1 day ago
Maharashtra PhD Scholar Denied UK Visa Over State Scholarship
Aryan Agarwal is a student from Maharashtra who was accepted into a PhD programme in the United Kingdom.
He was awarded a Maharashtra government scholarship to help pay for his studies.
The UK refused his visa because its rules refer to scholarships from a national government, not a state government.
The visa office also said he had not shown enough money for the trip and studies.
Agarwal says he would need to show about Rs 60 lakh.
He cannot easily take such a large loan because he does not have collateral.
The Maharashtra education department said it had not known about this problem.
Agarwal has asked the department to find a solution.
The University of Manchester said paying the first-year tuition fee could help him meet the visa requirements.
Aryan Agarwal, selected for a PhD in Materials Chemistry at the University of Manchester, was denied a UK visa.
The UK said sponsorship from Maharashtra’s Directorate of Technical Education did not meet its national-government sponsor requirement.
Agarwal also could not demonstrate the required funds, reportedly about Rs 60 lakh, without taking a collateral-backed loan.
The Directorate of Technical Education said it was unaware of the visa issue and advised him to write to its scholarship account.
The university told Agarwal that depositing his first-year tuition fee could reduce the bank balance he must show for visa eligibility.
- Who
- Aryan Agarwal, the Maharashtra Directorate of Technical Education, the UK government and the University of Manchester.
- What
- Agarwal’s UK student visa was refused after authorities questioned whether his Maharashtra government scholarship qualified and said he had not shown sufficient funds.
- Where
- The PhD would be at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom; Agarwal is from Gondia district, Maharashtra.
- When
- Agarwal received an unconditional university offer in June 2025; the scholarship result was published on February 16, 2026, and he said he emailed the Directorate on August 26.
- Why
- The UK visa letter said state-government sponsorship did not meet the relevant national-government criterion and that the documents did not prove he held the required funds.
UK Visa Criteria
Student and Maharashtra Scholarship Position
Eligibility of state sponsorship
UK Visa Criteria
The UK visa refusal letter said sponsorship from Maharashtra’s Directorate of Technical Education did not qualify because the rules refer to the applicant’s national government.
Student and Maharashtra Scholarship Position
Agarwal received the scholarship through a Maharashtra government programme and is asking the state authorities to resolve the resulting visa problem.
Proof of financial support
UK Visa Criteria
The UK said Agarwal’s documents did not demonstrate that he possessed the required level of funds.
Student and Maharashtra Scholarship Position
Agarwal said showing about Rs 60 lakh would normally require a large collateral-backed loan, which he cannot obtain, while the university offered a tuition-deposit route that may help.
Key facts
- Applicant
- Aryan Agarwal, a resident of Gondia district, Maharashtra
- Programme
- PhD in Materials Chemistry at the University of Manchester
- Scholarship
- Foreign Countries Higher Education Scholarship administered by Maharashtra’s Directorate of Technical Education
- Visa issue
- The UK said the scholarship was from a state government body rather than a national government sponsor.
- Funds cited
- Agarwal said he would need to show approximately Rs 60 lakh.
- Potential solution
- The university said depositing the first-year tuition fee could reduce the bank balance required for the visa application.
- Current response
- Agarwal has sought a resolution from the Directorate of Technical Education and said he had not received a response to his August 26 email.
Quotes
Aryan Agarwal
Maharashtra student selected for a PhD at the University of Manchester
“The University has informed me that if the first year tuition fee can be deposited in their account, it will reflect on the dashboard and will be deducted from the balance I would have to show in my bank account. This will make me eligible for the visa. The University has been very helpful.”
indianexpress.com
“I received an unconditional offer from the University of Manchester in June 2025, and the scholarship was delayed and the result was eventually published on 16 February 2026. The University issued me a revised offer for the July 2026 intake. However, my visa has now been rejected.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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