National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)
Central Ministry grant covering 100% tuition, annual maintenance allowance ($15,400/yr), and airfare for Master's & PhD abroad.
- Award
- 100% Full Funding
- Study in
- India
- Level
- Master's and PhD
- Deadline
- Usually opens in the first half of the year; dates are announced annually
Checked against the official source in August 2026. Verify on the official site
Who is eligible?
Candidates from Scheduled Castes, denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisan categories. A qualifying degree with at least 60% and total family income within the published ceiling. Age and income limits are revised by the ministry, so check the current notification.
What the award covers
- Tuition as charged by the foreign institution
- Annual maintenance allowance
- Contingency and equipment allowance
- Economy airfare
- Visa fee and medical insurance
Amounts are revised by the awarding body each cycle. Treat this as the shape of the award, not a quotation.
Documents you will need
- Caste certificate
- Income certificate
- Admission letter from the foreign institution
- Transcripts
- Valid passport
Worth knowing before you apply
Run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Award numbers are capped per category each year, and the income ceiling is the criterion most applicants are rejected on.
Covering what the scholarship does not
A fully funded award still leaves gaps in practice â the visa fee, the pre-departure costs, and the months between arrival and the first stipend instalment. Plan for those before you fly.