Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship

The Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship is a flagship scheme by the Government of Karnataka (Social Welfare Department) designed to financially support students from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Karnataka who have secured admission to full-time undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD programs at foreign universities

Contents

Eligibility Criteria for Prabuddha Overseas Scholorship:
Benefits of Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship:
Number of Scholarships Awarded Annually:
How to apply for Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship:
Important Dates to Remember:
Documents Required for Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship:
Important Links:
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs):

Eligibility Criteria for Prabuddha Overseas Scholorship:

To apply for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship, you must:

1. Be a resident of Karnataka
You must be an Indian citizen and live permanently in Karnataka.

2. Belong to SC/ST category
Only students from Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) are eligible.

3. Age criteria

For Undergraduate (UG): Must be 21 years or below
For Postgraduate (PG) or Doctoral (PhD): Must be 35 years or below

4. Minimum academic marks

For Undergraduate: At least 80% in PUC (Pre-University Course) / 12th Grade
For Postgraduate or PhD: At least 55% in your last qualifying exam

5. Admission in a foreign university
You must have secured admission to a full-time program abroad.

6. Standardized test scores
You must have obtained the following minimum scores in the relevant standardized tests:

GRE (Graduate Record Examination): 295
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test): 400
SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test): 1000
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): 80
IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 6.0

Benefits of Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship:

The amount of scholarship depends on your family’s annual income. Here’s what’s covered:

Full coverage (100%): For families with income up to ₹8 lakhs per year. Covers full tuition and living costs.
Half coverage (50%):For families earning between ₹8–15 lakhs per year.
Partial coverage (33%):For families with income above ₹15 lakhs.
Living (maintenance) allowance: Based on university cost estimates.
Book allowance – ₹1 lakh per year.
Medical insurance – Paid as per actual cost.
Airfare – Economy class tickets for travel to university and return after course completion.
Reservation –
33% of seats reserved for women students
5% of seats reserved for physically challenged students

Number of Scholarships Awarded Annually:

UG Students: ~150
PG/PhD Students: ~250

How to apply for Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship:

Here’s the step‑by‑step procedure to apply for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship with the direct link included:

Visit the official application portal:
→ https://sw.kar.nic.in/foreignstudies/WebPages/newScheme.aspx
Click on “Click Here to Apply” on that page.
Answer the pre‑verification question:
“Have you availed any schemes from the Pre‑Examination Training Centre, Social Welfare Department, Govt. of Karnataka?” Yes/No.
Complete Aadhaar authentication:
Provide your Aadhaar number, gender, captcha, and consent.
Register and log in:
Enter your email/mobile to create an account, then log in with credentials.
Fill in the application form:
- Personal details (name, address, category, contact)
- Academic records (degrees, marks, university details)
- Test scores (GRE/GMAT/TOEFL/IELTS/SAT as applicable)
Select your intended overseas course and country (UG/PG/PhD).
Upload scanned documents:
- Aadhaar
- SC/ST caste certificate
- Income certificate and last 2 years’ I‑T returns
- Admission offer letter from foreign university
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Passport copy
- Test scorecards (GRE/GMAT/TOEFL/IELTS/SAT)
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Passport-size photograph
Preview your application to ensure completeness and accuracy.
Submit the application online before the deadline
Save or print the application receipt for your records.
Track your application status via the portal under “My Applications” or similar.
Await selection updates such as shortlist notifications or interview calls (if applicable).

Important Dates to Remember:

Application starts: April 15, 2025
Last date to apply: June 30, 2025
(Extensions may be announced—keep checking the official website.)

Documents Required for Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship:

Keep scanned copies ready for uploading:

Aadhaar card and domicile certificate
SC/ST caste certificate
Latest income certificate and last 2 years’ IT returns
Academic mark sheets and degree certificate
Foreign university admission letter
Passport copy
Tuition and maintenance fee details
Proof of medical insurance
Airfare invoice (for reimbursement)

Important Links:

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs):

1. What is the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship provided by Karnataka?

The Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship is a financial aid scheme by the Government of Karnataka. It is specially designed to help students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Karnataka pursue higher education abroad. The scholarship aims to empower underprivileged students by funding their postgraduate or doctoral studies in reputed foreign universities.

2. Who is eligible to apply?

To apply for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship, a student must:

Be a permanent resident of Karnataka.
Belong to the SC, ST, or OBC category (as notified by the government).
Have completed undergraduate studies with at least 60% marks.
Have received an admission offer from a top-ranking foreign university.
Meet the age criteria (usually not more than 35 years old).

