What is the purpose of Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Science, IT & Communications, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.

Who can apply for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Eligibility for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.

What benefits are offered under Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Benefits under Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.

Which department manages Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship is managed by Department Of Science & Technology and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.

Can users apply online for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.

Is Aadhaar mandatory for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.

Where can users apply for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Applications for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.

What documents may be required for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.

Is income certificate required for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship.

Is Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship a central government scheme?

Yes, Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.

Can students apply for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.

Is scholarship amount provided under Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.

Can CSC centres help users apply for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.

How can users check the latest updates for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.

Can beneficiaries track application status for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?

Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.

Where can users get help for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship in All India?

Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.

Which nearby public services may help with Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship applications?

Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.

Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship – eligibility, benefits & apply

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): No

Categories: Science, IT & Communications

Sub-categories: Research & Development

Target beneficiaries: Individual

Tags: Overseas, Doctoral, Fellowship, Fellow, Young Scientist

Details

Objectives:

To build national capacity in frontier areas of Science and Engineering, which are of interest to India by providing research training to PhD students admitted in Indian institutions in overseas universities/institutions of repute.
To provide an opportunity for performing Indian research students to gain exposure and access to top-class research facilities in academia and labs in specific Overseas Universities.
To create opportunities to build long-term R&D linkages and collaborations with accomplished scientists and technologists from around the world.
To tap the expertise gained by these young scientists to strengthen/initiate national programmes in their domain knowledge.

Duration of Fellowship:

The duration of the research training is up to a period of twelve months. In exceptional circumstances, the fellowship may be extended for six more months' subject to performance evaluation.

Benefits

1. The selected fellows will be paid a monthly fellowship amount equivalent to US $ 2000, one-time Contingency/Preparatory allowances of ₹60,000/- to cover visa fees, airport transfer charges, medical insurance, etc. 1. The selected fellows will also be provided the shortest route economy class airfare from their place of work in India to the place of the host institute and back. Students should make their own arrangements for accommodation etc. 1. One visit, each by the Indian supervisor to the Overseas Institution where the student is working and overseas faculty to the host Indian Institution of the student is also admissible under the Scheme. The following provisions are made for them to undertake research visits:
Travel: Both the Indian supervisor and overseas scientist will be provided the shortest route round-trip economy class airfare not exceeding ₹1.5 lakhs per round trip from their place of work to the city of the host institute and back. Any additional cost would have to be borne by the visitors
Per-diem (Subsistence Allowance): Indian Supervisors to Overseas Country Overseas host to India Overseas host to India Up to 14 days&amp;gt;14 and up to 30 daysUS $ 75 per day up to 30 days₹3000/- per day₹2000/- per day
Accommodation: Indian Supervisors to Overseas Country Indian supervisors to Overseas Country Overseas host to India Overseas host to India Up to 14 days&amp;gt;14 and up to 30 daysUp to 14 days&amp;gt;14 and up to 30 daysUS $ 150 per dayUS $ 100 per day₹4500/- per day₹3000/- per day
Contingencies and related travel costs: Allowance of US $ 250 per visit is provided to both Indian Supervisor and Overseas host to cover the expenditure incurred towards visa fees, travel / medical insurance, airport transfers, and other contingencies. Note: For scientists/researchers in regular employment, rules governing payment of salary, leave, medical, gratuity, GPF pension, etc. of the organization/ institution/ university to which the faculty belongs would continue to be applicable. No liability on any of these accounts will be borne by SERB

The selected fellows will be paid a monthly fellowship amount equivalent to US $ 2000, one-time Contingency/Preparatory allowances of ₹60,000/- to cover visa fees, airport transfer charges, medical insurance, etc.
The selected fellows will also be provided the shortest route economy class airfare from their place of work in India to the place of the host institute and back. Students should make their own arrangements for accommodation etc.
One visit, each by the Indian supervisor to the Overseas Institution where the student is working and overseas faculty to the host Indian Institution of the student is also admissible under the Scheme. The following provisions are made for them to undertake research visits:

Travel: Both the Indian supervisor and overseas scientist will be provided the shortest route round-trip economy class airfare not exceeding ₹1.5 lakhs per round trip from their place of work to the city of the host institute and back. Any additional cost would have to be borne by the visitors.
Per-diem (Subsistence Allowance):

Indian Supervisors to Overseas CountryOverseas host to IndiaOverseas host to IndiaUp to 14 days&gt;14 and up to 30 daysUS $ 75 per day up to 30 days₹3000/- per day₹2000/- per day

