National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for SC, DNTs Students

13 min readSep 18, 2024

The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme is a government-funded initiative aimed at empowering the marginalised communities in India. It is primarily designed to provide financial assistance to students hailing from Scheduled Castes (SC), Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT/SNT), Landless Agricultural Labourers (LAL), and Traditional Artisans (TA) communities. This scheme offers financial help to selected candidates willing to pursue a Master’s degree or PhD programme in any field in a recognised university located abroad. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, a grant for extra costs, including monetary support for books, study materials, and travel.

The major goal of the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme is to support SC students by facilitating them access to quality higher education in well-known international institutions. This helps them improve their skills and knowledge so that they can contribute more effectively to the country’s development.

This article will provide an in-depth exploration of the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for SC, ST, and other marginalised candidates for the academic year 2024–25, covering its objectives, eligibility criteria, application process, benefits, challenges, and overall impact.

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme — Objectives

The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme 2024 aims to achieve several important objectives in line with the Government of India’s commitment to social justice and inclusive education. These goals include the following:

1. Promoting Educational Equality: One of the primary objectives of the scheme is to bridge the gap between privileged and underprivileged communities in terms of access to higher education. By offering financial assistance for international study, the scheme promotes equitable educational opportunities for students from the marginalised communities.

2. Enhancing Global Exposure: International education provides exposure to new ideas, innovative research, and different cultural perspectives. The scholarship enables students to acquire advanced knowledge and skills that can later be applied in their home country.

3. Building Leadership in Marginalised Communities: By equipping individuals from marginalised backgrounds with high-quality education, the scheme helps create leaders who can contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities. It fosters a culture of achievement and serves as an inspiration to others within these communities.

4. Fostering Skill Development and Employability: The NOS scheme is aligned with the broader national objectives of skill development and enhancing employability. The students having graduated from international universities often acquire specialised skills and knowledge that can benefit industries and academia in India.

5. Reducing Economic Disparities: By providing financial support for overseas education, the government helps candidates from economically weaker sections gain access to education that would otherwise be unaffordable.

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25: Scope

30% of the scholarships will be reserved for women each year. If there aren’t enough eligible women candidates, the remaining slots will go to male candidates.
Bachelor’s degree courses in any subject are not covered under this scheme.
For the first round of selection, only candidates with an unconditional admission offer from the top 500 foreign universities, as per the 2023 QS rankings, will be considered for scholarships.
In the second round of selection, priority will be given in this order:

The candidates with an unconditional admission offer from a top 500 QS-ranked university applying in the second cycle.
The candidates with an admission offer from other QS-ranked universities who have applied for the scholarship in earlier cycles or the current one.
The candidates with an admission offer from other recognized universities who have applied for the scholarship earlier or in the current cycle.

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25: Eligibility Criteria

In order to qualify for the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme, the applicants must meet a range of eligibility criteria. These criteria ensure that the scheme reaches those who need it the most and can make the most of the opportunity. The key eligibility criteria include the following:

A. Age Limit

B. Educational Qualifications

For the Master’s degree, the candidates must have obtained a minimum of 60% or an equivalent grade in their undergraduate degree from a recognised institution.
For a PhD or postdoctoral research, the applicants must have completed a Master’s degree with at least 60% or an equivalent grade.
If a student has completed a Bachelor’s in Engineering after joining directly in the second year with a diploma (lateral entry), the percentage of marks from the Bachelor’s degree will be considered.

C. Family Income

The total family income of the applicant’s family must not exceed ₹8 lakh per annum. This includes the combined income of the candidate’s parents, guardians, spouse or themselves if applicable.
The income certificate must be issued by a Revenue Officer with a rank of “Tehsildar” or higher.
The applicants need to submit the ITR/ITRs of their family members.

D. Categories Covered

E. Maximum Number of Children

A recipient cannot receive the award more than once.
No more than two children from the same family or guardians can get the scholarship under this scheme, and the candidate must provide a self-declaration for this.
The second child will only be considered if there are still spots open during the final round of the application process for that year.

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25: Available Scholarships and Award Duration

Each year, 125 new scholarships will be given under this scheme, depending on the availability of funds. The scholarships will be distributed among different groups as follows:

Scheduled Castes: 115 slots
Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes: 6 slots
Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans: 4 slots

The financial help will be given for the approved duration of the course or research, or until the following period, whichever is shorter:

If the stay needs to be extended beyond the given time for the courses mentioned above, it may be allowed without any financial help, except for the return air ticket to India. This extension will only be considered if the concerned authority of the educational institution and the Indian Mission abroad recommend while confirming that the extra time is necessary for the candidate to finish the course. However, the final decision will be made by the Government of India.

