AICTE Support to Students for Participating in Competition Abroad (SSPCA)
AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education)
Application deadline
Check the official page
Overview
The Support to Students for Participating in Competitions Abroad (SSPCA) scheme is run by AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education). It helps technical students travel abroad to take part in international competitions. The aim is to build a culture of research, innovation and healthy competition among engineering and other technical students.
Who is it for? Students enrolled in an AICTE-approved technical course — Diploma, B.E./B.Tech., Integrated M.Tech., M.E./M.Tech., MBA, MCA or Hotel Management. You can apply alone or as a team of 2 to 6 students. Importantly, you must have already won top honours at a national-level event to qualify. A student can use this scheme only once during their whole course.
What do you get? AICTE gives up to ₹2 lakh per student. This is paid as reimbursement (you spend first, then claim) and covers economy air fare, domestic travel, visa fee, lodging and boarding, airport tax, travel health insurance and equipment costs. Registration fee is paid as per actual or ₹50,000, whichever is less.
How to apply? Applications go through the official SSPCA portal (sspca.aicte.gov.in) and are routed through your institution's head. Documents, including the organiser's acceptance letter, must reach AICTE at least two to three months before the event. There is no fixed yearly deadline — you apply ahead of your competition date. Always check the official portal for current details.
At a glance
| Who can apply | ITI/diploma, UG, PG |
|---|---|
| Streams | Engineering/Technical |
| Category | All |
| Age | — |
| Income limit | — |
| Gender | — |
| States | — |
| Benefit / amount | Up to ₹2 lakh per student (reimbursement of travel, registration, visa, lodging and related costs) |
| Duration | Competition duration limited to a maximum of 10 days (one-time support per student during the course) |
| Renewable | No |
| Last date | See official page |
| Opened | — |
Documents you'll need
- Application signed by the competent authority of the institute
- Acceptance letter from the competition organisers naming the student
- Expected expenditure details
- Complete details of the competition abroad
- Proof of winning top honours at the national-level event
How you're selected
Proposals are evaluated by an AICTE expert committee. Category A (pre-defined competitions announced by AICTE) are auto-selected with the committee deciding only on expenditure; Category B (student-proposed competitions) are assessed by the expert committee before a final AICTE decision. Grant is disbursed in one installment after the event, on submission of bills and utilization certificate.
FAQs
Who can apply for SSPCA? Students enrolled in an AICTE-approved technical course (Diploma, B.E./B.Tech., Integrated M.Tech., M.E./M.Tech., MBA, MCA or Hotel Management). You can apply alone or in a team of 2 to 6 students, and you must have won top honours at a national-level event first.
How much money do I get? Up to ₹2 lakh per student, including all related expenses. It is given as reimbursement (you pay first and then claim back). Registration fee is paid as per actual or ₹50,000, whichever is less.
What does the money cover? To-and-fro economy class air fare, domestic travel, visa application fee, lodging and boarding, airport tax, travel health insurance, and cost of carrying competition equipment.
What is the last date to apply? There is no single yearly deadline. You apply before your competition. The guidelines say your documents (including the organiser's acceptance letter) should reach AICTE at least two to three months before the event starts. Check the official portal for current details.
Can I apply more than once? No. A student is eligible only once during the entire course of their study.
How do I apply? Apply through the official SSPCA portal at sspca.aicte.gov.in. The application must be signed by your institution's competent authority and sent through the head of your institute, along with the acceptance letter and full competition details.