Accommodation:

Indian Supervisors to Overseas CountryIndian supervisors to Overseas CountryOverseas host to India*Overseas host to India**Up to 14 days&gt;14 and up to 30 daysUp to 14 days&gt;14 and up to 30 daysUS $ 150 per dayUS $ 100 per day₹4500/- per day₹3000/- per day

Contingencies and related travel costs: Allowance of US $ 250 per visit is provided to both Indian Supervisor and Overseas host to cover the expenditure incurred towards visa fees, travel / medical insurance, airport transfers, and other contingencies.
Note: For scientists/researchers in regular employment, rules governing payment of salary, leave, medical, gratuity, GPF pension, etc. of the organization/ institution/ university to which the faculty belongs would continue to be applicable. No liability on any of these accounts will be borne by SERB.

Eligibility

The scheme is open to Indian nationals only.
The applicant should have registered for a full-time Ph.D. Degree in any of the recognized Institutions / Universities in India in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (including Medicine, Pharma, Agriculture, and related S&T areas) disciplines.
Part-time and sponsored students are not considered under the scheme.
The students who have submitted their thesis for the award of the Degree of Ph.D. are not eligible to apply.

Note 01: The selected fellows while taking up the SERB overseas fellowship should not draw their regular research fellowship in India.
Note 02: The exchange visit of the supervisors should be during the tenure of the Ph.D. work of the applicant. Both supervisors should ensure a residency period of at least two weeks and not exceeding 30 days in their respective foreign institutes.
Note 03: The Indian Institution should ensure the availability of necessary facilities including scientific equipment, infrastructure, research personnel, etc. for facilitating the visit of overseas scientists for undertaking collaborative research. The institution should also extend all necessary administrative support to the proposed work.
Note 04: Purdue faculty may support only one OVDF application per call.

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

6.5

/ 10

Public Benefit Score

Accessibility 5.0/10 Moderate

Rural usefulness 6.0/10 Moderate

Application complexity 5.0/10 Moderate

Financial impact 9.0/10 Good

Literacy barrier 2.0/10 Good

Women inclusivity 5.0/10 Moderate

Awareness 7.5/10 Good

Implementation reliability 7.0/10 Good

Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens

Accessibility5.0
Financial impact9.0
Rural utility6.0
Awareness7.5
Simplicity5.0
Inclusivity5.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The scheme provides valuable opportunities for PhD students to gain international research experience, enhancing their academic and professional prospects.

Key challenges addressed

Lack of exposure to international research facilities
Limited collaboration opportunities with global scientists

Most beneficial for

PhD students in Science and Engineering fields
Young researchers seeking international experience

Likely challenges

Complex application process
Limited awareness among potential beneficiaries

Practical insights for citizens

The scheme is practical for those with institutional support but may be challenging for individuals without guidance.

Rural challenges

Limited access to information about the scheme
Difficulty in coordinating with overseas institutions

Digital challenges

Dependence on digital communication for applications
Limited internet access in rural areas

Implementation bottlenecks

Complexity of the application process
Need for institutional support

Awareness challenges

Low awareness among potential beneficiaries in rural areas

Application analysis

Application mode: Offline office
Documents burden: Minimal, specific to university agreements
Verification complexity: Moderate, involves institutional verification
Office dependency: High, requires interaction with universities
DBT dependency: None
CSC support: Limited
Estimated citizen effort: High, requires significant effort to coordinate with overseas institutions

Estimated beneficiary reach

Rural / urban reach Moderate
Gender reach Moderate
Target income group Middle to upper income
Occupation reach Academics and researchers

Benefit analysis

Benefit type: Composite
Benefit frequency: One-time and monthly during fellowship
Benefit practicality: High, but dependent on institutional collaboration
Financial meaningfulness: Moderate, significant for students but not life-changing
Long-term impact: Positive, enhances research capabilities and career prospects

Plain-language guidance

The Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship helps PhD students in India gain research experience abroad. It offers financial support for travel and living expenses.

