Scholarships & Fellowships

Scholarships & Fellowships

Scholarships & Fellowships for Law Students 2026–27

Last Updated: 8 September 2026

Finding the right scholarship or fellowship can significantly reduce the financial burden of legal education and create opportunities for research, higher studies and professional development.

AspirixWriters brings together selected scholarships, financial-aid programmes and fellowships relevant to law students, LL.M. students, research scholars and early-career legal professionals.

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We prioritise information from official government portals, universities, scholarship providers and recognised institutions. Eligibility, deadlines, award amounts and other conditions can change, so applicants should always check the official notification before applying.

Latest Scholarships & Fellowships 2026–27

The following opportunities have been checked against current official or provider sources as of 8 September 2026.

OpportunityForCurrent StatusDeadline
National Scholarship Portal – Central & State SchemesEligible students under individual schemes🟢 OpenSeveral schemes: 31 Oct 2026
National Fellowship & Scholarship for Higher Education of ST StudentsEligible ST students🟢 Open31 Oct 2026
Top Class Education for SC StudentsEligible SC students🟢 Open31 Oct 2026
Top Class Education for OBC/EBC/DNT StudentsEligible students under scheme🟢 Open31 Oct 2026
Top Class Education for Students with DisabilitiesEligible students with disabilities🟢 Open31 Oct 2026
SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026–27Eligible school, UG, PG and specified professional/other students🟢 Open19 Sept 2026
Dinesh Vyas Public Charitable Trust Scholarship – NLU JodhpurEligible NLUJ undergraduate students🟢 Current university noticeCheck official notice
NLUJ ScholarshipEligible NLUJ studentsUniversity financial aidCheck current university notice

The National Scholarship Portal states that the 2026–27 portal is open from 1 June 2026 and currently lists multiple schemes with student applications extending to 31 October 2026.

1. National Scholarship Portal (NSP) 2026–27

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is the central government platform through which students can apply for a range of scholarship schemes administered by different ministries and departments.

For the academic year 2026–27, the portal is open from 1 June 2026. The portal currently lists several schemes with student application deadlines extending to 31 October 2026, although individual schemes can have different timelines.

Scholarships on NSP may include:

  • Merit-based scholarships
  • Post-matric scholarships
  • Top-class education schemes
  • Scholarships for SC students
  • Scholarships for ST students
  • Scholarships for OBC/EBC/DNT students
  • Scholarships for students with disabilities
  • Welfare-based scholarships
  • Research-related financial assistance
  • Other ministry-specific schemes

Important

NSP is a portal, not one single scholarship.

Eligibility depends on the individual scheme.

Students should first identify the scheme for which they are eligible and then read its official guidelines.

Official portal:
National Scholarship Portal – Government of India

2. National Fellowship & Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students

Ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Type: Merit-based scheme
Academic Year: 2026–27

The National Scholarship Portal currently lists the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students with student applications open from 1 June 2026 to 31 October 2026.

This scheme is particularly relevant to eligible ST students pursuing higher education, subject to the detailed scheme conditions and institutional requirements.

Official source:
NSP – Scholarship Schemes

3. Top Class Education for SC Students

The NSP currently lists the Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education for SC Students for the 2026–27 cycle.

The current student application window is listed as:

1 June 2026 – 31 October 2026

subject to scheme eligibility and verification requirements.

Law students should carefully check whether their institution and programme satisfy the applicable scheme conditions before applying.

Official source:
NSP – Central Sector Scholarship Schemes

4. Top Class Education for OBC, EBC & DNT Students

The National Scholarship Portal currently lists the PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education in College for OBC, EBC and DNT Students.

For the 2026–27 cycle, the portal currently shows:

Application period: 1 June 2026 – 31 October 2026.

A separate renewal timeline is also shown for eligible existing beneficiaries.

Students should not assume eligibility solely on the basis of category. The individual scheme guidelines and institution/course requirements must be checked.

5. Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities

The NSP also lists the Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities.

The current 2026–27 cycle is listed on the NSP, with the student application window extending to 31 October 2026, subject to the scheme’s eligibility and verification conditions.

Students should complete any required disability-related documentation before beginning the application.

6. SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026–27

Provider: SBI Foundation
Type: Merit/need-oriented scholarship programme

Applications for the SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026–27 are currently open, with the current application deadline reported as 19 September 2026. The programme covers multiple categories of students, including eligible students in school, undergraduate and postgraduate education and certain specified professional/other categories. Awards can extend up to ₹15 lakh, depending on the applicable category.

Important for law students

Do not describe this as a law-specific scholarship.

A law student may be eligible only if they satisfy the relevant category, institution, academic and financial conditions.

