Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship (OVDF)

What is the Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship (OVDF)?

The Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship (OVDF) is a research-training fellowship that enables PhD students registered in Indian institutions to spend a period of up to 12 months at a leading overseas university or research institute. It is run by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which has absorbed the schemes of the erstwhile Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB); under the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology.

According to the ANRF/SERB scheme information, OVDF is designed to give doctoral scholars exposure to high-end research facilities, methods and mentoring that may not be available in their home institution, and to build lasting research links between Indian and foreign laboratories. The training abroad is expected to feed directly into the scholar's ongoing PhD thesis rather than being a separate degree.

Key features

• Fellowship of USD 2,000 per month during the overseas stay.
• One-time contingency grant of Rs 60,000 towards visa, transfers and medical insurance.
• Round-trip economy-class airfare from the fellow's workplace to the host institute.
• Training period of up to 12 months at an overseas institution of repute.
• Covers science, technology, engineering, mathematics and allied fields including medicine, pharmacy and agriculture.

Who is eligible for OVDF?

You can apply if:

• You are an Indian citizen.
• You are enrolled as a full-time PhD student in a recognised Indian university or research institution.
• Your area of work falls within science, engineering, medicine, pharmacy, agriculture or an allied discipline supported by ANRF/SERB.
• You have secured an invitation or acceptance from a suitable overseas university or institute for the training period.
• Your Indian supervisor and institution issue a no-objection for the visit.

You cannot apply if:

• You are a part-time PhD scholar or are already sponsored for study abroad.
• You have already submitted your PhD thesis for the award of the degree.
• You do not have a confirmed host abroad. The fellowship is not sanctioned for open-ended searches.
• You are not registered for a PhD in an Indian institution — OVDF is for scholars whose degree is anchored in India, not for independent researchers or those enrolled abroad.

Because OVDF is a doctoral training fellowship, it is narrowly targeted: undergraduate and master's students, post-doctoral researchers and working professionals who are not registered PhD candidates are outside its scope.

What documents are required for OVDF?

How to apply for OVDF

1. Watch the ANRF/SERB website (serb.gov.in) for the OVDF call and read the current guidelines and eligibility conditions in full.
2. Identify a suitable overseas host, a university or institute working in your research area, and obtain a written invitation or acceptance for the training period.
3. Get your Indian supervisor and institution to endorse the visit and issue a no-objection certificate.
4. Prepare your research plan, academic records and the required supporting documents.
5. Submit the online application through the ANRF/SERB portal within the notified window, uploading the host invitation and all documents.
6. If selected, complete the sanction formalities and travel arrangements as advised by ANRF before beginning the overseas training.

Because OVDF operates through periodic calls, there is no rolling individual enrolment. You apply when a call is open and a host is confirmed.

How much benefit does OVDF provide?

The core benefit is a monthly fellowship of USD 2,000 for the duration of the overseas training, up to 12 months. In addition, ANRF/SERB provides a one-time contingency grant of Rs 60,000 to help with visa, local transfers and medical insurance, and reimburses a round-trip economy-class air fare between the fellow's workplace in India and the host institute abroad.

The fellowship is intended to cover the individual scholar's costs during the research visit. It does not fund tuition-style fees, family travel or the purchase of major equipment.

Help and contact

• OVDF programme email: ovdf[at]serb[dot]gov[dot]in
• Phone: 011-26552210
• ANRF/SERB portal: serb.gov.in and anrfonline.in

Applicants should always confirm the exact fellowship amounts, tenure and eligibility conditions against the current OVDF call on the ANRF/SERB website before applying, as figures are revised from time to time.