National Overseas Scholarship
The National Overseas Scholarship gives full financial support to low-income meritorious students from specified communities to pursue a Master's or PhD abroad. It aims to improve their economic and social status.
Run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the scheme is open to Scheduled Castes, Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans. The 125 annual slots are split as follows, with 30 percent of each year's awards reserved for women.
| Category | Slots |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 115 |
| Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes | 6 |
| Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans | 4 |
| Total | 125 |
A separate National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe students is run by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, with about 20 slots a year. Funds under both schemes are routed through Indian Missions abroad rather than paid directly to the student.
Highlights
| Scholarship Type | Full-Ride-Scholarships, Merit-Based, Need-Based |
| Offered by | Government bodies |
| Organization | N/A |
| Application Deadline | N/A |
| Number of Scholarships | 125 |
| Amount | Variable Amount |
| Renewability | No |
| International Student Eligible | Yes |
| Scholarship Website Link | https://nosmsje.gov.in/ |
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the National Overseas Scholarship, you must belong to an eligible category, have at least 60 percent in your qualifying degree and a family income within ?8 lakh a year. Only Master's and PhD study counts.
The scheme is strict on category, income and admission, so check each point carefully. Other funding routes for doctoral applicants appear in this list of PhD scholarships for Indian students.
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Category | SC, DNT, landless agricultural labourers or traditional artisans |
| Level | Master's or PhD abroad (not undergraduate) |
| Marks | At least 60% in the relevant qualifying degree |
| Family income | Not above 8 lakh a year |
| Age | Below 35 (Master's), below 40 (PhD) |
| Admission | Unconditional offer from a QS Top 500 university |
If your family income is above ?8 lakh, then you are not eligible for the scholarship. That means you should confirm the income ceiling before you spend time on the application.
Application Process
You apply for the National Overseas Scholarship online through the official portal at nosmsje.gov.in, by registering, filling your details and uploading documents. The window usually opens early in the year.
The process is fully online, and exact dates for each cycle are notified on the official portal, so check it regularly. The main steps are:
- Register as a new applicant on nosmsje.gov.in.
- Fill in your personal, academic and family income details.
- Upload documents, including caste certificate, income proof, all semester mark sheets and your admission or offer document.
- Submit the form and note your reference number for tracking.
An employer No Objection Certificate is needed if you are employed, and a gap certificate is required if there is a break of more than six months after your qualifying degree. Recent cycles have closed around the end of March, with a second round sometimes opening later in the year.
Selection Process
National Overseas Scholarship selection is merit-based and category-wise, with priority given to candidates holding unconditional offers from QS Top 500 universities. A committee reviews every eligible application.
A Selection and Screening Committee shortlists candidates, and ties are broken by marks in the qualifying examination. Family income is checked at two levels, first for the last financial year and then across the last two to three years. The stages are:
- Shortlisting by the committee, with results published on the official website and confirmed by email.
- Provisional Award Letter issued to selected candidates, who must confirm and return it.
- Document verification in person at the Ministry, plus bonds and solvency certificates from two sureties.
- Confirmation of Award Letter issued after the offer letter is verified by the Indian Embassy.
Note: With only about 125 slots a year, an unconditional offer from a QS Top 500 university strongly improves your selection chances. Securing strong admission first, then applying, is the smarter order for most candidates.
Grant Details
The National Overseas Scholarship grant covers full tuition, an annual maintenance allowance of USD 15,400, a contingency allowance, airfare and more. The UK has its own pound-based rates.
The grant runs for the full approved course, up to three years for a Master's and four years for a PhD, subject to good performance. It is designed to cover almost the entire cost of studying abroad, as the table below shows. For wider budgeting, see this guide on the average cost of studying abroad.
| Component | Amount | In INR |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance allowance (annual) | USD 15,400 (UK: GBP 9,900) | INR 14.55 lakh (UK: INR 12.38 lakh) |
| Tuition fees | Actual, paid to the university | As charged |
| Contingency allowance (annual) | USD 1,500 (UK: GBP 1,100) | INR 1.42 lakh (UK: INR 1.38 lakh) |
| Airfare | Economy class, both ways | Actual |
| Visa and medical insurance | Reimbursed | Actual |
Conversions are based on USD 1 = INR 94.5 and GBP 1 = INR 125 as of June 25, 2026, and move with the exchange rate.
What the grant covers and what it does not:
- Covers: tuition, maintenance, contingency, airfare, visa fees and medical insurance.
- Does not cover: costs for a spouse or children, or any undergraduate study.
Key Insight: Awardees can supplement the allowance only through teaching or research assistantships at their university. Outside employment is not allowed, and the scholarship cannot be combined with another government scheme.
The National Overseas Scholarship is a strong, fully funded route for eligible Indian students from disadvantaged communities to pursue a Master's or PhD abroad. With about 125 slots, a ?8 lakh income ceiling and a QS Top 500 admission requirement, it is competitive, so plan early. Secure a strong unconditional offer, confirm you meet the category, age and income rules, then prepare your documents carefully. Done well, the scheme can cover tuition, living costs and travel, turning a top global degree from a distant dream into an achievable goal for 2026 and 2027.
