Overseas – Backward Classes Scholarship 2022: Overview, Eligibility & Process

5 min read

There are several meritorious students from the backward classes who dream of pursuing higher education from abroad. However, they do not have the required amount to finance their education. Irrespective of every development scheme, the backward communities often get ignored from the benefits. So the Government of Kerala took up this challenge to fund a scholarship program. Their vision is to deal with issues related to the social, economic and academic improvement of the other backward communities in Kerala. BCDD Overseas Scholarship isone such program that helps students opt for Postgraduate or higher courses from international universities.   

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Overview of BCDD Overseas Scholarship 

Founded ByGovernment of Kerala
Intended ForStudents whose parents’ income doesn’t exceed Rs. 2,50,000 p.a.
ObjectiveTo work for the development of the backward classes.
Mode Of ApplicationOnline 
Scholarship Amount10,118 GBP (10,00,000 INR)
Official Websitebcdd.kerala.gov.in

Eligibility Criteria

Individuals who wish to apply for the BCDD Overseas Scholarship need to obey the eligibility guidelines. Applicants must meet the following criteria before applying for this financial grant.

  • This scholarship program is intended for those students who belong to the lower family income group.
  • The interested candidates must have a graduation degree.
  • They also need to ensure they pass their graduation with a first-class or have a minimum of 60% score.
  • This scholarship scheme is university and subject-specific. Hence, if your subject qualifies according to the conditions, you can avail of this program.

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Subjects that are Eligible for the Scholarship

The subjects eligible for this scholarship program are listed below.

Application Process for BCDD Overseas Scholarship

The process of application is somewhat lengthy. However, to have a seamless experience, you can follow these steps.

  1. Visit the official website of the Kerala Government. You can directly go to the scholarship page via the link provided in the overview section.
  2. You will be redirected to the website which checks the disbursement of scholarships and grants for the OBC.
  3. Click on “one-time registration”, which is located at the bottom of the webpage.
  4. Now, you will be asked to enter your national ID (Aadhaar) card number and complete your registration process.
  5. After registration, log in with your ID and password.
  6. You need to fill in all the personal information in the “Profile” section in the next step. This is a 5-stage process.
  7. After this stage, you will be asked to add your qualification.
  8. In the last step, select your scholarship. 
  9. Once you have completed the process, you can download the application form.
  10. Another process of applying for the BCDD Overseas Scholarship is to directly download the application form from the website. Then fill in the details and send it through the post to the address mentioned on the website.

Documents Required to Apply for BCDD Overseas Scholarship

While applying for this scholarship, you need to submit certain documents to ensure your application. If you are applying via offline mode, make sure to send attested copies enclosed with your application form.Here are the documents that you will need while applying for this scholarship program.

  • Your family income certificate
  • A copy of your caste certificate
  • Any document that can confirm your age
  • The admission letter from the respective university
  • Letters of recommendation from two of your mentors under whom you have studied/worked 
  • A short essay to state your interests, future aspirations, and how you plan to use this grant to achieve your goals
  • You also need to include your GRE/GMAT scorecard
  • Your academic transcripts and mark sheets
  • You will also require SSC and HSC mark sheets 
  • Any other document, if specified

Here is a list of some famous UK universities that accept this scholarship program.

UK Based UniversitiesUniversities Around the World
Oxford UniversityHarvard University, United States
Cambridge UniversityStanford University, United States
University College LondonUniversity of California, Berkeley, United States
London School of EconomicsThe University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), United States
University of EdinburghMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States
University of ManchesterUniversity of Washington, United States
King’s College LondonDuke University, United States
University of BristolThe University of Texas, Austin, United States
Durham UniversityJohns Hopkins University, United States
University of YorkUniversity of Illinois, United States
Imperial College LondonNew York University (NYU), United States
University of SheffieldMcGill University, Canada
Queen Mary, University of LondonUniversity of Toronto, Canada
Glasgow UniversityUniversity of British Columbia, Canada
University of St. AndrewsTsinghua University China
Lancaster UniversityKarolinska Institute, Sweden
University of SussexUniversity of Melbourne, Australia
Royal Holloway, University of LondonThe University of Tokyo, Japan
University of LeedsThe University of Hong Kong 
University of WarwickNational University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore

Other Scholarships for the Backward Class Communities 

There are many other scholarship programs that are applicable for OBC candidates. These scholarships are awarded only after careful assessment of their merit and means.Some of the popular scholarship programs for this community are as follows:

Scholarship NameOffered byApproximate Application Period
Pre-Matric ScholarshipState GovernmentSeptember – December
Post-Matric ScholarshipState GovernmentSeptember – December
ONGC ScholarshipSeptember – October
Dr B.R. Ambedkar State Award to ST/ OBC/ SC/ Minorities Students, DelhiState Government of DelhiMarch – April 
Merit Scholarship for OBC Students Pursuing Professional and Technical Courses (Delhi)State Government of DelhiMarch – April
National Fellowship for OBCCentral GovernmentOctober – December
Central Sector Scheme of National OverseasCentral GovernmentJuly – October
National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe StudentsMinistry of Tribal Affairs
National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Caste StudentsMinistry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Overseas Doctoral Fellowship ProgrammeScience and Engineering Research Board

It was a dream project by the Backward Class Community of Kerala to start a new department dedicated to the welfare of the OBCs. The BCDD Overseas Scholarship is a result of this project.If you are looking for financial aid to study abroad, you can avail this scholarship and make your dreams come true.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the selection process for the BCDD overseas scholarship?

At first, the candidate’s eligibility is checked by the host committee. If it passes through all of them, then they check whether the applicant has received the admission confirmation from the university. This is the basic process of selection for this scholarship program.

How much does the BCDD overseas scholarship offer as aid?

The selected scholars get 10,118 GBP (10,00,000 INR) financial aid for three years. Along with this annual assistance, applicants also get an allowance of 1,560 GBP per month. This scheme helps students to fulfil their dream of studying abroad and working for the betterment of society and the nation.

Does OBC get scholarships?

Yes, there are various scholarships available for students belonging to other backward classes. Some of them are ONGC scholarships, pre-matric scholarships, national overseas scholarships, etc. These scholarships are aimed at providing financial aid to students belonging to the OBC community in India.

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Saket Kohli

An International Higher Ed professional with 7+ years of experience studying, working, and living across three geographies, currently on a mission to share his journey as an International Student.

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