DCE Scholarship 2023-24

Education is deemed a fundamental right of every individual. However, financial constraints can sometimes obstruct your academic journey. That’s why the Government of India avails plentiful scholarship schemes for students belonging to unprivileged sections of society. The Department of Collegiate Education (DCE), Government of Kerala offers several scholarships under the DCE scholarship scheme to provide educational opportunities to different sections of the society. The DCE scholarship assemblage also provides financial assistance to several meritorious students in need. Here is a blog elaborating on the key details of the DCE Scholarship as well as the eligibility criteria and important dates you need to keep in mind before applying for this scheme.

Scholarship	DCE Scholarship
Name of the Board	Department of Collegiate Education Government of Kerala
Mode of Application	Online
Official Website	www.dcescholarship.kerala.gov.in/
No. of Scholarships offered	14

DCE Scholarships: Overview

The DCE Scholarship is a prestigious program that aims to support and encourage students in their pursuit of higher education. Standing for the “Department of Collegiate Education Scholarship,” this initiative provides financial assistance to eligible students residing in Kerala. The scholarship program seeks to remove financial barriers and ensure equal opportunities for students to access quality education. Through the DCE Scholarship, students can receive funding to cover tuition fees, textbooks, and other educational expenses. By empowering students with financial aid, the program strives to foster academic success, promote career development, and create a brighter future for individuals and the community as a whole.

Also Read: Exams for Study Abroad with Scholarship

History and Origin

The DCE Scholarship has a rich history rooted in the goal of educational equity. It was established in 2010 with the aim of providing financial support to students in Kerala. The program was born out of the recognition that many talented and deserving students faced financial barriers that hindered their access to quality education. Over the years, the DCE Scholarship has evolved and expanded, continually adapting to the changing needs of students. Through the dedication of donors, community organizations, and educational institutions, the program has helped countless students achieve their academic aspirations and fulfil their potential. The history of the DCE Scholarship reflects a commitment to empowering students and creating opportunities for their educational success.

List of DCE Scholarships 

Here are all the DCE Scholarships offered to students in 2023-24:

• Sanskrit Scholarship (SSE)
• Music Fine Arts Scholarship (MFAS)
• Muslim Nadar Girls Scholarship
• Blind/PH Scholarship
• District Merit Scholarship (DMS)
• State Merit Scholarship
• Hindi Scholarship (HS)
• Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) for Minorities
• Suvarna Jubilee Merit Scholarship (SJMS)
• ITC Fee Reimbursement Scholarship 
• Central Sector Scholarship (CSS)
• APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship (APJAK)
• C H Muhammedkoya Scholarship
• Mother Teresa Scholarship (MTS)
• Prof. Joseph Mundassery Scholarship Award (PJMS)
• CA/ICWA/CS Scholarship (IWCS)

List of DCE Scholarships & Application Deadlines 2023-24

Scholarship Name	Application Period (tentative)
ITC Fee Reimbursement Scholarship 2023	Between August and October
C H Muhammedkoya Scholarship	Between August and November
APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship (APJAK)	Between August and November
Prof. Joseph Mundassery Scholarship Award (PJMS)	Between August and September
Mother Teresa Scholarship (MTS)	Between August and November
CA/ICWA/CS Scholarship (IWCS)	Between August and September
District Merit Scholarship 2020 (DMS)	Between July and October
State Merit Scholarship	Between July and October
Sanskrit Scholarship (SSE)	Between July and October
Muslim Nadar Girls Scholarship	Between July and October
Music Fine Arts Scholarship (MFAS)	Between July and August
Blind/PH Scholarship	Between July and October
Hindi Scholarship (HS)	Between July and October
Suvarna Jubilee Merit Scholarship (SJMS)	Between July and October
Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) for Minorities	Between July and October
Central Sector Scholarship (CSS)	Between August and October

Application Process

To apply for the scholarship, you need to follow this process:

• First, register on your respective scholarship portal
• Enter a valid login ID and password and then enter the basic details to register on your portal
• Enter the details of your educational board and personal details
• Next, read through the guidelines that have been provided by the DCE Scholarships
• Next, select your scholarship type and enter the required details
• Once completed, recheck all the details you have entered on your application form
• Finally, apply and take a printout of the application for further usage

DCE Scholarship Eligibility

Multiple scholarship sub-schemes constitute the DCE scholarship, all of which have been designed with the consideration of the needs of different sections of society. These sub-schemes carry varied eligibility criteria. You can visit the official website to get a detailed version.

