Project Protsaahan supports meritorious students from underprivileged, first-generation-learner families who study at the Purkal Youth Development Society (PYDS) in Dehradun. Launched in 2018, it admits at least two students a year, typically one boy and one girl, who qualify through the UPES entrance examination.
UPES covers tuition and academic fees, hostel charges, uniforms, a laptop, one-time charges and the refundable security deposit for the whole course, and students receive a stipend of about ₹20,000 during industry internships. UPES values this support at ₹10–15 lakh per student.
Each batch has a faculty mentor, called a Campus GURU, from the UPES Societal Responsibility Team, and a member of Career Services helps with internships and placements.
A complete degree, free of cost, for students who would otherwise not reach university.
