National Overseas Scholarship 2024- Eligibility, Application, and Selection

National Overseas Scholarship is a Central Sector Scheme that facilitates low-income students from backward classes. It includes scheduled castes, students belonging to Nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, traditional artisans and landless agricultural labourers. This scheme provides the aforementioned categories of students an opportunity to complete their higher studies overseas. This scholarship is applicable to various universities in Australia, the US, Germany, Canada, etc. Still, the applicants should check the same before applying for this scholarship. Read on to find more in detail.

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Eligibility Criteria for the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme

Underlying are the eligibility criteria to apply for National Overseas Scholarship for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes (OBC) –

Educational Qualification

• For Masters – Should score a minimum of 60% at the undergraduate level
• For Doctorate – Should score a minimum of 60% at Master’s level
• University ELP and Tests – Should meet the minimum ELP scores set by various universities like PTE, GMAT, GRE, etc.
• Age Limit – A maximum age limit of 35 years as of 1st April of the particular year
• Permissible Family Income Limit – The total income of the applicant’s family should not exceed Rs. 8,00,000
• Criteria For Children – Only two children of the same parent can avail of this scholarship

Note :

• Bachelor’s Degree courses don’t come under this scholarship scheme.
• Candidates already studying or settled abroad are ineligible for the scholarship.
• Only two candidates from the same family are eligible.
• Candidates with prior experience in the relevant field of two years will be preferred.

Documents Required to Apply for Overseas Scholarship Scheme

Below are the documents that a candidate needs to present to verify their eligibility for National Overseas Scholarship 2024 –

• Caste or Category certificate
• Birth certificate
• Photo
• Scanned signature
• Current and permanent address proof
• Qualifying mark sheet or Degree 
• Valid document for marks
• Valid document related to admission to foreign universities
• The income certificate of all family members contributing to the household
• Employer’s NOC certificate (if a candidate is employed)

Other documents required upon selection of the candidates –

• Attestation form
• Copy of Passport
• Self-Declaration or Undertaking Regarding total annual family income
• Self-declaration regarding any pending case or non-conviction of offence

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Distribution of Slots

The above table provides data on the distribution of slots for study abroad scholarships for minorities.

Application Process for National Overseas Scholarship

This scholarship, with summarised information, is advertised through newspapers and other media. An applicant has to apply online through the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment’s official portal. For the selections for the financial year 2023-24, an online portal for inviting applications for NOS Scholarship for the first round will be opened from 15 February 2023 to 31 March 2023, and family income for the financial year 2021-22 will be taken into account for purpose of selection. The portal for the second round will be opened from 1st September 2023 to 15th October 2023, and for that, family income for the financial year 2022-23 will be taken into account for the purpose of selection. Follow the underlying steps to apply for a National Overseas Scholarship for scheduled tribe students –

Step 1 –Visit the official website of the Government of India’s Social Justice and Empowerment Department.

Step 2 – On the homepage, click “Register” if you are applying for the first time or “Login” if you have already registered before.

Step 3 – Fill up the form with your details, upload the required documents, enter a password, and click “Submit” to register.

Note -: If you have already registered once, ignore these steps.

Step 4 – Now click on “log in” in the next window, enter the credentials and captcha code, and then click on “Sign in.”

Step 5 – Click on “Apply” under National Overseas Scholarship in the next window.

Step 6 – An application form will appear in the next window. Enter all the required fields with details.

Step 7 – Then upload all the required documents and click “Submit”.Completing this process will commence when the application starts, and a reference number is provided; note it down for further assistance. Moreover, besides knowing the application process, one should also learn the selection process.

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Selection Process of Minority Scholarship for Abroad Studies

Underlying points state the selection process of OBC scholarship for abroad studies –

1. Candidates receiving an unconditional offer from any foreign university ranked in the top 500 under the latest QS ranking will be selected in the first round.
2. Each selection cycle will draw eligible candidates as per the merit list of the latest QS ranking of the foreign university. The scholarship is awarded as per the order of merit, and candidates with an offer later from a higher-ranking university will hold a higher rank on the merit list.
3. In scenarios of a tie between two or more candidates on QS ranking, merit will be decided based on marks obtained in the qualifying examination. 
4. If there are unfilled slots after the third cycle, the fourth cycle of selection will occur. Candidates who have applied but have yet to secure admission or have obtained an unconditional offer from a university, even if they do not rank in the top 500, are awarded scholarships.
5. A provisional letter regarding the scholarship award is issued to selected candidates who have secured admissions to foreign institutions.
6. Candidates yet to secure admission will receive a provisional assurance letter.
7. Candidates with scholarship awards have to join the mentioned course within 3 years, or this scholarship will be cancelled.
8. Provisional assurance will be valid for 1 year, and candidates have to obtain an unconditional admission offer within the same period. On failing to meet the time frame, assurance will automatically get cancelled, and extension requests will not be entertained.

Financial Assistance Provided Under Scholarship for Abroad Studies

The below table provides information on the financial assistance that a selected candidate will get.

This article sheds light on the particulars of this National Overseas Scholarship Scheme. This scheme from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment supports the backward classes in India with financial assistance to pursue higher studies abroad. Furthermore, the benefits stretch until a student returns to India after completing their studies. In return, it expects them to serve the country for at least 5 years in a government office.

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