Here is a comprehensive summary of the relevant eligibility conditions for each scholarship scheme.

Sanskrit Scholarship (SSE)	Must be studying Sanskrit as one of the subjects in a UG or PG course.
Music Fine Arts Scholarship (MFAS)	Must be a student of a Govt. Music/Fine Arts College.
Muslim Nadar Girls Scholarship	1. Open only for girl students belonging to a BPL family and backward community. 2. Must be enrolled in HSC/VHSC or UG course in a Govt or Aided Arts and Science college.
Blind/PH Scholarship	1. Only blind/physically handicapped/deaf students are eligible. 2. Must be enrolled in a Govt/Aided Arts and Science College or Music College or Govt/Aided Higher Secondary/Vocational Higher Secondary School.
District Merit Scholarship (DMS)	1. Must be a student of Higher Secondary/VHSC/ ITI/ Polytechnic course. 2. Must have secured an ‘A+’ grade in all subjects in the SSLC Examination conducted by the Board of Public Examination, Kerala.
State Merit Scholarship	1. Must be a first-year student of UG or PG course from a govt/ aided institution. 2. Must have secured at least 50% in the qualifying examination. 3. Annual Family Income: Less than INR 1 lakh
Hindi Scholarship (HS)	. Must be studying Hindi as one of the subjects in a UG or PG course.
Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) for Minorities	1. Must be a first-year student of 11th/12th/UG/PG/PhD from a govt/ aided/recognised unaided institution. 2. First-year students of Technical/Professional courses of NCVT-affiliated ITI/ITC centres are also eligible. 3. Annual Family Income: Less than INR 2 lakhs 4. Must belong to a Muslim, Christianity, Sikh, Parsi, Jain or Buddhist community 5. Must have secured at least 50% marks in the qualifying examination.
Suvarna Jubilee Merit Scholarship (SJMS)	1. Open only to those belonging to the BPL family 2. Must be a first-year student of a UG/PG course in either Govt/Aided institution 3. Must have secured at least 50% in the qualifying examination
ITC Fee Reimbursement Scholarship	1. The scholarship is open to students from minority communities including Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain 2. Must be pursuing an ITI Course3. Family annual income should be less than 8LPA
Central Sector Scholarship (CSS)	1. For those students who have secured more than 80 percentile in standard 12th. 2. Must be a student of a regular UG or PG course from AICTE/UGC/MCI/DCI/other affiliated institutions/colleges. 3. Annual Family Income: Less than INR 8 lakhs
APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship (APJAK)	1. The scholarship is open to students from minority communities including Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain. 2. Must be a polytechnic course in a merit seat in a government/aided college 3. Family annual income should be less than 8LPA
C H Muhammedkoya Scholarship	1. Open to girl students who belong to Muslim, Latin or Christian communities 2. Must be pursuing graduation or above 3. percentage of marks in the last qualifying exam should be 50% 4. Annual family income less than INR 8 LPA
Mother Teresa Scholarship (MTS)	1. The scholarship is open to students from minority communities including Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain. 2. Must be pursuing a diploma/ paramedical courses3. Family annual income should be less than 8LPA
Prof. Joseph Mundassery Scholarship Award (PJMS)	1. The scholarship is open to students from minority communities including Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain. 2. Must be pursuing 10th/ 12th/ VHSE3. Family annual income should be less than 8LPA
CA/ICWA/CS Scholarship (IWCS)	1. The scholarship is open to students from minority communities including Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain. 2. percentage of marks in the last qualifying exam should be 60%3. Family annual income should be less than 8LPA

DCE Scholarship: Rewards

The benefits provided to students under the sub-schemes of the DCE Scholarship have been summarised below.

