The Kerala e-Grantz Overseas Scholarship 2026-27 is a scheme of the Kerala Backward Classes Development Department that funds postgraduate and PhD study abroad for students from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities of Kerala. Selected students receive up to Rs 10 lakh or up to Rs 5 lakh towards their studies overseas, and the last date to apply online is 15 October 2026.
The scholarship is open only for study in universities ranked in the top 300 of the Times Higher Education World University Ranking. You must already have an offer or admission letter, be a Keralite from an eligible OBC community, have scored at least 60% in your qualifying degree, be below 40 years of age, and have a family annual income of not more than Rs 6 lakh.
This page gives the amount, the eligibility conditions, the courses and universities covered and the application steps, all taken from the department’s official notification for the 2026-27 year and the e-Grantz scholarship portal.
Kerala e-Grantz Overseas Scholarship 2026-27: quick facts
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | Backward Classes Development Department, Government of Kerala |
| Scholarship value | Up to Rs 10 lakh for the 20 lowest-income selected students and up to Rs 5 lakh for the next 30 selected students |
| Number of awards | 50 students in the 2026-27 notification, at least 20% of the Rs 10 lakh group and 25% of the Rs 5 lakh group reserved for OEC candidates |
| Study level | Postgraduate (PG) and PhD courses abroad only |
| Who can apply | Kerala OBC community students who have an offer letter from a university ranked in the top 300 of the Times Higher Education World University Ranking, are below 40 years of age and have a family income of Rs 6 lakh or less |
| Last date to apply | 15 October 2026 (online applications only, on the e-Grantz portal) |
| Official website | egrantz.kerala.gov.in |
What is the Kerala e-Grantz Overseas Scholarship?
The e-Grantz Overseas Scholarship is the Kerala Government’s support scheme for students from backward communities who want to study abroad. The 2026-27 notification is number BCDIR/416/2026-A2 of the Backward Classes Development Department, dated 7 September 2026, and it is issued for students who are going abroad for higher study in fields such as medicine and allied medical courses, engineering, pure science, applied science, social science, law, management and computer science, including advanced computing and artificial intelligence.
The scheme covers PG and PhD courses only. Applications are accepted only online on the e-Grantz portal, and after submitting the online form the printed application and supporting documents have to be produced before the department. The notification notes that minority-community students should not apply here, because the Minority Department runs a separate overseas scholarship.
Kerala overseas scholarship amount and number of awards
The notification selects 50 students in all and splits them into two groups by family income:
- The 20 students with the lowest family annual income are eligible for a scholarship of up to Rs 10 lakh, and
- the next 30 students are eligible for a scholarship of up to Rs 5 lakh, as study, research and living expenses.
At least 20% of the Rs 10 lakh group (a minimum of 5 students) and 25% of the Rs 5 lakh group (a minimum of 7 students) are reserved for students from the OEC communities. Selected beneficiaries are paid 25% of the course fee, up to a maximum of Rs 2.5 lakh, in advance once the agreement is signed. Students who receive the Rs 10 lakh scholarship have to declare any other government, semi-government or public-sector scholarship, fee concession or financial assistance they receive, and any course-fee or maintenance allowance received from another source has to be returned to the government.
Eligibility for the Kerala overseas scholarship 2026-27
The official notification lays down these conditions:
- The applicant must be a Keralite – a native or permanent resident of Kerala.
- The applicant must belong to a community listed in the Kerala OBC list (given as Annexure 1 of the notification). OEC students are given preference in the award of the scholarship.
- The applicant must have secured at least 60% marks in the qualifying degree. For a PhD course, at least 60% in the relevant postgraduate degree is required.
- The applicant must be below 40 years of age as on 15 October 2026.
- The family annual income must not exceed Rs 6 lakh. Where the declared income needs further scrutiny, additional conditions apply.
- Only one child from a family can get this scholarship, and students whose siblings or who themselves received it in earlier years are not eligible now.
- An offer letter or admission letter from the foreign university must be uploaded. Applicants who do not have one cannot apply.
- The university must be ranked in the top 300 of the Times Higher Education World University Ranking.
A caste certificate (SSLC or Plus Two certificate, or a caste certificate) and an income certificate obtained from the e-District portal have to be furnished for the online application.
How to apply for the Kerala e-Grantz Overseas Scholarship
- Keep your offer or admission letter from the top-300 ranked university, your degree certificate and consolidated mark list, your caste certificate and your e-District income certificate ready.
- Register and submit the online application on the e-Grantz portal at egrantz.kerala.gov.in before 15 October 2026. Only online applications are accepted.
- Upload the offer or admission letter and the qualifying degree certificate and mark list with the application.
- After submitting online, hand over the printed application with the supporting documents to the Backward Classes Development Department.
- Wait for the selection list, which is drawn up giving priority to the lowest family incomes, with reservation for OEC candidates.
Important dates and conditions after selection
- Online applications: open now, last date 15 October 2026.
- Age is reckoned as on 15 October 2026.
- Selected students must join the course within one year of the date of the award letter; otherwise the scholarship lapses.
- Students who took admission and then started study may apply in the same year or in the following year only.
- The scholarship is limited to courses of up to three years, except for a PhD.
- After selection, only the course and study centre can be changed; other changes are not allowed.
- Beneficiaries sign an agreement, and if the conditions of the scholarship are breached the government can recover the full amount with 18% penal interest.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
The official notification fixes 15 October 2026 as the last date for submitting the online application on the e-Grantz portal.
The 20 selected students with the lowest family income can get up to Rs 10 lakh, and the next 30 students can get up to Rs 5 lakh, as study, research and living expenses. 25% of the course fee, up to Rs 2.5 lakh, is paid in advance to selected beneficiaries.
Keralites from a community in the Kerala OBC list, below 40 years of age as on 15 October 2026, with a family annual income of not more than Rs 6 lakh, at least 60% marks in the qualifying degree, and an offer letter from a university ranked in the top 300 of the Times Higher Education World University Ranking.
Only postgraduate and PhD courses abroad, in medicine and allied medical courses, engineering, pure science, applied science, social science, law, management and computer science, including advanced computing and artificial intelligence.
No. The notification states that minority-community students should not apply under this scheme, because the Minority Department runs a separate overseas scholarship for them.
Fifty students are covered in the 2026-27 notification – 20 in the Rs 10 lakh group and 30 in the Rs 5 lakh group – with at least 20% and 25% of those groups respectively reserved for OEC candidates.
Official links
Related reading: Kerala e-Grantz Overseas Scholarship 2026-27 – official notification (PDF)
e-Grantz scholarship portal, Government of Kerala
Explore more: browse Kerala scholarships, study abroad scholarships and SC ST OBC scholarships.
Related scholarship posts
Related reading: Vidya Samunnathi Scholarship 2026-27: last date and how to apply
Chevening Scholarship 2027-28: apply by 6 October 2026
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2027-28: apply by 20 October 2026