Always check the provider’s current eligibility criteria before applying.

Official/provider information:
SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship information

7. Dinesh Vyas Public Charitable Trust Scholarship – NLU Jodhpur

Institution: National Law University, Jodhpur
Academic Year: 2026–27

NLU Jodhpur published an invitation on 14 August 2026 inviting eligible undergraduate students of NLU Jodhpur to apply for the Dinesh Vyas Public Charitable Trust Scholarship for the academic year 2026–27. The university provides an application form through its official notice.

Who should check this?

This is primarily relevant to eligible NLU Jodhpur undergraduate students, rather than law students generally.

Therefore, AspirixWriters should list it under University-Specific Scholarships, not as a general LLB scholarship.

Official source:
NLU Jodhpur – Dinesh Vyas Scholarship Notice

8. University Scholarships & Financial Aid

Many law universities provide their own financial-aid or scholarship systems.

For example, NLSIU maintains a dedicated financial-aid policy and also provides information about external scholarships available to its students.

NLSIU’s financial-aid policy covers university-administered financial aid and scholarships and also explains the role of the PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme in education-loan assistance.

Similarly, NALSAR states that it earmarks a scholarship budget for financially needy students, including undergraduate law students, on a merit-cum-means basis.

Therefore, students should check:

  • University scholarship page
  • Financial-aid policy
  • Admission scholarship
  • Merit scholarship
  • Need-based aid
  • Category-based assistance
  • Alumni/endowment scholarships
  • External scholarships accepted by the university

Scholarships Specifically for Law Students

Law-specific scholarships are often seasonal, rather than continuously open.

For example, the GEV Memorial Merit Scholarship for Law Students 2026–27 provides support for eligible LL.B./LL.M. students, but its published 2026–27 application deadline was 15 July 2026. It should therefore not appear in the current “Open Scholarships” section.

This is an important editorial rule for AspirixWriters:

A scholarship should not be shown as “Open” simply because the programme exists. Its current application window must be checked.

Scholarships vs Fellowships

These terms are often used interchangeably, but they can refer to different types of financial support.

Scholarship

Usually supports a student’s education.

It may be based on:

  • Merit
  • Financial need
  • Category
  • Academic performance
  • Course/institution
  • Specific demographic criteria

Fellowship

Usually supports:

  • Research
  • Academic work
  • Professional development
  • Public policy
  • Legal research
  • Fieldwork
  • Special projects

Some fellowships provide a stipend rather than tuition assistance.

Current Fellowship Opportunities

Fellowships should be maintained separately from ordinary student scholarships because their eligibility and purpose are different.

NLU Jodhpur – Project PRISM Legal Fellowship

A current example is the Legal Fellow position under Project PRISM at National Law University Jodhpur.

The official notice dated 6 September 2026 gives a deadline of 16 September 2026.

This is not a student scholarship. It is a contractual legal fellowship position.

The official advertisement specifies:

  • 1 Legal Fellow – Ajmer
  • Duration up to 3 years, renewable annually based on performance
  • Remuneration: ₹35,000 per month
  • Minimum one year of trial-court practice
  • Valid State Bar Council registration
  • Hindi/Marwari and English proficiency
  • Legal research, drafting and court-related responsibilities

Deadline: 16 September 2026, 23:59 hrs.

Official source:
NLU Jodhpur – Project PRISM Legal Fellowship

Important editorial point

Because this fellowship requires professional legal practice and Bar Council registration, do not place it under “Fellowships for Law Students.” It belongs under Legal Fellowships / Professional Fellowships.

Paid Summer Research Fellowship in AI Law & Policy 2027 | Legal Frontiers

Research Fellowships for Law & Policy

Research fellowships can be particularly useful for:

  • LL.M. graduates
  • Ph.D. scholars
  • Research associates
  • Early-career researchers
  • Legal-policy researchers
  • Interdisciplinary scholars

For example, NLSIU’s research fellowship programme supports research in law, social sciences, public policy and related disciplines and publishes application timelines for its fellowship rounds.

Because fellowship calls often have short application windows, students should check the official university or research-centre pages regularly.

How to Find the Right Scholarship

Before applying, check these six things:

1. Eligibility

Check:

  • Age
  • Course
  • Year/semester
  • Marks
  • Family income
  • Category
  • Institution
  • State/domicile
  • Gender, where applicable

2. Scholarship Amount

Check whether the award is:

  • One-time
  • Annual
  • Monthly
  • Tuition-only
  • Tuition + living expenses
  • Reimbursement-based

3. Renewal Conditions

Some scholarships require students to maintain:

  • Minimum marks
  • Attendance
  • Continued enrolment
  • Other academic conditions

4. Application Deadline

Never rely on an old article or social-media post.

