Winning a scholarship is a major milestone — but keeping it year after year is equally important. Whether you’re receiving a central government grant, a private NGO award, or a fully-funded scholarship, nearly all of them come with renewal conditions.
This guide will help you understand how to maintain scholarships for college students throughout graduation by covering performance expectations, renewal documentation, and smart academic tracking tips for 2025–26.
🎓 Why Renewal Matters
Most scholarships — especially multi-year ones — don’t pay everything upfront. They are released in installments, often on a semester or annual basis, based on:
- Academic performance (minimum marks or GPA)
- College attendance
- Promotion to the next academic year
- Timely submission of results and renewal forms
- Verification of unchanged income or category status
If you miss even one of these, your scholarship may be suspended or cancelled.
✅ Common Performance Criteria to Retain Scholarships
| Scholarship Type | Renewal Criteria |
|---|---|
| NSP / State Post-Matric (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) | Minimum 60% marks or “pass and promote” each year + attendance >75% |
| FAEA, Vidyadhan, HDFC Parivartan | Maintain strong academic record (above 65%) + submit annual reports |
| DAAD / Erasmus / Foreign Awards | Must maintain CGPA as required (usually 7.0+/10) + submit host university transcripts |
| PMRF / INSPIRE / AICTE Pragati | Yearly progress reports, minimum CGPA (≥7.5), and research/project submissions |
📄 Documents You Need for Scholarship Renewal
Every year, you’ll need to submit some or all of the following:
- ✅ Marksheet / Transcript for current academic year
- ✅ Bonafide Certificate from college (confirming enrollment)
- ✅ Fee Receipt / Admission Letter for next academic year
- ✅ Income Certificate (if your scheme is income-based and re-verifies every year)
- ✅ Bank Statement (showing previous disbursements)
- ✅ Progress Report (especially for research or private scholarships)
- ✅ Scholarship Renewal Form / Online Portal Submission
🎯 Make sure all scanned documents are clear, with no blur or shadow.
🗓️ Scholarship Renewal Timeline (2025–26)
| Month | What To Do |
|---|---|
| May–June 2025 | Collect final year results, prepare documents, request bonafide letter |
| July–August 2025 | Upload to NSP, SSP, MahaDBT, or private portals |
| September 2025 | Renewal confirmation emails and document re-verification begins |
| October–December 2025 | Fund disbursement for second-year/next-semester students |
📊 How to Track Academic Progress to Keep Your Scholarship
Maintaining a scholarship is easier when you track your own performance regularly. Here’s how:
1. Maintain a GPA Log
Record each semester’s GPA in a spreadsheet. If your scholarship requires 7.5 CGPA and you’re close to the line, seek academic help early.
2. Track Attendance
Keep your attendance above 75%, especially for state or post-matric scholarships. Low attendance is a common reason for rejection during renewal.
3. Keep Receipts
Download and save PDFs of fee receipts, mark sheets, and online submission confirmations. You’ll need these every year.
4. Use Reminders
Set calendar alerts for each document submission. Most renewals open June to August, and late applications are often rejected.
🚩 Reasons Scholarships Are Cancelled Mid-Degree
Avoid these common mistakes that may get your scholarship revoked:
- ❌ Academic failure (below minimum GPA or exam backlogs)
- ❌ Missed renewal deadline
- ❌ Change of course or institution without informing the provider
- ❌ Submission of fake/forged documents
- ❌ Getting another full scholarship without disclosing it
- ❌ Long-term leave, gap year, or medical break (unless informed and approved)
🔔 Always inform your scholarship provider in case of any academic or health-related delay.
💡 Renewal Tips from Past Scholars
🗣️ “I kept a Google Drive folder for each semester with all PDFs — transcripts, bonafide, receipts. It made renewal super easy.” — Aditi, FAEA Scholar (Delhi University)
🗣️ “I emailed my project mentor for the progress report 2 weeks early — never missed a deadline in 3 years of my Vidyadhan scholarship.” — Tejas, B.Sc. Agriculture Student
🗣️ “Even if you fail one subject, explain it with documents. Some scholarships do consider genuine cases.” — Sumit, NSP Beneficiary
🎯 Final Takeaway
Getting a scholarship is just step one. Keeping it requires focus, planning, and timely renewals. Don’t wait for your college to remind you — take charge of your own academic journey.
From uploading your latest transcript to submitting a simple renewal form, every small action ensures that your scholarships for college students continue smoothly through graduation in 2025–26 and beyond.
