₹7,000 will be provided in the first year of the course to cover the cost of books.

Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship

The Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship offers financial assistance from high school through postgraduate studies. It addresses the educational needs of students across India, offering monthly allowances that help cover tuition fees, books, transportation, and other essentials required for academic success. Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship is divided into five categories, from A to E, and for commerce students, only category C is applicable. Below, we have described the eligibility criteria and benefits of this scholarship for students who fall under category C.

Eligibility Criteria

• To get a scholarship for a UG course, the minimum percentage required for pan-India students is 55% for male candidates and 50% for female candidates in Class 12. Particularly for students belonging to Karnataka, the minimum percentage requirement is 65% for males and 60% for females. Similarly, for students from West Bengal, the minimum marks needed for male students is 60% and 55% for female students. 
• The eligibility criteria for a PG scholarship require students to have a minimum graduation score of 60% for male candidates and 55% for female candidates. However, students from Karnataka must meet a higher requirement, with males needing at least 65% and females requiring 60%.
• For students who are physically challenged or have a handicap, just scoring passing marks will make them eligible for the scholarship.

Benefits:

Students in UG courses will get the following benefits per month:

• General Category Girls: ₹1400 & Boys: ₹1100
• Physically Challenged or Handicapped Students: ₹1400
• Widows and unmarried wards of Ex-servicemen: ₹1500

Monthly benefits for students in PG courses:

• General Category Girls: ₹1800 & Boys: ₹1500
• Physically Challenged or Handicapped Students: ₹1800
• Widows and unmarried wards of Ex-servicemen: ₹1800

Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarships for Higher Studies

The Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarships for Higher Studies provide financial help to Indian students pursuing postgraduate education in India and abroad. Students awaiting university acceptance or final-year results are eligible to apply for the scholarship. However, the loan amount will only be disbursed upon receiving admission confirmation. The loan amount will be determined based on the student’s educational expenses. Also, the moratorium period is the course duration plus one year. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• The applicant must be a resident of India.
• Students under the age of 30 years are eligible.
• The applicant must have graduated from a recognised Indian university.

Benefits: 

• An interest-free loan will be provided to support postgraduate studies.
• Mentorship support will be provided to the student.

How to Apply for a Scholarship for Commerce Students

Students pursuing a course in the commerce stream can apply for a range of scholarships. The application process for most scholarships is in online mode only, and they have a similar process. The online application process is provided below, which you can follow to submit your application.

1. Visit the official scholarship provider website.
2. Go to the eligibility criteria section and verify whether you are eligible for the scholarship or not.
3. Then click on “Apply Now” to start the application process.
4. Provide your name, current address, proof of income, current course, previous course, etc.
5. Upload all the required documents in the prescribed format and size.
6. Click on the “Submit” button when you are done applying for the scholarship. 
7. Wait for the scholarship provider to contact you regarding the disbursement.

Documents Needed for a Scholarship Application

• Previous qualifying exam and entrance exam scorecard
• Admission letter of your current college.
• ID proof like an Aadhar Card or a PAN Card.
• Disability certificate (if needed)
• Income proof (if needed)
• Caste certificate (if needed)
• Educational documents

Tips to Improve Your Chances of Winning a Scholarship

When applying for a scholarship, you may make some mistakes in the application, which can cost you the opportunity to pursue higher education. That is why it is very important that you know the common mistakes and how to avoid them while filling out the application form. We have provided some expert tips for you below, which can help you make your scholarship application a success. 

• Meeting the Eligibility: Every scholarship is unique, and they have a set eligibility criterion which you need to check before applying. A scholarship may require you to score a certain mark in a previous qualifying exam or require you to enrol in a particular college/university. 
• Writing an Essay: During scholarship application, candidates are required to submit an essay which reflects their merit and need for the scholarship. Writing a perfect essay will drastically increase your chances of winning a scholarship.
• Apply for Multiple Scholarships: It is important that you do not set your hopes on just one scholarship for commerce students. Find and apply for more than one scholarship to increase your chances of winning one. 
• Proper Documents: When a scholarship application is reviewed, the committee will look at the documents submitted carefully, and if they find any mistakes in those, then the application is rejected. So, make sure that you never attach any fake documents and always upload all the required documents in your application.

FAQs

What are the scholarships for commerce students?

Scholarships for commerce students are financial aids offered to those pursuing fields like accounting, business studies, economics, and finance. Popular ones include the SBIF Asha Scholarship for Overseas Education, Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship Program, Azim Premji Scholarship, Commerce Ka Arjun Scholarship Programme, and the Guardian Trust Master's Scholarship in Commerce.

What documents are required to apply for a scholarship for commerce?

Generally required documents include academic mark sheets, income certificate, ID proof (Aadhaar card), admission proof (ID or offer letter), and caste/category certificate (if applicable).

Can I apply for more than one commerce scholarship?

Yes, you can apply for multiple scholarships. However, most schemes allow students to accept only one scholarship at a time. Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria before applying.

When is the best time to apply for a commerce scholarship?

The ideal time to apply is after receiving your college admission letter. However, many scholarships also accept applications post-enrollment in the course.

Can I get a scholarship to enrol in CA coaching?

Yes, some scholarships support CA coaching fees. One such program is the Commerce Ka Arjun Scholarship Programme, designed specifically for commerce aspirants.

Do commerce scholarships cover full tuition?

It depends on the scholarship. Some offer full tuition coverage, while others provide partial support for fees, books, or living costs. Always review the specific benefits of each scholarship.

How can I apply for scholarships as a commerce student?

Follow these steps: research available scholarships early, check eligibility and document requirements, write a compelling personal statement, get recommendation letters, and submit your application before the deadline.