National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities 2026: Eligibility & Details

At a glance

About the scheme

Administered by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the National Overseas Scholarship for Students with Disabilities (NOS-SWD) enables qualified scholars with disabilities to obtain Master's and Ph.D. degrees from recognised foreign institutions. The initiative awards 20 fresh scholarships annually, reserving 30% of seats for female applicants. The scheme covers financial allowances such as maintenance support and contingency expenses, assisting students with visual, hearing, speech, locomotor, or other designated disabilities to overcome socio-economic barriers and pursue international higher education with dignity.

Benefits

• Financial assistance for Master's degree programmes for up to 3 years or course completion, whichever is earlier.
• Financial assistance for Ph.D. programmes for up to 4 years or course completion, whichever is earlier.
• Maintenance allowance provided semester-wise, with the first six months paid as an advance and subsequent payments linked to satisfactory progress reports.
• Contingency allowance covering expenditure on books, essential apparatus, study tours, conference or workshop travel, and thesis typing and binding.
• Permission to supplement allowances through research or teaching assistantships up to 2,400 USD per annum (or 1,560 GBP per annum in the UK).
• Reservation of 30% of total scholarship slots specifically for female candidates.

Who can apply (eligibility)

• The applicant must be a regular, full-time student.
• The candidate must have secured admission or received an unconditional offer of admission for a Master's or Ph.D. course abroad in an institution or university accredited by that country's government or authorized body.
• The applicant must have a benchmark disability of 40% or higher as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
• The candidate must be 35 years of age or younger as on the first day of the month of the scheme advertisement.
• Total annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹6,00,000.

Who cannot apply

• Bachelor's level courses in any discipline are not covered under this scheme.
• Candidates already staying, studying, or having completed studies abroad through another scholarship (from a State Government or other agency) or through self-funding are ineligible.
• Applicants seeking to pursue a course at the same educational level (Master's or Ph.D.) for which they have already acquired a qualification in India or abroad cannot apply.
• More than two children from the same parents or guardians cannot receive this scholarship (the second child is considered only if slots remain available in the final cycle of the year).

Documents required

• Valid disability certificate showing 40% or greater disability under the RPwD Act, 2016.
• Unconditional offer letter or proof of admission from an accredited foreign university or institution.
• Proof of age or date of birth document.
• Family income certificate showing total annual income from all sources does not exceed ₹6 lakh.
• Relevant academic transcripts and qualifying degree certificates.

How to apply

1. 1Obtain the official scheme advertisement and application form released by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).
2. 2Complete the application form with all required personal, academic, and disability information.
3. 3Attach the unconditional admission letter from the accredited foreign university along with all mandatory supporting documents.
4. 4Submit the completed application package offline to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities as specified in the advertisement.
5. 5Track the result announcements on the official portal, where lists of selected and non-selected candidates are uploaded and communicated via email or message.

Frequently asked questions