National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities
The National Overseas Scholarship for Students with Disabilities (NOS-SWD) helps students with 40% or more disability pursue a Masters or PhD degree at accredited foreign universities. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment funds tuition fees, living allowance, travel costs, and equipment to reduce financial barriers for disabled students seeking international higher education. Applications are accepted year-round by sending a filled form to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in New Delhi.
About This Scheme
The National Overseas Scholarship for Students with Disabilities (NOS-SWD) helps students with 40% or more disability pursue a Masters or PhD degree at accredited foreign universities. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment funds tuition fees, living allowance, travel costs, and equipment to reduce financial barriers for disabled students seeking international higher education. Applications are accepted year-round by sending a filled form to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in New Delhi.
Full official description
A scholarship scheme by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for regular, full-time students with disabilities to obtain higher education viz., Master's degree, or Ph.D. courses from foreign universities, in one of the specified fields of study.
The students with the specified disabilities defined in Schedule of the "Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016" will be eligible under this scheme. This includes persons with visual, hearing, speech, loco-motor, mental retardation, and other disabilities. NOS is implemented offline by the DEPwD.
At times SwDs are deprived of harnessing their latent skills and thereby miss the opportunity. This scheme aims to support SwDs to study further in order to prepare themselves to earn their livelihood and to find a dignified place for themselves in the society as they face several barriers physical, financial, psychological, mental in pursuing studies and living with dignity.
Benefits
- Annual maintenance allowance: USD 15,400 (US/other countries) or GBP 9,900 (UK)
- Annual contingency allowance: USD 1,500 or GBP 1,100
- Equipment allowance: ₹1,500
- Tuition fees reimbursed at actuals
- Visa fees and poll tax reimbursed at actuals
- Medical insurance premium reimbursed at actuals
- Economy class airfare from India to university and back
- Local travel (second-class rail/bus fare) from port of entry to place of study
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Must be a student with a disability of 40% or above (as defined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016)
- Must be admitted or have an unconditional offer for a Masters or PhD programme at an accredited foreign university
- Age must not exceed 35 years as of the first day of the month of the advertisement
- Family income from all sources must not exceed ₹6 lakh per annum
- Bachelor-level courses are not covered
- Not more than two children with disabilities from the same parents are eligible
- Cannot hold another scholarship simultaneously without choosing one
Exclusions
Bachelors Level courses, in any discipline, are not covered under this scheme. candidates already staying or studying or having completed studies abroad by utilizing any other scholarship from State Government, other agency, or through their own funds are not eligible to apply under this scheme. Not more than two children with disabilities of the same parents will be entitled to receive benefits of the scheme. Provided in case the second child is a _twin, the 'scholarship under this scheme will be admissible to both the twins. The candidate is not eligible for a scholarship to pursue the same level (Masters/Ph.D.) of course for which he/she has already acquired the qualification from any University/Institution either in India or abroad. Scholarship for studying in any class will be available for only one year. If a student has to repeat a class, she / he would not get scholarship for that class for a second (or subsequent) year. A scholarship holder under this scheme will not hold any other scholarship/ stipend. If awarded any other scholarship/ stipend, the student can exercise his/her option for either of the two scholarships/stipends, whichever is more beneficial to him/her and should inform the awarding authority through the Head of the Institution about the option made. No scholarship will be paid to the students under this scheme from the date he/she accepts another scholarship/stipend. The student can however, accept free lodging or a grant or ad-hoc monetary help from the State Government or any other source for the purchase of books, equipment or for meeting the expenses on board and lodging in addition to the scholarship amount paid under this scheme.
How to Apply
Step 1: The candidates can download the application form from the following link: http://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Appl-Form%20-NOS(1).pdf
Step 2: Send the duly filled application form along with the copies of the required documents to the following address: Under Secretary (Scholarships) Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Room No. 516, 5th Floor, Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003 APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a duration to the prescribed financial assistance?
Yes, the prescribed financial assistance will be provided up to the completion of the course / research or the following period, whichever is earlier: PhD - 04 years (Four years) Master's Degree - 03 years (Three years)
What all shall be covered under Contingency Allowance?
The Contingency allowance shall be for books/essential apparatus/ study tour/ travel cost for attending subject related conference, workshops etc./ typing and binding of thesis etc.
Are there any terms to availing the Maintenance Allowance?
The payment of Maintenance Allowance is linked with furnishing of progress report. For first semester/six months, the maintenance allowance may be paid to the scholarship awardee in the first instance as an advance. Thereafter, the maintenance allowance for the next semester/six months may be paid only after receipt of the satisfactory progress report of the awardee for first six months/semester.
Are the awardees are permitted to supplement their prescribed allowances by undertaking Research / Teaching Assistantship?
Yes, the awardees are permitted to do so upto $2400 per annum and for awardees in UK, 1560 GBP per annum.
How many scholarship slots are there in this scheme?
In each selection year, 20 fresh awards, subject to availability of funds, will be given under this scheme.
Is there any earmarking for women candidates?
Yes, there is 30% of the awards for each year shall be earmarked for women candidates. However, in case, adequate women candidates are not available as per the stipulations of the scheme, then the unutilized slots will be utilized by selecting suitable male candidates.
Are Bachelors Level courses also covered under this scheme?
No, Bachelors Level courses, in any discipline, are not covered under this scheme.
I have completed my studies abroad on a scholarship from state govt. Am I eligible to apply for this scheme?
No, candidates already staying or studying or having completed studies abroad by utilizing any other scholarship from State Government, other agency, or through own funds are not eligible to apply under this scheme.
How many children of the same parents/guardians will be eligible for scholarship?
Not more than two children of the same parents/guardians will be eligible for scholarship. A. The second child of the same parents/guardians will be considered only if slots are still available in the last cycle of the year in which the applicant has applied.
I hold a Master’s Degree from an Institute in India. Am I eligible to apply for this scheme if I have an unconditional offer letter for a Master Degree from an institute located outside India?
The candidate is not eligible for scholarship to pursue the same level (Masters/Ph.D.) of course for which he/she has already acquired the qualification from any University/Institution either in India or abroad.
How would I know the status of my application?
A list of selected / not-selected candidates will be uploaded on the portal. Individual email / messages will also be sent to all registered applicants.
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- Duly completed Pro-forma in duplicate
- Certificate of Proof of Date of Birth (Birth Certificate or Certificate of Passing 10th standard)
- Disability Certificate
- Voter ID
- Aadhaar Card
- Proof of residence, if the address mentioned in the application is different from the address mentioned in the Voter ID/Aadhaar Card.
- Copy of PAN Card of the applicant.
- Copy of Bank Account linked with Aadhaar No.
- Copy of PAN Card of Father/Mother/Guardian/Spouse
- Copy of Certificates and mark sheets in support of Educational qualifications.
- Income Tax Certificate in prescribed proforma
- Income Tax Return of the candidate/parents/guardians whose income is considered to determine the income ceiling.
- Details of the proposed study (in not more than 500 words)
- Copy of admission papers from the accredited universities/Institutions
- Copies of offer of admission by the university/prospectus etc.
- Self-attested certificate to the effect that you are not availing of any other scholarship for the same Course of study.
- Income Certificate Form.
- Source(s):
- http://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/scholarship2(1).pdf
- http://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Appl-Form%20-NOS(1).pdf