Funding

Fully Funded

Bachelor's Scholarship•India

Lata Mangeshkar Dance & Music Scholarship Scheme

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)

Application Deadline

Closed · June 25, 2026

Reopens ~Jun 2027

Official Page

The Lata Mangeshkar Dance & Music Scholarship Scheme is the Indian Council for Cultural Relations award for the study of Indian culture, listed on the ICCR portal as scheme A1209 and named after the singer Lata Mangeshkar.

It funds foreign students to take courses in Indian dance, music, theatre, performing art, sculpture, Indian languages and Indian cuisine at universities and institutes across India, at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. A separate track funds a one-year diploma in yoga.

ICCR sets 100 places for the 2026–27 year and releases them globally rather than by fixed country quota, so applicants from any country ICCR serves compete for the same pool through their local Indian Mission. Applications run on the same A2A portal ICCR uses for its other schemes.

Benefits & funding

  • Tuition and the compulsory charges set by the host university or institute.
  • A monthly stipend, a house rent allowance, an annual contingent allowance for books and stationery, and a thesis or dissertation allowance where the course requires one. ICCR publishes the rates in its financial-terms guidelines; they differ by study level and by the grade of the host city.
  • Return economy-class airfare, plus 3-tier AC train fare inside India where travel is needed.
  • 25 of the 100 places fund a one-year diploma in yoga at four designated institutes, located in Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Delhi and Bangalore.
  • Hostel and mess charges and immigration-related fees are paid by the student.
  • Medical insurance is compulsory and self-funded, with a minimum cover of INR 500,000 a year. ICCR provides no medical cover.

Eligibility

  • Open to foreign nationals worldwide. The scheme carries no fixed country quota, but no country may take more than 10 of the culture places or more than 2 of the yoga places.
  • Minimum age 18 as of 1 July 2026.
  • ICCR sets a ceiling of 35 years for undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma courses and 40 years for PhD, with no upper age limit for Hindi, Sanskrit and performing-arts courses — which covers most of what this scheme funds.
  • Undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses, plus the one-year yoga diploma. Entry qualifications follow the level applied for.
  • Proficiency in English is required. A 500-word essay in English forms part of the application; TOEFL or IELTS scores may be added but are not required.
  • Documents not in English must carry a certified English translation.
  • Applicants must be in sound health and must hold medical insurance before travelling to India.
  • Applications are filed through the Indian Mission for the applicant’s country.

Can you apply?

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  • Education required

    High School · Bachelor · Master

  • Age requirement

    ≥ 18 yrs

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Application process

  1. 1
    Register on the ICCR A2A scholarship portal for the academic year.
  2. 2
    Select the Lata Mangeshkar Dance & Music Scholarship Scheme (A1209) and the track — Indian culture courses, or the one-year yoga diploma.
  3. 3
    List up to five universities or institutes in order of preference.
  4. 4
    Upload the documents, with certified English translations where an original is in another language, and submit the 500-word English essay.
  5. 5
    Universities confirm their admission decisions on the portal.
  6. 6
    ICCR allocates the places and the Indian Mission handles selection for its country; places go on a first-come, first-served basis.
  7. 7
    Accept the award on the portal, then complete medical, visa and travel formalities.

Program timeline

  1. 27 February 2026

    the A2A portal opened for 2026–27.

  2. original last date for applications.

    15 April 2026

  3. universities confirm admission decisions.

    30 April 2026

  4. ICCR allocates the scholarships and students accept.

    15 May 2026

  5. extended last date for this scheme.

    25 June 2026

  6. Late February 2027 (expected)

    the 2027–28 cycle opens, following the 2026–27 pattern.

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