Am I eligible for the National Overseas Scholarship 2026 as an Indian student?
For the National Overseas Scholarship 2026, you must belong to a notified community, hold an unconditional offer for a full-time master's or PhD at a QS top-500 university abroad, have 60 percent marks, be 35 or younger on 1 April 2026, and have family income within 8 lakh rupees.
You are eligible for the National Overseas Scholarship 2026 if you belong to a notified community, have an unconditional offer for a full-time master's or PhD at a QS top-500 university abroad (first round), and meet the marks, age and income limits.
Eligibility criteria at a glance
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Admission | Unconditional offer for a master's or PhD at a QS top-500 university outside India (first round; other QS-ranked institutions are prioritised lower in the second round) |
| Master's applicants | Bachelor's degree with at least 60 percent marks or an equivalent grade |
| PhD applicants | Master's degree with at least 60 percent marks or an equivalent grade |
| Mode of study | Full-time |
| Age | Not more than 35 years as of 1 April 2026 (age 35 allowed) |
| Family income | Total annual family income from all sources not above INR 8 lakh |
Eligible categories and exclusions
- Eligible categories: Scheduled Castes, Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans
- Reserved provisions exist for women and persons with benchmark disabilities, as set out in the scheme guidelines
- You may not be eligible if you exceed the age limit, cross the income limit, lack admission to an eligible university, or miss the academic qualification
- Earlier benefits under the scheme and courses outside its coverage also rule you out
My Advice
Check the age and income limits first, since they are the quickest way to rule yourself in or out. Then confirm your category and course coverage against the official scheme guidelines before you start the application.
This information is available on: socialjustice.gov.in
Which scholarships can you actually get?
Matched to your CGPA, course and budget. Find out in 30 seconds.
More Scholarships & funding questions
- Is it possible to get a fully funded scholarship if he scores seven or above (seventy percent) in the third year in Germany?
- Do I need to score well in GRE, GMAT, or IELTS to get good scholarships in top business schools for a MBA?
- When does the Korean Government Scholarship open applications for undergraduate students from India?
- What kind of questions might be asked during scholarship evaluations?
- Are you helping with educational loans or bank loans for studying abroad in UK/Ireland for a Master's?
- Is the scholarship available for the next intake in USA for a Master's?
- Which entrance exam should an average scoring 12th grade student prepare for to study abroad without family funding?
- What percentage of scholarship can I possibly get for my profile in USA?