Want To Study Abroad? Know Everything About National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27

Want To Study Abroad? Know Everything About National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27

The National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27 is one of the most important scholarship schemes introduced by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, to help students from disadvantaged and economically weaker communities pursue higher education abroad. The scholarship is specially designed to support meritorious students who wish to study Master’s or PhD programmes at reputed foreign universities but are unable to afford the high cost of international education.

Studying abroad is a dream for many Indian students, but tuition fees, accommodation expenses, travel costs, and other living expenses often become major financial barriers. The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) helps bridge this gap by providing complete financial support to eligible candidates. Through this initiative, the government aims to improve educational opportunities, social empowerment, and career growth for students from marginalised backgrounds.

For the 2026-27 academic session, the online application process for the National Overseas Scholarship started on April 24, 2026. Interested candidates can submit their applications through the official scholarship portal until June 2, 2026. The ministry has also provided a correction window from June 4 to June 7, 2026, allowing applicants to make corrections in their submitted forms if required.

Who Can Apply for National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27?

The National Overseas Scholarship is specifically meant for students belonging to the following categories:

  • Scheduled Castes (SC)
  • Denotified Tribes (DNT)
  • Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes
  • Landless Agricultural Labourers
  • Traditional Artisan Families

The scheme mainly focuses on supporting students from socially and economically disadvantaged communities who have strong academic records and aspirations to study abroad.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates applying for the National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27 must satisfy the following eligibility requirements:

  • Applicants must have secured at least 60% marks in their qualifying examination.
  • Students should have received an unconditional offer letter from a foreign university ranked among the QS Top 500 Universities.
  • The age of the applicant must be below 35 years as of April 1, 2026.
  • The total annual family income should not exceed 8 lakh from all sources.
  • Candidates who are already studying abroad are not eligible for the scholarship.

The scholarship is available only for Master’s degree programmes with a duration of up to two years and PhD programmes with a duration of up to four years.

Scholarship Benefits

The National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27 is a fully funded scholarship programme that covers almost all major academic and living expenses of selected students. The scholarship benefits include:

  • Full tuition fee coverage
  • Economy class airfare expenses
  • Visa fee support
  • Medical insurance coverage
  • Annual maintenance allowance
  • Contingency and miscellaneous expenses

Selected students receive an annual maintenance allowance of approximately US $15,400 to manage accommodation, food, and other daily living expenses abroad. Additionally, contingency charges of around US $1,532 are provided during the first year and approximately US $770 for subsequent years.

Total Scholarship Slots and Reservation

The Government of India offers 125 fresh scholarship slots every year under the National Overseas Scholarship scheme. Out of the total seats, 30% are reserved for female candidates to encourage women’s participation in higher education abroad.

The category-wise distribution of seats is as follows:

  • 115 slots for Scheduled Caste candidates
  • 6 slots for Denotified Tribes candidates
  • 4 slots for Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisan families

How to Apply for National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27?

Students can apply online through the official National Overseas Scholarship portal. Applicants must complete the registration process carefully and upload all required documents, including:

  • Academic certificates and mark sheets
  • Income certificate
  • Caste certificate
  • Passport copy
  • Admission offer letter from the foreign university
  • Identity proof and other supporting documents

The ministry has clearly stated that incomplete applications will not be accepted. Therefore, candidates are advised to verify all information and documents carefully before final submission.

The National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27 is a golden opportunity for talented Indian students from weaker sections of society to gain international academic exposure and build successful global careers. By removing financial barriers, the scholarship enables deserving students to study at some of the world’s best universities and achieve their educational dreams.