Pune: Twenty-one students from economically weaker sections of the open category have been selected for Maharashtra’s overseas education scholarship scheme for the academic year 2026-27.The students will pursue postgraduate degrees at universities in Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany.The Higher and Technical Education Department announced the selection list on Saturday. The scholarship scheme, introduced in 2018, supports students from economically weaker sections of the open category who wish to pursue higher education abroad.“I had been looking at universities abroad but the cost of tuition and living expenses was a major concern. The scholarship has made my plan much more realistic, and I am looking forward to using the opportunity to build expertise in my field,” said one of the selected students.Another student said, “Getting selected for the scholarship is a big step towards my academic goal. Studying at an international university will give me exposure to new research methods and a wider academic environment.”The scheme provides scholarships for postgraduate degree and diploma courses, with 40 seats available. Following a review of the scheme, the state govt issued a revised decision on June 10, making some changes to the implementation process.Applications received for 2026-27 were scrutinised before the final selection. At a meeting chaired by the additional chief secretary on Sept 17, it was decided to award scholarships to 21 eligible candidates.The selected students will pursue courses in diverse fields, including economics, astrophysics, biology, management, information security, computer science, cybersecurity, microbiology, architecture and design, pharmacy and technology.For the students, the scholarship is expected to ease the financial burden of studying at overseas universities and allow them to pursue specialised courses that may otherwise be difficult to afford.The govt has also laid down conditions for the scholarship. The selected students will be required to complete their chosen course within the stipulated period. No additional financial assistance will be provided if the course extends beyond the approved duration.The scholarship will be subject to verification by the home department. If any student is found to have furnished incorrect information in the application or submitted documents with discrepancies, the scholarship may be cancelled and the amount already disbursed recovered in full. In such cases, the guarantors may also be held responsible.The department has directed the selected students to comply with all conditions of the scheme while pursuing their studies abroad.
