Summary of the Scheme
Name of Scheme	Free Education for Sports Medal Winners / Participants of National / International Events
Launch Year	2012
Benefits	Up to 100% tuition fee, actual hostel expenses, and sports kit allowance of up to ₹15,000 per year, along with course-specific financial assistance.
Beneficiary	National Games medal winners and participants in recognised international sporting events pursuing full-time regular courses.
Nodal Agency	University Grants Commission (UGC)
Subscription	Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme
Mode of Apply	Through the prescribed UGC application process via the university or college.

UGC Free Education for Sports Medal Winners and Participants of National and International Events

How the five performance levels work, what each level receives, who can apply, and what to check before you apply.

Talented athletes often have to choose between training and studying, because fees, hostel costs, and equipment add up quickly. To help them continue higher education without giving up sport, the University Grants Commission (UGC) introduced the Free Education for Sports Medal Winners / Participants of National / International Events scheme in 2012. This post explains the benefits, the five achievement levels, eligibility, documents, and the application route, and it flags an important point about current availability.

A Note Before You Read

The benefit amounts and procedures described here come from the UGC’s XII Plan guidelines (2012-2017). A revised 2026 benefit structure has not been verified, the old application portal has not been confirmed as operational, and no fresh application window for 2026 has been announced. Before you apply, contact your university’s scholarship section or the UGC to confirm the current procedure.

What Is the Scheme?

The scheme is implemented by the University Grants Commission, under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. It supports sportspersons who have won medals at the National Games or participated in recognised international sporting events, and who are pursuing full-time regular courses. The goal is to help talented athletes continue their education without financial difficulty and to encourage excellence in sports.

It covers full-time regular undergraduate, postgraduate, PG Diploma, M.Phil., Ph.D., MBA, and other professional courses in recognised universities, colleges, and eligible institutions.

Scheme at a Glance

• Scheme name: Free Education for Sports Medal Winners / Participants of National / International Events
• Launched: 2012
• Nodal agency: University Grants Commission (UGC)
• Benefits: Tuition fee support (up to 100% of actual fees), actual hostel expenses, an annual sports kit allowance of Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000, and monthly assistance for certain advanced courses
• Beneficiaries: National Games medal winners and participants in recognised international sporting events, pursuing full-time regular courses
• How to apply: Through your university or college, using the UGC’s prescribed form
• General enquiries: 011-23604446, 011-23604200, contact.ugc@nic.in

The Five Sports Achievement Levels

What you receive depends on your level of sporting achievement.

Level	Eligible sports achievement
Level 1	Winning a medal at the Olympic Games or a World Championship involving more than 20 countries
Level 2	Participating in the Olympic Games or a World Championship involving more than 20 countries, or winning a medal at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, or Afro-Asian Games
Level 3	Participating in a World Championship involving fewer than 20 countries, the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, or Afro-Asian Games, or winning a medal at an Asian Championship (excluding the Asian Games)
Level 4	Participating in an Asian Championship or the World University Games, or winning a medal at the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games
Level 5	Participating in the SAF Games, or winning a medal at a national-level competition as listed in the UGC benefit guidelines

Note that the general eligibility conditions mention National Games medal winners and participants in recognised international events. Winning a medal at any national-level competition does not automatically make you eligible.

What Does Each Level Receive?

Type of assistance	Levels 1 to 4	Level 5
Tuition and other eligible fees (Bachelor’s, PG Diploma, PG Degree)	100% of actual eligible expenses	75% of actual eligible expenses
M.Phil.	Rs 7,500 per month plus eligible actual expenses	Rs 5,000 per month plus eligible actual expenses
Ph.D.	As per the UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) scale	Rs 7,500 per month plus eligible actual expenses
MBA and other professional courses	Rs 7,500 per month plus eligible actual expenses	Rs 5,000 per month plus eligible actual expenses
Hostel expenses (boarding and lodging)	Actual eligible expenses	Actual eligible expenses
Annual sports kit allowance	Rs 15,000 (Levels 1 and 2), Rs 10,000 (Level 3), Rs 7,500 (Level 4)	Rs 6,000

Other Benefits

• Special courses abroad: Allowances follow the applicable Government of India norms.
• Other scholarships allowed: Students can accept scholarships from other funding agencies alongside this scheme, subject to those scholarships’ own conditions.
• Support for missed classes: Institutions are expected to make special arrangements, such as help with completing the syllabus and meeting attendance requirements, for students who miss classes because of competitions.

Who Is Eligible?

