Scholarship
Post Doctoral Fellowship To Women Candidates(PDFWC)
Overview
About PDFWC
The Post Doctoral Fellowship to Women Candidates is run by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the statutory body that funds and coordinates higher education under the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education. It is meant for women who already hold a Ph.D. but are unemployed, and who want to continue in research rather than leave the field after their doctorate.
The purpose is to give these women a funded route back into advanced study and research at Indian universities and colleges. Work can be taken up across science, engineering and technology, the humanities and the social sciences. The fellowship runs for a fixed term of five years with no provision for extension, and its benefit is composite: a monthly fellowship together with a contingency grant towards research costs.
Eligibility centres on unemployed women who have been awarded a Ph.D. and meet the age and academic thresholds the UGC sets, with the usual relaxations for reserved-category candidates. It is a competitive award, and the number of fellowships offered each year is limited, so meeting the basic criteria does not guarantee selection. The precise cut-offs, amounts and application steps are listed alongside this summary.
Sources: myScheme - Post Doctoral Fellowship To Women Candidates · UGC - Guidelines for Post Doctoral Fellowship to Women Candidates · Adda247 - Post-Doctoral Fellowship for Women Candidates
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry of Education
Central Government
Department Of Higher Education · University Grants Commission, Government Of India
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit type | Composite |
| Application mode | Online |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| The candidate should be unemployed. | |
| The candidates must have been awarded the Ph.D. degree to be eligible to apply (Provisional Certificate may be accepted in case the degree is not awarded). | |
| The candidate should be 55 years of age as of the last date of submission of the online application. There shall be age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PWD (Persons with Disabilities for 5 years. | |
| In the case of the general category minimum of 55% of marks at the UG level and a minimum of 60% of marks at the PG level. For reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/PWD), a minimum of 50% of marks at the UG level and a minimum of 55% of marks at the PG level. | |
| Candidates applying for PDF must upload the No Objection Certificate from the proposed research centre duly signed by the HOD and Registrar/Principal/Director of the University/College/Institute. | |
| Transgender candidates are eligible to apply under the scheme. The reservation shall be followed as per the Govt. of India norms. |
What you get
Award & benefits
- The financial assistance available under the scheme is as follows: The fellowship under the scheme is @ ₹38,800/- per month for fresh candidates.
- The fellowship under the scheme is @ ₹46,500/- per month after two years.
- An annual contingency of ₹50,000/- will be given to the eligible student for five years.
- Escorts/Reader assistance will be paid @ ₹2000/- per month (fixed) in cases of PWD (Person with disability).
- House Rent Allowance: Suitable single-seated hostel accommodation may be provided to the candidates in the institutions. In such cases, the fellow is eligible to draw only hostel fees excluding mess, electricity, water charges, etc. A certificate to this effect is to be furnished through the Registrar/Director/Principal. HRA is not permissible for those candidates who are staying in Hostel accommodation.
- In case of non-availability of hostel accommodation, the fellow may be provided with single accommodation by the host institution. In such cases, the rent paid by the fellow on an actual basis may be reimbursed subject to the ceiling of HRA as per Govt. of India norms.
- If the fellow makes her own arrangements of accommodation, she may be entitled to draw HRA as per the categorization of cities by the Govt. of India.
- Medical: No separate/fixed medical assistance is provided. However, the Post Doctoral Fellow may avail of the medical facilities available in the University/Institution/ College.
- Leave: Leave for a maximum period of 30 days in a year in addition to public holidays may be taken by the Post Doctoral Fellow with the approval of the Head of Department. However, they are not entitled to any other vacations, such as summer, winter, and pooja vacations. Women candidates are eligible for maternity leave at full rates of the fellowship for 6th pay, 180 days as per the Government of India rules once during the tenure of their award. The fellow in special cases may be allowed by the Commission leave without fellowship and contingency for a period not exceeding three months during the tenure of the award on the recommendation of the Head of department of the institution concerned. The period of leave without fellowship will be counted towards the tenure.
- Duration of Fellowship: The tenure of the award is five years with no provision for further extension.
What to prepare
Documents required
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply online
See the official links below for the application portal.
Source
Official links
Questions
PDFWC – 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.