Check the current official notification.

5. Required Documents

Common documents include:

  • Aadhaar/identity document
  • Academic marksheets
  • Admission/enrolment proof
  • Income certificate
  • Category certificate
  • Disability certificate, where applicable
  • Bank details
  • Passport-size photograph
  • Bonafide certificate
  • Research proposal/SOP, where applicable

6. Application Portal

Apply through the official portal or the scholarship provider’s specified platform.

How to Apply for a Scholarship

Step 1 — Identify the Scholarship

Find a scholarship matching your:

Course + Institution + Academic performance + Income + Category + Other eligibility criteria

Step 2 — Read the Official Guidelines

Do not apply solely on the basis of an aggregator’s summary.

Step 3 — Prepare Documents

Keep digital copies ready.

Step 4 — Register

Create an account on the official scholarship portal where required.

For NSP, One Time Registration (OTR) is mandatory for various scholarship schemes.

Step 5 — Complete the Application

Enter information exactly as it appears in your official documents.

Step 6 — Submit & Save Proof

Save:

  • Application number
  • Acknowledgement
  • PDF/application copy
  • Payment receipt, if applicable
  • Supporting documents

Step 7 — Track Verification

Some schemes require:

Student → Institute → District/State/Nodal Authority

verification before final processing.

Can You Apply for More Than One Scholarship?

Sometimes, but not always.

The answer depends on the rules of the particular schemes.

For example, the National Scholarship Portal currently states that, from AY 2026–27, students may apply for one merit-based scholarship scheme and one or more welfare-based scholarship schemes, subject to individual scheme eligibility.

Therefore, students should read the applicable scheme guidelines before accepting multiple awards.

Scholarship Scams: How to Stay Safe

Be careful if a scholarship website:

  • Guarantees selection
  • Requests payment for guaranteed approval
  • Uses an unofficial domain
  • Does not identify the scholarship provider
  • Has no eligibility criteria
  • Has no official notification
  • Uses pressure tactics
  • Requests unnecessary personal information

For government scholarships, start with the National Scholarship Portal or the relevant government department’s official website.

How AspirixWriters Verifies Scholarship Information

AspirixWriters should use a simple three-level system:

🟢 Open

Current application window confirmed from an official/provider source.

🟡 Check Before Applying

The scholarship exists, but the current application window or institution-specific deadline needs confirmation.

🔴 Closed

The deadline has passed.

This is better than calling every scholarship “verified”.

Verification on AspirixWriters means that the information has been checked against an available official/provider source. It does not mean AspirixWriters guarantees eligibility, selection, scholarship award, or the academic quality of the provider.

Scholarship Application Checklist

Before submitting:

☐ Check eligibility
☐ Check current deadline
☐ Read official guidelines
☐ Verify course/institution eligibility
☐ Check income requirement
☐ Check category requirements
☐ Prepare marksheets
☐ Prepare income certificate
☐ Prepare category certificate if applicable
☐ Check bank details
☐ Complete OTR where required
☐ Upload clear documents
☐ Complete institute verification where required
☐ Save application number
☐ Save acknowledgement
☐ Track application status

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there scholarships specifically for law students?

Yes. Some scholarships are specifically designed for LL.B./LL.M. students, while many government and university scholarships are open to students across disciplines subject to their individual eligibility criteria.

Can BA LL.B. students apply for scholarships?

Yes, where the scholarship’s eligibility includes integrated law programmes or the relevant category of undergraduate study.

Can LL.B. students apply through NSP?

Potentially yes. Eligibility depends on the particular scheme, course, institution and other conditions.

Can LL.M. students get scholarships?

Yes. Universities, government schemes and other providers offer financial assistance for eligible postgraduate students. UGC currently lists the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies among its scholarship programmes.

What is the difference between a scholarship and fellowship?

A scholarship generally supports education, while a fellowship often supports research, professional development or a specific academic/project activity.

Are scholarships guaranteed after applying?

No. Meeting eligibility requirements does not necessarily guarantee selection.

Can I apply for multiple scholarships?

Possibly. The rules differ by scheme. Check the applicable terms before accepting multiple awards.

Is NSP itself a scholarship?

No. NSP is a government scholarship portal hosting multiple schemes.

Do I have to pay money to apply for a government scholarship?

Not unless the official scheme specifically requires a legitimate fee. Be cautious of third parties asking for money in exchange for guaranteed selection.

Stay Updated

Scholarship deadlines can change quickly. Bookmark this page and check the official provider before submitting any application.

For more law-student opportunities, explore:

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