Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

The national scholarships, reservations and exam accommodations that help students with disabilities study from school to university.

Education is one of the strongest routes to financial independence. For students with disabilities, a set of scholarships and legal rights helps cover costs and remove barriers.

National scholarships

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities runs several scholarships for students with benchmark disabilities, applied for through the National Scholarship Portal:

Pre-matric scholarship: for classes 9 and 10.
Post-matric scholarship: for class 11 up to postgraduate diplomas and degrees.
Top class education scholarship: for students admitted to notified top institutions for graduate and postgraduate study, covering tuition and other costs.
National overseas scholarship: for master’s and doctoral study abroad.
National fellowship: for research students pursuing MPhil or PhD.

Each has income limits and amounts that are updated from time to time, so check current rules on the portal.

Reservation in higher education

Under the RPwD Act, government and government-aided higher education institutions must reserve at least 5 percent of seats for students with benchmark disabilities and may give an age relaxation of five years.

Exam accommodations

Students with disabilities may get:

Extra time in exams.
A scribe or reader.
Use of computers or assistive technology.
Exemption from some subjects in certain boards.

Boards such as CBSE have clear procedures. Competitive exams also provide accommodations.

Other support

State governments, universities, companies and charities offer additional scholarships. Some universities have equal opportunity cells that help students with disabilities access support.

Funding a degree

A deaf student scores well in class 12 and gets into an engineering college on the list of notified top institutions. She applies through the National Scholarship Portal for the top class education scholarship, which covers her tuition and gives her an allowance for books and a laptop. She also uses captioning software provided by the college's equal opportunity cell.

Thinking scholarships are only for top scorers

Most disability scholarships are based on disability and income, not just marks. Many students who qualify never apply, so it is worth checking.

Key takeaways

National scholarships cover students with disabilities from class 9 to PhD and study abroad.
Apply through the National Scholarship Portal and check current income limits.
Higher education institutions reserve at least 5 percent of seats.
Exam accommodations include extra time, scribes and assistive technology.