Name of Scholarship  under DCE Scholarship Scheme	Scholarship Benefits
Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities (PMS)	1. Admission and tuition/course fees of a maximum of INR 10,000 p.a. 2. Maintenance Allowance: INR 1,200/month (for 10 months)
Central Sector Scholarship (CSS)	1. At UG level: INR 10,000 p.a. for starting three years and INR 20,000/annum for 4th and 5th year in case of a 5-year integrated course. 2. At PG level: INR 20,000 p.a.
State Merit Scholarship (SMS)	At UG level: INR 1,250 p.a. At PG level: INR 1,500 p.a.
District Merit Scholarship (DMS)	INR 1,250 p.a.
Merit Scholarship to the Children of School Teachers (MSCT)	At the 11th level: INR 50 p.a.
Hindi Scholarship(HS)	At UG level: INR 550 p.a. At PG level: INR 1,000 p.a.
Muslim Nadar Scholarship (MNS)	INR 125 p.a.
Sanskrit Scholarship (SS)	At UG level: INR 200 p.a. At PG level: INR 200 p.a.
Suvarna Jubilee Merit Scholarship (SJMS)	INR 10,000 p.a.
Blind/PH Scholarship (BPHFC)	For Blind students: Fee support if annual family income is less than INR 2.5 lakhs p.a. For PH hostellers: Hostel charge support if their annual family income is less than INR 4.5 lakhs p.a. For PH day scholars: Boarding fee support if their annual family income is less than INR 4.5 lakhs p.a.
Music Fine Arts Scholarship (MFAS)	INR 1,500 p.a.
ASPIRE Scholarship (ASPR)	INR 8,000/month*
MGS Renewal (MGS)	UG course: INR 5,000 p.a. PG course: INR 6,000 p.a. Professional course: INR 7,000 p.a. Hostel stipend: INR 13,000 p.a.

How to Apply for DCE Scholarship?

There are two main portals by the Kerala government, i.e. the Department of collegiate education and minority welfare scholarship portal where you can apply for DCE Scholarships or you can just head to the official website of the scholarship and choose from the list to apply for a scholarship there.

To apply for the DCE Scholarship, follow these steps:

1. Research Eligibility: Review the eligibility criteria for the DCE Scholarship program. Typically, it is available to students residing in the District of Columbia who are pursuing higher education.
2. Gather Required Documents: Collect all the necessary documents, such as proof of residency, academic transcripts, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and any other supporting materials specified in the application guidelines.
3. Complete the Application: Fill out the DCE Scholarship application form accurately and thoroughly. Provide all requested information, including personal details, educational background, financial information, and any essays or statements required.
4. Write a Strong Personal Statement: Craft a compelling personal statement that highlights your achievements, aspirations, and why you believe you deserve the scholarship. Be sincere and concise, demonstrating your passion for education and future goals.
5. Submit the Application: Once you have completed the application form and gathered all the necessary documents, submit your application by the specified deadline. Ensure that you follow the instructions regarding submission methods, whether it’s an online submission or mailing the application package.
6. Follow Up: After submitting your application, follow up with the scholarship program to confirm that your application has been received. Keep track of any additional steps or documentation that may be required.
7. Await Notification: The scholarship committee will review the applications and select the recipients based on the eligibility criteria and merit. Wait for the notification regarding the scholarship results. Be prepared to provide any additional information if requested.
8. Acceptance and Fulfillment: If you are awarded the DCE Scholarship, carefully review the terms and conditions outlined in the acceptance letter. Follow any instructions regarding acceptance confirmation and fulfilling any additional requirements, such as signing an agreement or providing proof of enrollment.

