Tamil Nadu Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship Scheme

About the Scheme

The Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship Scheme is an overseas education scholarship implemented by the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, to support students from the Adi Dravidar (Scheduled Caste), Scheduled Caste Converted Christian (SCC), and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities who wish to pursue higher education abroad. The scheme helps eligible students admitted to internationally recognised foreign universities by providing financial assistance for approved academic expenses, making overseas education more accessible to students from economically eligible families.

The scholarship is available for students admitted to Master's Degree, Ph.D., and Post-Doctoral Research programmes offered by foreign universities ranked within the Top 1,000 of the latest QS World University Rankings. Eligible programmes cover a wide range of disciplines, including Engineering and Management, Pure and Applied Sciences, Agricultural Science and Medicine, International Commerce, Economics, Accounting and Finance, Humanities, Social Sciences, Fine Arts, and Law.

Under the revised guidelines, the scholarship provides financial assistance of up to ₹36 lakh for students whose annual family income is up to ₹8 lakh, and up to ₹24 lakh for those with an annual family income above ₹8 lakh and up to ₹12 lakh, subject to the prescribed conditions. The assistance covers approved expenses such as tuition fees, living expenses, visa fees, medical insurance, economy-class airfare, equipment allowance, and applicable taxes.

Applications are accepted through an online portal, and candidates are shortlisted primarily based on the QS World University Ranking of the university where they have secured admission. Additional selection guidelines notified in 2026 also provide 10% reservation for Scheduled Tribe candidates, priority for eligible persons with disabilities and transgender applicants, and a defined merit-based process for resolving cases where multiple candidates qualify for the same university ranking.

The scheme continues to receive significant support from the State Government. In the Tamil Nadu Budget 2026–27, the Government announced that the scholarship would benefit 362 students during the year with an estimated expenditure of ₹131 crore, representing the highest-ever allocation made under the scheme.

Scheme Benefits

Eligible students selected under the scheme receive financial assistance towards approved expenses incurred for pursuing higher education abroad. The assistance is provided according to the applicant's annual family income and the actual expenditure approved under the scheme guidelines.

The scholarship includes support for the following components:

• Tuition fee charged by the foreign university.
• Living expenses during the approved course period.
• One-time economy class airfare.
• Visa fee.
• Medical insurance premium.
• Equipment allowance required for the course.
• Applicable taxes payable under the scholarship.

The maximum scholarship amount is as follows:

Note: The total assistance is limited to the actual eligible expenditure or the applicable scholarship ceiling, whichever is lower, as prescribed under the scheme guidelines.

Eligible Courses and Study Areas

Financial assistance is available only for students admitted to approved postgraduate and research programmes in eligible foreign universities.

The following courses are covered:

• Master's Degree
• Ph.D.
• Post-Doctoral Research

The scholarship is available for approved programmes in the following academic disciplines:

• Engineering and Management
• Pure Sciences
• Applied Sciences
• Agricultural Sciences
• Medicine
• International Commerce
• Economics
• Accounting
• Finance
• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Fine Arts
• Law

Only candidates admitted to these approved disciplines are eligible to receive scholarship assistance under the scheme.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must satisfy all the eligibility conditions prescribed under the scheme and the latest application notification. Failure to meet any of the mandatory requirements may result in rejection of the application.

To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must:

• Be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu.
• Belong to the Adi Dravidar (Scheduled Caste), Scheduled Caste Converted Christian (SCC), or Scheduled Tribe (ST) community.
• Have secured admission to an eligible foreign university for a Master's Degree, Ph.D., or Post-Doctoral Research programme.
• Obtain admission in a university ranked within the Top 1,000 in the latest QS World University Rankings.
• Satisfy the prescribed annual family income limit.
• Meet the applicable age limit for the selected course.
• Submit the online application along with all required supporting documents within the prescribed time limit.

Eligible Universities

The scholarship is available only for admission to foreign universities placed within the first 1,000 positions in the latest QS World University Rankings applicable for the relevant academic year.

The university ranking considered for selection will be the official QS World University Ranking available at the time of scrutiny. Applications for universities outside the prescribed ranking range are not eligible under the scheme.

Age Limit

The maximum permissible age is calculated as on 1st April of the year in which applications are invited.

Reservation and Priority

Selection under the scheme follows the reservation provisions notified by the Government.

• Scheduled Tribe Reservation
• 10% of the total scholarships available each year are reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates.
• If sufficient eligible ST candidates are not available, the unfilled vacancies are allotted to eligible Adi Dravidar (SC) and Scheduled Caste Converted Christian (SCC) applicants in accordance with the prescribed guidelines.

Priority Categories

While preparing the final selection list, preference is also provided to eligible applicants belonging to the following categories, as per the Government guidelines:

• Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
• Transgender persons.

Selection Process

Selection of applicants is carried out in accordance with the revised scheme guidelines.

• Applications are considered only after verifying eligibility and supporting documents.
• Eligible applicants are ranked based on the QS World University Ranking of the admitting university.
• Preference is given to candidates admitted to universities with a higher QS ranking.
• 10% of the scholarships are reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. Unfilled ST vacancies are allotted to eligible SC/SCC candidates.
• Priority is given to eligible Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and Transgender applicants as per Government guidelines.

