All about the K. C. Mahindra Scholarship

The KC Mahindra Scholarship is sponsored by the KC Mahindra Education Trust to help students achieve their academic dreams. The Trust was set up in the year 1953 by the late Mr K C Mahindra to promote literacy in India. This Public charitable trust offers scholarships to those who are unable to fund their studies on their own, helping students achieve their potential by awarding several lakhs via scholarships. In mid-2023, 64 students received KC MET scholarship amounts that totalled INR 335 lakhs towards funding their postgraduate studies abroad. The top three received 10 lakhs each, and the rest of the students, five lakhs individually. The KC Mahindra Scholarship is a great way for deserving students to lighten the financial burden of studying abroad at prestigious institutions. 

The different KC Mahindra Scholarships

There are many funding options offered through the Trust. The Mahindra Pride programme is a skill development initiative aimed at equipping youth to train themselves for various kinds of employment. The Trust also runs the Nanhi Kali project to ensure education for underprivileged girls across the country. 

When it comes to funding aids for students, the Trust has the KC MET scholarship and grant programmes to help you. Some of these awards have been in existence since the 1950s. The following are the different options you may be eligible for: 

1. KC Mahindra Scholarship for Post Graduate study abroad 

Details:

• One of the oldest scholarships the Trust has been awarding, these are interest-free loan scholarships.
• Offered every year to deserving students across fields for postgraduate studies. 
• Preference for students pursuing programs in subject areas that are not easily accessible in India. 
• The top three shortlisted candidates get 10 lakhs each, and other shortlisted candidates get five lakhs each.
• Scanned copies of required documents are to be uploaded on the portal.
• Students also must undertake an interview.

Eligibility:

• Only for Indian candidates who have admission or have applied for a course commencing no later than February 2025. You can apply even if you do not have admission confirmation yet.
• Candidates in the final year of a diploma/ degree are eligible if they can give the completion certificate/ final mark sheet before July, showing a first-class score.
• A first-class degree/ equivalent diploma from a recognised university is needed.
• Applicants must have a guarantor, typically a parent or spouse.

Documents needed: 

• Updated CV
• Letter of Recommendation from referees accepted by the Trust
• Admission letter copy, if you have received it
• Statement of purpose
• GRE/ GMAT score
• IELTS/ TOEFL score
• Mark sheets to prove academic qualifications along with rank certificate, if applicable. 
• 10, 12th std mark sheets
• Valid passport copy

You can apply on the KCMET website.

2. K C Mahindra Fellows Fund 

As part of the K C Mahindra scholarship for PG studies, the Fellows Fund was introduced in 2010. 

Details: 

• The top 3 students are chosen for the award. 
• This is in the form of an interest-free loan.
• A maximum amount of 8 lakhs per student for the three top contenders is offered based on the needs of the student and merit.

Eligibility:

• Meritorious students able to prove consistent academic record.
• Govt and Quasi- govt officers heading to study abroad are also eligible.  
• Students who want to study abroad in areas that can be valuable for the development of the country will get preference.

3. Mahindra All India Talent Scholarship or MAITS

Details:

• Established in 1995.
• The goal is to promote employment skill training in urban and rural India. 
• 12,390 Indian students have received this scholarship.
• 550 students are selected every year for the award.
• Approved students get INR 10,000 per year for three years to help them complete a diploma course.
• Female students get special preference, and so do differently-abled students, the children of armed forces/ central police personnel. 
• Applications start in August.

Eligibility:

• Only economically disadvantaged students can apply.
• For those aiming to enrol in an employment-oriented diploma at Govt Polytechnic in India. 
• Students must have passed SSC/ HSC/ equivalent in 10th/ 12th.
• Students must have more than 60 per cent marks in these qualifications.
• Confirmed admission in a diploma course in a government or recognised polytechnic college. 
• Applications are taken only from students entering the first year of their course

4. Mahindra Search for Talent Scholarship

Details:

• Awarded since 1983 and covering 37 educational institutions in India.
• Students who qualify for this award more than once also get the Rs 5,000 Honour Scholarship.

Eligibility:

• Open to students getting the highest aggregate marks in their year-end exam.

5. K C Mahindra UWC scholarship

Details:

• Scholarship to be used for studying at United World Colleges.
• Aimed at giving access to international education via the Mahindra United World College network.

Eligibility:

• Age between 16 to 18 years

Eligibility criteria

To be approved for the KC Mahindra Scholarship, the Trust follows some general eligibility rules, as follows: 

• The student must be an Indian national.
• The student must have a confirmation of admission for the course they intend to study.
• They must be able to show their good academic record using previous results or certifications.
• They must have completed certain academic qualifications before the course commencement of the program they want to apply for. 

Of course, for some of the KCMet scholarship awards, the Trust lays down other clear eligibility criteria that must be fulfilled as mentioned above. 

Selection criteria 

These scholarships aim to help underprivileged students who cannot fund their study abroad dreams, and they are designed to ensure that students with academic capability get opportunities to achieve their potential. Having proof of financial constraints or a low annual income can help you make the shortlist for the scholarships/ grants.

Some of the main factors that will be considered by the selection committee are:

• Your financial need for the award to fund your study.
• Your academic prowess and potential for excellence.
• Your aptitude for the course you choose and plans post-completion.

Given the many awards available in the KCmet scholarship scheme and the substantial size of the awards, the competition is high among students to get shortlisted. A good way to improve your chances of getting the award is to ensure you have all the necessary documents to prove your eligibility. You can also pay extra attention to your SOP to ensure your commitment to the programme and your intention to utilise what you learn in your plans is clear. 

The KC Mahindra Scholarship awards have exceeded USD 119.83 million to date. The Trust continues to utilise its funds and those of the Mahindra Group CSR funds to offer scholarships for academic programmes and livelihood training programmes. Through its scholarships, loans and grants, the K C Mahindra Trust has proven itself a wonderful source of funds for 1000s of Indian students who dream of studying abroad at the very best institutions worldwide. The Trust and its many funding programmes could be your passport to your dream college too. 

Editor's note: This article was originally published in March 2018 by our content writer, Antony Chacko. We have since revised it to include up-to-date information and ensure its comprehensiveness.