Scholarships for extracurricular activities are designed to acknowledge and foster talent beyond academic achievements. Under the scholarships, selected students receive financial support from educational institutions, non-profit organizations, government bodies, and private foundations to cover their educational expenses.
Along with sports expenses, scholarships for extracurricular activities can cover tuition fees, the costs of books and equipment, access to training programs, and other academic-related expenditures.
Students who exhibit exceptional skills in extracurricular activities such as sports, the arts, community service, leadership, and more are eligible to apply for these scholarships.
This comprehensive article explores scholarships for extracurricular activities, delving into various aspects such as eligibility requirements, providers, benefits, the application process, and other pertinent details regarding these opportunities.
What are Scholarships for Extracurricular Activities?
Extracurricular activities are often referred to as after-school activities that students participate in outside their regular academic curriculum. These include sports, the arts, clubs, community services, leadership roles, and other pursuits that allow students to explore their interests and develop new skills.
Engaging in such activities provides students with opportunities to enhance their social, physical, creative, and leadership abilities. Additionally, these endeavours hold substantial importance in college admissions, as they demonstrate a student’s interests, dedication, and enthusiasm beyond their academic accomplishments.
List of Scholarships for Extracurricular Activities
The scholarships for extracurricular activities in India that are associated with various non-profit organizations and private foundations are listed below:
AAI Sports Scholarship Scheme 2023-24
The AAI Sports Scholarship Scheme 2023-24 is an opportunity offered by the Airport Authority of India to talented Indian athletes aged between 14 and 24 years. The primary aim of this scheme is to elevate the level of sporting standards within the AAI.
Provider: Airport Authority of India (AAI)
Eligible Games for the Open Category:
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Chess
- Carrom
- Kho Kho
- Table Tennis
Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for the AAI Sports Scholarship Scheme 2023-24, athletes must have participated in the sub-junior, junior, or senior national championships, the All India Inter University tournaments, or the national school games starting from the year 2021-22.
Number of Scholarships:
- Open Category – 42
- Children of AAI Employees – 8
Benefits:
- Over 14 years and under 18 years – INR 12,000
- Over 18 years – INR 16,000
Duration of the Scholarship: The scholarship will be provided for a period of one year.
Application Link: AAI Sports Scholarship Scheme 2023-24
| Note –
For children of AAI employees, all games are recognized without specific eligibility requirements. However, priority will be given to first-time applicants. |
Jyoti Prakash Scholarship Program for Sportspersons
The Jyoti Prakash Scholarship Program for Sportspersons is an initiative of Buddy4Study India Foundation which aims to provide financial support to young athletes who have excelled at state, national, or international levels within the past three years.
Under the scheme, eligible applicants have the opportunity to receive a scholarship amount of up to INR 24,000 to cover their academic and sports-related expenses.
Provider: Buddy4Study India Foundation
Eligible Games: Complete List of Eligible Sports
Eligibility Criteria:
- The scholarship program is open exclusively to Indian citizens.
- The eligible candidates for the scholarship program must have represented at the state, national, or international level in sports within the past three years.
- The applicants must be aged between 14 and 25 years as on July 31, 2023.
- The applicant’s annual family income should be less than INR 6 lakh.
Benefits: Scholarships are offered with amounts ranging from INR 15,000 to INR 24,000.
Application Link: Jyoti Prakash Scholarship Program for Sportspersons
| Note – Children of Buddy4Study employees are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. |
GIIS Global Sports Scholarship 2023
The GIIS Global Sports Scholarship 2023 is an opportunity provided by the Global Indian International School (GIIS). This scholarship is available to Class 1 to Class 12 students who have achieved remarkable success in sports at the national, international, and state levels.
The selected candidates will receive a full waiver of academic and sports expenses with a maximum grant of INR 6 lakhs for three consecutive years.
Provider: Global Indian International School (GIIS)
Eligible Games:
- Badminton
- Table Tennis
- Lawn Tennis
- Chess
- Athletics
- Gymnastics
- Swimming
- Archery
- Shooting
- Boxing
- Weightlifting
- Cycling
- Diving
- Soccer
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Netball
- Traditional Games (Kho Kho, Kabaddi)
- Martial Arts (Judo & Karate)
- Wrestling
- Hockey
- Cricket
- Rugby
- Squash
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be Indian citizens studying in Classes 1-12.
- Applicants must have a family income below INR 5 lakh.
- Selected applicants must have had strong academic performance over the past two years.
- Candidates must be associated with a sports coach or a recognised sports body, organisation, or academy.
- Applicants must have received significant achievements or awards, such as being members of winning or runner-up teams or securing first, second, or third positions in individual events at state or national-level competitions.
OR
- They must have maintained a consistent record of representing their country or state at state, national, or international levels in the past 2-3 years, ranking within the top 500 nationally or the top 100 within the state rankings.
OR
- Applicants must have participated in and excelled in sub-junior, junior, and senior national championships and games for the past 2 years.
