Bhubaneswar: The Higher Education Department on Tuesday opened the application window for the State Government’s new "Bidesh Sikhyabruti" scholarship, aimed at assisting Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students from Odisha to pursue postgraduate and doctoral studies at leading foreign universities.
Application window, portal and eligibility
Interested students can submit applications through the Odisha Single Sign-on (OSS) portal at https://fischolarship.odisha.gov.in between 18 and 31 August, the department said in a release. The scheme will support a total of 50 beneficiaries from SC and ST communities.
As per the notified guidelines, applicants must come from families with an annual income of up to ₹12 lakh to be eligible for assistance under the programme. Applications are being accepted for the academic years 2025-26 and 2026-27.
Scope of support and academic parameters
The scheme has been introduced under the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana (MMCPY) to provide financial assistance to meritorious SC and ST students who aspire to study abroad. Eligible courses include postgraduate and PhD programmes at institutions ranked among the top 200 in QS rankings, the department said.
Support duration differs by course type. For postgraduate courses, assistance will be provided for one or two years depending on the course length, while PhD scholars will receive assistance for two years. The guidelines explicitly state that no extension of assistance beyond two years will be granted.
How to apply and what to note
- Apply online only through the OSS scholarship portal: https://fischolarship.odisha.gov.in.
- Application period: 18–31 August.
- Scheme covers: 50 SC/ST students for academic years 2025-26 and 2026-27.
- Income criterion: family income up to ₹12 lakh per annum.
Prospective applicants should review the detailed Bidesh Sikhyabruti guidelines available on the Higher Education Department’s website before submitting their forms to ensure they meet all criteria and furnish required documents, the release advised.
Table: Key features at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Application portal | https://fischolarship.odisha.gov.in (OSS) |
| Application dates | 18–31 August |
| Number of beneficiaries | 50 SC/ST students |
| Eligible institutions | Top 200 QS-ranked foreign universities |
| Income ceiling | Up to ₹12 lakh per annum |
| Course duration covered | Postgraduate: 1–2 years; PhD: 2 years (no extension) |
Context and government objective
The state government has framed the scholarship under the umbrella of MMCPY to broaden access to international higher education for marginalised students. By tying eligibility to QS top-200 institutions, the scheme aims to channel support towards programmes and universities considered globally competitive. The limited number of awards — 50 seats — and the income cap indicate a targeted approach focusing on meritorious students from SC and ST communities.
Students planning to apply should ensure that their intended foreign programmes fall within the specified QS ranking threshold and that they apply for the correct academic year (2025-26 or 2026-27). Late or offline submissions are not provided for under the announced schedule.
Practical advice for applicants
Given the short application window, applicants are advised to prepare in advance: gather academic certificates, caste proof, family income documents and passport details if already held. Double-check that the chosen foreign university appears in the QS top-200 list for the relevant year and retain acknowledgements after submission for future reference.
The Higher Education Department’s release with the scheme guidelines is the authoritative document for queries about eligibility, selection and disbursement. Applicants should consult those guidelines on the department website and complete their OSS portal submission within the stated dates to be considered for the Bidesh Sikhyabruti awards.
Report compiled from the Higher Education Department release.
