Scholarships for STEM, MBBS and Engineering Students

As an undergraduate and medical student, engineering and research student, there are various scholarship programmes available for students in the 2026-27 academic year. There are opportunities for the groups like Women coming to STEM field, Medical students, engineering students from weaker sections of society and students from the backward classes pursuing research. It is important to know the requirements, payback, and application deadlines, so that students can determine which scholarships to apply for. Some of the programmes to look at in October 2026 are the WINGS Scholarship, Concentrix Scholarship Program, Infocepts Innovate for Impact Scholarship and National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Caste Students.

WINGS - Women INspiring Growth in STEM Scholarship Program

The WINGS - Women INspiring Growth in STEM Scholarship Program was launched at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay by its alumnus Bharat Desai and his wife, Neerja Sethi. The programme is designed to encourage women to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects by lowering the financial burden of higher education for women.

The scholarship is designed for female students who will be taking undergraduate courses in STEM at IIT Bombay in the academic year 2027-28. Applicants should not be receiving any other government tuition grant or scholarship. Students will be required to keep a cumulative CPI of 6.0 or above to be eligible to continue to receive the scholarship.

Applicants must not be receiving any other government tuition grant or scholarship. To continue receiving the scholarship, students must maintain a Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) of at least 6.0. Selected students will receive tuition fee assistance of up to ₹2 lakh per year, subject to the programme’s applicable conditions. This financial support can help reduce the cost of undergraduate education and allow students to focus on their studies.  The deadline to apply is October 31, 2026.

“A scholarship is not merely financial support; it is an investment in human potential. Every curious and committed mind deserves an opportunity to learn and contribute, irrespective of language, economic circumstances, or social background. Scholarships should encourage diverse forms of intelligence - not only mathematical and analytical ability, but also artistic, creative, and conceptual thinking. A student who excels in one area but lacks expertise in another should be encouraged to collaborate with others whose strengths complement their own. Similarly, scholars can benefit from a pool of educators from different disciplines who jointly mentor and guide them. When we remove barriers to knowledge, we do not simply support students - we expand society’s capacity to innovate and progress,” says Dr. Ajay Jha, Professor , Jaipuria Institute of Management.

Concentrix Scholarship Program 2026-27

Concentrix Scholarship Program 2026-27 will be given to girls studying MBBS at government medical colleges in India. The programme is designed to alleviate the fee burden of medical students and facilitate the continuation of their study of MBBS for eligible students.

Candidates must be girls who are pursuing first year of MBBS in Government Medical College. Candidates should be 12th board pass outs. The annual family income of applicants on the basis of all the income sources shall not exceed ₹5 lakh.

Scholarship will be provided to selected students up to ₹65,000/- per year. This amount may be used to assist with educational costs related to medical studies such as costs for books, stationery, examination fees, educational equipment, and institutional fees.

The application process is completely online, and eligible students will need to apply by October 30, 2026.

“Scholarships play an important role in supporting deserving students for continuing their studies. Today, numerous scholarships are available to students from different backgrounds.

Merit-based scholarships provide financial assistance to academically talented students based on their past performance. These scholarships motivate students to maintain high academic standards and pursue excellence. Need-based scholarships, on the other hand, are generally awarded to students from economically weaker sections of society who possess a strong desire to continue their education.

The government encourages deserving students to apply online through dedicated scholarship portals. Many private institutions also support students belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) by offering fee waivers and other financial assistance to promote talent. In addition, several corporations support education through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and provide merit-cum-need-based scholarships to suitable candidates.

Overall, scholarships are essential for promoting equal educational opportunities, nurturing talent, and expanding access to education,” says Dr. Sourabh Sharma, Professor (Information Management and Analytics), IMI, Bhubaneswar

Infocepts Innovate for Impact Scholarship 2026-27

Infocepts Innovate for Impact Scholarship 2026-27 is a CSR initiative by Infocepts Foundation for the students of Engineering from Socio-economic Backward Community pursuing Under-Graduation course in any technology related field.