Benefits:
| Category | Eligibility Criteria | Award Details |
| Category A | Awarded at International Sports | 100% coverage, up to a maximum of INR 6 lakh per year, for a duration of 3 consecutive years
b) Academic Expenses: 100% coverage of total fees |
| Category B | Represented at International Sports | a) Sports Expenses: 100% coverage, up to a maximum of INR 4 lakh per year, for a duration of 3 consecutive years
b) Academic Expenses: 100% coverage of total fees |
| Category C | Awarded at National Sports | a) Sports Expenses: 100% coverage, up to a maximum of INR 2.25 lakh per year, for a duration of 3 consecutive years
b) Academic Expenses: 100% coverage of total fees |
| Category D | Represented at National Sports | a) Sports Expenses: 100% coverage, up to a maximum of INR 1.25 lakh per year, for a duration of 3 consecutive years |
| Category E | Awarded at State Level | a) Sports Expenses: 90% coverage, up to a maximum of INR 75,000 per year, for a duration of 3 consecutive years
b) Academic Expenses: 90% coverage of total fees |
| Category F | Represented at State Level | a) Sports Expenses: 90% coverage, up to a maximum of INR 25,000 per year, for a duration of 3 consecutive years
b) Academic Expenses: 90% coverage of total fees |
Application Link: GIIS Global Sports Scholarship
Nikon Scholarship Program
The Nikon Scholarship Program is an initiative of Nikon India Private Limited, which aims to provide financial assistance to students from underprivileged backgrounds who wish to pursue photography-related courses.
Provider: Nikon India Private Limited
Eligibility Criteria:
- The Nikon Scholarship Program is available to students pursuing photography-related courses with a duration of 3 months or more.
- The applicants must have completed Class 12 and have an annual family income of less than INR 6 lakh.
Benefits: One-time scholarship amount of up to INR 1 lakh.
Application Link: Nikon Scholarship Program
| Note – The children of Nikon India Private Limited and Buddy4Study employees are ineligible. |
The Himalayan Fellowship for Creative Practitioners 2023
The Himalayan Fellowship for Creative Practitioners 2023 is an initiative of the Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art in partnership with Royal Enfield. The fellowship welcomes applications from creative practitioners engaged in diverse artistic mediums located in the Western and Eastern Himalayan regions, which encompass 13 Indian states and union territories.
These include Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal.
Provider: Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art in partnership with Royal Enfield
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be creative practitioners working across any mediums such as painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, architecture, sound and music, design, crafts, installations, performance, literature and oral history.
- The fellowship seeks applicants who demonstrate a clear inclination towards examining the intersections between intangible cultural heritage and ecological aspects.
- The selected fellows will be required to actively participate in workshops and site visits, which will involve a combination of in-person and virtual engagement.
Benefits: The Fellowship period is one year with a grant amount of up to INR 3 lakh allocated per project.
List of the projects under the fellowship programme:
- Climate Change and Adaptability: The project includes examining the cultural and social impacts of climate change on ecosystems, exploring creative awareness-building approaches, environmental justice advocacy, an adaptation of traditional practices, and the role of community-led initiatives in climate change mitigation.
- Ecosystems and Biodiversity: It requires assessing human-nature relationships, emphasizing traditional practices for biodiversity conservation, studying landscape ecology and urbanisation impacts, addressing safeguarding amidst urbanisation, migration, and industrialisation, and promoting community-specific resource dissemination approaches.
- Sustainability and Resilience: The project requires involvement in exploring community-driven efforts to establish sustainable and resilient systems, balancing preservation and adaptation.
- Traditional Knowledge, Cultural Heritage and Identity: It includes examining traditional knowledge and practices in the Himalayas, their link to local ecosystems, and challenges in preserving cultural heritage amid environmental change.
Application Link: Himalayan Fellowship for Creative Practitioners 2023
Scholarships for Extracurricular Activities – FAQs
Which sport offers the most rewarding scholarships in India?
Within men's sports, there are abundant scholarship options available for football, ice hockey, basketball, track & field, lacrosse, and baseball. On the other hand, women's sports offer significant scholarship opportunities in rowing, track & field, ice hockey, and basketball.
Are scholarships for extracurricular activities available for students at all educational levels?
Scholarships for extracurricular activities are available for students at different educational stages, including secondary school, high school, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels. Thus, it is crucial to conduct thorough research on scholarship programs that align with the educational level and meet the specific eligibility criteria of each program.
Is it crucial to engage in extracurricular activities for college admissions?
Active participation in extracurricular activities can greatly enhance college applications which makes them more competitive and increase the chances of admission. However, it is important to note that each institution has its criteria, so academic performance and other factors also play significant roles in the admissions process.
How to get involved in extracurricular activities?
Students need to explore their interests, join clubs or organisations, volunteer, participate in sports, and attend events to get involved in extracurricular activities.
Can students secure scholarships for extracurricular activities?
Yes, eligible candidates can secure scholarships for extracurricular activities but the application varies across institutions based on the factors like class sizes, student demographics, and admission criteria. These variations affect the level of importance given to extracurricular activities by admissions committees.
Can I use sports scholarships for my academic expenses?
Sports scholarships primarily support student-athletes in school/college or national/international level sports competitions but can often be used for academic expenses too. However, it may vary by institution and provider's terms and conditions.
What are the benefits offered under the scholarships for extracurricular activities?
Under scholarships for extracurricular activities, students can receive financial aid to cover educational expenses such as tuition fees, books, and equipment which may further enhance their chance to develop their skills and talents in their chosen extracurricular pursuits.
Do scholarships for extracurricular activities provide full financial support?
Yes, certain scholarships for extracurricular activities provide financial support to students to cover their educational expenses and support their academic journey.