Who should apply: PhD students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields.
Who may struggle: Students without institutional support or those unfamiliar with the application process.
Best application route: Apply directly through the respective overseas universities with which SERB has agreements.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Offline

Application Procedure:

Step 01: Applications are invited from Ph.D. students to work with Overseas Institutions who had signed an Agreement / MoU with SERB for student mobility.
Step 02: The applicants who intend to undertake a research visit to the following Universities with whom SERB had signed an MoU should apply directly to the University:
1. Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA
Contact Person: Ms. Heidi Arola (harola@purdue.edu), Director for Global Partnerships.
More Details available at: http://www.purdue.edu/india/
2. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Contact Person: Ms. Nicole Dewart (uaissp@ualberta.ca), Senior Coordinator, Sponsored Student Program
More Details available at: https://www.ualberta.ca/international/international-relations/asia/student-mobility/serb/serb-students
> Selection Procedure:

The selection would be made among students who obtained an offer letter from an overseas institution to carry out research in chosen areas of interest to India.
Note 01: Purdue faculty may support only one OVDF application per call.
Note 02: The OVDF applicant should contact the above Universities for undertaking this fellowship.

Contact Person:

The contact details of Programme Officer at SERB is given below:
Programme Coordinator, Overseas VDF,
Science and Engineering Research Board
3rd & 4th Floor, Block II, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110016
Email : ovdf@serb.gov.in , Phone : 011 - 2655 2210, 011 - 2655 2135.
Applicant may also refer "Form Submission" process for smooth submission of the form.

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

What are the objectives of the Scheme?: The following are the objectives of the scheme: To build national capacity in frontier areas of Science and Engineering, which are of interest to India by providing research training to PhD students admitted in Indian institutions in overseas universities/institutions of repute. To provide an opportunity for performing Indian research students to gain exposure and access to top-class research facilities in academia and labs in specific Overseas Universities. To create opportunities to build long-term R&D linkages and collaborations with accomplished scientists and technologists from around the world. To tap the expertise gained by these young scientists to strengthen/ initiate national programmes in their domain knowledge.
Which is the implementing agency of this scheme?: Science and Engineering Research Board, Government of India
What are the eligibility criteria for applying/availing the Fellowship?: The scheme is open to Indian nationals only. The applicant should have registered for full-time Ph.D. Degree in any of the recognized Institutions / Universities in India in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (including Medicine, Pharma, Agriculture and related S&T areas) disciplines. Part-time and sponsored students are not considered under the Program. Also students who have submitted their thesis for award of the Degree of Ph.D. are not eligible to apply.
What are the areas covered under this Fellowship?: All areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (including Medicine, Pharma, Agriculture and related S&T areas) disciplines will be covered by this fellowship.
What is the nature of support for the Fellow?: The selected fellows will be paid a monthly fellowship amount equivalent to US $ 2000, one-time Contingency/Preparatory allowances of ₹60,000/- to cover visa fee, airport transfer charges, medical insurance etc. The selected fellows will also be provided shortest route economy class air fare from their place of work in India to the place of the host institute and back. Students should make their own arrangement for accommodation etc.
Will SERB provide any leave, medical, etc. to the Supervisor of the fellowship awardee during his/her visit to the Overseas Host Institute?: For supervisors who are in regular employment, rules governing payment of salary, leave, medical, gratuity, GPF and pension etc. of the organization/ institution/ university to which the fellow belongs would continue to be applicable. No liability on any of these accounts will be borne by SERB.
When can we apply for the OVD Fellowship Programme? Is it open throughout the year?: The application for consideration under the Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship Program (OVDF) can be submitted only when the call for application is made by Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA and University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Can the Fellowship awardee claim their regular institute fellowship while during OVDF period?: The selected fellows while taking up the SERB overseas fellowship should not draw their regular research fellowship in India.
When should the selected fellows start their OVDF Fellowship?: The candidates selected for the award of the fellowship should commence their research in the overseas institution as per the letter of offer given by Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA and University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Is there any time limit to the visit of Supervisors to their respective Overseas Institutes?: The exchange visit of the supervisors should be during the tenure of the Ph.D. work of the applicant. Both supervisors should ensure a residency period of at least two weeks and not exceeding 30 days in their respective foreign institutes.

Official links

References

Guidelines: https://anrfonline.in/ANRF/ovdf?HomePage=New
Form Submission Process: https://www.serbonline.in/SERB_Help/pi/Multiscreen_HTML5/desktop/Proposal_Submission_for_Overseas_Visting_Doctoral_Fellowship_(OVDF)_scheme.htm
Important Details: https://serb.gov.in/page/english/research_networking#Overseas%20Visiting%20Doctoral%20Fellowship

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Science, IT & Communications, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Eligibility for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Benefits under Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship is managed by Department Of Science & Technology and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Applications for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is income certificate required for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship.
Is Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship a central government scheme?: Yes, Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Can students apply for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.
Is scholarship amount provided under Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.
Can CSC centres help users apply for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship?: Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship in All India?: Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship applications?: Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.