Karnataka Dr B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Karnataka Dr B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship Scheme is an overseas education scholarship for eligible SC and ST students of Karnataka. The scheme helps students pursue higher education at eligible foreign universities and reduces the financial burden of studying abroad. It provides financial support for tuition fees and other approved educational expenses.

This scholarship was earlier known as the Karnataka Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship. The Karnataka Government has renamed the scheme as the "Dr B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship". Students who are looking for the Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship can now check the scheme through the Karnataka Foreign Studies Portal. Under the scheme, eligible students must fulfil the prescribed residence, academic, age and income conditions before applying for assistance.

To apply, the student must be a Karnataka resident and must have studied in the state for at least 10 years. The applicant must also have a valid caste certificate and an Unconditional Offer Letter from an eligible foreign university or institution. The annual family income must not exceed Rs. 30 lakh. These conditions ensure that the scholarship reaches eligible students seeking financial support for higher studies abroad.

The foreign university must also meet the prescribed ranking requirement. The current scholarship portal specifies that the university or institution must be within the top 325 in the QS World Ranking. For PhD studies, applicants must meet the separate university-ranking requirement prescribed for the course. The maximum age limit is 40 years for postgraduate study and 45 years for PhD study.

Once these eligibility conditions are met, the level of financial assistance depends on the student's annual family income. Students with family income below Rs. 10 lakh can receive the highest level of assistance, including full tuition fee support and other prescribed foreign-study expenses. Students in the Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh category can receive 50% assistance, while those in the Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 30 lakh category can receive 25% assistance along with the prescribed loan facility.

The scholarship supports higher education in fields such as engineering and management, pure and applied sciences, agricultural sciences, medicine, commerce, economics, accounting and finance, humanities, social sciences, fine arts and law. Students can continue receiving the approved assistance for the prescribed course duration if they meet the academic progress and other conditions of the scheme.

Scheme Benefits

• The scheme provides financial assistance towards tuition fees for eligible foreign university courses.
• Students can receive assistance towards food and accommodation expenses during their studies abroad.
• The scheme provides financial support for medical insurance as prescribed.
• Eligible students can receive assistance towards visa-related expenses for studying abroad.
• The scheme provides air travel assistance for eligible journeys to and from a foreign country, subject to the prescribed conditions.
• Students can receive up to Rs. 1 lakh for a laptop, books and other prescribed educational expenses under the applicable assistance category.
• The scholarship provides support for other approved educational and foreign-study expenses covered under the scheme.
• The level of financial assistance depends on the applicant's annual family income category.
• Eligible students can receive the approved assistance for the prescribed duration of their course, subject to the applicable continuation and academic conditions.

Scholarship Assistance Category-wise

The Karnataka Dr B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship provides financial assistance based on the applicant's annual family income. The guidelines divide eligible applicants into three income categories and prescribe different levels of government assistance and loan support.

Category 1: Family Income Below Rs. 10 Lakh

• 100% of the foreign university course tuition fee is provided.
• Foreign-study expenses of up to Rs. 16 lakh are provided, including:
  • Up to Rs. 12 lakh for food and accommodation.
  • Up to Rs. 4 lakh for visa, air travel and medical insurance.
• Visa fee and insurance fee are paid directly by the department through MSIL, on the candidate's behalf.
• Up to Rs. 1 lakh is provided for a laptop, books and other prescribed educational expenses.
• Air travel assistance is provided for one journey to the foreign country and one return journey to India during the entire course, in economy class, subject to the prescribed conditions.

Category 2: Family Income of Rs. 10 Lakh to Rs. 20 Lakh

• Students receive 50% financial assistance towards the expenses covered under the scheme.
• The remaining 50% can be provided as a loan to eligible applicants through the concerned government corporation, subject to its prescribed conditions.

Category 3: Family Income of Rs. 20 Lakh to Rs. 30 Lakh

• Students receive 25% financial assistance towards the expenses covered under the scheme.
• Up to 50% of the eligible expenses can be provided as a loan through the concerned government corporation, subject to the applicable conditions.
• The remaining 25% of the eligible expenses must be arranged by the applicant.

Note: The financial assistance, loan component and expenditure limits are subject to the conditions prescribed in the Karnataka Government's scholarship guidelines. The guidelines also provide specific provisions for continuation of assistance during the course period.