3. What courses are supported under the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship?

The Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship supports Master’s degrees, PhD, and post-doctoral research in fields like:

Engineering
Medicine
Law
Social Science
Humanities
Pure Science
Economics
Business Administration (MBA)
The focus is on high-quality education from top 300 world-ranked universities.

4. How much financial support is given under the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship?

The Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship provides up to ₹50 lakh per student. This amount can be used to cover:

Tuition fees
Travel expenses
Visa charges
Living costs
Health insurance

The exact amount depends on the country and the university of admission.

5. How can I apply for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship?

Applications for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship must be submitted online through the official Social Welfare Department portal of Karnataka. Students need to:

Register on the portal.
Fill out the application form.
Upload required documents.
Submit the application before the deadline.

6. What are the important documents required to apply ?

To apply for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship, you need:

Caste and Income certificate
Domicile (residence) certificate
Passport
Admission letter from a foreign university
Degree mark sheets
Proof of ranking of the university
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Recommendation letters
Bank details

7. Is there any income limit for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship?

Yes. For the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship, the annual family income of the applicant should generally not exceed ₹8 lakh. This ensures that only genuinely needy students from weaker financial backgrounds get the benefit.

8. Can I apply if I have not yet received admission to a foreign university?

No. You must have a confirmed admission from a foreign university before applying for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship. Conditional offers are also accepted if clearly mentioned.

9. Which countries are eligible under the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship?

It supports studies in countries like:

USA
UK
Canada
Germany
France
Australia
Singapore
New Zealand
Japan
And other top-ranked education destinations. The university must be in the top 300 according to global rankings.

10. How many students are selected every year for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship?

The number of students selected under the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship varies each year based on the budget, applications received, and eligibility criteria. Usually, 100 to 150 students are selected annually.

11. What is the selection process for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship?

The selection process involves:

Scrutiny of applications.
Verification of documents.
Shortlisting based on academic performance and university ranking.
Interview by the selection committee (if required).
Final approval by the department.

12. Do I need to repay the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship?

No, the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship is not a loan. It is a grant provided by the government. However, recipients are expected to:

Maintain good academic standing.
Return to India after completing the course (recommended).
Serve the nation by contributing to social and economic development.

13. Can I reapply if my application is rejected?

Yes, you can reapply in the next academic year if your previous application was rejected. However, ensure that you correct the errors or submit the missing documents this time.

14. What is the deadline to apply ?

The application deadline for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship is usually announced annually on the Social Welfare Department’s website. It’s generally between May to July, but students are advised to check the portal regularly for exact dates.

15. Is TOEFL/IELTS mandatory for applying to the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship?

Yes. Since they supports education in English-speaking countries, TOEFL or IELTS scores are required by most universities. Your application must include valid proof of English proficiency.

16. Will I get help with the visa process ?

It provides financial support for visa application fees, but it does not provide visa counseling. Students must independently apply for a visa with the help of their chosen university or official embassies.

17. Can the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship be used for undergraduate studies abroad?

No, the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship is not available for undergraduate courses. It only supports Master’s, PhD, and post-doctoral programs in foreign universities.

18. What happens if I fail or drop out after getting the scholarship?

If a student fails or drops out, the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship may be withdrawn, and the student may be asked to repay the amount (depending on the terms). Students must sign an undertaking at the time of receiving the scholarship.

19. Is it compulsory to return to India after completing my studies under the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship?

While it’s not legally compulsory, but it encourages students to return to India and contribute to the state and national development. Some recipients may be required to work in government or public institutions based on specific conditions.

20. Where can I get more information or updates about the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship?

You can get the latest updates, guidelines, and announcements about the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship on the official Karnataka Social Welfare Department website:
👉 https://sw.kar.nic.in

Also, keep an eye on local government portals and newspapers for notification releases.

For National/International Scholarship updates kindly join our WhatsApp channel

Follow the Sarsa Education channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaL9SgRAjPXJthnK9D0E

In case of any queries, please reach out to:
+91-9156405182 (Monday to Friday – 10:00 AM to 06:00 PM (IST))

For regular Scholarship/Fellowship/Internship updates:

Join our Telegram channel: Sarsa Education

WhatsApp Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest Telegram Share