The Madhya Pradesh government has officially opened applications for its overseas scholarship scheme for the Academic Session 2026-27, which covers the period from January to June 2026. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide financial support to students seeking admission to Master's and PhD programmes at foreign universities. The deadline for submitting applications is May 25, 2026, until 6:00 PM.
Details of the Scholarship Scheme
According to information released by the Department of Higher Education, the scholarship scheme is designed to offer comprehensive financial assistance to eligible students who wish to pursue higher education abroad. All relevant details regarding the scheme have been published on the department's official website. The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, located at Satpura Bhawan, Bhopal, will be responsible for overseeing the entire application process.
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants
The scheme guidelines specify that applicants must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category and must be permanent residents of Madhya Pradesh. Candidates are required to possess a permanent caste certificate issued by a Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) or an officer of equivalent rank. Additionally, applicants must be between 18 and 35 years of age. The annual gross income of the applicant or their guardian from all sources should not exceed Rs 6 lakh. The department has also stated that the overseas institution chosen by the applicant must hold a QS World University Ranking or Times Higher Education World University Ranking of 500 or lower.
Financial Assistance Under the Scheme
Selected students will receive financial support covering several components, including tuition fees, maintenance allowance, contingency expenses, and travel expenditure. The government will provide either the actual tuition fee amount or a maximum of 40,000 US Dollars per year, whichever is lower. In addition, students will receive a maintenance allowance of 9,000 US Dollars per annum and a contingency allowance of 1,000 US Dollars annually. The scheme will also cover actual travel expenses for journeys to and from the country of study, along with visa fees.
Selection Process and Application Details
Applications are being invited through advertisements issued by the nodal department at the headquarters level. A maximum of 50 students will be selected every year under this scholarship programme. Students can obtain additional information and application-related details through the Department of Higher Education's official website. The department has also shared updates through its official social media platforms to ensure wider outreach.
This initiative aims to empower students from economically weaker sections of the SC community by enabling them to access quality higher education abroad. The scheme is part of the state government's broader efforts to promote educational equity and global exposure among underprivileged students.
