The scholarships are open for academic courses through taught programmes that contribute positively to building a learning and knowledge society. The choice of subjects is diverse, but not all-inclusive.

TPF funds only Post Graduate studies

The Paul Foundation after careful consideration decided that the scholarships would not be open to applicants at the undergraduate level. The reasons for this were:

1. Undergraduate courses in India are well regarded and recognized all over the world.

2. A student at the undergraduate level has not firmed up her/his future plans. Offering a scholarship for study overseas at this stage would be denying a dedeciated scholar an opportunity that would make a difference.

3. By the postgraduate stage, students are more or less clear as to what are their future plans. They have acquired the maturity to make choices and take decisions and to be fully responsible for doing so. The postgraduate student takes the first step by committing to investing time and effort to pursue higher studies in India or overseas. It is only after the student clearly recognizes and expresses the ambition to pursue this further that the need for funds arises. The Paul Foundation assists the student to pursue this ambition for academic and intellectual excellence through its scholarship programme.

4. The Paul Foundation does not encourage students to pursue a second undergraduate degree overseas, unless it is in an area that is unrelated to the earlier degree and only if the taught programmes in the subject in India are not adequate to support the abilities and aims of the applicant. In other words, the applicant has to demonstrate and prove outstanding ability in the choice of specialization. Please refer to our website to get an idea as to what we mean by reading through the profiles of our scholars.

5. The Paul Foundation supports students at the post graduate and doctoral level. The applicant may be going in for a second post graduate programme or an integrated post-graduate doctoral programme. The applicant has to clearly state the purpose of going in for a second post graduate programme, especially if it is overseas.

6. The Paul Foundation supports exceptional students whose chosen areas of specialization are not covered by post graduate taught programmes. There are specializations where diplomas are the preferred degree. Please refer to our website for details about scholars who have been awarded scholarships to pursue a diploma. The duration of the course can then be less than a year.

7. The Paul Foundation aims to cover as much ground as it can by supporting diversity in the subjects for which scholarships are offered. What The Paul Foundation does not support is a student who uses the academic opportunity offered by the scholarship as a stepping-stone to a purely personally and commercially rewarding career.

8. The Paul Foundation has been established to make a difference to 1. the applicant’s ambition to excel and to lead 2. to contribute to society and the world of learning and knowledge through thoughtful and thought provoking work, be it in academia, research, philanthropy or through public and private initiatives. The idea is to pass along the benefit accrued through the scholarship to as many others as are in need. The Paul Foundation expects its scholars to have a sense of social responsibility which is reflected in the career choices they make.

9. Often the choice of specialization reflects the end purposes of the applicant, which may fit in with The Paul Foundation’s vision, that is, to make a difference for the scholars who wish to pursue academic excellence and the quest for knowledge so that they can, in turn, through thoughtful and thought-provoking work make a difference.

Diploma and Short Term courses

The Paul Foundation is willing to support scholars who are going in for a diploma in a specialization that fits in with its ideology as enunciated in the vision statement. The diplomas have to be taught programmes of more than nine months duration. The applicant who is seeking support to study a diploma course must note that most such programmes are aimed at skill improvement and personally benefit the diploma-holder by enhancing his/her capacity to commercially exploit his/her skill. The Paul Foundation will take into consideration whether the skill training or opportunities to improve skills is available in India.

The Paul Foundation does not support short term courses that do not lead up to a degree or diploma.

Subjects

The Paul Foundation is inclusive in its approach and is willing to support diversity in the subjects for which applications are received. The Paul Foundation does cover a lot of ground through its scholarships. There are, however, subjects that, it feels, do not match the vision and the ideology of The Paul Foundation.

Taught programmes for Medicine, Law, Management and Engineering that aim to enhance the employment-commercial-personal value of the candidate will not be encouraged. Academic programmes that enable the scholar to contribute as a thoughtful individual who through thought-provoking ideas and work can help to make a difference and contribute to pushing forward the frontiers of understanding and of knowledge as an active long term participant in a learning global society will be encouraged.

The Paul Foundation will support scholars in the areas of Humanities, Social Sciences, Basic Sciences, Applied Sciences, Law, Management, Medicine, Engineering, Fine Arts and the Performing Arts, including New Media Art. For candidates studying Law, Management, Engineering and Medicine, it must be noted that The Paul Foundation will not support scholars whose aim is to obtain a qualification as part of a personal development plan. The subjects listed and the examples provided as illustrations of The Paul Foundation’s vision and ideology is not exhaustive nor is it all inclusive. For instance, The Paul Foundation is willing to support scholars who take up the study of Jurisprudence, philosophy of Ethics, Justice, Law and related areas within the broad category of Law. Or, for instance, The Paul Foundation is willing to support scholars who take up the study of management, medicine or engineering where the degree sought by the applicant clearly reflects a sense of social responsibility or is aimed at research that contributes towards making a difference in terms of knowledge, understanding, ideas and practices.

Please note: The Paul Foundation will use its discretion based on its stated vision and ideology in deciding the merit of all applications and the suitability of supporting an applicant in a course of study.

Research and Travel Grants

The Paul Foundation regrets to inform visitors to its website that it is NOT OFFERING Research and Travel Grants.

The Paul Foundation DOES NOT offer support to scholars traveling to attend seminars, conferences, workshops etc.