Odisha Videsh Siksha Bruti Scheme 2026: Online Application, Eligibility, Benefits and Last Date
The Odisha government has introduced the Videsh Siksha Bruti Scheme (officially notified as the Bidesh Sikhyabruti Scheme) to help meritorious Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students pursue postgraduate and PhD studies at top ranked foreign universities. Launched under the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana (MMCPY), the scheme gives eligible students financial support of up to ₹25 lakh per year, with an overall ceiling of ₹50 lakh per student for the full course.
This guide covers the complete eligibility criteria, financial benefits, required documents, application process and the current application deadline for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 academic sessions.
Odisha Videsh Siksha Bruti Scheme: Quick Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Videsh Siksha Bruti Scheme (Bidesh Sikhyabruti Scheme) |
| Parent Scheme | Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana (MMCPY) |
| Launched By | Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha |
| Nodal Agency | Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC) |
| Eligible Category | SC and ST students of Odisha |
| Course Covered | PG and PhD at Top 200 QS-ranked foreign universities |
| Students Selected | 50 per year |
| Annual Financial Support | Up to ₹25 lakh per year |
| Overall Ceiling | Up to ₹50 lakh per student per course |
| Family Income Limit | Up to ₹12 lakh per year |
| Application Mode | Online, through the Odisha State Scholarship (OSS) Portal |
| Official Website | scholarship.odisha.gov.in |
| Current Application Window | 18 August 2026 to 30 September 2026 |
About the Scheme
The Videsh Siksha Bruti Scheme was formally launched on 26 November 2025 by Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, with the objective of removing the financial barrier that stops talented SC and ST students from Odisha from studying abroad. It sits under the broader MMCPY umbrella and is implemented through OSHEC, which handles document verification, interviews and merit-list preparation.
To qualify, a student must already hold an unconditional offer of admission to a postgraduate or PhD programme at a university that features in the Top 200 of the latest QS World University Rankings at the time of application. The scheme is available only once in a student’s lifetime, for either a PG or a PhD, not both.
Eligibility Criteria
A candidate must meet all of the following conditions to apply for the Odisha Videsh Siksha Bruti Scheme:
- Must be a permanent resident of Odisha and belong to the SC or ST category.
- Must hold an unconditional admission offer from a foreign university ranked in the Top 200 QS World Rankings.
- Gross annual family income, from all sources, must not exceed ₹12 lakh.
- Maximum age of 35 years for a Master’s degree applicant; maximum age of 40 years for a PhD applicant.
- Minimum 65% marks in the qualifying degree (bachelor’s for PG applicants, master’s for PhD applicants).
- Must not already be employed as a regular government, PSU or autonomous-body employee.
- Must not be receiving any other scholarship or financial assistance for the same course from any government body, PSU, institution or organisation.
- Must not have already studied or completed studies abroad through another scholarship, assistance or personal funds.
- Must not be applying for a qualification already obtained from any Indian or foreign university.
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Financial Assistance Breakdown
The scheme offers one of the highest per-student support amounts among Indian state scholarships for overseas education. The ₹25 lakh yearly assistance is split as follows:
- Tuition fees: up to ₹15 lakh per year, based on actual fees charged after any waiver from the university.
- Living expenses: up to ₹7 lakh per year, paid in four quarterly instalments.
- Miscellaneous expenses: up to ₹3 lakh, covering air travel, insurance and visa processing, released as ₹2 lakh in the first year and ₹1 lakh in the second year.
- Overall course ceiling: ₹50 lakh per student across the entire PG or PhD programme.
Support is provided for one or two years for PG courses (depending on course duration) and up to two years for PhD courses, with no extension beyond this period. Payment is made through Direct Bank Transfer (DBT) once the foreign institution confirms the student’s enrolment.
