For 26-year-old Aarav Mane (name changed), studying abroad was once a distant possibility. Coming from a rural farming family with limited financial resources, he knew that pursuing a master’s degree overseas would be difficult for his parents to afford. Today, he has completed a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence at Monash University in Australia, with support from a government scholarship.Mane, whose name has been changed to protect his privacy, received assistance under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme for the period 2024 to 2026. The scholarship covered his tuition fees, living expenses and other education-related costs, helping him continue his studies despite the financial pressures on his family.
Rising costs made overseas education harder
Mane’s challenges did not end with securing an opportunity to study in Australia. His parents had worked hard to support his education, but the cost of an international degree remained a considerable burden. Limited access to guidance and information about overseas education had also made the process more difficult.During his course, increasing university tuition fees in the later semesters added to the pressure. Accommodation, living expenses and academic requirements further stretched the family’s resources.The scholarship helped meet these expenses and allowed him to focus on completing his degree. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Mane has now graduated from Monash University and is working towards establishing his professional career.
What the National Overseas Scholarship offers
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs the National Overseas Scholarship to help eligible students from disadvantaged communities pursue master’s and doctoral degrees at foreign universities.The scheme covers low-income students belonging to Scheduled Castes, De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, landless agricultural labourer families and traditional artisan communities. According to the ministry’s scheme information, 125 scholarships are allotted annually, including 115 for Scheduled Caste candidates. Thirty per cent of the scholarships for each selection year are earmarked for women.For students whose families cannot meet the cost of an international education, the assistance can make overseas academic opportunities more accessible.
National Overseas Scholarship helps rural student complete master’s in Artificial Intelligence at Australia’s Monash University
Returning to India with an AI career goal
After completing his degree, Mane hopes to work as an Artificial Intelligence Engineer in India. He wants to develop AI-driven solutions and contribute to the country’s growing technology sector.His immediate focus is on building a professional career, but his educational journey also reflects the role financial assistance can play in helping students from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds access international higher education.For a young graduate whose family’s farming income once made overseas study seem out of reach, completing a master’s degree in Australia is a significant academic milestone.
