Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

With the aim to empower the specially-abled students, many public and private organisations have come up with a wide range of scholarships and financial aid schemes. Monetary hurdles should not stop one from achieving their educational goals. There are numerous scholarships offered to students with disability to help them achieve their dream to pursue higher education. Read this blog to know about handicapped scholarships, post-matric and PWD scholarships and top scholarships for students with disabilities in India. 

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities in India

To help out the specially-abled students, a variety of government and private organisations along with NGOs have come up with life-changing scholarships. Some of these scholarship programs not only help students with their tuition fee but also assist them in fulfilling the related expenses that incur. Here are the top scholarships for students with disability:

• Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities 
• NHFDC Trust Fund Scholarship for Differently-abled Students
• Post Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities 
• Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disability 
• AICTE Saksham Scholarship Scheme 
• Micro-Financing Scheme 
• 16th CavinKare Ability 
• Scheme for Parents Association of Mentally Retarded Persons 
• Scheme for Financial Assistance for Skill and Entrepreneurial Development
• Scheme for Financing Construction of Commercial/ Business Premises for Starting Self-Employment Activity to PwDs
• Scheme for Providing Handholding Support to Disabled Entrepreneurs Through Vishesh Udyami Mitras
• Loan for professional educational training courses to disabled persons

Let’s explore some of these scholarships in further detail:

Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Offered by the Indian government, this scheme aims to align the specially-abled students with their future goals by empowering their higher education. The pre-matric scholarship is for students with more than 40% disability. It provides students with a stipend, books and other additional allowances. 

Eligibility: Only the students of classes 9th and 10th with an annual family income less than INR 2,00,000 can apply. 

Post Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

This is yet another important scholarship programme that the Indian government has established with the aim of helping students with disabilities continue their education so they can support themselves and find a respectable place in society.

Class 10th or 12th or graduates with a family income of less than INR 2.5 lac are eligible.

Benefits include maintenance, book and other allowances, as well as payment of a mandatory, non-refundable charge.

NHFDC Trust Fund Scholarship For Differently-abled Students 

The National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) is a country-level organisation established for the holistic development of differently-abled citizens. The scholarship by NHFDC is for differently-abled students and provides them with financial assistance to pursue a technical or professional course and find suitable employment thereafter. Offered to differently-abled students. Under the scholarship, candidates receive maintenance allowance of INR 2,500- 3,000; books and stationery allowance INR 10,000 per month. 

Eligibility: Differently abled candidates pursuing a PG level professional or technical course from a recognised academic institution with the family income less than 3 Lakhs can apply. 

AICTE Saksham Scholarship Scheme 

Operating under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the All India Council for Technical Education offers one of the most beneficial scholarships for students with disabilities. Rewarded to 1,000 selected students, reimbursement for the tuition fee of Rs. 30,000 along with Rs. 20,000 as incidental aid will be provided. 

Eligibility: 

• For candidates planning to pursue a degree or diploma-level technical course at an AICTE approved academic institution.
• Applicants with an annual income less than rupees 8,00,000 can apply.
• The physically challenged or differently-abled candidate must have 40% disability or more.

Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disability 

To promote quality education amongst the specially-abled students, the Government of India offers the Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disability. This scholarship is only available for master’s level courses. Maintenance and special allowances along with tuition fee will be covered under this scheme. 

Eligibility: 

• Graduate students who have a family income less than Rs.6,00,000.
• Must be enrolled under a full-time PG degree or diploma.

16th CavinKare Ability Awards 

The Ability Foundation along with CavinKare Pvt. Ltd. provides one of the best scholarships for students with disabilities. The cash prize for this scholarship is up to rupees 2,00,000 along with citation and trophy will be awarded to the selected candidates. 

Eligibility: The candidates must be recognised as an achiever with a disability. 

Loan for Professional/Educational/Training Courses to Disabled Persons

It is a well-known educational programme that National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation created with the goal of lending money to students with disabilities so they can pay for their education and pursue higher education both in India and overseas. There are always a lot of applicants for these grants for students with disabilities. Additionally, it gives equitable honours to all deserving candidates.

Candidates with a 40% or more disability who are enrolled in graduate, postgraduate, professional, or other courses approved by the UGC, government, AICTE, etc. programmes are eligible.

Benefits: Maximum INR 10,000 for domestic studies and INR 20,000 for international studies. Interest is charged at 4% annually. a 0.5% interest rate reduction for female recipients.

Scheme For Financial Assistance For Skill & Entrepreneurial Development

The NHFDC programme aims to train impaired individuals and develop their independence and capacity via proper technical training in traditional and technical entrepreneurship and jobs.

Candidates must be between the ages of 15 and 50 to be eligible.

Benefits include a weekly stipend of INR 500 and 100% of the program’s total recurrent costs.

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Abroad

Scholarships for people with disabilities are widely accessible, offering financial support to students who have a physical, sensory, learning, or mental health condition. For a list of scholarships for students with impairments, organised by nation, continue reading.

AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability

Scholarships for students with disabilities who are US citizens and enrolled full-time as undergraduate or graduate students at any recognised US university are available through the AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability. You ought to be pursuing a degree in medicine or a disability-related field.

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) College Scholarship Program

Merit-based awards for full-time, deaf or hard-of-hearing students to pursue undergraduate degrees at traditional colleges or universities. Graduate-level students can also apply for a small number of scholarships. open to both domestic and international students.

Google Lime Scholarship Program

scholarships for international impaired students to study at any level at a university in Canada or the US. You must be enrolled in coursework toward a degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical subject.

British Council Scholarships

There are several UK financial aid and scholarship programmes for international students with disabilities and special educational requirements, which are administered by UK or foreign governments, philanthropies, or corporations, or by UK universities, colleges, and institutions.

University of Melbourne

For students with disabilities, the institution includes a variety of scholarships and other financial aid options, including some outside awards. Some of these are only accessible to people who live in Australia.

Thus, we hope that this blog provided you with a list of scholarships for students with disabilities. Looking for scholarships to pursue higher studies abroad? Reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu and we will help you find the best scholarship as per your chosen course and university and further provide you with the best guidance throughout the admission process