National Overseas Scholarship 2026: A scheme of scholarships that will cover full expenses abroad has been launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to provide opportunities for marginalized students to enroll for Masters and Ph.D. programs. It is a part of the National Overseas Scholarship program, which intends to make higher studies possible in top-ranked institutions outside India.The categories include SCs, DNTs/NTs, and landless agricultural laborers/traditional artisans. A total of 30% of the scholarships are reserved for women, while selected candidates are required to return to India after completing their studies.Eligibility criteria & financial aidScholarships offer total financial help including tuition fees, maintenance allowance, visa fees, health insurance, and travel expenses. The amount will be released directly from the Indian mission overseas.Eligible applicants should have scored not less than 60% or their equivalent grades in qualifying examinations. Prospective PhD students need to possess Master’s degrees, whereas applicants for master’s programs require bachelor’s degrees. Candidates must also be below 35 years of age as on the first day of April in the selection year.The scheme sets an annual family income ceiling of Rs 8 lakh. Applicants are required to submit an income certificate issued by a revenue officer not below the rank of Tehsildar.Category wise distribution and selection processOut of the 125 slots, 115 are allocated to Scheduled Castes, six to Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, and four to landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans. A cap of 10% of total slots per state is applied during the first round of allocation, with unfilled seats carried forward to a second round.Selection is conducted in two rounds. The applicant must have obtained an unconditional offer of admission to a foreign university which ranks among the top 500 QS world ranking universities. The merit list is prepared on the basis of ranking order of the foreign university granting admission.In case of tie-ups in rankings, the applicant is then assessed on the basis of marks scored in the qualifying examination. A waitlist of up to 50% of total seats is maintained in the final round and remains valid until March 31 of the selection year.• Direct link to read the official notification • Direct link to visit the official websiteCourse duration and application requirementsFinancial assistance is provided for up to four years for PhD programmes and up to three years for Master’s degrees, or until the completion of the course, whichever is earlier. Undergraduate courses are not covered under the scheme.The application forms should be accompanied by documents like educational certificates, caste certificates, Aadhaar cards, foreign university admission certificates, income proofs, and any other relevant documents. Those candidates who are already employed must furnish a no objection certificate from their employer.The application process is done electronically through the portal. Selection cycles are typically conducted in two phases during the year.
