Scholarship
West Bengal Freeship Scheme(WBFS)
Overview
About WBFS
The West Bengal Freeship Scheme (WBFS) is a tuition fee waiver run by the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology and Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal. The state introduced it in 2011 to bring down the cost of technical education for students in private self-financing colleges.
The scheme applies to undergraduate courses in engineering and technology, pharmacy, and architecture at AICTE-approved institutions across the state, from government engineering colleges and engineering departments of state-aided universities to self-financing private colleges. A selected student receives either a half waiver or a full waiver of the tuition fee; all other charges are paid by the student.
To qualify, a student must be a domicile of West Bengal and hold a merit rank in a state-level or national-level entrance examination. The award is income-tested, so it is aimed at students from lower-income families, and those already holding certain other government scholarships or waivers are not eligible.
Sources: West Bengal Freeship Scheme, Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology and Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal · West Bengal Freeship Scheme, myScheme (Government of India) · West Bengal Freeship Scheme, Buddy4Study
Who runs it
Provider
West Bengal State Government
State / UT Government
Higher Education Department
At a glance
Key details
| Level | State/ UT |
| Scheme type | — |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit type | Cash |
| Application mode | Online |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Current | Applications open | 2024-01-01 |
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| Candidate must be domicile of the West Bengal. | |
| Merit rank in State Level/NationaI Level Entrance Examination. | |
| Annual family income of the candidate must not be more than ₹ 2,50,000 /-. |
Who cannot apply
Exclusions
- Candidates selected under Tuition Free Waiver (TFW) Scheme of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) or West Bengal Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme will not be eligible under this WBFS.
What you get
Award & benefits
- Benefits: Waiver for tuition fee.
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
WBFS – 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.