MBABANE – The High Commission of India, Mbabane has announced a total of 101 scholarship opportunities for Emaswati students for the 2026 to 2027 academic year, covering studies in culture, arts and science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
According to a press statement issued on 03 March 2026, 100 scholarships are being offered globally under the Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Dance & Music Scholarship Scheme. The programme supports studies in Indian culture including dance, music, theatre, performing arts, sculpture, Indian languages and Indian cuisine.
The application process, from submission to admission, is conducted online through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations A2A Scholarship Portal, which opened on 27 February 2026. The closing date for applications is 15 April 2026. Universities are expected to communicate their decisions by 30 April 2026, while successful candidates must confirm acceptance by 15 May 2026. The schedule is described as tentative.
Of the 100 available slots, 75 are allocated for studies in Indian culture, with a restriction of 10 slots per country. The remaining 25 are reserved for a one year diploma in yoga at four institutions in India, with a maximum of two slots per country. These institutions are Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya in Uttarakhand, Kaivalyadham Yoga Institute in Maharashtra, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga in New Delhi and Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana in Bangalore.
The scholarships cater for undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD studies. Applicants for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes must be between 18 and 35 years at the time of admission, while PhD candidates should not be older than 40 years.
Prospective students may apply to up to five universities or institutes in order of preference. A 500 word essay in English is compulsory to assess language proficiency. Applicants may also submit TOEFL or IELTS scores where available, and universities may conduct online interviews if required. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified directly by the respective institutions.
The scholarship package includes return economy class airfare. Students are advised to research their chosen courses and institutions thoroughly before applying. The High Commission will only award scholarships after satisfying itself that successful applicants have no serious health issues and have not submitted incomplete or fraudulent documentation.
Students have been urged not to visit the High Commission without a prior appointment and to direct queries to inf.mbabane@mea.gov.in.
In a separate announcement, the High Commission revealed that one scholarship has been allocated specifically to a student from the Kingdom of Eswatini under the Quad STEM Scholarship Scheme for the 2026 to 2027 academic year.
The scholarship supports a four year Bachelor of Technology degree in engineering. Applications are also processed online via the ICCR A2A Scholarship Portal, with the same opening date of 27 February 2026 and closing date of 15 April 2026. Universities will communicate outcomes by 30 April 2026 and students must accept offers by 15 May 2026.
The scheme is limited to undergraduate studies in STEM fields. Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years as of 01 July 2026. For BE and BTech programmes, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are compulsory subjects at Form IV and V level, and certified mark sheets from Form III to Form V or equivalent must be uploaded with transcripts.
Students may apply to five participating institutions in India. These include Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, Delhi Technological University, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Anna University and Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi.
As with the cultural scholarships, applicants must submit a 500 word essay in English, may provide standardised test scores and could be invited to attend online interviews. The award also covers return economy class airfare and is subject to medical clearance and verification of documentation by the High Commission. Queries are to be sent to inf.mbabane@mea.gov.in, and students are advised to seek appointments before visiting the mission offices in Mbabane.
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