Study in India (SII) FAQs
Find answers to common questions about the SII application process, eligibility, and benefits.
Study in India works differently from a classic scholarship: you build one profile, apply to as many institutes as you like and let each institute decide on admission and any fee waiver. That flexibility raises practical questions about offers, fees, documents and the steps after acceptance, which we answer below. Institute rules vary, so always read the course details on studyinindia.gov.in.
Study in India is a Government of India programme that brings international students into Indian universities and colleges through one online portal, studyinindia.gov.in. It is best seen as an admissions route with possible fee waivers rather than a single fixed scholarship: you build one profile, apply to institutes, and each institute decides on your admission and any waiver.
Not usually. Depending on your merit and the institute, an offer may carry a 100%, 50% or 25% tuition fee waiver, or no waiver at all. Hostel, food and other living costs are generally paid by the student, so check the complete fee structure in every offer letter before you accept one.
Citizens of eligible foreign countries, including Nepal, can apply. Undergraduate applicants need to have completed Class 12 or an equivalent, and postgraduate applicants need a bachelor's degree. Minimum marks, required subjects and any English requirement are set course by course, so read the eligibility note for each course before applying.
Most international students need a passport. Students from Nepal and Bhutan can apply with their citizenship ID instead. If you use a citizenship ID, make sure your name and date of birth on it match your academic records exactly.
The SII ID is the unique number created when you register on the portal. It ties together your applications, offers and fee payments, and you need it again for the student visa application. Nepalese students applying for COMPEX also need an SII ID before they can apply, so create it early and store it safely.
Yes. There is no limit on the number of applications, and you do not rank your choices. Every institute you select receives your application at the same time and reviews it independently, so apply only to courses whose eligibility you genuinely meet.
No. You may receive several offers, but you can accept only one. Compare the waiver, the total fees, the location and the course content of each before deciding, because the offer you accept is the one your fee payment and visa are based on.
Use the official grade conversion guidance published through Study in India for the current cycle, and enter only the figure it produces. An estimated or rounded-up percentage can cause problems when the institute checks your mark sheets. We posted the 2026 conversion sheet on our updates page.
You pay the fees the institute asks for and then wait for the institute's final approval on your dashboard. Your admission is complete only after that approval appears, and only then should you move on to the visa stage.
Students who need a visa apply on the official Indian visa portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, using their SII ID, after accepting an offer, paying the fees and receiving final approval. We recommend waiting around 12 hours after the approval appears before starting. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan have separate entry arrangements with India, so confirm with your institute which travel documents you need.
International students are generally required to register on the FRRO portal within 14 to 15 days of arrival. Your institute's international office can confirm whether this applies to you and help you through it, so contact them as soon as you reach campus.
Keep your passport, or your citizenship ID if you are from Nepal or Bhutan, your mark sheets and certificates, passport-size photographs, an English proficiency certificate if an institute asks for one, and any extra papers a particular institute requests. A medical fitness certificate is also worth arranging, as it is recommended.
Entering details that differ from your documents, which can carry through to the visa stage; applying to courses without checking their eligibility; missing offers or fee deadlines by not checking the dashboard; and starting the visa process before the institute's final approval.
No. We are an independent guidance site with no connection to the Government of India or the SII programme. Always confirm rules, fees and dates on studyinindia.gov.in before you act.
Need the full picture?
Our SII scholarship page sets out the eligibility rules, document checklist and application steps in one place. These answers are our own summaries and are not official; where anything differs, the current official notice takes priority.