Introduction The Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship is a foreign education assistance scheme implemented by the Social Welfare Department, Government of Karnataka. The scholarship supports eligible Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students who wish to pursue higher education at recognized international universities. The scheme provides financial assistance for tuition fees and other approved study-related expenses, helping students reduce the cost of overseas education. It is available for eligible postgraduate and PhD programmes offered by foreign institutions that meet the prescribed ranking criteria. Applicants must satisfy residency, educational, income, age, and admission requirements laid down by the department. A valid admission offer from an eligible foreign university is mandatory for receiving benefits under the scheme. The amount of scholarship assistance depends on the applicant's annual family income category. Eligible students can receive support towards tuition fees, living expenses, travel, insurance, visa charges, and educational requirements as per scheme guidelines. Benefits Financial assistance for pursuing higher education abroad. Support towards tuition fees at eligible foreign universities. Assistance for accommodation and living expenses. Coverage for approved medical insurance expenses. Support for visa-related charges. Air travel assistance as per scheme provisions. Financial aid for educational materials, books, and laptop purchases. Additional support for approved overseas study expenses. Benefits available for eligible postgraduate and PhD programmes. Assistance provided according to the applicant's family income category. Scholarship Assistance Category-wise Category 1: Annual Family Income Below ₹10 Lakh 100% tuition fee assistance for the approved course. Foreign study expense support up to the prescribed limit. Assistance for accommodation, food, travel, visa, and insurance expenses. Up to ₹1 lakh support for laptop, books, and educational requirements. Airfare assistance for eligible international travel as per guidelines. Category 2: Annual Family Income Between ₹10 Lakh and ₹20 Lakh 50% of eligible expenses provided as scholarship assistance. Remaining eligible amount may be availed through the prescribed loan facility, subject to applicable conditions. Category 3: Annual Family Income Between ₹20 Lakh and ₹30 Lakh 25% of eligible expenses provided as scholarship assistance. Additional eligible amount may be covered through the approved loan component. The remaining expenditure is to be borne by the applicant. Eligibility The applicant must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. The candidate must be a permanent resident of Karnataka. The applicant should have completed at least 10 years of education within Karnataka. A valid caste certificate issued by the competent authority is required. The student must have secured an Unconditional Offer Letter from an eligible foreign university or institution. The selected university should satisfy the ranking criteria prescribed under the scheme. For postgraduate courses, the maximum age limit is 40 years. For PhD programmes, the maximum age limit is 45 years. The annual family income must not exceed ₹30 lakh. Only one eligible member from a family can generally avail the scholarship benefits, subject to departmental provisions. Applicants already receiving overseas education assistance from another government department, corporation, or agency are not eligible. The scholarship can be availed once for postgraduate studies and once for PhD studies, subject to eligibility conditions. Government employees may apply after obtaining the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their department. Documents Aadhaar Card of the applicant. PAN Card. Valid Passport. Aadhaar Card of parent or guardian. Caste Certificate. Income Certificate. SSLC / Secondary School Marks Card. Degree Certificate or Convocation Certificate. Degree Transcript. All Semester Marks Cards. Latest Income Tax Returns of the family. I-20 Form or CAS document, wherever applicable. Unconditional Offer Letter from the foreign university. University Fee Structure or Tuition Fee Details. Family Income Affidavit. Domicile / Residence Certificate. Birth Certificate, if required. Any additional documents requested during verification. Applicants should ensure that all uploaded documents are valid, clear, and consistent with the information provided in the online application form. Process to Apply Obtain admission from an eligible foreign university and secure an Unconditional Offer Letter. Visit the official Foreign Studies Scholarship Portal of the Social Welfare Department, Karnataka. Complete the online registration process using the required details. Fill in personal, educational, caste, income, and contact information. Enter details of the selected foreign university and course. Upload all mandatory documents in the prescribed format. Verify that the university satisfies the ranking requirements specified under the scheme. Review the application carefully before final submission. Submit the application within the notified application period. Track the application status through the online portal. The department will verify the submitted documents and eligibility details. Eligible applicants will receive scholarship approval after successful verification. Selected students must comply with further instructions issued by the department for scholarship release. Affidavit Requirement Applicants may be required to submit a Family Income Affidavit after scholarship approval as per departmental instructions. The affidavit should be executed on the prescribed non-judicial stamp paper. It must contain declarations related to family income, caste status, authenticity of documents, and utilization of scholarship funds. The affidavit should be duly notarized before submission. Any false declaration may result in cancellation of scholarship benefits and recovery of funds. Candidates should follow the latest instructions available on the official portal regarding affidavit submission and document verification. Important Links Foreign Studies Scholarship Portal Online Application Portal Application Status Acknowledgement Reprint Social Welfare Department, Karnataka Contact Helpline Number: 080-25578422 Mobile Support: 9482300400 Email: swdpetc2011@gmail.com Department: Social Welfare Department, Government of Karnataka FAQs 1. What is the Karnataka Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Scholarship?It is a scholarship scheme that provides financial assistance to eligible SC and ST students of Karnataka for pursuing higher education at approved foreign universities. 2. Who can apply for this scholarship?Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students who meet the residence, income, age, academic, and admission requirements can apply. 3. What is the maximum family income limit?The annual family income of the applicant should not exceed ₹30 lakh. 4. Is an admission offer mandatory before applying?Yes. Applicants must possess an Unconditional Offer Letter from an eligible foreign university or institution. 5. What is the age limit under the scheme?The maximum age is 40 years for postgraduate courses and 45 years for PhD programmes. 6. Does the scholarship cover living expenses abroad?Yes. Eligible students may receive assistance towards accommodation, food, travel, insurance, and other approved educational expenses according to their income category. 7. Can government employees apply for the scholarship?Yes. Government employees may apply if they fulfill all eligibility conditions and provide the required No Objection Certificate (NOC). 8. How can applicants track their application status?Applicants can check the progress of their application through the official scholarship portal using the prescribed login details.