Keralam Aspire Scholarship Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Keralam ASPIRE Scholarship, also known as the ASPIRE Research Award, is a Government of Kerala scheme that supports college and university students who want to carry out short-term internships or research projects at reputed institutions outside their own college or university department. Unlike regular scholarships that help with tuition fees, ASPIRE pays students for the period they spend working on an approved project at a host institution under the guidance of an experienced scholar.

The government launched ASPIRE because most students in Kerala's colleges rarely get to work in advanced laboratories or learn alongside leading researchers. The objective of the scheme is to give students of recognised institutions under the Directorate of Collegiate Education (DCE) and the State Universities a chance to pursue short internships or projects beyond their parent college, and to expose them to national-level research institutions such as IIT, IISc and CEFL and premier central institutions such as JNU outside the State. Within Kerala, students can work only at institutions of national standard, such as colleges with NAAC 'A' grade, IIT or IIM.

The Keralam ASPIRE Scholarship provides monthly financial assistance for the approved research period. Students receive ₹8,000 per month for research conducted within Kerala and ₹10,000 per month for research conducted outside the state. The maximum scholarship duration is one month for postgraduate students, two months for M.Phil. students, and four months for PhD students. Preference is given to students undertaking research at institutions outside Kerala. The sanctioned scholarship amount is credited directly to the student's bank account.

The process works in a simple way. A student finds a guide at a host institution who agrees to supervise the work, prepares a short project proposal of 1 to 1½ pages, collects a sanction letter and facility certificate from the host institution and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the parent college or department, and applies online. The Director of Collegiate Education, as Coordinator of RUSA, runs the scheme through the RUSA office and takes the help of Research Officers to identify guides who can mentor students. DCE also reports the number of applications, scholarships disbursed, and funds used to the government at the end of every financial year.

Apart from the Keralam ASPIRE Scholarship, the Government of Kerala also offers other student support schemes, including the Keralam Civil Service Fee Reimbursement Scholarship Scheme, which provides financial assistance to eligible candidates preparing for civil service examinations, and the Keralam Vidya Poshini Students Fellowship Scheme, which supports eligible students pursuing higher education and research. These schemes aim to reduce financial barriers and promote educational opportunities. You can explore the complete details here.

Benefits of Keralam ASPIRE Scholarship

ASPIRE gives students both a monthly stipend and real exposure to advanced research work at reputed institutions. Selected students gain the following benefits under the scheme.

• Monthly scholarship: Students receive a monthly amount for the approved project period.
• Direct bank credit: DCE credits the sanctioned amount directly into the student's bank account.
• National-level exposure: Students can work at institutions such as IIT, IISc, CEFL, and JNU.
• Expert guidance: A scholar or guide at the host institution supervises the internship or project.
• Mentor support: Research Officers under DCE help identify guides to mentor students.

Award Amount and Duration

The scholarship rates and maximum durations are as follows:

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the Keralam ASPIRE Scholarship, applicants must fulfil the following eligibility criteria.

• The student must study in a recognised institution under the Directorate of Collegiate Education or a University in Kerala.
• Students of University Centres doing internships outside their parent institution can also get the scholarship.
• The earlier circular covered students of Government and Aided colleges under the Universities of Kerala, Calicut, Mahatma Gandhi and Kannur.
• Official selection lists for 2024-25 include postgraduate and PhD students. The older circular also covered M.Phil. students.
• The internship or project must take place outside the student's parent college or department.
• The host must be an institution of national standard. Inside Kerala, it must be a college with NAAC 'A' grade, an IIT, or an IIM.
• A scholar or guide at the host institution must agree to supervise the student.
• DCE selection lists record qualifying marks, but the minimum percentage or CGPA has not been officially released for the current cycle.

Required Documents

Students must submit and upload the following documents with their application for ASPIRE Scholarship.

• Project or internship proposal (not more than 1 to 1½ pages)
• Sanction letter from the host institution
• Facility certificate from the host institution
• Consent letter from the host institution/guide
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the parent department or college
• Bank account details, as DCE credits the scholarship directly into the student's account

Steps to Apply

The application process for the ASPIRE Scholarship is online, and students must upload their proposal and supporting documents on the website notified by the Directorate of Collegiate Education. You can follow these steps once DCE opens the application window.

• First, decide on the internship or research topic you want to pursue.
• Select a national-level institution outside Kerala, or a NAAC 'A' grade college, IIT, or IIM within Kerala.
• Approach a scholar at the host institution and obtain their consent to supervise you.
• Obtain the sanction letter, facility certificate, and consent letter from the host institution.
• Obtain a No Objection Certificate from your parent department or college.
• Write a project proposal of 1 to 1½ pages.
• Where your university's proforma requires it (for example, the University of Kerala), get the Department Council recommendation and signatures of your guide and the Head of Department or Principal.
• Open the ASPIRE application link notified by DCE, fill in your personal, course, college, and host institution details, and enter your bank account details.
• Upload the proposal, NOC from the parent institution, and consent letter of the host institution.
• Review the form and submit it before the last date fixed in the notification.
• After submission, regularly check the official DCE website for provisional and final selection lists and further instructions.
• If selected, join the host institution and submit the joining report in accordance with DCE's instructions.
• The sanctioned scholarship amount is credited directly to the student's bank account.

Selection and Payment Process

After applications close, DCE moves through the following stages.

• Scrutiny: DCE, through the RUSA office, examines the applications received.
• Provisional list: DCE publishes a provisional list of selected postgraduate and PhD students.
• Final list: DCE then releases the final selection lists course-wise.
• Joining report: Selected students join the host institution and submit a joining report as instructed by DCE.
• Payment: DCE credits the sanctioned scholarship directly into the student's bank account.

Relevant Links

• Guidelines of Keralam Aspire Scholarship
• Directorate of Collegiate Education, Kerala Portal

Contact Information

• Directorate of Collegiate Education, Kerala Helpline Number:
  • 0471-2303107
  • 0471-2303548
• Directorate of Collegiate Education, Kerala Helpline Number:
  • [email protected]
  • [email protected]