FIFTEEN youth from KwaZulu-Natal have received fully paid bursaries to study in India under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, India - Africa Maitri Scholarship program for 2024-2025.
They have been given the opportunity to study in various fields including Bachelor of Commerce (finance), Bachelor of Science (computers), Bachelor of Arts, and Business studies at several prestigious universities in India.
The Consulate General of India in Durban, Dr Thelma John David said the scholarships had been a successful programme for scholars globally.
“South Africa alone has sent over 1200 students to study in India and they have come back with qualifications. This allows them to seek employment in South Africa and elsewhere. The scholarships are annual, and we encourage all South African scholars to grab the opportunity to study in India,” she said.
She added that the students were selected as per the qualifying criteria stipulated by the scholarship scheme.
“This entails undergraduates being between the ages of 18-40; postgraduates up to 45; and doctoral programs up to 55. Scholars are then given the option to select up to five universities to study at,” said David.
She added, “This scholarship is fully paid by the government of India and was fully funded with airfare, stipend, and hostel fees.”
“The 15 scholars chosen under the India-Africa Maitri scholarship have travelled from the third week in August to join their respective universities in India for their studies.”
Applications start every year at the beginning of the year in the month of February and scholars are permitted to apply through the ICCR scholarship website. A2ascholarship.iccr.gov.in/