The Odisha government’s Bidesh Sikhyabruti scheme provides financial assistance to eligible Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students from Odisha who wish to pursue postgraduate or PhD programmes at leading universities and institutions outside India.
Introduced under the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana, the scheme is designed to reduce the financial burden of overseas higher education for deserving students. Eligible candidates can receive financial support of up to ₹25 lakh per student per course year, subject to the approved expenses and conditions mentioned in the official scheme guidelines.
The Bidesh Sikhyabruti scheme supports a limited number of eligible students each year across different academic streams and disciplines.
| Scholarship Detail | Scheme Provision |
|---|---|
| Eligible communities | SC and ST students of Odisha |
| Eligible study level | Postgraduate or PhD |
| Institution requirement | Eligible foreign institution covered under the stated top-200 ranking condition |
| Annual family income limit | ₹12 lakh |
| Maximum financial assistance | Up to ₹25 lakh per student per course year |
| Number of beneficiaries | 50 students each year across streams and disciplines |
| Frequency of benefit | Once, for either postgraduate or PhD study |
The scholarship may help cover tuition fees, living expenses and other approved incidental costs.
However, students should understand that ₹25 lakh is the maximum permissible limit, not a guaranteed fixed scholarship amount for every selected applicant.
The actual amount sanctioned depends on the eligible expenses, course costs and provisions contained in the official guidelines.
The scholarship is intended to help eligible students manage major costs associated with pursuing higher education abroad.
Depending on the scheme rules, financial assistance may be provided towards:
Applicants should not assume that every selected student will automatically receive ₹25 lakh.
The final scholarship amount may depend on:
Students should therefore calculate their complete overseas education budget separately.
The duration of scholarship support depends on whether the student is pursuing a postgraduate or doctoral programme.
For eligible postgraduate programmes, financial assistance may generally be provided for one or two years, depending on the official duration of the course.
For example, a one-year master's programme may receive support according to its approved duration, while an eligible two-year programme may be supported for up to two years under the applicable guidelines.
Eligible PhD students can receive financial assistance for up to two years.
According to the reported scheme provisions, financial support is not extended beyond this period.
Students enrolling in doctoral programmes lasting three or more years should therefore arrange an additional funding plan for the remaining duration of their research.
Applicants need to satisfy multiple eligibility conditions. Belonging to an SC or ST community alone does not automatically qualify a student for the scholarship.
The applicant must belong to an eligible Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe community as recognised under the applicable Odisha government rules.
Valid caste documentation may be required during the application process.
Applicants must meet the Odisha domicile or residency requirements specified in the scheme guidelines.
Students should keep the relevant domicile or residence certificate ready before submitting their application.
The reported annual family income ceiling is ₹12 lakh.
Applicants will generally need to submit valid income documentation to establish that their family income falls within the permitted limit.
Candidates must have secured admission to an eligible postgraduate or PhD programme at a qualifying university or institution outside India.
The institution must also satisfy the top-200 ranking condition mentioned under the scheme.
Students should carefully verify which ranking system, year and institutional category apply to their particular admission cycle.
Applicants are also required to declare that they are not regular employees of a government organisation at the time of application, according to the reported scheme conditions.
Students should check the latest official guidelines for the exact wording and documentation required.
One of the important eligibility conditions relates to the ranking of the overseas institution.
Students should not assume that admission to any foreign university automatically makes them eligible.
Before completing the scholarship application, students should confirm:
Maintaining evidence of the institution's qualifying ranking may be useful during document verification.
Applications for the scheme are submitted through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal.
Students should complete the application only after verifying their eligibility and preparing the required documents.
For the application window reported for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 academic years, online applications were accepted from:
Opening Date: August 18, 2026
Closing Date: August 31, 2026
Since scholarship deadlines are time-sensitive, students checking the scheme after the closing date should verify whether:
Students should rely only on the latest notice available through the official Odisha government portals.
Students should keep all supporting documents ready before starting the online application.
Depending on the official requirements, documents may include:
All uploaded documents should be:
Incorrect, expired or unclear documents can create problems during verification.
Applicants should also save or download the final submission acknowledgement for future reference.
Receiving admission to a foreign university and applying for the scholarship should be treated as two separate stages.
A scholarship application does not automatically guarantee selection or immediate release of funds.
Many overseas universities require students to pay a deposit within a specific period to confirm their admission.
Students should clarify:
The total cost of studying abroad may exceed the maximum amount available under the scholarship.
Students should compare:
Total tuition + living costs + travel + visa expenses – scholarship support = additional funds required
This gives applicants a more realistic picture of the amount they may need to arrange independently.
Students should also plan for expenses that may not be covered under the scholarship.
These may include:
For longer programmes, especially PhDs, backup funding becomes particularly important.
Meeting the basic eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection.
The scheme supports a limited number of students each year, and applications may be assessed according to the official selection process.
Applicants should therefore:
Students should avoid making major non-refundable financial commitments solely on the assumption that the scholarship will be approved.
Eligible students can receive financial assistance of up to ₹25 lakh per student per course year, subject to admissible expenses and official scheme conditions.
The scheme is intended for eligible SC and ST students from Odisha who meet the domicile, family income, admission, institutional ranking and other requirements specified in the guidelines.
Eligible postgraduate and PhD programmes at qualifying overseas universities or institutions can be considered under the scheme.
The reported annual family income ceiling is ₹12 lakh, subject to documentary proof and the applicable official guidelines.
The reported scheme provision supports 50 students each year across different streams and disciplines.
The reported scheme provision states that the benefit is available once, for either postgraduate or PhD study. Applicants should check the latest official guidelines before applying.
Eligible PhD students may receive support for up to two years under the reported provisions. Students undertaking longer doctoral programmes should arrange funding for the remaining period.
No. ₹25 lakh represents the maximum assistance ceiling. The actual amount may depend on eligible tuition, living and other admissible costs under the scheme.
Applications are submitted through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal, subject to the application window announced by the state government.
Department of Higher Education, Government of Odisha:
https://dhe.odisha.gov.in/
Odisha State Scholarship Portal:
https://scholarship.odisha.gov.in/