The scholarship is available to computer engineering, information technology, AI, machine learning or data science undergraduate students of any year. Candidates should have scored 60% marks in class 10 and 12 and the family income should not be more than ₹6 lakh per annum. Candidates should also be studying in Nagpur, Pune, Chennai or Bengaluru or should be domiciled there.

Scholarship support will be provided at a maximum of ₹50,000 per annum to selected students for four years, renewable annually and depending on their eligibility. The last deadline for receiving applications is October 30, 2026, online.

“Scholarships are an enabler of opportunity and an investment in society. They have more than reduced the cost of education. They can give a student the confidence and freedom to make educational choices based on their interests and aspirations rather than simply on affordability. This is particularly important in higher education, where the choice of institution, discipline and learning environment can have a significant impact on a young person’s career trajectory.

I also believe scholarships should not be viewed only as financial assistance. They are an investment in people. When institutions, companies, and philanthropic organisations support capable students, they are investing in the talent that will eventually contribute to businesses, communities, and society. There are young people with remarkable resilience, leadership ability, entrepreneurial ambition or a strong commitment to creating social impact who may simply not have the financial resources to pursue quality higher education. Scholarships can help identify and support such potential.

I would encourage institutions and organisations to think carefully about how scholarships are designed. Financial need, merit, potential, diversity and social impact can all be relevant considerations. The goal should be to widen access while also nurturing talent. When we fund a promising student’s education, we are not simply supporting one individual. We are potentially influencing the future of a family, an organisation, and society. It is the opportunity scholarships create. Most of the time, life trajectory changes,” says Renuka Kamath, Professor, Marketing, Associate Dean, SPJIMR.

National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) 2026

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment offers the National Fellowship Scheme for socially backward Students 2026. The scheme is meant to offer financial assistance to eligible Scheduled Caste students for advanced research in science, humanities and social sciences.

Applicant must belong to a scheduled caste recognised by the respective state government and the enrolled in full-time, regular M.Phil. or Ph.D. programme at a recognized university or research institution. As per the provided eligibility information, the candidates should have passed the National Eligibility Test (NET) or Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE).

The fellowship provides monetary support of up to ₹42,000 per month, and other relevant benefits, as applicable. The support is meant to help eligible research scholars to cover their academic & research costs for their higher studies.

The application deadline is December 20, 2026. The information provided here specifies that selection is done on merit basis on the basis of UGC-NET-JRF and UGC-CSIR NET-JRF with the application process being offline. Applicants should refer to the official notification for the current selection process and submission.

“Scholarships are effective tools for fostering educational equity, developing talent, and enabling people to realize their dreams. Financial education should be defined by knowledge. Scholarships help close this gap by giving worthy students the money they need to pursue higher education with dignity and confidence.

Scholarships honor academic achievement, talent, tenacity, leadership, and social responsibility in addition to financial support. They inspire students to pursue greater goals, discover their potential, and engage in extracurricular, academic, research, and cultural activities. For students from economically disadvantaged families, scholarships can relieve financial burden and enable them to focus on their academics and career development.

Scholarships promote an inclusive and merit-based learning environment at the institutional level. They promote diversity, lessen educational gaps, and help create workers that are knowledgeable, creative, and socially conscious. To conclude, scholarships are an investment in human potential, generating chances that benefit people, communities, organisations, and the country,” says Dr. Snigdha Pattnaik, Professor & Research Coordinator (Pharmacy), Siksha 'O' Anusandhan Deemed to be University

Conclusion

Scholarships and fellowships can improve access to higher education by helping students cover some of the expenses associated with university studies. Each of the four programmes provides opportunities for women pursuing careers in STEM, female medical science students, students from financially weaker backgrounds in engineering and Scheduled Caste research scholars. But there are certain eligibility criteria, funding caps and application processes that can differ across the four schemes. Students are required to read the current official notification and confirm necessary documents and apply within the given time frame. It is also essential to verify conditions and renewal of support for those who are supported during multiple academic years.