AICTE QIP (FU) 2026: ₹25,000 Monthly Scholarship, Eligibility & Process
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Quick answer
The AICTE Quality Improvement Programme (Foreign University) offers a monthly scholarship of ₹25,000 for 12 months to permanent faculty members pursuing a PhD at top 500 global institutions. Eligible teachers from AICTE-approved degree colleges must secure doctoral admission and an onward visa before submitting their application. The completed proposal is submitted offline directly to the AICTE head office in New Delhi.
At a glance
| Main benefit | ₹25,000 per month for 12 months |
| Ministry / department | Ministry of Education |
| Level | Central Government |
| Application mode | Offline |
About the scheme
The All India Council for Technical Education introduced the Quality Improvement Programme (Foreign University) to enable Indian technical faculty to earn doctoral degrees from world-class international universities. Designed to bridge the PhD qualification gap and raise Indian teaching standards to global benchmarks, the programme supports permanent college teachers admitted to institutions ranked in the top 500 by QS, THE, or Shanghai rankings. AICTE provides targeted financial aid during the first year of foreign research, easing initial settlement before candidates transition to university fellowships.
Benefits
- Scholarship of ₹25,000 per month during the first year (12 months) of the doctoral programme.
- Opportunity to pursue advanced doctoral research in any of the world's top 500 universities ranked by QS, THE, or Shanghai ranking systems.
Who can apply (eligibility)
- Must be a full-time regular or permanent faculty member of an AICTE-recognised degree-level college.
- Must have at least three years of teaching experience at the graduate level.
- Must hold a Master's degree in the appropriate branch of study.
- Must possess an admission offer for a PhD programme from a foreign university ranked in the global top 500 (QS, THE, or Shanghai ranking) in the previous five years.
- The chosen research subject must belong to the core courses approved by AICTE.
Who cannot apply
- Faculty members who have already obtained a PhD degree are not eligible.
- Faculty members already pursuing a PhD with scholarship support under the AICTE Indian QIP programme or any other Government of India or domestic funding schemes cannot apply.
- No relaxations in eligibility criteria are permitted beyond the foreign university's official cut-off date.
Documents required
- Duly filled application form along with a passport-size photograph.
- Official admission letter from the foreign university stating programme duration with start and end dates.
- Copy of valid passport and visa indicating the date of onward journey.
- Attested copy of the Mandate Form duly filled and signed by the head of the parent institution.
- Copy of the formal undertaking submitted to the parent institute in India.
- Authentication and recommendation letter from the parent institute confirming eligibility and formal relieving approval.
- Documentation verifying the date of onward journey.
How to apply
- 1Secure direct admission to a doctoral programme in any top 500 foreign university ranked by QS, THE, or Shanghai rankings.
- 2Obtain your visa, travel clearance, and explore any additional fellowships or assistantships offered by the host institution.
- 3Complete the official application form and compile all required endorsements, undertakings, and mandate forms from your parent college.
- 4Submit the physical application packet to AICTE, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070.
Frequently asked questions
How much scholarship is provided under AICTE QIP (FU)?+
The scheme provides a scholarship of ₹25,000 per month to selected faculty members for the first year (12 months) of their PhD programme.
Who is eligible to apply for QIP (FU)?+
Full-time permanent faculty members of AICTE-approved degree colleges who hold a Master's degree and have a minimum of three years of graduate-level teaching experience are eligible.
Which foreign universities qualify under this scheme?+
Foreign institutions ranked within the top 500 globally by QS ranking, Times Higher Education (THE) ranking, or Shanghai ranking in the previous five years qualify.
Can a teacher who already has a PhD apply for this scheme?+
No, faculty members who have already completed a PhD are not eligible to apply under QIP (FU).
Why is the scholarship granted only for the first year?+
AICTE funds the first 12 months to support the initial transition, after which scholars are expected to secure available international assistantships, fellowships, or university grants.
Can faculty currently receiving Indian QIP funding apply?+
No, faculty members already receiving funding from AICTE QIP in India or other Government of India schemes are excluded from this programme.
How can candidates submit the application form?+
Candidates must send the filled application form and all supporting documents offline to the AICTE head office at Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070.
NaukriZila is not a government website. Apply only on the official portal; never pay anyone to apply for a government scheme. Source: myScheme (Government of India)