To support higher education of minority communities, the government of Tamil Nadu has introduced a new overseas scholarship programme for muslim students. This initiative comes three years after the central government discontinued the Padho Pardesh scheme, leaving a gap in financial support for students pursuing studies abroad.
Under this scholarship programme, ten muslim students will be selected each year to receive financial assistance of up to ₹36 lakh per student. The scholarship will support those who secure admission in institutions ranked within the top 250 of the Global QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) rankings, ensuring access to globally recognized universities. The scheme will be implemented on a pilot basis through the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board.
The scholarship aims to cover postgraduate studies across a wide range of fields, including engineering and management, pure and applied sciences, agricultural science, medicine, international commerce, economics, accounting and finance, humanities, social sciences, fine arts, and law.
To be eligible, applicants’ total family income must not exceed ₹8 lakh per year. Additionally, students must have achieved at least 60% marks or an equivalent grade in their undergraduate studies. They must have received an unconditional admission offer from the university they intend to join. Candidates must also be under 30 years of age as of April 1 of the selection year.
The scholarship package has two main components. The first covers tuition fees, while the second provides for living expenses, visa fees, medical insurance premiums, and airfare at the start and end of the programme. The total funding under both components will not exceed ₹36 lakh per student, or the actual expenditure, whichever is lower. The financial support will be disbursed in four equal installments over the course of the study programme.
The move reflects the Tamil Nadu government’s commitment to promoting educational and economic advancement among minority communities. A State-level selection committee will evaluate applications to ensure that the most deserving candidates benefit from the scholarship. For the 2025–26 academic year, the government has sanctioned a total of ₹3.60 crore to support this initiative.
With this scholarship, Tamil Nadu is taking a proactive step in empowering Muslim students to pursue world-class education abroad, opening doors for global opportunities and future career growth.
