The National Overseas Scholarship Central Sector Scheme aims to help students from low-income backgrounds who belong to the Scheduled Castes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans category, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes. This Scheme allows them to pursue overseas education, such as a Master’s degree or PhD courses abroad, which can enhance their economic and social status.
In the upcoming Selection Year 2023-24, will be 125 awards available, depending on the availability of funds. Among these awards, 115 are reserved for Scheduled Castes candidates, 6 for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, and 4 for Landless Agricultural Labourers candidates and Traditional Artisans. These awards provide financial assistance to selected candidates to pursue Masters’s level courses and PhD courses abroad in any field of study, as long as the Institutions/Universities are accredited by the Government or an authorized body of that country. Additionally, 30% of the awards for each year are reserved for women candidates.
The following will be the category-wise distribution of slots for various groups eligible for scholarships under the Scheme:
To be eligible for the scholarship, a minimum of 60% marks or a grade equivalent in the qualifying examination is required. For PhD courses, the qualifying exam is a Masters’s Degree, and for Masters’s Degree courses, it is a Bachelor’s Degree. Only candidates with unconditional offers of admission to the top 500 foreign Institutes/Universities as per the latest available QS rankings will be selected for the scholarship during the first selection round. The candidate’s age should not exceed 35 years on April 1 of the election year.
Additionally, the total family income from all sources should not exceed Rs. 6.00 lakh per annum in the previous financial year. When applying for a scholarship under this Scheme, the family income is determined based on the candidate’s parents, siblings under 18 years of age, spouse, and children under 18 years of age.
Note: For married women, the income of their in-laws, spouse, and children under 18 will be considered. If the candidates meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the scheme guidelines, they can apply online through the Ministry’s portal. i.e. https://nosmsje.gov.in.
The certificates needed to apply are:
- Income Certificate
- Certificate of being Landless Agricultural Labourer
- Certificate of Being Traditional Artisan
- Caste Certificate (SC)
This scholarship is available to Indian students pursuing a Master’s or PhD in various fields, including Engineering and Management, Pure and Applied Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Medicine, International Commerce, Accounting and Finance, and Humanities and Social Sciences. 30% of the scholarships are reserved for female students, and the visa is valid for two years. Only 100 students are selected to receive this scholarship.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the National Overseas Scholarship, candidates from minority communities must meet the following requirements:
- Educational Qualification:
For Masters: Minimum 55% or its equivalent at the undergraduate level.
For Doctorate: Minimum 55% or equivalent at the master’s level
- Applicants must be below 35 years as of April 1, 2022.
- Total family income should not exceed 6,00,000 INR. Only two children from the family can avail of the National Overseas Scholarship. You should fulfil the minimum score requirements for tests like IELTS, PTE, GMAT, GRE, etc.
Application Process
Starting in the second week of February, the MSJE will provide the application form on their official website. To complete the form, students must submit self-attested documents and their application.
Documents Required
- 10th Board Certificate
- Caste Certificate
- Photo
- Scanned Signature
- Current Residential proof/Permanent Address Proof, if different from current Address Qualifying Degree/Provisional Document Mark sheet of the exam qualified.
- Document regarding admission in Foreign Universities (Application, Registration or Admission related document)
- Income Certificate of all family members Employer’s NOC Certificate if the candidate is employed.
- ITR acceptance document.
- Gap certificate in case there is a gap of more than six months after completing a qualifying degree.
- Aadhar Card Selection Process Applications who submit their completed form and all the necessary documents will be considered.
Priority will be given to applicants who have secured admission at a university in the UK, Germany, or Canada. However, those who are yet to secure admission will also be considered on a conditional basis. The following procedure will be followed in a tie between two or more applicants:-
Available slots reserved for female applicants will be given to the most eligible candidates. The remaining slots will be filled by qualified applicants exceeding the age limit, with the oldest candidate being given the first available slot and subsequent slots being filled in descending order.
Expenses covered under this scholarship
- Maintenance Allowance
- Contingency Allowance
- Poll Tax Incidental Journey and Equipment Allowance
- Visa Fees
- Tuition Fees
- Medical Insurance Premium
- Air Passage Local Travel
Financial Assistance
Type of Assistance United States of America (USA) & other countries except UK United Kingdom (UK)
1. Annual Maintenance Allowance – 15400 US Dollars /9900 Great Britain Pounds
2. Contingency Allowance – 1500 US Dollars/ 1100 Great Britain Pounds
3. Tuition Fees Actual as charged
4. Visa Fees: Actual visa fees in Indian Rupees
5. Medical Insurance Premium Actual as charged
6. Incidental Journey Allowance &Equipment Allowance – 20 US Dollars for each or its equivalent in Indian Rupees
7. Air Passage
Please Note:
1. a) The winners of the award are permitted to buy air tickets from three authorized travel agents: Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL), Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT), and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC). The tickets should be for economy class and the shortest route available on the day of booking. The tickets should be purchased for travel from the nearest airport to the hometown in India to the closest location to the educational institution and back to India.
1. b) The awardees can choose their preferred travel agent for booking their tickets. However, additional costs such as booking charges, excess baggage fees, cancellation charges, and other add-ons will not be reimbursed.
1. c) After joining the university and providing a report confirming their start, the awardees can claim a reimbursement of their airfare from their respective Indian Mission abroad.
1. d) Return tickets will be booked by Indian Mission abroad.
If you’re interested in studying abroad, taking advantage of national support and scholarships can be an excellent opportunity to expand your horizons. The Indian Government offers different scholarships, such as the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes, the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Tribes, and the Ministry of External Affairs Scholarships. Remember that scholarship availability and criteria may change over time, so it’s crucial to conduct thorough research and confirm information from reliable sources, scholarship portals, and official Indian government websites to obtain the latest updates.
Good luck with your overseas education journey!
