Is there any scholarship at NID, NIFT and IIT-IDC?

If you have already read our blogs regarding the price tags (aka fees🥲) attached to studying at National Institute of Design (NID), National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), and IIT Institute of Design (IIT-IDC), you all know that while the journey of becoming a designer can be thrilling, it can also be a bit costly. Before you can fully immerse yourself in the world of design, you will have to consider one of the most crucial aspects of your education : financing it.

While we have discussed about loans in another of our blogs (do check it out😉), we are here to talk about another alternative, that is, scholarships - your golden ticket to achieving your design dreams without breaking the bank!

Institutes like NID, NIFT, and IIT-IDC offer quite a few scholarship options to assist students in managing the costs associated with their studies. Let us have a quick look at them-

NID Scholarships

So, NID is all about giving a hand to students who deserve it the most, and by "deserve," they mean those who ace the academic game and could use a bit of financial help. These scholarships typically cover a portion or all of the tuition fees but do not include accommodation or other expenses. The types and availability of scholarships also vary from branch to branch. Some of the scholarships offered by NID include:

Merit-Cum-Means Scholarship: Available to students who demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need.

JRD Tata Scholarship: Available to M. Des students who come from economically weaker sections and have demonstrated academic excellence.

MP Charan Scholarship: Also available to M. Des students who come from economically weaker sections and have demonstrated academic excellence.

NIFT Scholarships

Over at NIFT, they've also got this cool scheme mixing financial help with academic prowess. NIFT has a Means-cum-Merit Financial Assistance scheme to stand side-by-side students from economically weaker sections. This scheme covers tuition fees for eligible students. NIFT also offers the following scholarships:

SARTHAK Financial Assistance Scheme: Available to students from low-income families who are in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of study.

UDAAN NIFT Scholarship Scheme for Foreign Studies: Available to students from economically weaker sections who wish to study abroad.

IIT-IDC Scholarships

IIT-IDC provides merit-based scholarships to students in their B. Des program, to fuel their fire. These scholarships are forwarded through IIT and follow the institute's eligibility criteria.

Illustration by Nandini Seshan

But wait! In addition to institute-specific scholarships, let’s not forget the scholarships provided by the Indian government for higher education, including design courses. Do check out the National Scholarship Portal for scholarships offered by different ministries and organizations, or explore state-specific scholarships like the Chief Minister's Higher Education Scholarship in Tamil Nadu.

Applying for these scholarships will be a small, bumpy ride on its own — to apply for these scholarships, you must meet the eligibility criteria and submit the required documents, such as proof of income, academic transcripts, and recommendation letters. The application process and deadlines may vary for each scholarship program — so pay attention, and plan strategically!

Also, do not forget to keep checking the official websites of the respective colleges regularly or contact the administration directly for more detailed and accurate information about their scholarships -

NID : https://admissions.nid.edu

NIFT : https://nift.ac.in

UCEED : https://www.uceed.iitb.ac.in

CEED : https://www.ceed.iitb.ac.in

So, dear aspiring designer, don't let financial worries hold you back from pursuing your dream. If scholarships give you the upper-lift to embrace the opportunities knocking at your door, work hard and take them. They will provide the much needed financial support and enable you to focus on their studies and future careers. You will be able to pave your way to a fulfilling and successful career in the world of design.

For additional tips, valuable insights into venturing into design education, and tidbits on fees and financial aid, explore more blogs!

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Nandini Seshan

Communication Design/NID Vijayawada

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