Short Term Studentship

Short Term Studentship (STS) program is intended to encourage and support interested MBBS/BDS students in research. It is an initiative of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The program was initiated in 1979.

Objective

• To promote interest and aptitude for research among medical/dental undergraduates.
• To provide an opportunity for undergraduate medical/dental students to familiarize themselves with research methodology and techniques by undertaking independent short-term research projects in the field of biomedical research

Benefits

Financial support:

• Stipend to the Fellow: Rs. 60,000/- (w.e.f. 2024) for six months of research work along with an e-certificate.
• The stipend will be given in three installments as given below:
• 1st installment= Rs. 15,000/- at the end of 1st of year of work, upon submission and review of research concept note only to selected students.
• 2nd installment= Rs. 15,000/- at the end of 2nd year of work, upon submission of interim report on data collection.
• 3rd and final installment= Rs. 30,000/- at the end of 3 rd of year of work, upon submission and review of final report analysis of data, preparation & submission (online) of report.

Approximately 2% of the total medical/dental UG seats i.e., 2000 students will be awarded STS fellowship per year.

• Out of these total seats approximately 80% will be given to MBBS and 20% to BDS students.
• However, the actual number will be determined according to the applications received and availability of budget.

Eligibility

Student eligibility:

• 1st and 2nd Professional (Prof.) year MBBS/BDS students studying in NMC/DCI-recognized Medical/Dental colleges in India, before they appear in their fourth Prof. year final exams are eligible to apply.
• 1st Prof. year students to carry out the work from 1st to 3rd Prof. years.
• 2nd Prof. year students to carry out the work from 2nd to 4th Prof. years.
• Students who are holding OCI cards/ PIO cards/NRI studying in an Indian medical/dental college (NMC/DCI-recognized) can also apply and a copy of the OCI/ PIO/ NRI card must be submitted.
• 3rd & 4th Prof. MBBS/BDS students, Interns/PG students are not eligible to apply.
• Students of paramedical/non-medical courses are not eligible.
• Students studying in foreign medical/dental colleges are not eligible for this program.

Guide eligibility:

• Only regular full-time faculty members working in the same Medical/Dental College where the student is enrolled can act as the guide.
• Part-time consultants/visiting faculty/residents/tutors/pool officers/PG students cannot be the guide

Process, including application

• STS is a fully online program. No hard copies have to be submitted.
• The student is required to register and submit the application form and research concept note online as per call, which will be evaluated by reviewers.
• If selected, the student is expected to complete the project in the next two years in every summer break as mentioned in the tenure above and submit the concept note and final report as per the given timelines. The student will be awarded 3 rd/final instalment only if his/her final report is approved.
• The host institute/medical/dental college and the guide must take overall responsibility for the conduct of the research project, preparation, and submission of the complete report & the required enclosures within the stipulated time.
• The 2nd year data collection report should be verified and reviewed by the Guide to continue the project further for completion.
• Award of STS fellowship will be subject to technical evaluation of the final report.
• Results of only successful candidates will be notified on the DHR-ICMR websites . If selected, the student is expected to complete the project in any two given months between April to September every year and submit the report in October. The student will be awarded stipend and e-certificate only if his/ her report is approved as per existing guidelines. 

Click here to see STS Program timelines.

The last date of registration & submission of proposal each year is end of January.

Guide must take overall responsibility for the conduct of the research project, preparation and submission of complete report & the required enclosures within the stipulated time period.

The selection of the candidates for award of research studentship will be done after technical evaluation of the research plan by a panel of experts. The decision of ICMR in regard to selection of students will be final. Requests for reconsideration will not be entertained and reasons for rejection of applications for award of studentship will not be provided.

For more information, visit https://sts.icmr.org.in