Tie-Breaking Criteria

If two or more applicants are admitted to universities with the same QS World University Ranking, selection is made in the following order:

• Master's Degree
• Undergraduate Degree marks.
• Class 12 marks.
• Class 10 marks.
• Ph.D.
• Postgraduate Degree marks.
• Undergraduate Degree marks.
• Class 12 marks.
• Class 10 marks.
• Post-Doctoral Research

Tie-breaking is carried out as prescribed under the Government guidelines using the relevant academic qualifications.

Required Documents

Applicants must upload the following documents:

• University Offer Letter / Admission Letter (Conditional or Unconditional)
• Community Certificate
• Income Certificate
• Class 10 Mark Sheet
• Class 12 Mark Sheet
• Undergraduate Mark Sheets
• Postgraduate Mark Sheets (if applicable)
• Degree / Provisional Certificate
• Course Completion / Professional Certificate (if applicable)
• Aadhaar Card
• Ration Card
• Passport
• Latest three months' salary slips (if applicable)
• Income Tax Return (ITR) documents (if applicable)
• Disability Identity Card (if applicable)
• Recent passport-size photograph

Steps to Apply

Eligible students can apply for the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship Scheme by following these steps:

• Visit the official scholarship portal.
• Click on "New Applicant Register" and complete the registration using your name, email ID, mobile number, and a password.
• Log in to the portal using your registered email ID and password.
• Fill in the online application form with your personal, community, educational, course, university, and family income details.
• Upload all the required supporting documents in the prescribed format.
• Review the information entered in the application form and submit it online before the last date.
• Download or print the submitted application and keep it safely for future reference.

Important Conditions

Applicants selected under the scheme must comply with the following conditions:

• Admission must be obtained in an eligible foreign university before applying.
• The course should be one of the approved programmes under the scheme.
• Financial assistance is limited to the approved scholarship components.
• False information or submission of forged documents will lead to cancellation of the scholarship.
• The Government may recover the scholarship amount if the beneficiary violates the conditions of the scheme or furnishes incorrect information.

Personal Surety Bond

Selected candidates are required to execute a Personal Surety Bond in the prescribed format before the scholarship is released.

The bond forms part of the scheme guidelines and contains the conditions relating to compliance with the scholarship rules and recovery of the scholarship amount in case of violation of the prescribed terms.

Other Important Conditions

In addition to the eligibility, benefit, and selection criteria, the scheme guidelines prescribe the following conditions that applicants and awardees must be aware of:

Adjustment for Other Scholarships

If a candidate has already availed or is receiving any other scholarship for the same course of study, the amount of that scholarship will be deducted from the sanction admissible under Slab 1(36 lakh) or Slab 2 (24 lakh), as applicable, ensuring that the total financial assistance received by the candidate does not exceed the prescribed ceiling under the scheme.

Default and Refund Terms

• A student pursuing studies abroad will be treated as a defaulter for furnishing false information, indulging in unlawful activities, being debarred by the institution for misconduct, or discontinuing studies without substantial reason.
• On default, the awardee becomes liable to refund the entire amount spent on them, along with interest at 12% per annum.
• If the amount is not repaid within six months from the date of demand, a penal interest rate 2.5% higher than the normal rate (14.5% per annum) will be charged on the outstanding amount.
• The District Collector of the concerned district will recover the amount as arrears under the Revenue Recovery Act. A personal surety to this effect must be submitted by the student.

No Change of Institution/University After Admission

• No request for change of institution or university will be entertained after securing admission.
• If a selected candidate wishes to change the course or university, they must apply afresh in the next available round.

Employed Candidates

• Candidates who are employed must forward their application through their employer, along with a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

One-Time Award

An awardee cannot be considered for the scholarship a second or subsequent time; the benefit can be availed only once by an individual.

Annual Reporting Requirement

The Institution/University/individual must submit a course completion certificate and details of placement/job status to the Commissioner/Director, Adi Dravidar Welfare. The Commissioner/Director will also obtain the academic performance of the individual from the Institute/University every year.

Deferral of Admission

• Candidates may be allowed a maximum period of either one year or two intake deferrals, whichever is earlier, from the date of issuance of the provisional award letter, to join the university/institute abroad.
• Where a confirmation of award letter has been issued, the awardee must complete all procedures (verification of original documents, submission of bonds, etc.) before leaving the country, within six months of the confirmation letter or before departure, whichever is earlier, failing which the award will stand automatically cancelled.

Power of Attorney (POA) Provision

• If a selected candidate obtains admission and joins the university/institution abroad before executing the required bonds and is unable to return to India, they may execute a Power of Attorney (POA) authorizing a representative in India to execute the legal bonds/agreements/undertakings with the Government of Tamil Nadu on their behalf.
• Such POA must be attested/validated by the Indian Embassy/High Commission in the country where the candidate is pursuing studies.

Important Links

• Official Website of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu
• Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship Scheme Apply Portal
• Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship Scheme Guidelines
• Annal Ambedkar Additional Guidelines
• Annal Ambedkar Application Guidelines for 2026 27

Contact Details

• For further queries, please contact:1800 599 7638.