Eligibility Requirements

• The applicant must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
• The candidate must be a resident of Karnataka, having studied in the state for a minimum of 10 years, supported by educational documents.
• The applicant must have a valid caste certificate issued by the competent authority.
• The applicant must have an Unconditional Offer Letter from an eligible foreign university or institution.
• The foreign university or institution must be ranked within the top 325 in the QS World Ranking, as specified on the scholarship portal.
• PhD applicants must meet the separate university-ranking requirement prescribed under the scholarship guidelines.
• The applicant must meet the prescribed age limit for the selected course.
• The maximum age limit is 40 years for postgraduate study and 45 years for PhD study.
• The applicant's annual family income must not exceed Rs. 30 lakh. The applicable income categories are:
  • Below Rs. 10 lakh.
  • From Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.
  • From Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 30 lakh.
• Only one candidate per family can avail this scholarship, subject to specific department provisions for families with more than one married daughter-in-law.
• Candidates already receiving financial assistance for foreign studies from any other government department, corporation, society or organisation are not eligible.
• The scholarship can be availed only once for postgraduate study and only once for PhD study.
• Government employees may also apply, provided they meet all standard conditions and submit a No Objection Certificate from their department.

Required Documents

Applicants should keep the following documents ready for the Karnataka Dr B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship application. The scholarship guidelines specify academic, caste, income, residence and foreign university admission documents, while the prescribed affidavit also requires declarations regarding family income and utilisation of scholarship funds.

• Student Aadhaar Card.
• Student PAN Card.
• Student Passport.
• Father's or Guardian's Aadhaar Card.
• Caste Certificate.
• Income Certificate.
• SSLC Marks Card.
• Degree Convocation Certificate.
• Degree Transcript.
• Degree All Semester Marks Cards.
• Latest 2 Years' Income Tax Returns.
• I-20 (I-Twenty) Form or CAS Number Form, as applicable.
• Unconditional Offer Letter from the foreign university or institution.
• Fees Details Document issued by the university.
• Family Income Affidavit.
• Domicile Certificate for Karnataka residence.
• Birth Certificate, wherever required under the scheme.
• Academic certificates and other prescribed course-related documents, wherever applicable.
• Additional documents required by the Social Welfare Department during document verification, scholarship sanction or disbursement.

Note: The Family Income Affidavit is a prescribed document containing declarations about the applicant's caste, family income, authenticity of documents and use of the sanctioned scholarship. Applicants should follow the latest instructions displayed on the official scholarship portal regarding when and how to submit it.

Steps to Apply

Candidates can apply for the Dr B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship only in online mode, through the official portal of the Indira Gandhi Career Development Centre (IGCDC), Social Welfare Department, Government of Karnataka.

1. Secure admission and obtain an Unconditional Offer Letter from a foreign university that meets the scheme's ranking criteria.
2. Visit the official IGCDC application portal for the Dr B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship.
3. Register on the portal and fill in personal, academic and family income details.
4. Upload all required documents, including Aadhaar, caste certificate, income certificate, educational records and the Unconditional Offer Letter.
5. Make sure the foreign university meets the prescribed QS World Ranking requirement before submitting the application.
6. Submit the application before departing for studies abroad; applications cannot be made after leaving India.
7. Track the application for document verification and income assessment by the department.
8. On approval, collect the sanction letter issued by the Additional Director, IGCDC.
9. Travel abroad for studies within 1 year of receiving the sanction letter, and open a foreign bank account to start receiving the financial assistance.

Affidavit Requirement

After scholarship sanction, the prescribed Family Affidavit/Declaration may be required. The affidavit must be executed on a Rs. 100 non-judicial stamp paper and duly notarised. It contains declarations regarding caste, family income, authenticity of documents and proper utilisation of the sanctioned scholarship.

Relevant Links

• Karnataka Dr B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship Online Application
• Karnataka Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship Application Status.
• Re-print Dr BR Ambedkar International Scholarship Acknowledgement.
• Karnataka Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship Guidelines.
• Karnataka Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship Family Income Affidavit.
• Karnataka Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship Portal
• Q.S World Ranking of 325 Universities list
• Karnataka Social Welfare Department Portal

Contact Information

• Karnataka Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship Helpline Number
  • 080-25578422
  • 9482300400
• Karnataka Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship Email Helpdesk: [email protected]