National Overseas Scholarship: Eligibility, Benefits, Deadline
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The Indian government's National Overseas Scholarship Scheme aims to provide financial assistance to economically disadvantaged students from Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans studying at top universities abroad. It offers funding for up to three years for graduates and four years for doctoral students. Approximately 125 scholarships are awarded each year, 115 of which are for SC candidates.
| Scholarship details | |
|---|---|
| Offered by | The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India |
| Amount granted | Variable |
| Type of scholarship | Need-based |
| Level of program | Graduate & Doctoral |
| Application deadline | March 31, 2025 (tentative) |
| Renewability | Annual renewal |
| International students | Indian students |
| Official URL | National Overseas Scholarship |
Read also: Scholarships for International Students to study Abroad
The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme covers a significant portion of the costs for students studying abroad. The main areas of funding are:
Tuition Fees: Academic fees are fully covered.
Visa Fees: Payment for visa application fees.
Maintenance Allowance: Help with living expenses.
Contingency Fund: Additional funds for unexpected expenses.
Medical Insurance Premium: Cost of health insurance.
Contingency Travel and Equipment: Amount for travel expenses and necessary equipment.
Air tickets: The cost of travel to and from the destination country.
To apply for Indian Overseas Scholarship, applicants must fulfill the following requirements.
1. Caste Requirements:
They belong to one of the listed species. If none or few applicants are from the target groups, students from other castes will be considered accordingly.
2. University Admissions:
Foreign university admissions are in the top 500 in the world (QS ranking 2023).
3. Study exclusions:
NOS does not offer courses or research in Indian culture, heritage, history and social studies.
4. No Other Funding:
Applicants must have no other sources of funding.
5. Academic Performance:
Achieve a minimum of 60% on the last qualifying exam.
6. Age requirement:
Applicants must be under 35 years old.
7. Family Income:
The annual family income should be less than 8 lakhs.
8. Applicants:
Applicants must submit their employer certificate of objection (NOC).
9. Visa Requirements:
Students studying in the United States need a J-1 visa.
10. Bonding Agreement:
Selected students must sign a scholarship to pay for tuition.
11. Organizational changes:
Students cannot change their study institution unless their advisor leaves and no other advisors are available. To qualify for the National Overseas Scholarship 2025, you must meet these criteria.
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The application process for the Indian Overseas Scholarship is completely online and consists of the following steps:
Student registration: Visit the official website and fill out the Student Registration Form.
Upload Required Documents: Please upload all required documents as specified in the application guidelines.
To be considered for the scholarship, make sure you complete both steps accurately and submit all required information and documentation.
To apply for the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme by the Indian Government, you must submit the following documents:
1. Academic Certificates: Copies of all applicable academic transcripts and certificates.
2. Caste identity card: proof of identity with a particular ethnic group.
3. Unconditional offer letter: A letter of acceptance from a foreign university.
4. Family income certificate: Proof that your family’s annual income is less than Rs 8 lakh.
5. Aadhaar card: Provide a copy of your Aadhaar card to verify your identity.
6. Photo: A recent passport-sized painting.
7. Scanned Signature: A digital copy of your signature.
8. When submitting to the application portal, make sure all documents are clear and legible.
Explore alternative of scholarships to finance your education -
The selection process for the National Overseas Scholarship involves several steps:
1. Application criteria:
The Selection and Screening Committee reviews eligible applications.
2. University ranking analysis:
Candidates are selected on the basis of their admission to the university. The list of shortlisted candidates will be published on the official website.
Selected applicants will also receive an email confirming their selection for the first round.
3. Family Income Consideration:
In the first level of selection, the family income for the last financial year is considered.
For the second level, the family income of the last 2-3 years is taken into account.
4. Provisional Scholarship Offer:
Selected candidates will receive a provisional scholarship letter, which they must confirm and send back.
5. Verification and Documentation:
Beneficiaries will undergo processes such as verification of original documents, submission of Bonds, solvency certificates, and other required documentation.
6. Selection Period:
The selection period typically occurs from March to April each year.
By following these steps, the selection committee ensures that the most deserving candidates are awarded the National Overseas Scholarship.
To get your questions or queries answered, you can contact the Government of India by using the below-mentioned contact details:
Shri Sanjay Singh
Under Secretary
Shastri Bhawan Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi-110001
Phone: 011 23384023 (All working days 3 PM to 5 PM)
Email: so-nos-msje@gov.in
For Technical queries Only
Phone: 011 23073443 (from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM)
Email: so-nos-msje@gov.in
Don't limit yourself to scholarships -
The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme by the Indian government funds members of select marginalized castes to study abroad.
The criterion of minimum marks does not apply to students admitted to any of the top 1,000 QS-ranked universities.
STEM, Management, Economics, Finance, Law, Agriculture and Medicine, Humanities, and Social Science are the fields of study eligible for the National Overseas Scholarship.
Twenty scholarships are available under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for the year 2023 - 24, and the number of scholarships for ST students in\ each eligible field of study is as follows:
Once submitted, you can’t edit the application form for the National Overseas Scholarship. You can reach out to the grievance portal and raise your concern to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The National Overseas Scholarship does not fund for the costs associated with the student’s spouse or children.
The application process is available online and involves these steps:
Ensure that all steps are completed accurately and before the deadline.
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