DCE Scholarship Portal

Scholarship	Application Link
Sanskrit Scholarship (SSE)	Apply through the Department of Collegiate Education’s Scholarships Portal.
Music Fine Arts Scholarship (MFAS)	Apply through the Department of Collegiate Education’s Scholarships Portal.
Muslim Nadar Girls Scholarship	Apply through the Department of Collegiate Education’s Scholarships Portal.
Blind/PH Scholarship	Apply through the Department of Collegiate Education’s Scholarships Portal.
District Merit Scholarship 2022 (DMS)	Apply through the Department of Collegiate Education’s Scholarships Portal.
State Merit Scholarship	Apply through the Department of Collegiate Education’s Scholarships Portal.
Hindi Scholarship (HS)	Apply through the Department of Collegiate Education’s Scholarships Portal.
Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) for Minorities	Apply through the Department of Collegiate Education’s Scholarships Portal.
Suvarna Jubilee Merit Scholarship (SJMS)	Apply through the Department of Collegiate Education’s Scholarships Portal.
ITC Fee Reimbursement Scholarship	Apply through Minority Welfare Scholarships Portal.
Central Sector Scholarship (CSS)	Apply through the Department of Collegiate Education’s Scholarships Portal.
APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship (APJAK)	Apply through Minority Welfare Scholarships Portal.
C H Muhammedkoya Scholarship	Apply through Minority Welfare Scholarships Portal.
Mother Teresa Scholarship (MTS)	Apply through Minority Welfare Scholarships Portal.
Prof. Joseph Mundassery Scholarship Award (PJMS)	Apply through Minority Welfare Scholarships Portal.
CA/ICWA/CS Scholarship (IWCS)	Apply through Minority Welfare Scholarships Portal.

Documents Required

Here are the important documents that you must have before applying for the scholarship or the renewal of your scholarship:

• Birth certificate
• Copy of the first page of your bank passbook
• Caste certificate
• ID proof 
• Electronic clearing service(ECS) form from the bank where the applicant has an account
• Mark sheet of last qualifying exam
• Domicile certificate
• Course certificate of current educational course
• Parent’s income certificate
• Proof of admission to the educational institution

DCE Scholarship Candidate Login

Logging into DCE Scholarship is very smooth. However, you do need to register for the scholarship beforehand. Here is how you can log in to DCE Scholarship:

• Open the official website
• On the left corner, there is a tab of ‘Candidate Login’
• Click on that and fill in the login details
• Enter your password
• Share if you are applying for Fresh/ Renewal
• Click Login and you will be taken to your portal

DCE Scholarship Awarded Students List

Once you have applied for the scholarship and gone through the selection process, the question of whether you have been selected or not starts to roam around your head. The process of checking the student list is a little complicated on the official website but that is all that is standing between you and your scholarship. Here, we will tell you how you can check if you qualified for the scholarship:

• Open the website of the DCE Scholarship
• On the left, you will see a section of ‘Awarded Students List’. Click on that section
• Under the option of Scholarship Type, select the scholarship you applied for
• Next, fill in your scholarship status. If this is your first time applying, click on ‘Fresh’ and if you are looking for a renewal of your scholarship, click ‘Renewal’
• Enter your state and district
• Next, enter your institution type and finally your institution
• If the results have been declared, you will see a list of names along with application status and Scholarship Status
• If your scholarship has been approved, it will be mentioned in the Scholarship Status. 
• If your application is still in process, your scholarship status will be empty and your application status will be visible

Renewal Process

Once you have been selected for the DCE scholarship, you need to renew your scholarship every year by following this process:

• Login to the DCE portal.
• Check the notification section for any updates on the scholarship renewal process.
• Click on the notification and update the details for the scholarship
• Enter your latest qualifying examination mark sheet and other documents required
• Submit the renewal application
• Print the application for further reference

FAQs

Thus, the DCE Scholarship has the central objective of offering financial aid to students belonging to the weaker sections in the state of Kerala. The importance of financial backing can’t be emphasized more in today’s day and age. Whether you are planning to study aboad or in India, it holds tremendous value in the career of an individual. If you need support, financial or otherwise, you can always count on the counsellors at Leverage Edu that can guide you throughout the application process, along with getting an ideal scholarship and bringing you closer to your dream career.