FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

VLS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) May 2025

Q1: What is VLS?

A1: VLS is short form of Vocational Learning Scholarships. It is a Community Service Project of Rotary Club of Mulund. Under VLS, selected students who are taking Vocational Courses after 10th or 12th Standard are given Scholarships to help their education.

Q2: What are Vocational Courses?

A2: Courses such as I.T.I, Engineering Degree or Diploma, Medicine, Pharmacy, Tourism, Mass Media, CA, MBA, Hotel Management and many more. In short, any course, which is likely to give job to the student.

Q3: How can I get this VLS?

A3: First step in getting the VLS is to apply for it. Rotary Club of Mulund invites applications every year on 1st July. The student has to fill in an Online Application Form, accessed from VLS Website. The last date for filing the application is normally 15th August. For specific date for the current year, please refer to our website.

Q4: How does the Selection Process work?

A4: We follow 2 step selection process. In the First step, students apply for VLS by filling in an Online Application Form. After the last date, our Club Members review all the application forms and short-list some students. The short-listed students are invited for a personal interview, along with their parents or guardian. The interviews are held in Mulund, Mumbai. They are held on a Sunday, normally in the middle of September. Final list of selected students is prepared after the interviews, normally by end of September or beginning of October. All the short-listed students are informed of the selection decision, by individual emails.

Q5: What documents are needed for application process?

A5: Soft readable Copies of all the marksheets, starting from 10th Standard, Aadhaar Card, Electricity Bill of Applicant’s home and Photo of the applicant are required. These are the mandatory documents. Other Documents such as Salary Slip of Parents or any other income proof should be submitted, if available. In short, they are optional.

Q6: After Selection, when does the student receive Scholarship?

A6: After a student is informed about her/his selection, the Student has to submit a written undertaking and Security Cheques. The details of these are provided to the selected students, by email. Once the selected student submits these, payment can be released.

Q7: How is the Scholarship Payment Made?

A7: Scholarship amount is transferred directly to the College or Institute, where the student is studying, by NEFT/Cheque/DD, as per the requirements. The selected student is required to submit a payment request, which contain the institute details, for effecting this funds transfer. Only exception to this rule is in the year the student is selected. As selection is done in September or October of the year, some students might have made the payment to their respective Institute, to secure admission. Only in such cases, reimbursement is provided to the student.

Q8: Are there any restrictions about who can apply for the VLS?

A8: Students Going abroad for education cannot apply.
The students, whose annual course fee is more than Rupees Three Lac cannot apply.
Only The students who are residents of Maharashtra State or Studying in Maharashtra state can apply.

Q9: What is the interview and how can a student prepare for it?

A9: Interview is nothing like job interview or academic viva. It is more like a chit chat between the student, parents and our Club Members. We are trying to know the student and her/his family background and financial needs. So please don’t be scared of the word interview. And absolutely no preparation is needed. Just bring all the documents, which you have submitted with the application or which have been asked for in the Interview Invitation Email.

Q10: What are the time lines at a glance

A10: Time for submitting online Application: 1st July to Mid or End of August, every year.
Interview: Mid of September every year.
Selection Announcement: End of September or 1st Week of October every year.

Q11: Once selected, how a student can get funds sanctioned?

A11: After a student is selected, the student has to submit a written Undertaking and provide Security Cheques, as demanded. The details are shared with the selected students, with their selection email.

Q12: My admission process is during June to September. Can I get funds, during the Selection Process.

A12: NO. Payment is released only after the student is selected AND has completed the prescribed process of submitting a written Undertaking and provide Security Cheques.

Q13: Is the VLS outright grant or is it returnable?

A13: The VLS is a Loan Scholarship. So the student has to repay the Scholarship Amount, after completing the course and securing job.

Q14: If VLS is a loan, why is it called Scholarship?

A14: Though called a loan, the student does not pay any interest on the loan. A Bank Loan would have at least 9-10% interest. As our aim is to help the students, we do not charge any interest. But the principal amount has to be repaid, in Equated Monthly Instalments (EMI), as these repayments are used to support more students.

Q15: I made a mistake while filling the form. Or I want to change some information in the form.

A15: After you submit your form, Google sends you a confirmation email. This email has Edit-Response button. By clicking on this button, you can edit your own form. The editing is limited to the text you filled in. You cannot change the attachments. For changing attachments, you need to fill in the whole form again.

Q16: Due to some changes, I submitted the form more than once. Which one is considered?

A16: Out of multiple forms from the same email ID, only last submitted form is considered.

Q17: My friend and me submitted our forms, giving my email ID. Or I submitted 2 forms for my 2 children, using my own email ID.

A17: In such cases, one of the 2 forms are likely to be deleted. Please use your own email ID to fill in your own form.

Q18: I am a resident of Maharashtra State. But I want to study in Chennai. Am I eligible to apply for the VLS?

A18: Yes, you are eligible. You meet the criteria of being a resident of Maharashtra.

Q19: I am a resident of Bihar and I want to study at an Institute in Pune.  Am I eligible to apply for the VLS?

A19: Yes, you are eligible. You meet the criteria of studying in Maharashtra, as your Institute  is in Maharashtra.

Q20: I am from Bhopal, MP and I want to study in IIT Delhi. Am I eligible to apply for the VLS?

A20: No. You are neither resident of Maharashtra nor studying in Maharashtra. Therefore you are not eligible to apply for VLS.

 Q21: What are the timelines for 2025-26?

A21: Applications open from 1st July 2025. It will remain open till 31st August 2025. So students can fill up the form 1st July 2025 and 31st August 2025. Interviews will take place on Sunday, 21st September 2025, in Mulund West, Mumbai 400080. Those applicants, who are called for the Interviews, need to physically appear for the Interview.