The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India offers the National Overseas Scholarships. These provide opportunities for Indian students from underprivileged backgrounds. After carefully considering the scheme guidelines, they can pursue higher education abroad by applying for the scholarship within the stipulated time. Let’s explore who is eligible for the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS), the application process, deadlines, and other important information.
Table of contents
Overview of National Overseas Scholarship
The National Overseas Scholarship is one of the top Indian Govt scholarships to study abroad. It covers tuition fees, maintenance allowance, contingency allowance, and other allowances for a visa, medical insurance, air passage, etc. These scholarships are made available to students who belong to Scheduled Castes (SC), Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT/SNT), Landless Agricultural Labourers (LAL) and Traditional Artisans (TA).
A total of 125 scholarships are awarded to deserving students who can pursue master’s and PhD courses abroad. These must be taken from accredited institutions or universities in the country and course of your choice. 30% of the awards are earmarked for women candidates.
Once the applicants have been selected, the required funds are transferred to them. However, these are not disbursed directly to the students, instead, the funds are allocated to Indian Missions abroad that make the payments to the universities.
| Offered By | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India |
| Beneficiaries | – Scheduled Castes (SCs) – Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT/SNT) – Landless Agricultural Labourers (LAL) – Traditional Artisans (TA). |
| Scholarship Amount | – USD 15,400 or GBP 9,900 as annual maintenance – USD 1,500 or GBP 1,100 for contingency – USD 20 for insurance |
| Total Number of Scholarships (125) | – 115 for Scheduled Castes candidates – 06 Awards are for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes – 04 are for Landless Agricultural Labourers candidates and Traditional Artisans |
| Application Link | https://nosmsje.gov.in/nosmsje/ |
Also Read: Did you know that scholarships for left-handed also exist? Check out the best scholarships for left-handed people.
Eligibility Criteria of National Overseas Scholarships
All applicants applying for the National Overseas Scholarships must meet the eligibility criteria. One of the basic criteria is that the student must belong to Scheduled Castes (SC), Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT/SNT), Landless Agricultural Labourers (LAL), or Traditional Artisans (TA). Besides, academic performance and income criteria are important. Let’s check out the major details.
- Annual family income from all sources should not exceed INR 8 lakh per annum.
- Minimum 60% marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying exam (Bachelor’s for Master’s, Master’s for PhD).
- The age limit of 35 years as of April 1st of the selection year.
- Must have a conditional letter from one of the top 500 ranked foreign universities as per the available QS Rankings.
Application and Selection Process
The application and selection process for the National Overseas Scholarship is simple. The NOS program is advertised in newspapers and other media. The application period is divided into two rounds- the first round is from mid-February to the end of March and the second round is from September 1st to September 15th. The applications are open for 45 days in both rounds where applications are submitted online only through the official NOS portal.
Selection Process
The selection is done in two rounds for each year.
- A merit list is created based on the QS ranking of the foreign university/institution you received an offer from (higher ranking = higher position on the list).
- You must have an unconditional offer of admission from a top 500-ranked university (QS rankings) to be considered.
- In case of a tie in QS ranking, marks/grades from your qualifying exam will determine your position.
- A Selection-cum-Screening Committee reviews applications and recommends candidates for scholarships.
- A waitlist of eligible candidates is maintained for the final round. It is valid until March 31st of the selection year.
Also Read: Know all about LGBTQ+ Scholarships around the world that allows the queer community to pursue their global academic dreams.
Post Selection
- All the selected candidates receive a provisional award letter.
- You may be allowed a maximum deferral of one year or two intakes to join the university.
- You will receive a confirmation letter after completing formalities like document verification and submitting bonds.
Important Guidelines
- Incomplete applications are rejected.
- You cannot change your chosen university/institution after selection.
- Scholarships are awarded in order of the merit list.
- You can re-apply in subsequent rounds if you are not selected initially.
This was all about the National Overseas Scholarship. Make sure to consider all important information before applying. You can also consider other Indian govt scholarships for study abroad.
To know about education loans, the best bank accounts for students, forex and banking experience for global students or international money transfers, reach out to our experts at 1800572126 to help ease your study abroad experience.
FAQs
The National Overseas Scholarship is a program provided by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. It offers financial assistance to underprivileged Indian students to pursue master’s and Ph.D. programs at accredited institutions worldwide.
The application portal for the National Overseas Scholarship typically opens in mid-February and closes on March 31 each year. For 2024, the portal will be open from February 15, 2024, to March 31, 2024.
To be eligible for NOS, the applicants must belong to SC, DNT/SNT, LAL, or TA categories. The annual family income should not exceed INR 8 lakh p.a and they must secure a minimum of 60% marks in the qualifying examination.
The scholarship provides an annual maintenance allowance of USD 15,400 and a contingency allowance of USD 1,500. It also provides coverage of tuition fees, visa fees, medical insurance, and travel expenses.
Yes, SC students can apply for the National Overseas Scholarship, which is specifically designed to support them in pursuing higher education abroad.
Follow Us on Social Media
