USTM Vice Chancellor Prof GD Sharma, Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque, and senior faculty members from Nagaland during the press conference at Hotel Saramati on June 19. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 19
The University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has announced a special package of 50 scholarships, free-ships and financial assistance schemes exclusively for students from Nagaland, aimed at supporting meritorious, deserving and economically disadvantaged students pursuing higher education.
The announcement was made during a press conference held at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur, on Friday by USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque, in the presence of Vice Chancellor Prof GDSharma and Dr Kughatoli Aye, Head, Department of Sociology.
It also announced the university's flagship initiative Institutional Excellence Award–2026 and Felicitation of NBSE HSSLC Top Achievers–2026, scheduled to be held tomorrow, June 20 at Town Hall, Dimapur.
50 scholarships for Nagaland students
Announcing the initiative, Hoque said USTM would provide financial support to 50 students from Nagaland based on academic merit and need.
The scheme includes 10 full free-ships covering academic fees for outstanding students, particularly toppers and rank holders. 15 scholarships with a 50 per cent tuition fee waiver. 25 merit-cum-means scholarships, under which selected students will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 to support educational and living expenses.
The scholarship programme is open to fresh applicants from Nagaland seeking admission to USTM. Applicants must have secured a minimum of 80 per cent marks in their qualifying examinations and fulfil the university's admission criteria.
Hoque clarified that hostel fees are not covered under the free-ship scheme. However, exceptional support may be considered for top-ranking students facing severe financial hardship.
“We want to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent talented students from accessing higher education,” he said.
Admissions for the current academic session are already in progress across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
While admissions for some courses such as BA LLB and BEd have been filled, seats remain available in several other programmes. Admissions to MBBS and BAMS courses will be processed after NEET results.
The university currently offers around 70 to 80 academic programmes, and students can obtain details through the university website or admission office.
Focus on inclusive education
Hoque said the scholarship initiative forms part of USTM's effort to ensure proportional representation of students from all Northeastern states.
According to him, USTM is the only university in the region with students from every Northeastern state, with over 60 per cent of students being women and nearly 70 per cent of faculty members being women.
He noted that around 85 per cent of USTM students come from rural backgrounds, adding that the university has consistently adopted a model of supporting meritorious and underprivileged students through free and concessional education.
Highlighting recent achievements, Hoque said two USTM faculty scientists from the Departments of Applied Biotechnology and Chemistry were recently recognised among the top two per cent of scientists globally under the Stanford/SCI rankings.
Established in 2011, the university is accredited with a NAAC 'A' Grade and is the first state private university in the field of science and technology in North East India.
Fee refund for NET qualifiers
Speaking at the press conference, Vice-Chancellor Prof GD Sharma said USTM's educational model is designed to ensure that no student is denied opportunities due to financial limitations.
He said students who qualify the National Eligibility Test (NET) are eligible for a refund of their tuition fees for the duration of their programme.
Prof Sharma also highlighted the university's emphasis on industry-oriented education, skill development and employability through collaborations with industry partners, online learning platforms and professional certification programmes.
He said that USTM regularly organises job fairs and industry interactions, recording placement rates of around 90 per cent in professional programmes such as MBA.
The university currently supports more than 30 student-led startups and has received over Rs 4.4 crore from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.
He further stated that USTM has produced over 170 patents and more than 4,000 research publications, while the Nature Index has ranked the university 38th in India.
As part of its academic outreach initiatives, USTM will also introduce the Institutional Excellence Award, recognising outstanding educational institutions in Nagaland based on their history, legacy and academic performance.
The award will be presented during Saturday's programme at Town Hall, Dimapur, which will be attended by Nagaland Minister for Tourism and Higher Education Temjen Imna Along, along with academicians, educational administrators and institutional leaders.
The event will also feature the felicitation of NBSE HSSLC Top Achievers–2026, recognising some of Nagaland's highest-performing students.
