PhD fellowships in Kerala

Which Kerala schemes pay a PhD scholar, and who runs each?

Five schemes survived our checks. Two are state-wide (KSCSTE and the minority fellowship) and three belong to individual universities.

Two gaps. The University of Kerala’s fellowships page explains how it processes CSIR, KSCSTE, INSPIRE and ICSSR awards but publishes no rate for a fellowship of its own, and we found no current CUSAT rate either. Scholars at those two should ask the research section.

How does the KSCSTE Research Fellowship work, from test to third year?

The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment funds PhD work in seven streams: mathematical, life, chemical, physical, engineering, environmental, and earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences. Humanities and social science scholars cannot apply. Its scheme page (posted 22 September 2025, updated 12 November 2025) sets the entry bar at 70% in the PG examination, or 65% for SC, ST and differently-abled candidates, from a university in Kerala. A Kerala resident with an MSc from Pondicherry or Madras is therefore out, however good the marks. The fee in 2025 was ₹750, waived for SC, ST and differently-abled applicants.

The test

The detailed rules are still the council’s December 2019 guidelines. They describe an online examination at three centres in Kerala, usually in the second week of December. Paper A has 20 general aptitude questions, all to be answered. Paper B has 100 subject questions, of which you attempt 50, on a syllabus close to CSIR-NET’s. There is no negative marking. The final score adds 70 marks from the test to 20 from your PG marks, and the cut-off for SC, ST and PwD candidates is 5% lower. The 2019 guidelines capped the scheme at 100 fellowships, 28 of them in life sciences, and warned that numbers depend on funds.

Our advice to a Kerala science postgraduate: sit this test in the same year as CSIR-NET. The subject paper overlaps and the fee is small.

After the offer letter

The award comes before the PhD seat. The council’s 2021 terms give you one year from the award to register at a university or recognised research centre in Kerala, and the offer letter itself is valid for a year. A KSCSTE award also helps at admission: the University of Kerala’s January 2026 notification lists fellowships of state government agencies approved by the university among its entrance-test exemptions, Calicut’s December 2025 notification does the same, and KTU’s 2025–26 notification lets KSCSTE fellows sit only Part A of its entrance test, with the marks scaled up to 70.

The 2021 terms also pay HRA at 10% of the fellowship to every fellow except day scholars and those in the institute’s hostel. The money is released a year at a time through your institution, against a progress report and an audited statement of expenditure. The third year is the hurdle: the 2019 guidelines ask for a paper in a Scopus-indexed journal acknowledging KSCSTE, and the 2021 terms ask for at least one paper in a refereed journal. Aim for Scopus and you satisfy both. Our publication requirement guide explains how to plan that paper. The 2021 terms also say the fellowship is not extended beyond three years, although your institution may let you continue the PhD without it.

Which minority scholars does the Chief Minister’s fellowship cover?

This scheme is run by the Directorate of Minority Welfare. Its 2025–26 notification (MWD/695/2025) is open to Muslim, Christian (all denominations), Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi scholars who are permanent residents of Kerala and are doing a regular full-time PhD. The English guidelines ask for enrolment at a recognised government or government-aided institution in India, so the institution need not be in Kerala; non-resident Keralites cannot apply.

It pays ₹20,000 a month, released as ₹2,40,000 for a year, and a scholar can receive it up to three times within five years. There is no test. BPL applicants come first; the Malayalam notification says APL families with income up to ₹8 lakh are considered when BPL applicants run short. It reserves 30% of awards for women and 5% for persons with disabilities, allows one member per family, and set 250 awards for 2025–26. The age limit was below 40 on 1 October 2025, relaxed for women and PwD applicants.

Three rules need care. Employees of a university, college or government are excluded even on leave without allowance. Anyone already drawing JRF, KSCSTE or an institutional stipend must give one of them up. The same guidelines also say that a scholar who has already used any fellowship for the PhD, fully or partly, is not eligible, which sits awkwardly with the option of giving one up. If you hold another award, ask the Directorate before you apply. For the second and later years you submit RAC reports, a coursework completion report and, later, evidence of a paper in a peer-reviewed or Scopus-indexed journal.

The 2025–26 applications went on paper to the Director, Directorate of Minority Welfare, 4th floor, Vikas Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram 695033, and by email, by 15 January 2026. The Directorate’s website showed a maintenance notice in September 2026, so we read the copy MG University circulated.

What do MG University, KTU and Calicut pay their own scholars?

Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam

MGU’s University Junior Research Fellowship is for full-time scholars in its teaching departments and approved research centres, except autonomous colleges. Its 2025–26 notification (19 April 2026) was open only to scholars admitted in 2023 and 2024, took applications on the MGU research portal from 4 May to 4 June 2026, and left the number of awards to the Vice-Chancellor. You must be 35 or younger on your date of joining, and you can apply during coursework, but nothing is paid until you produce the coursework mark list. Our coursework guide explains what that stage involves.

The rate went up this year. A university order of 19 March 2026 raised the UJRF from ₹12,000 (the figure in the 2023–24 notification) to ₹15,000 a month. The syndicate then decided on 20 May 2026 that 2024 admissions get the new rate from their first year, while 2023 admissions get it from their third year.

KTU

KTU’s 2025–26 PhD notification (30 April 2025) promised ₹25,000 a month for three years and ₹10,000 a year contingency to eligible full-time scholars. It also noted that the Directorate of Technical Education gives Higher Education scholarships to scholars selected for full-time study in government engineering colleges, after registration. The notification does not define who is eligible for the KTU fellowship, so ask the research section when you are admitted.

University of Calicut

Calicut’s Directorate of Research FAQ describes a University Fellowship for full-time scholars with no other fellowship, called for usually in June or July once admissions finish and sanctioned by a university order, after which you sign an agreement and submit a stipend bill each month. It gives four years at ₹11,000 (JRF) and ₹13,000 (SRF) a month, with ₹6,000 contingency for the whole tenure. The FAQ carries no date, so confirm the rate with the Directorate. Calicut scholars will find the thesis rules in our Calicut thesis format guide.

Can a KSCSTE fellow also draw a university or minority award?

You cannot stack them. KSCSTE’s terms bar any other fellowship during its tenure, MGU tells anyone already receiving a fellowship not to apply, and the minority fellowship makes you choose. To leave KSCSTE for a national JRF you resign through your supervisor and head of institution, with KSCSTE’s approval, and settle the accounts before it issues a no-objection certificate.

Scheduled Caste scholars should also know the SC Development Department’s laptop assistance: up to ₹25,000 for first-year SC students in a list of courses that includes the PhD. The department routes its post-matric assistance through the e-Grantz portal, and its page does not give a date for the laptop rate, so confirm it with your district SC development office.

• Keep your PG mark list and degree certificate ready in September. The KSCSTE call has usually opened in September or October, and the fellowship counts your PG marks as well as the test.
• Count your chances. KSCSTE allows three consecutive attempts from the year you pass your PG. Missing a year uses one up.
• Check your age against each scheme. KSCSTE’s 2019 guidelines set 35, MGU’s 2025–26 notification 35 on the date of joining, and the minority fellowship under 40 on 1 October 2025.
• Get your community, nativity and income certificates from the village office early if you are applying for the minority fellowship. The Directorate wants the original income certificate.
• Do not plan on holding two awards. KSCSTE, the minority fellowship, MGU and Calicut all exclude scholars who already draw another fellowship.

At the end, KSCSTE asks for a soft copy of your thesis and your degree before it closes the file. If you are registered at the University of Kerala, our University of Kerala thesis format guide covers how that thesis has to be laid out.