The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme of the Government of India provides financial assistance to economically disadvantaged and meritorious students pursuing Master’s and PhD programmes abroad. The scheme covers a wide range of educational expenses, including tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses.
For students aspiring to study at reputed international universities, the National Overseas Scholarship offers financial support for higher education abroad, ensuring that economic constraints do not hinder access to advanced academic opportunities.
The National Overseas Scholarship is a central government scholarship programme aimed at providing access to international higher education for meritorious students from economically weaker sections. Selected candidates receive support to pursue higher studies at recognized foreign universities across the world.
The scheme seeks to assist talented students who may otherwise be unable to afford the cost of overseas education due to financial limitations. It is intended to enable eligible students to obtain global-level education and advance their academic and professional careers.
The scholarship is available to students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT), landless agricultural labourer families, and traditional artisan families.
Applicants must meet specified eligibility requirements. For SC, DNT, landless agricultural labourer, and traditional artisan categories, the annual family income must be below Rs 8 lakh. For ST applicants, the maximum annual family income limit is Rs 6 lakh.
Applicants must also be below 35 years of age at the time of application. In addition, candidates must possess an unconditional offer letter for admission to a Master’s or PhD programme from a recognized foreign university.
The National Overseas Scholarship covers most major education-related expenses incurred during overseas studies. These include tuition fees charged by the foreign university, maintenance allowance for accommodation and living expenses, medical insurance, visa fees, and the cost of economy-class airfare for international travel.
The financial assistance is intended to reduce the economic burden on students and their families, allowing beneficiaries to focus on their studies and research activities.
Applications for the National Overseas Scholarship are processed through the relevant ministries.
Students from SC, DNT, landless agricultural labourer, and traditional artisan categories can apply through the portal of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE).
For students belonging to the ST category, the application process is conducted through the National Overseas Scholarship portal of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Candidates are advised to carefully review eligibility conditions, required documentation, admission-related requirements, and application deadlines before submitting their applications.
According to experts, the National Overseas Scholarship provides an opportunity for students who wish to study at leading foreign universities but face financial constraints. The scheme also supports greater participation of Indian students in international higher education.