• The applicant must be an Indian student pursuing a full-time regular course in a recognised educational institution.
• National Games medal winners can apply, subject to the guidelines.
• Students who participated in international events recognised by the World University Service, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), or the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) can also qualify. Winning a medal is not compulsory in this category.
• The student must be enrolled in an eligible undergraduate, postgraduate, PG Diploma, M.Phil., Ph.D., MBA, or other professional course.
• The institution must be covered under the UGC guidelines, including institutions recognised under Sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, deemed-to-be universities under Section 3, government-funded institutions, and Institutes of National Importance.
• The applicant must provide valid proof of the sports achievement or participation.

Documents You May Need

• Completed application form in the prescribed format
• Sports achievement certificate showing the medal won at the National Games or participation in a recognised international event
• Admission or enrolment proof from your university or college
• Academic records or marksheets, wherever the institution requires them
• Aadhaar card and bank account details, as applicable
• Any other document your university or college asks for

The sports achievement certificate must be verified and attested by the Registrar, Principal, or Director of your institution. Confirm the latest document requirements with your university or college before submitting anything.

How to Apply

The scheme is administered through your university or college, which verifies your details and claims reimbursement from the UGC. The guidelines do not describe a dedicated online application process.

1. Contact the scholarship section or administration office of your university or college and ask how the scheme is handled and whether applications are currently being accepted.
2. Download the UGC XII Plan guidelines and application form. The student application form is on page 5 of the PDF.
3. Fill in the form with your name, date of birth, course, institution, academic year, sports category, and details of the competition in which you won a medal or took part.
4. Attach your certificate as proof of the medal or participation, attested by the Registrar or Principal.
5. Submit the form and certificate to your university or college.
6. The institution verifies your details and prepares the proposal for reimbursement from the UGC.
7. After selecting eligible students, the institution sends the UGC the list of selected students, details of scholarship payments, each student’s academic and sports progress report, and the utilisation certificate for the previous grant, along with a certificate justifying continuation of assistance forwarded by the Registrar or Principal.

Renewal: Keeping the Assistance

The assistance does not continue automatically each year. To keep receiving it:

• You must keep up your sports performance at the required level.
• You must make satisfactory progress in your studies.
• Your institution must send the UGC a progress report on your sports performance and an annual report at the end of each academic year.
• The institution must submit a utilisation certificate confirming that the previous year’s assistance was used properly. Assistance for the next year is released only after the UGC receives it.

Stay in touch with your institution so that these reports are filed on time.

When Can Assistance Be Cancelled?

The UGC may stop the assistance in these situations:

• Misconduct, if the institution reports it to the UGC.
• Poor academic performance, such as frequently failing examinations or not making satisfactory progress.
• A recommendation from the institution to cancel it.
• Leaving the course without prior approval from the UGC, in which case you may have to return the assistance received.

The final decision rests with the UGC, so inform your institution and get the required approval before discontinuing a course.

Tips for Student Athletes

• Keep every certificate safe, including participation and medal certificates from recognised events.
• Get your certificate attested early by the Registrar, Principal, or Director.
• Know your level. Match your achievement to the five levels to understand what you can expect.
• Ask your institution first. It is your route to the UGC, so find out who handles the scheme and the current process.
• Do not assume the old portal works. Confirm with the university or UGC before relying on any online form.
• Plan for renewal. Stay competitive in your sport and keep your academic record in good shape.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the scheme launched? In 2012, by the University Grants Commission.

Who is eligible? Indian students in full-time regular courses who have won a medal at the National Games, or who have participated in an international event recognised by the World University Service, the IOC, or the OCA.

How much assistance is provided? Up to 100% of actual tuition fees for Levels 1 to 4 and 75% for Level 5, plus hostel expenses, a sports kit allowance, and monthly assistance for M.Phil., Ph.D., MBA, and other professional courses.

What is the maximum sports kit allowance? Rs 15,000 a year, for Levels 1 and 2.

Are hostel expenses covered? Yes, actual eligible boarding and lodging expenses.

Which courses are covered? Full-time regular undergraduate, postgraduate, PG Diploma, M.Phil., Ph.D., MBA, and other professional courses.

Can I hold other scholarships at the same time? Yes, subject to the conditions of the other scholarships.

Is the scheme accepting applications in 2026? No fresh 2026 application window has been verified. Contact your university’s scholarship section or the UGC for the current position.

Who can I contact? Start with your university’s scholarship or student welfare section. For general enquiries, the UGC can be reached at 011-23604446 or 011-23604200, or at contact.ugc@nic.in. There is no dedicated scheme helpline.