Expertie

Scholarship

AICTE-QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (FOREIGN UNIVERSITY) PROGRAMME(QIPFU)

Cash
Eligibility
A full time regular/permanent faculty members of AICTE recognized Degree Level Colleges.
Region
All India
Award
Cash
By Expertie Editorial Team · Expertie editorial desk

Overview

About QIPFU

The AICTE Quality Improvement (Foreign University) Programme, or QIP-FU, is a central government scholarship for college faculty who want to earn a PhD abroad. It is administered by the All India Council for Technical Education, the statutory body under the Department of Higher Education that oversees technical education in India. AICTE approved the scheme at its 55th Council meeting on 14 August 2018, extending the older Quality Improvement Programme that the Government of India launched in 1970.

The purpose is to raise the share of teaching faculty who hold a doctorate. QIP-FU supports full-time regular faculty at AICTE-recognised degree-level institutions who secure admission to a PhD at one of the world's top 500 universities, ranked by QS, Times Higher Education, or the Shanghai (ARWU) list. Faculty who already hold a PhD fall outside its scope.

The benefit is a cash scholarship paid by AICTE for the first year of the doctoral programme. Faculty continue to draw their normal salary from their parent institution during the study leave, and in return give an undertaking to serve that institution for at least five years after completing the PhD.

Sources: AICTE - Quality Improvement (Foreign University) Programme, scheme document · AICTE - Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) scheme guidelines, updated May 2024

Who runs it

Provider

Ministry of Education

Central Government

Department Of Higher Education

At a glance

Key details

LevelCentral
Scheme typeCentral Sector Scheme
CategoryEducation & Learning
BeneficiariesIndividual
Benefit typeCash
Application modeOffline

Calendar

Important dates

Across all open application cycles.

Important dates by cycle
CycleStageDate
CurrentApplications open2018-08-14

Who can apply

Eligibility criteria

A full time regular/permanent faculty members of AICTE recognized Degree Level Colleges.
The candidate should possess three years teaching experience at graduate level.
Should have a Master’s degree in the appropriate branch.
Should have an admission offer in Ph.D programme from the Foreign University of Listed ranking system in previous five years.

What you get

Award & benefits

  • Scholarship of ₹ 25,000/- per month.

What to prepare

Documents required

Application form duly filled along with photograph.
Documents issued by the foreign university conveying admission and the duration with start and end dates.
Copy of passport and valid visa, with date of onward journey.
Attested copy of the Mandate Form duly filled and signed by the Head of the College / Institute.
Copy of the 'Undertaking' furnished to parent Institute in India.
Date for onward journey.
Authentication / Recommendations of the Parent Institute that the applicant faculty fulfils the eligibility criteria and his / her relieving.

Step by step

How to apply

  1. 1
    Apply offline

    See the official links below for the application portal.

Questions

QIPFU – FAQ

Disclaimer

Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.

Written by

Expertie Editorial Team

Expertie editorial desk

Published 8 Jul 2026 Last updated 8 Jul 2026verified data

Sources & References

  1. 1.myScheme (MeitY, Government of India) official-site· accessed 2026-07-08