Pearl's published schemes are labelled AY 2026
Pearl Academy lists several scholarship routes, including NIFT rank, board merit, CUET and defence background. The policies retrieved on 15 October 2026 are labelled Academic Year 2026. That label remains essential even though other parts of the site advertise 2027 applications. The figures on this page describe those published policies; they are not confirmation that the same award is available for the next intake.
A prospective design or business student should identify the exact scheme before estimating support. Different routes use different evidence and can have different availability limits. A high entrance rank does not automatically establish eligibility under a board-mark policy, and a defence-related concession should not be treated as another merit slab. Read the conditions with the table that names your route.
NIFT Rank Based Scholarship Policy for AY 2026
Published cycle: AY 2026; next-cycle availability unconfirmed. As of 15 October 2026. Percentages, scores and ranks retain their published units.
| NIFT entrance exam Rank | Scholarship |
|---|---|
| 1-100 | 50% |
| 101-500 | 30% |
| 501-1000 | 20% |
Board Merit Scholarship Policy for AY 2026
Published cycle: AY 2026; next-cycle availability unconfirmed. As of 15 October 2026. Percentages, scores and ranks retain their published units.
| 12th Overall Marks | Scholarship |
|---|---|
| >=95% | 50% |
| 90.01-94.99% | 25% |
CUET-Based Direct Admission and Scholarship Criteria for AY 2026
Published cycle: AY 2026; next-cycle availability unconfirmed. As of 15 October 2026. Percentages, scores and ranks retain their published units.
| Category | Scholarship* | CUET Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| All Genders | 100% | ≥ 95.01 |
| All Genders | 75% | 90.01 – 95.00 |
| All Genders | 50% | 85.01 – 90.00 |
| All Genders | 25% | 75.01-85.00 |
NIFT ranks and board marks
The NIFT policy publishes rank bands with corresponding scholarship levels. The table refers to rank, not a percentile or a score from Pearl's own entrance test. Ask whether your examination year and rank category qualify, which documents are required and whether your chosen course is included. The reference grid cannot decide those application-specific questions by itself.
The NIFT policy additionally requires Class 12 completion by July 2026, an eligible AY 2026 NIFT rank, Indian residence and qualifying the institution's entrance examination where applicable. It is a limited-seat, first-year semester-component award, adjusted in the second semester after registration and document checks. It is non-transferable.
The board policy also names Class 12 completion by July 2026 and Indian residence. Its wording conflicts: one eligibility clause says the award is based only on board marks, while later benefits and disqualification clauses refer to entrance-exam performance or qualification. Ask the institution to resolve that condition; this guide does not promise an entrance-test exemption. No separate scholarship application is required under its stated board-merit process.
The board-merit schedule uses overall Class 12 marks. It publishes a 50% award at marks of at least 95% and a 25% award for 90.01% to 94.99%. We retain those boundaries rather than rewriting them into a smoother range. A student exactly on an unlisted boundary should request a decision based on the actual marksheet. Ask about board equivalence and calculation of the overall figure if your result format differs.
CUET combines an admission route with conditional support
The AY 2026 CUET policy discusses direct admission and scholarships for eligible undergraduate applicants. Its table differentiates percentile bands, from the published entry level to the highest scholarship category. This does not remove the need to fulfil Pearl's admission requirements. Verification of a valid scorecard is part of the award process, and the published policy reserves the final decision to the institution.
The CUET conditions state that only one scholarship applies. Where more than one scheme is available, the policy says the highest-value award is used. Do not add a CUET percentage to the board-merit award. If you have both sets of evidence, submit them and ask for the single applicable award to be identified in writing.
First-year component coverage is the key limitation
The CUET scheme applies to the first academic year only and is not renewable into subsequent years. Its covered semester components include tuition, academic, infrastructure and technology fees. It does not describe a discount on every payment a student might make. That distinction is especially important when the fee schedule separately names a one-time charge and accommodation is arranged outside the course table.
The policy says awards follow campus registration and verification, with the scholarship adjusted against the second-semester fee. Families should ask what must be paid before that adjustment happens. A large scholarship percentage does not necessarily mean an equally reduced payment at the application or registration stage. Retain the payment schedule and award communication together so the timing is clear.
The defence-background policy has its own cap
The defence-background scheme publishes a 10% waiver of first-year semester component fees. The retrieved policy limits it to first-year students in AY 2026 and a maximum of ten awards, subject to the stated verification and availability conditions. It also refers to qualifying the institution's entrance examination where applicable. These are substantive restrictions on the offer, not administrative details to postpone until after paying.
Ask which service documents and dependent-status evidence are accepted. The policy treats the award as a fee-account adjustment and does not permit exchange for cash or transfer to a different course, campus, person or academic year. Withdrawal revokes the scholarship, with any refund governed separately. We have not promised a cash reimbursement or a transferable award.
Build a payment plan from the award letter
A practical Pearl fee discussion should identify campus, programme, intake and scheme in the same conversation. A Delhi-West fee row does not price every campus, and a scholarship policy does not establish the next year's tuition. Use the fee guide to distinguish the one-time and semester amounts, then ask admissions to mark the exact covered components for your award.
Keep living costs and financing separate from scholarships. A loan or instalment facility can change how you pay without changing what you owe. If a scholarship is conditional on registration, ask how the balance is handled if your documents are rejected or your admission is not completed. The retrieved schedules do not justify a guessed all-inclusive amount after financial support.
Preparing a complete request
Bring your marksheet, relevant NIFT or CUET result, selected campus and exact degree title. If you are applying under defence background, request the current document checklist before submitting personal records. Ask for the award year, covered fees, adjustment date and non-renewal conditions. Keep the communication that confirms approval rather than relying on a screenshot of a general policy.
AptiGuide can help you sort the route and frame the questions before you commit. The institution decides admission and financial support. For 2027 applicants, a fresh policy or individual written award is the missing link between these AY 2026 reference schemes and your actual payment obligation. Until that is supplied, use the published grid to understand possibilities rather than subtracting an assumed award from your budget.