Free Coaching for DNT Students under SEED Scheme

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25: Benefits

The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme provides substantial financial support to the selected candidates. The scholarship covers a wide range of expenses, making it financially viable for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue studies abroad. The following is a breakdown of the financial assistance provided under the scheme:

Annual Maintenance Allowance: To pursue studies in the United States of America (USA) & other countries except the UK, the selected students will receive $15,400. They will receive £9,900 to study in the United Kingdom.
Annual Contingency Allowance: Every year, the students will get $1,500 while pursuing their studies in the US & other countries and £1,100 if they are pursuing their studies in the UK.
Tuition Fees: The scheme covers the full cost of tuition fees charged by the foreign educational institution, provided it falls within the guidelines set by the Government of India.
Living Expenses: The scholarship provides a maintenance allowance to cover living expenses such as accommodation, food, and other daily necessities. The allowance is paid quarterly, either through the Indian Mission in the country of study or directly to the scholar’s bank account.
Visa Fees: The cost of obtaining a student visa for the destination country is also covered under the scheme.
Air Travel: One-way economy class airfare is provided from India to the country of study and return fare after the completion of the course.
Health Insurance: The scheme covers the cost of health insurance of the candidate during their period of study.
Miscellaneous Expenses: The scholars are also provided with contingency allowances for additional expenses, including books, study materials, and other related costs.
Incidental Journey Allowance and Equipment Allowance: Selected students will receive USD $20 each or its equivalent in Indian rupees.

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25: Required Documents

A) The applicants are required to upload supporting documents, including:

10th grade certificate
Caste certificate
Passport size photograph
Scanned signature
Proof of current address or permanent address (if different from the current address)
Certificate/Provisional certificate of qualifying degree
Marksheet of qualifying exam
Valid documents for admission to a foreign university (such as application, registration, or admission letter)
Income documents of all family members
Employer’s NOC certificate (if you’re employed)
Gap certificate (if there is a gap of more than 6 months after finishing your degree)
Income Tax Return (ITR) document
Aadhaar Card

B) If a candidate is selected, they will receive a temporary award letter under the National Overseas Scholarship for SC scheme. The candidate must provide the following documents thereafter:

Attestation form
Self-declaration on total annual family income
Self-declaration on pending case or conviction if applicable
Copy of passport

After submitting these documents, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will process the application and confirm the award letter. The Embassy will also verify the candidate’s offer letter once the original documents are submitted.

( Note: The applicants must visit the ministry in person, on a working day, with an appointment, and bring the original documents along with the application form for verification.)

C) After the Ministry verifies all original documents and the Financial Department (IFD) approves the award, the candidate will receive a confirmation letter on the final award. The following documents must be submitted:

2 non-judicial stamp papers of at least ₹100 each, signed by two sureties in the presence of a Notary Public, as per the rules of the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme 2024 for SC/ST candidates
Solvency certificates for both sureties
Health certificate
2 copies of the candidate’s passport and visa
An undertaking on a non-judicial stamp paper stating that the applicant has not yet completed the qualification they were selected for and has not received any other scholarship
Preferred flight date to the foreign university

The selected candidates must visit the ministry in person with all original and duplicate copies of the mentioned documents, after seeking an appointment. Additionally, PDF copies of all these documents should be sent via email.

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25: Application Process

The application process for the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme involves multiple steps, ensuring that eligible candidates are thoroughly vetted before being selected for the scholarship. The following detailed description of the application process are as under:

Steps to Apply for the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme 2024–25:

2. Click on the “ Candidate Registration “ button if you are a new applicant. Login if already registered.

Application Process:

1. Read the general instructions carefully.

2. Fill in the registration form with your details.

3. After registering, you will receive login credentials via email.

4. Log in using the email ID and password.

5. Complete the application form by entering details on the following:

Personal Information
Emergency Contact Number
Details of the Foreign University/Institute
Qualifying Exam
Current Employment
Previous Employment
Other Employment
Earlier Award under National Overseas Scholarship Scheme if applicable
Visa Details
Combined Annual Income of Family Members from all Sources Contributing to the Household Income

6. Upload the necessary documents in PDF files no larger than 3 MB, along with a photo and signature in JPEG or JPG format, each with a size limit of 100 KB.

7. Review the completed application and submit it.

How to Check Your Application Status?

Visit the official link National Overseas Scholarship website for SC students .
Click on “Application Status” on the homepage.
Enter your application number on the new page.
Click the “Search” button to view your application status.

How to Download Forms?

Go to the official National Overseas Scholarship website for SC students.
Click on “Download Forms” on the homepage.
A list of forms will appear.
Select the form you need and click on it.
The PDF will open on your screen. Click on “Download” to save the form.

There are 3 certificate formats that you can download from the ‘Download Forms’ section.

