Not everybody can secure a medical seat at their desired college or stream due to many challenges, including lack of funds. But there are a few private and government scholarships, which cover up to 100% tuition fee.

News18 brings top five grants for those who have a low score in the National Education cum Entrance Test (NEET). While there are several colleges, which do not require the NEET score, due to change in National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations, it is now mandatory for students going abroad to have cleared NEET too.

Harvard Medical School

The Harvard Medical School offers scholarships on need basis through endowed funds, fundraising, and unrestricted income. Scholarship eligibility is determined by subtracting the institutional expected family contribution from tuition and mandatory fees.

Who can apply: Candidates who are financially ineligible to pay the fee, however, qualify for admission to the courses by fulfilling other conditions are automatically considered for the scholarship

Selection Procedure: Eligibility for institutional scholarship funding is limited to eight semesters of full tuition charges. Candidates may also be asked to provide information consisting of premedical background, residency preferences, personal and professional interests, and academic progress.

Where to apply: https://meded.hms.harvard.edu/types-funding-md-program

INSPIRE Scholarship

The Department of Science & Technology (DST) offers INSPIRE scholarship to students who wish to pursue higher studies including UG and PG courses. Selected candidates will be eligible for a stipend of Rs 5,000 a month and a mentorship grant worth Rs 20,000 per annum.

Who can apply: Students interested in studying basic and natural sciences at the college and university level and to pursue research careers in both basic and applied science areas including engineering, medicine, agriculture and veterinary sciences can apply.

Selection Procedure: Candidates with aggregate marks within top 1% of their Class 12 state or central board are eligible. Further, candidates having a rank up to 10,000 in NEET or JEE are also eligible.

Where to apply: Applications need to be submitted online on https://www.online-inspire.gov.in.

Beijing Government Scholarships

Due to its affordable and quality education, China is one of the favourite destinations for Indian students to pursue medicine. The Chinese government offers scholarships to international students including Indians.

Who can apply: International students who wish to pursue PhD should be below 40 years and those for UG courses should be up to 30 years, while for Master’s the age limit is 35 years. Applicants could apply to the higher educational institutions, which are eligible to enrol the scholarship students.

Selection Procedure: The host institution will review applications, which need to be submitted three months prior to the start of the course. Students’ academic record, health, work experience among other factors will be verified.

Where to apply: https://english.beijing.gov.cn/studyinginbeijing/scholarshipapplications/202006/t20200617_1926391.html

All India Youth Scholarship Entrance Examination (AIYSEE)

AIYSEE is a national level merit-based scholarship entrance exam for engineering and medical students. It is usually conducted in April and May. The scholarship is offered to only 10% of the total students enrolled. For government colleges, students will get up to 100% scholarship or maximum of Rs 40,000 per semester, whichever is lower. For private colleges, the candidates will get a grant of up to Rs 80,000 a year.

Who can apply: The aim of the scholarship is to offer financial assistance to high-performing students from any economic background.

Selection Procedure: Candidates need to clear the exam after which they will be eligible to participate in the admission and seat allocation.

Where to apply: https://aiysee.com/aboutsc.php

Vice-Chancellor’s International MBBS Scholarship, Sydney University

The University of Sydney offers a scholarship of $40,000 to support “high achieving” international students to pursue MBBS in Australia.

Who can apply: International students, who have applied for a CRICOS-registered bachelor coursework degree and have received an unconditional offer, are eligible for the scholarship.

Selection Procedure: The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit; students are nominated by the selection committee.

Where to apply: Applicants are considered automatically for the scholarship and they do not have to apply separately. Details on https://www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships/e/vice-chancellor-international-scholarships-scheme.html

Advising students on selecting the right college or course for medical education, Anubhav Garg, counsellor and founder of TAB INDIA – a platform for NEET counselling, said, “When considering a country for your medical education, students need to remember that due to recent regulations, it is essential to clear the NEET exam before enrolling in medical courses abroad. Further, students need to look for programmes that offer a four-and-a-half-year academic curriculum in alignment with Indian standards. Ensure that the country of study provides a 12-month internship, and a plan for an additional 12-month internship in India. Simultaneously, prepare for the NExT (National Exit Test). Students also need to verify that the country you choose complies with Foreign Graduate Medical License (FMGL) regulations, granting you the necessary internship practice licence for eligibility in the NExT exam in India.”

Many Indian students choose to study in countries like Russia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan because of the relatively lower cost of education. Countries including Italy, the US, UK, Hungary, and many more offer scholarships for Indian students to study medicine, he added.