The Global Indian International School is a front-runner in providing a well-rounded education to its students. Fuelled by an insatiable desire to promote excellence in academics, sports, performing arts, technology, and other areas, GIIS now offers a host of scholarship programs.

Of all the scholarship programs offered by GIIS, the 9 GEMS and Dr. APJ Kalam Scholarship stands out. How do you choose between the two? How do you select the right scholarship program for your child?

If you’re in a dilemma, read this blog to make the right choice.

The 9 GEMS Scholarship: Features and Characteristics:

The 9 Gems Scholarship or the 9 GEMS Holistic Development Scholarship is a one-year scholarship program offered by the Global Indian International School. It provides discounted tuition fees to promising students who have achieved an award or recognition in any of the 9 Gems skills.

Given below is the eligibility criteria for availing of the 9 GEMS scholarship:

• The applicant must be an Indian citizen and a student of GIIS.
• The applicant must be a student from classes 6-12. Students from other grades are not eligible to apply for the 9 GEMS scholarships.
• Students who have received National, International, or Regional recognition, in the fields of sport, co-curricular activities including visual and performing arts, community service, innovation, and entrepreneurship, OR showed extraordinary leadership skills are eligible to apply.

There are three categories for this scholarship, such as:

• Category A: Students who have achieved recognition in any international event in any of the 9 GEMS skills will get a 9% off on tuition fees.
• Category B: Students are recognized in any national event in any of the 9 GEMS skills and will get a 6% off on tuition fees.
• Category C: Students who have achieved recognition in any state event in any of the 9 GEMS skills will get a 3% off on tuition fees.

The APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship: Features and Characteristics:

The APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship is a one-year scholarship program that is awarded to technologically distinguished students who have demonstrated promising signs of entrepreneurship in the digital space from a very young age. All students applying to this scholarship should be national or state-level rank holders in competitions in the digital area.

Given below is the eligibility criteria for availing of the APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship:

• The applicant must be an Indian citizen and a student of GIIS.
• The applicant must be a student from classes 6-12. Students from other grades are not eligible to apply for the APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship.
• Students represented at national OR international OR Regional forums under the below categories are eligible to apply:
• Have written a paper, thesis, or published documents OR have invented or innovated a tool/ gadget related to digital space like Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Robotics, Coding, App-making, BlockChain, etc.
• Provide relevant proof/s of the paper, thesis, publication, tool, instrument, application, etc.

There are two categories for this scholarship, such as:

• Category A: Students who are National Rank Holders amongst the top 10, 20, or 30 student categories at the Olympiad by SOF/ STEM Olympiad/ Robotics Olympiad can avail between 3-9% off on tuition fees.
• Category B: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Prize Winners at the annual competition of National Children’s Science Congress at the national and state level are eligible for scholarship grants between 3-9% off on tuition fees.

9 GEMS v/s APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship: A Comparative Analysis.

Here are the similarities between the 9 GEMS and APJ Abdul Kalam scholarships:

Scholarship Tenure: Both scholarships are valid for one year. After the completion of one year, students can reapply for the scholarship if they meet the eligibility criteria next year.

Tuition Fees Discount: Both scholarships offer discounts on tuition fees in the range of 3-9%.

Applicable Grades: Both scholarships can be availed by students from classes 6-12.

9 GEMS v/s APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship: Which Scholarship should you choose?

Given how both the scholarships are quite identical in terms of the scholarship tenure, discount for tuition fees, and applicable grades, you should apply for a scholarship programme based on your eligibility criteria:

Go for the 9 GEMS Scholarship if you meet the eligibility criteria for this scholarship. In other words, if you have achieved distinction in the digital space.

Go for the APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship if you meet the eligibility criteria for this scholarship. In other words, if you have excelled in any of the 9 GEMS skills, then go for this scholarship.

That said, there is no hard and fast rule that you can only apply for one scholarship at a single point in time. If you qualify for both scholarships, apply for both scholarships.