Education Promotion — International Scholarship | PLAN Foundation

3A. International Higher Education Scholarship Programme

PLAN Foundation has expanded its Education Promotion mandate in 2026 to include a dedicated International Higher Education Scholarship Programme — supporting meritorious Indian students in accessing premier global universities through merit-based academic awards. This programme is funded from a dedicated Scholarship Corpus approved by the Governing Body for FY 2026–27 and 2027–28.

Since 1998, PLAN Foundation has consistently invested in education and human development across northern India — from school-level education promotion to institutional capacity building, skill development, and community learning. Building on this 26-year foundation, the Organisation has formally extended its education work to the postgraduate and international level, recognising that the most transformative impact often begins with a single student who returns home equipped to drive change.

Programme Purpose

The programme is designed to:

Remove financial barriers for Indian students admitted to world-class international graduate programmes
Support disciplines that contribute to research, public welfare, mental health, child development, and social impact
Recognise academic merit, research commitment, and demonstrated dedication to community and child welfare
Extend PLAN Foundation's existing work with children and vulnerable communities into the realm of formal academic scholarship

Award Structure

Programme Name	PLAN Foundation International Higher Education Scholarship
Nature of Award	Merit-based academic scholarship — Non-loan, Non-repayable, No service obligation
Level of Study	Postgraduate (Master's or PhD) at recognised international universities
Award Duration	Up to two consecutive academic years
Annual Award Value	Determined by the Selection Committee based on the programme tuition and candidate profile — awarded on a case-by-case basis
Disbursement Mode	Banker's cheque in favour of the Scholar, prior to each semester commencement
Use of Award	Academic tuition only — not housing, fees, living costs, or insurance
Funding Source	PLAN Foundation Scholarship Corpus — Governing Body approved, FY 2026–27 and 2027–28

Selection Criteria

Awards are made through a formal merit-based selection process by PLAN Foundation's Scholarship Selection Committee. Candidates are evaluated on four criteria:

I Admission to a Competitive International Graduate Programme The applicant must hold a confirmed offer of admission to a postgraduate programme at a recognised, globally ranked university, demonstrating the academic threshold the Foundation values.
II Research Commitment & Academic Engagement Demonstrated commitment to academic inquiry — through research work, academic publications, thesis projects, research assistantships, or substantive scholarly engagement in their field.
III Commitment to Child & Community Welfare Hands-on engagement with children, vulnerable communities, or underserved populations — through field work, volunteering, NGO participation, or professional practice — reflecting PLAN Foundation's own mission values.
IV Professional Promise & Social Vision A clear articulation of how postgraduate education will create measurable impact — in research, public mental health, child development, policy, or related disciplines of social value.

How the Programme Works

Student secures international university admission The applicant receives a confirmed offer of admission to a recognised postgraduate programme abroad and approaches PLAN Foundation for scholarship consideration.
Application reviewed by Scholarship Selection Committee PLAN Foundation's Committee evaluates the candidate against all four criteria, reviews supporting documents, and makes an award decision approved by the Managing Committee / Governing Body.
Formal Award Declaration Letter issued A signed, stamped Award Letter is issued on PLAN Foundation letterhead specifying the award amount, academic years, disbursement schedule, and conditions — suitable for submission to the university's financial aid office.
Scholar submits Award Letter to university The Scholar submits the Award Letter to the university's graduate enrollment or financial aid office, where it may qualify the Scholar for additional institutional financial support or matching mechanisms offered by the university.
Annual disbursement by banker's cheque PLAN Foundation disburses the scholarship amount annually by banker's cheque in the Scholar's name, prior to each academic year's commencement — subject to continued enrolment and satisfactory academic standing (minimum CGPA 3.0).

Grounded in PLAN Foundation's Education Mission

This scholarship programme is a direct extension of PLAN Foundation's Education Promotion mandate — one of its fourteen core intervention areas active since 1998. The Foundation's existing work with children through the YMAD USA partnership (school expeditions, educational kits, and learning support), its skill development programmes with NSDC and HPKVN, and its capacity-building work with HIPA and SIRD all demonstrate a sustained, verified commitment to education across every level.

Why international scholarships? The most transformative investment in education is one that equips a scholar with world-class knowledge and brings it back home. PLAN Foundation believes that supporting students at a globally ranked university creates a ripple effect — in research, in public health, in community practice — that multiplies the Foundation's impact far beyond what any local programme alone could achieve.

Apply for the Scholarship

If you have secured admission to a recognised international postgraduate programme and meet our selection criteria, we invite you to write to us. Please share your admission letter, academic transcripts, a brief statement of purpose, and any evidence of community or child welfare work.

For Apply International Scholarship Application Contact Us

Jitender Sharma, Executive Director
📧 ed@planfoundation.org
📞 +91-91290-57008

The PLAN Foundation International Higher Education Scholarship Programme was established in 2020 under the Organisation's Education Promotion mandate. All awards are subject to Governing Body approval and availability of funds in the Scholarship Corpus for the relevant financial year. PLAN Foundation is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, amended under the H.P. Societies Registration Act, 2006. Registered Office: 42/1 Plan Parisar, Tutoo, Post Delath, Teh. Rampur, Distt. Shimla H.P. – 172028.