SCHOLARSHIP

Kerala minority overseas scholarship 2026-27: up to ₹10 lakh for PG and PhD abroad, apply by 30 November

By AiCoN | Published 4 November 2026 | Sources checked 4 November 2026

The Kerala Minority Welfare Department is taking applications for its Overseas Scholarship 2026-27, for postgraduate and PhD study in foreign universities ranked in the top 600 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The online window closes on 30 November 2026, and a printed copy must reach the Director by 7 December 2026.

What we checked, and what we did notWe read the department's English guidelines (file reference MWD/517/2026-S I/293767/2026) and the scheme list on mwdscholarship.kerala.gov.in on 4 November 2026. We did not register, log in or open the application form, and nothing was submitted or paid. This is not the OBC overseas scheme on the e-grantz portal. It is a separate scheme for notified minority communities.

Directorate of Minority Welfare guidelines page listing the Overseas Scholarship with opening 29-10-2026 and closing 30-11-2026 — The scheme list on mwdscholarship.kerala.gov.in, captured 4 November 2026 on a desktop screen (1920x1080). The state emblem in the page header is masked with a white box. Colours were reduced to keep the file small.

Who can apply (from the guidelines)

Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi, and a permanent resident of Kerala.
Age up to 40 on the date of application.
At least 60% marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying exam from a recognised Indian university.
A confirmed, unconditional admission to a foreign institution in the current THE World University Rankings, within the first 600 positions.
Total annual family income from all sources up to ₹8,00,000. Priority ration card holders come first. One member per family.
Slots are shared among the communities in proportion to the 2011 Census, and unused slots can move to other communities with government approval.

What it pays

The grant is capped at 50% of the estimated course cost or ₹10,00,000, whichever is lower. It can cover tuition, visa fees, one economy return flight a year, living costs, mandatory student medical insurance and essential books. Courses: engineering, computer science and IT, management, pure sciences, medicine and allied health, social sciences, law, and agricultural sciences. Money is released in three instalments of 50%, 30% and 20%. Selected students sign an agreement on ₹200 stamp paper. The amount is recoverable with interest if the course is abandoned, the foreign institution's rules are broken, or Indian citizenship is renounced.

How to apply

Get the offer or admission letter from the foreign institution, with a document showing tuition and food and accommodation charges.
Do the One-Time Registration at mwdscholarship.kerala.gov.in, fill in personal and academic details, and upload the documents: SSLC book, community certificate, income certificate, qualifying mark list and degree certificate, offer letter, student visa, Aadhaar and bank passbook.
Post or hand in a printout of the online application with the documents to The Director, Minority Welfare Department, 4th floor, Vikas Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram 695033.

Dates: online by 30 November 2026 (the portal shows 23:59:59 that day), hard copy received by 7 December 2026. The guidelines list a student visa as a required upload, so check the portal for what it accepts at the time you apply.

Not confirmed by AiCoN

We have not tested the portal, so we cannot say how the form behaves or which documents it asks for beyond the guidelines. The guidelines do not give the number of slots.

Sources: Overseas Scholarship guidelines 2026-27 (official PDF) · Scheme list and dates · Minority Welfare scholarship portal. Checked 4 November 2026. Explainer by AiCoN - not a Minority Welfare Department publication. Details can change; check the official portal before you apply.