Importance Of CGPA In Scholarships

If you want to study higher, it’s great if you get financial assistance. It helps you to have a sense of empowerment. There are many types of scholarships for higher studies, but one thing is common, they all require satisfactory academic record.  Academics performance plays an important role in your future goals for studies and job.

In India, CGPA is a criterion of competence for jobs and scholarships. If you want to secure a scholarship for higher education in the country or abroad, you need to have a good CGPA.  Let’s understand how CGPA helps to get great scholarship opportunities with examples and practical advices.

How CGPA Influences Scholarship Eligibility

The calculation scale for CGPA varies by institution. Some universities use a 10 point grading scale and some use 7.0, 5.0 or even 9.0 sometimes for undergraduate programs. While going for post-graduate courses or switching your institution, you might be required to provide equivalency in other grading systems as well (Using the right tool can make this easier for you). Therefore, you can easily convert CGPA to GPA using our tool. Regardless of the scale, CGPA is one of the most important factor for assessing a candidate’s abilities.

If you have ever applied for scholarships, you might know that there’s always a CGPA threshold to become eligible. Candidates with higher CGPA are usually preferred over others. The requirements are different and are based on the type of scholarship as well. However, some scholarships may require your grades in percentage. You can easily carry out these conversions using our CGPA to Percentage Converter.

Merit-Based Scholarships: 

These scholarships reward students for academic excellence irrespective of their background. For instance, many prestigious scholarships, such as the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, typically require a minimum CGPA of around 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, which translates to approximately 8.5 on a 10-point scale in India.

Need-Based Scholarships: 

While these scholarships consider financial need, they may still impose minimum CGPA requirements. 

For example, the SPDC (Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children) requires applicants to have at least 60% aggregate marks, equivalent to a CGPA of around 6.4 on a 10-point scale.

CGPA Requirements for Popular Scholarships

Scholarship Name	Minimum CGPA Requirement	Type of Scholarship
Gates Cambridge Scholarship	8.5 (10-point scale)	Merit-Based
SPDC (Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children)	6.4 (10-point scale)	Need-Based
University of Edinburgh India Merit Scholarship	9.0 (10-point scale)	Merit-Based
IIT/NIT Scholarships	8.0 (10-point scale)	Merit-Based

The Approach to Scholarship Selection

CGPA is the key factor, but not the sole factor, in scholarship selection. This means that other factors, such as extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and personal statements, can also influence scholarship decisions.

A student with a low CGPA and exceptional skills can be preferred over a student with high CGPA and no skills. This approach allows students to test their strengths beyond academics, but still we can’t ignore the CGPA factor. 

Strategies for Improving Scholarship Chances

1. Maintain a good CGPA:

Prioritize your studies over other things if you want exceptional grades. Try to evaluate your academic performance regularly and aim to exceed your goals.

2. Engage in Extracurricular Activities: 

Participate in sports or volunteer work. These experiences can enhance your application and demonstrate your leadership skills.

3. Write a great Personal Statement: 

Use your personal statement to explain yourself, your strengths, academic journey, challenges that you faced, and how you overcame them. Talk about your aspirations and how the scholarship can help you achieve your goals.

4. Seek Strong Letters of Recommendation: 

Get recommendation letters from teachers and fellows who can vouch for your academic abilities and character.

5. Research Scholarships Thoroughly: 

Understand the specific requirements and deadlines for each scholarship you apply for. Tailor your application to meet these criteria.

Conclusion

In conclusion, CGPA is very important in determining the scholarship criteria in India. But it is not the only thing, you must not ignore the other aspects of your life. If you perform well in other aspects of curricular activities, you still have a good chance to win scholarships. You need to present your application well and prepare accordingly to get selected for the financial assistance.