All about the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for studying abroad in 2024-2025

The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) is one of the lesser-known scholarships offered by the Indian government to students who wish to study abroad. However, this scholarship stands out from most others because it is specifically meant for students from low-income and marginalized groups, such as Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans, among others. The goal of the scholarship is to help deserving students secure the funding they need to pursue meaningful education abroad.

The eligibility criteria for this scholarship are stringent, and we’ll cover them in greater detail in a relevant section of this guide. However, it’s important to note that applicants must have scored at least 60% marks in the qualifying examinations relevant to their intended higher education program, must not be more than 35 years of age, and their family income in the previous financial year should not have exceeded Rs. 8 lakhs. Additionally, candidates need to have an unconditional admission offer from one of the top 500 universities as ranked by QS Top Universities Ranking.

Now that you understand the basics of the National Overseas Scholarship scheme, let’s delve into the individual aspects of this program in more detail.

Also Read: Study Abroad Guide for Indian Students 2024

What is the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme?

The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme is a scholarship scheme administered by the Indian Government. The main purpose of this scholarship is to provide students from marginalized sections of the society an opportunity to study abroad. 

For the 2023-24 selection year, there are 125 fresh awards available. Of these, 115 are allocated for candidates from Scheduled Castes, 6 are for candidates from Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, and 4 are for candidates from the category of Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans. 

Top expenses covered by the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme

The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme offers coverage for almost all the direct and indirect costs of studying abroad through different provisions. Here is an overview:

1. Annual Maintenance: This allowance helps students manage their living expenses while studying abroad. For those studying in the United States and other countries (excluding the UK), the annual maintenance allowance is 15,400 US dollars. For students in the United Kingdom, this allowance is 9,900 Great Britain Pounds.

2. Annual Contingency Allowance: Students can access this allowance to cover unexpected expenses that arise during the course of study. Students in the United States and other countries (excluding the UK) receive 1,500 US dollars annually, while those in the United Kingdom receive 1,100 Great Britain Pounds.

3. Tuition Fees: The scholarship covers the full tuition fees as charged by the respective educational institution. This is one of the biggest components of the total cost of studying abroad, and the NOS pays for 100% of the tuition fee. 

4. Visa Fees: The scheme reimburses the actual visa fees paid by the students in Indian Rupees. 

5. Medical Insurance Premium: The scholarship covers the actual cost of medical insurance. 

6. Incidental Journey and Equipment Allowance: Students receive 20 US dollars (or its equivalent in Indian Rupees) to cover incidental expenses.

7. Air Passage: The scholarship provides for the cost of economy-class airfare from the nearest airport in the student’s hometown in India to their place of study abroad, and back to India after completion of their course. 

So, it’s clear that the National Overseas Scholarship can pay for most of the direct and indirect costs of studying abroad. Naturally, the competition for this scholarship is tough. Before you apply, ensure you meet the eligibility criteria, which we will understand next. 

Also Read: Best Scholarships for Indian Students in USA in 2024

Eligibility criteria for the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme 

If you meet these eligibility criteria, the next step is to prepare all the documents you will need to submit along with your application for this scholarship. 

What are the document requirements for the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme?

To apply for the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme, you will need to submit the following documents:

• A local or foreign passport or Aadhaar card to verify that the candidate is an Indian citizen.
• A recent and clear passport-sized color photograph of the candidate, taken from the front view.
• A certificate of being a part of SC, ST, and OBC category.
• Evidence of the total annual income from all sources of the candidate’s family.
• Only individuals with educational certificates from class 10th and above are eligible. These documents must be provided.
• If applicable, a certificate or document proving any work experience.
• A no objection certificate, required if the candidate is currently employed, indicating that the employer has no objection to the candidate pursuing studies abroad.
• Evidence that the applicant has applied to or been accepted by a foreign university.
• Particularly for PhD candidates, a statement outlining what the applicant wishes to investigate during their studies.
• Two letters of recommendation from teachers or professors supporting the applicant’s academic capabilities.
• Scores from tests such as IELTS or TOEFL, if required by the foreign university.
• A certificate confirming the candidate’s fitness to travel and study abroad.
• Information needed for the disbursement of the scholarship payment.
• A document affirming the candidate’s commitment to return to India upon completion of their studies.

Next, let’s understand the specifics of the application process for the National Overseas Scholarship.

Also Read: Scholarship to Study Abroad for Indian Students 2024: A Complete Guide

Application process for the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme

Here’s a simplified step-by-step application process for the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme:

1.  Make sure to go through your eligibility and check if you belong to any of the targeted groups like SC, ST, or OBC to avail full benefits.
2. Gather all academic certificates as may be required to complete your academic program. These include certificates from classes 10th, 12th, and graduation.
3. Moreover, ensure you have a valid caste certificate, income certificate, passport-size photographs, and other important documents.
4. Visit the official NOS portal (https://nosmsje.gov.in/) and register yourself. Create an account and set a strong password for security purposes.
5. Fill out the application form and provide all the relevant documents correctly.
6. Make soft copies of all the required documents as per the required size and format.
7. If required, follow the instructions given for online payment of the application fee.
8. Also, make a copy of the transaction for future purposes.
9. Review the complete application once before final submission.
10.  After the final submission, print a copy of the final acknowledgment.

Now that you are aware of the application process, let’s understand the selection process for the scholarship, so that you can strengthen your application appropriately. 

What is the selection process for the National Overseas Scholarship?

The first step in the selection process for the National Overseas Scholarship is the review of applications from candidates who meet the eligibility criteria. Applications with incomplete or incorrect documents are rejected at this stage.

A merit list is then drawn based on the academic performance of the candidates. The ranking of the foreign university to which the applicant has been admitted also plays a significant role in the selection process.

Shortlisted candidates are invited to attend a personal interview. 

The last step is to make the final shortlist of selected students based on their application, academic merits, and interview performance.

So it is clear that the selection process is very stringent, with only 125 scholarships available for the year while the number of candidates is very large. This is why most students also have to look for education loans to fulfill their dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, students have the option of getting education loans at very reasonable rates, and FundRight can be a great help in this.

FundRight connects you with over 15 top lenders, including both public and private banks as well as NBFCs from India and abroad. These lenders compete to offer you the best education loan terms, ensuring you secure a loan with the lowest possible interest rate and most favorable conditions. Here’s how FundRight works:

1. Create your free profile on FundRight and provide all the necessary details about your financial needs and academic plans.
2. Wait as competitive loan offers start pouring in from different lenders within just 2 days.
3. Compare the loan offers with the help of FundRight’s unbiased financial experts, who can also assist in negotiating better terms.
4. Securely upload all your required documents through the platform, avoiding the hassle of submitting paperwork to multiple lenders.
5. Receive your loan approval decision, sometimes in as little as 10 days, and take the next step toward achieving your educational goals.

Sign up on FundRight today and get your best education loan for your Spring ’25 admissions. 

FAQs