Introduction:Understanding Educational Inequality & the Need for Support
Educational inequality has been a long-standing challenge in India, particularly for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). SC and ST communities face challenges such as:
- Limited access to quality education
- Monitor financial deprivation
- Low participation in higher education
These challenges limit social mobility and perpetuate the poverty cycle for SC and ST families. To alleviate these challenges, targeted support schemes are crucial to ensure equal opportunities while promoting inclusive education.
Introduction to the Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarship
To empower SC/ST students, the Government of Kerala launched the Overseas Scholarship Scheme. This provides financial assistance to meritorious students from SC/ST communities to pursue higher education abroad. The scheme intends to enable meritorious students from SC/ST communities to access international academic institutions to help bridge educational inequality and allow for global exposure for disadvantaged students.
Purpose of the Scheme : Enabling Global Education
The main scheme aims to enable SC/ST students to obtain post-graduate and doctoral degrees at best universities abroad. A scholarship of up to ₹10,00,000 can be awarded to cover scoped expenses of the SAP scholarships as follows:
- Tuition fees
- Travel costs
- Cost of living
- Health Insurance
The eligible disciplines for scholarship are Engineering, Medicine, Pure Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Management, Social Sciences and Law.
Through this scholarship, the Kerala Government aims to:
- Foster social equity
- Promote higher employment opportunities
- Enhance the general development of SC/ST communities
About the Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarship
The Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarship is a program initiated by the Government of Kerala to assist aspiring students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities.
Administered by:
- Scheduled Caste Development Department
- Scheduled Tribe Development Department
Objective :
To provide financial assistance to SC and ST students who have been offered admission into a master’s or PhD qualification at international universities recognized by the University Grants Commission.
This scheme aims to provide educational equity, empower marginalized learners, and provide deserving students the opportunity to learn globally.
Key Objectives of the Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarship
Foster Global Education Exposure:
- Provide SC/ST students access to recognized universities abroad for global experiences in knowledge, learning, research, and innovation.
Support Global Research and Innovation:
- Assist students, who are donating their lives to research, to participate and support global research, innovation, and academic excellence while studying away from our country.
Diminish the Socio-Economic Divide in Education:
- Mitigate socio-economic barriers otherwise faced by SC/ST students so that they have equitable accessibility to high quality higher education abroad.
Eligibility Criteria
1.Domicile:
- Applicants must be permanent residents of Kerala.
2.Caste Category:
- Candidates must belong to one of the Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Kerala.
3.Course Level:
- The scholarship applies to Master's and PhD programs at accepted foreign institutions.
4.Academic Qualification:
- SC Candidates - You must have a minimum of 55 % marks in the qualifying exam.
- ST Candidates - You must have a minimum of 50 % marks in the qualifying exam.
5. Age Limit:
- Applicants should be under 35 years of age at the time of application.
6.Admission Requirement:
- Candidates must obtain an offer of admission to a post-graduate or doctoral degree from a recognized foreign university.
7.Language Proficiency:
- Applicants must have relevant language proficiency test scores from recognized tests such as IELTS, TOEFL or other similar standardized tests, as per the admission conditions of the foreign university.
8.Income Criteria:
The benefits of the scholarship differ according to the annual family income of the applicant:
- Income up to ₹12 lakh: full scholarship to cover tuition and visa fees, incidental expenses for accommodation and living costs, travel and international/overseas airfares for the student, and incidental travel and airfare expenses.
- Income between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 lakh: the scholarship covers the tuition fees, visa charges, airfare and medical insurance premium, and 50% of incidental living expenses and accommodation.
- Income above ₹20 lakh: only cover the tuition fees.
Courses and Countries Covered
The Global Scholarship Program assists students from Kerala who are pursuing post-graduate and doctoral studies abroad. The scholarship covers top ranked universities and a variety of academic disciplines which are not available in India.
Scholarship Benefits
1. Tuition Fees
- Covers all tuition fee charges levied by the foreign education institution, as long as it is within the limits as prescribed by the Government of Kerala.
2. Living Expenses / Monthly Stipend
- Provides a maintenance allowance to meet your living, housing, food and daily living expenses. This allowance is provided 4 monthly either by the Indian Mission in the country of study or directly by the scholar's banks.
3. Airfare
- Provides for the one-way economy class airfare from India to the country of education and return airfare after completion of course.
4. Visa and Health Insurance Charges
- The cost of obtaining a student visa for the student to travel to the destination country is covered.
- The cost of health insurance coverage (for the length of the study period) is included.
5. Travel and Contingency Allowance
- Provides a contingency allowance for additional cost including books, study materials and practicals.