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25: Selection Process

Only the candidates who submit their Aadhaar card and receive an unconditional admission offer from top 500 foreign institutions/universities (as ranked for 2024–25 onwards) will be considered for the scholarship. They must also meet other eligibility criteria.
If the candidates cannot submit their Aadhaar card during the application, they must provide their Aadhaar ID or EID before receiving the final award letter. Failure to do so will result in the provisional award letter being revoked.
No requests for changing the institution or university will be allowed. If a candidate wishes to change their course or university, they must apply again in the next available round.
There will be only two rounds of selection. For each selection round, a merit list of eligible candidates will be created. This list will be based on the QS ranking of the foreign university or institution from which the candidate has an admission offer.
Scholarships will be awarded according to this merit list.
The candidates with offers from higher-ranked institutions will be ranked higher. In case of a tie between candidates, the merit will be determined by the marks or grades secured in the qualifying examination for higher studies.
The online applications of eligible candidates will be reviewed by the Selection-cum-Screening Committee. They will recommend candidates for selection and ranking for the scholarship.
A waitlist of eligible candidates will be maintained in the final round. This list will be valid until March 31 of the selection year. The candidates on the waitlist can apply again for the next year. The waitlist will be a maximum of 50% of the total seats.
The selected candidates who have secured admission to a foreign institution will receive a provisional award letter.
The students may defer their admission for up to one year or two intakes, whichever is earlier, from the date of the provisional award letter. If they do not join within this time, the award will be cancelled automatically.
If a confirmation of the award letter is issued, the candidate must complete all procedures (e.g., document verification, bond submission, solvency certificates) within six months. Failure to do so will result in the award being cancelled, and no extra time will be granted.

( Note: The NOS portal is open for the second round of applications starting from 1st September 2024 and will stay open for 45 days (15 October 2024) for NOS SY 2024–25.)

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25: Challenges Faced by Scholars

Official Scheme Guideline of National Overseas Scholarship 2024–25

Despite having many advantages available under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme, the scholars often face certain challenges during their period of study abroad. These include the following:

A. Cultural and Social Adjustment

B. Financial Management

C. Academic Pressure

D. Visa and Immigration Issues

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25: Contact Details

Shri Sanjay Singh (Under Secretary) Shastri Bhawan Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi-110001 Email ID: so-nos-msje@gov.in | Phone Number: 011 23384023 (3 PM to 5 PM on all working days)

For Queries on Scheme

Email ID: so-nos-msje@gov.in | Phone Number: 011 23073443 (2:30 PM to 4:30 PM on all working days)

For Technical Queries

FAQs on National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25

Who is eligible to apply for the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25?

The candidates hailing from the SC, DNT, Landless Agricultural Laborers, and Traditional Artisans categories with a family income of less than ₹8 lakh per annum and who have secured an unconditional offer of admission in 500 top-ranked foreign institutions are eligible.

What is the applicable age limit for the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25?

The applicants must be below 35 years of age as of 1st April of the selection year.

Which courses are covered under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme 2024–25?

The scholarship covers courses for Master’s, PhD, and Post-Doctoral programs in selected fields such as Engineering, Medicine, Agricultural Sciences, and Social Sciences.

What is the scholarship amount provided under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme?

The scholarship provides full tuition fees, maintenance allowance, visa fees, travel expenses, health insurance, and other related costs.

How many scholarships are awarded each year?

A total of 125 scholarships are awarded annually under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme.

What happens if I don’t have an Aadhaar card at the time of application?

If you cannot provide your Aadhaar card at the time of application, you must submit your Aadhaar ID or EID before receiving the final award letter. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the provisional award.

Can I change my course or university after being selected?

No, you cannot change your course or university once selected. However, you can reapply in the next selection cycle if needed.

How is the selection process conducted for NOS?

The selection is merit-based, and the candidates are ranked according to the QS ranking of the foreign institution that has offered them admission.

Are there multiple rounds of selection?

Yes, there are two rounds of selection. A merit list is drawn up for each round based on the institution’s QS ranking and the candidate’s qualifying exam marks.

What happens if two candidates have the same QS ranking for their university?

In case of a tie, the merit is determined based on the marks obtained in the qualifying examination.

Is there a waitlist for candidates?

Yes, a waitlist will be maintained in the final round. The waitlist will be valid until 31st March of the selection year and will contain a maximum of 50% of the total seats.

Can the waitlisted candidates apply again next year?

Yes, candidates on the waitlist can apply again for the next selection year.

What is the maximum time allowed to defer my admission after receiving the scholarship?

You are allowed to defer your admission for a maximum of one year or two intakes, whichever is earlier, from the date of the provisional award letter.

What happens if I don’t join the university within the deferral period?

If you do not join within the allowed deferral period, your scholarship will be cancelled automatically.

What formalities must be completed after receiving the final award letter?

You must complete all formalities like verification of original documents, submission of bonds, and solvency certificates within six months of receiving the confirmation of the award letter.

Can I extend the deadline for completing the formalities?

No, the six-month deadline is final, and no extensions will be granted.

Originally published at https://www.buddy4study.com on September 18, 2024.