Yearly Student Selection Distribution
Every year, 50 students are selected across three broad streams:
| Stream | Total Seats | PG | PhD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering and Technical | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Medical, Agriculture, Architecture and Professional Courses | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| General Higher Education Streams | 30 | 10 | 20 |
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the online application:
- Aadhaar card
- 10th board certificate
- Residence certificate (issued through the e-Certificate/e-District system by a Tahasildar or Additional Tahasildar)
- Income certificate for the current financial year (issued by a Revenue Officer not below Tahasildar rank)
- Caste certificate (issued by a Revenue Officer not below Tahasildar rank)
- Qualifying degree/provisional certificate and mark sheet
- Proof of admission to the foreign university
- Passport-size photograph and scanned signature
Residence, income and caste certificates can be applied for and downloaded online through the e-District Odisha portal, which is useful to keep in mind since incomplete applications are rejected outright.
Odisha Videsh Siksha Bruti Scheme: Application Process
- Secure an unconditional admission offer from a foreign university ranked in the Top 200 QS World Rankings.
- Visit the official Odisha State Scholarship (OSS) Portal at scholarship.odisha.gov.in.
- Register on the portal and locate the Bidesh Sikhyabruti/Videsh Siksha Bruti scheme section.
- Fill in personal, academic, family income and admission details in the online form.
- Upload the required documents, including the caste certificate, income certificate, residence certificate, Aadhaar card and proof of foreign admission.
- Review the form carefully and submit it before the application deadline.
- Track the application status on the portal as it moves through scrutiny by the Selection-cum-Screening Committee.
- On selection, download the provisional Award of Scholarship letter and submit any additional post-selection documents when asked.
Important Dates and Application Window
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Scheme Launched | 26 November 2025 |
| Effective From | 2025–26 Academic Year |
| Normal Application Cycle | July–August and December–January each year |
| Current Application Window (2025–26 and 2026–27) | 18 August 2026 to 30 September 2026 |
The application window is generally scheduled to open twice a year, but the current cycle has already been extended once, from the original closing date of 31 August 2026 to 30 September 2026. Students should apply well before the deadline, since the guidelines do not entertain requests to change the institution or course after submission, except in specific PhD situations that need prior approval from the Indian Mission abroad.
Selection Process
- Application scrutiny and document verification by OSHEC.
- Verification of the admitting university’s QS ranking and accreditation.
- Preparation of a merit list, ranked primarily by the QS ranking of the admitting institution.
- Tie-breaking first by qualifying exam marks, then by lower family income.
- Personal interviews conducted by the Selection Committee where required.
- Final recommendation by OSHEC to the Higher Education Department for approval.
- Publication of the selected, waiting and rejected list on the OSS Portal, with intimation by email or SMS.
- Issue of the Provisional Award of Scholarship Letter to selected candidates.
A selected candidate gets a maximum of one year from the date of the provisional award letter to join the foreign university; failing this, the award is automatically cancelled.
Additional Financial Support Option
Students who need funds beyond the scholarship ceiling can apply for an education loan with interest subvention under the Kalinga Sikhya Sathi Yojana (KSSY). However, taking any other concurrent scholarship or financial assistance for the same course leads to forfeiture of the entire Bidesh Sikhyabruti amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who launched the Odisha Videsh Siksha Bruti Scheme?
The Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha, launched the scheme under the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana to support SC and ST students studying abroad.
What is the family income limit to apply?
The applicant’s gross annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹12 lakh.
Is admission to a Top 200 QS-ranked university compulsory?
Yes. An unconditional admission offer from a university in the Top 200 QS World Rankings at th
e time of application is mandatory.
How many students are selected every year?
A total of 50 students are selected each year across engineering, medical/agriculture/architecture
and general higher education streams.
What is the maximum benefit a student can receive?
Up to ₹25 lakh per year, subject to an overall ceiling of ₹50 lakh per student for the entire PG or PhD course.
Can a student avail this scholarship more than once?
No. It can be availed only once in a lifetime, either for a PG or a PhD course.
What is the last date to apply for 2026?
The application deadline has been extended to 30 September 2026 on the OSS Portal.
Related Odisha Government Schemes
Along with the Videsh Siksha Bruti Scheme, women in SC/ST and other eligible households in Odisha can also check their eligibility for the state’s flagship women welfare programme. If a woman applicant is already receiving a scholarship or government financial assistance above ₹18,000 a year, this affects her eligibility under that scheme, so it is worth checking both together. Read the complete details in our guide to the Subhadra Yojana eligibility, benefits and application process.