- Provides an incidental travel allowance and equipment allowance or miscellaneous expenses incurred while travelling
Number of Scholarships Offered
Total Awards Per Year
- The Government of Kerala offers 50 scholarships per year under this scheme.
Reservation Between SC and ST Categories
Out of the 50 scholarships:
- 35 scholarships are reserved for SC candidates.
- 15 scholarships are reserved for ST candidates.
Gender Based Reservation
- This scheme has a government policy of reserving 30% of scholarships for female students in the Notional SC and ST category scholarships award process.
Application Process for Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarship 2025
Where and How to Apply
- Eligible candidates can apply online through the E-Grantz official site: egrantz.kerala.gov.in
- The Scheduled Caste Development Department and the Scheduled Tribe Development Department of Kerala have access to the above portal.
Required Documents
To begin the application process, make sure to first prepare:
- Caste Certificate (SC/ST) issued by a competent authority
- Domicile Certificate, or proof of residence in Kerala
- Admission Letter from recognized foreign university
- Academic Records (all semesters) and Degree certificates
- Family income certificate and latest guidelines
- Copy of Passport (valid)
- English proficiency test scores (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL, GRE)
- Passport-size Photograph
- Bank passbook copy (to check account)
- Recommendation Letters (if needed for the university)
Step-by-Step Application Guide
1.Go to the E-Grantz Portal:
- Proceed to egrantz.kerala.gov.in.
2.One-time registration:
- Select "One Time Registration" and enter your personal details to create an account.
3.Login:
- Use your username and password to log into the portal.
4.Profile:
- Complete your student profile with information about your educational qualifications, bank details, and contact information.
5.Select Scholarship Scheme:
- Select one of the available scholarship schemes related to Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarships.
6.Fill in Application Form:
- Fill in the application form with all the required information accurately.
7.Upload Documents:
- Upload the scan copies of all required documents in the required format and size.
8.Review and Submit:
- Review all of the required details and uploaded documents. After checking that everything is correct, submit the application.
9.Download Acknowledgement:
- After submission, you will have the opportunity to download and save your acknowledgement receipt that you will refer to later.
Selection Process - Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarship 2025
The selection process will be as fair and transparent as possible. The process will prioritize merit and financial need. Candidates will go through a thorough process consisting of the selection process which involves broadly based evaluation of candidates with regards to academic excellence, ranking of institution, candidate's eligibility.
Key Stages of the Selection Process
The Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarship 2025 selection process involves several key stages to ensure a fair evaluation process:
Important Dates (Tentative Timeline)
Below is the tentative timeline for the key dates concerning the Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarship 2025:
Tips For a Successful Application Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarship 2025
The application process for the Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarship is highly competitive. To help ensure you are selected, follow these helpful tips to put together a comprehensive and attractive application:
1. Choose Top-Ranked Global Universities
One of the most important evaluation items is the reputation of the foreign university you have admission to. More points are given to students with admission into prestigious universities (ranked in the QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education, or similar) as opposed to those with lesser known admission.
Pro Tip: Do your research and apply to reputable universities with a good academic reputation in your field of study (e.g. Engineering, Medicine, Social Sciences or Law).
2. Illustrate Your Educational and Research Milestone
Your educational track, accomplishments, and research experience can make or break your application. Have examples of any:
- Research publications
- Internships, or academic engagements
- Awards or academic honours
3. Write a Strong Statement of Purpose (SOP) that is Personal
Your Statement of Purpose (SOP) is one of the main components of your application. In your SOP, you need to clearly indicate:
- Why you chose your area of study
- Why you chose that institution and country
- What your future goals are(academic, professional, and social)
- How the scholarship will aid you in getting there
4. Confirm All of Your Documents Are Complete and Verified
Documentation is often the reason so many applicants experience delays or are rejected. Check to make sure your documentation is:
- Complete
- Accurate (where applicable)
- Uploaded in the appropriate format in the E-Grantz Portal
5. Apply Early and Track Your Application
Don’t wait until the absolute last date to submit your application. Don't let the deadline approach to make application submissions. Government portals often overload with traffic as deadlines approach which could delay your application submission or have errors in your submission.
Bonus Tip: Make sure to log into the official scholarship portal on a regular basis to track your application and see if there are any updates, or requests for document resubmission.
Contact Details
Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants (ODEPC) for Kerala Government Scholarship for Overseas Studies for SC/ST Students
- Address: Floor V, Carmel Towers, Cotton Hill, Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala- 695014,
- Phone: +91-471-2329441/2/3/5
- Email ID: info@odepc.in
Conclusion
The Kerala SC/ST Overseas Scholarship 2025 is a meaningful program created with the goal of developing future leaders by providing equitable access to international education. It supports deserving SC/ST students to pursue higher studies abroad while strongly underscoring Kerala's commitment to inclusive and quality education.
