General Cultural Scholarship Scheme (GCSS)

The General Cultural Scholarship Scheme is one of the most important and popular schemes of the ICCR for foreign students. Scholarships are awarded under this scheme annually to international students belonging to certain Asian, African and Latin American countries for the undergraduate, postgraduate degrees and for pursuing research at Indian universities. At the inaugural plenary of the India – Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India announced the Government of India’s initiative to enhance the academic opportunities for students of African countries in India by increasing the number of scholarships for them to pursue under-graduate, post-graduate and higher courses. Scholarships for medical studies such as MBBS, BDS or for medical research leading to Ph.D. degrees are not offered under GSS.

The list of Countries covered under the GSS is given below:

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Argentina, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Belgium, Cambodia, Fiji, Georgia, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Palestine, Qatar, Russia, Reunion Island, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu (Fiji), UAE, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cape Verde, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Comoros, Congo (Republic of), Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea (concurrent from Nairobi), Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan (Republic of), Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sao Tame & Principe, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Benefits of General Cultural Scholarship Scheme:

• The students will get benefits in the form of financial assistance for a different courses as follow:
• Living Allowance (stipend)

1. Undergraduate: Rs. 5,500/- per month
2. Postgraduate: Rs. 6,000/- per month
3. Phil / Ph.D: Rs. 7,000/- per month
4. Post-doctoral Fellow: Rs. 7500/- per month

• House Rent Allowance:

1. In Grade 1 cities: Rs. 5,000 per month
2. In other cities: Rs 4,500 per month

• Contingent Grant:

1. Undergraduate: Rs. 5,000/- per annum
2. Postgraduate: Rs. 7,000/- per annum
3. M/Phil / Ph.D and M.Tech./ME: Rs. 12,500/- per annum
4. Post – doctoral studies: Rs. 15,500/- per annum
5. Tuition Fee/Other Compulsory Fee As per actual

• Thesis and Dissertation Expenses:

1. D Scholar: Rs. 10,000/- once in entire course
2. For BBA/BCA/MBA/MCA/M.Tech and other course required submission of Project: Rs. 7,000/- once in entire course

Required Eligibility and Conditions for Applying General Cultural Scholarship Scheme:

1. The candidate should have the eligibility (qualification) to apply for the course
2. The candidate should be proficient in English
3. The candidate should not have serious health problems
4. Priority will be given to students who have never studied in India before
5. Students applying for doctoral/ post-doctoral courses should include a synopsis of the proposed area of research
6. No application will be accepted for admission to courses in MBBS/MD or Dentistry/Nursing
7. Candidates may note that Indian Universities/Educational Institution are autonomous and independent and hence have their own eligibility criteria which have to be fulfilled
8. Candidate may also note that acceptance of application by the University is also not a guarantee of admission. A scholarship is awarded only when admission is confirmed by ICCR
9. Student must carry a proper visa. Students should ensure that they get the correct visa from the Indian Embassy/High Commission.
10. Scholars are advised to bring some money with them to meet incidental expenditure on arrival in India. (Approx. Rs. 30,000/-)
11. Scholars should inform the Indian Embassy/High Commission of their travel schedule well in advance so that ICCR can make reception and other arrangements for them

Document Required for Applying General Cultural Scholarship Scheme:

1. Six recent passport size photographs
2. Certified copies have been attached of the syllabi and graduation certificates/ mark sheets for all educational qualification listed
3. Synopsis of proposed area of research have been attached by the student who is applying for doctoral/ post-doctoral course
4. If application is for a B.E. course than it has the confirmation that candidate has taken Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) in his/her school leaving examinations (mandatory requirement) for Engineering courses
5. Video/ audio cassettes of students wishing to study performing Arts are enclosed
6. Certified copies of translations of documents which are not in English are attached
7. Certified that no original documents attached with this application
8. Certificate of Physical fitness
9. Character recommendations certificate
10. Certificate by Mission including certification of student’s English skills
11. Undertaking has been given by student that he will abide by terms and conditions of ICCR scholarships Certified copies of relevant pages of passport
12. Certified that student has not been given ICCR scholarship before
13. Certified that student is not already studying in India
14. Certified that application form is complete in every respect

Application procedure:

1. The application form should be typed and NOT hand written
2. Go through the list of Institutions / Universities where Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) students are studying. Check whether the Institution / University you wish to apply to, offers the course you desire to pursue
3. Sign the application in the two places required on the application form
4. Paste a colour passport size photograph on the application
5. Attach all documents to be enclosed with the application form
6. Scan and save the filled-in application form and attachments as a PDF
7. Email the PDF application and attachments to edu@indianhighcommission.com.my and ss@indianhighcommission.com.my
8. One printout of the filled-in application form with attachments, and 5 additional colour passport size photographs (with name written behind the photos) are to be sent to: Embassy of India of the respective country

Contact Details:

1. Candidate can contact to the Indian Embassy or the High commission of India of their respective country
2. For more contact details candidate can visit to: http://iccr.gov.in/content/contact-list

References & Details:

1. For more information and application form student can visit the following links:
2. http://iccr.gov.in/content/general-scholarships-gcss
3. http://iccr.gov.in/content/africa-scholarships
4. Candidate must visit the official website of Embassy of India of their respective country