Anna University, headquartered in Chennai, administers several scholarship and fee-waiver schemes for students enrolled in its affiliated and constituent colleges across Tamil Nadu. These schemes are funded by a mix of the Tamil Nadu state government, the central government’s Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST, and Anna University’s own welfare fund. For the 2026-27 academic year, the following programs are active.
1. Free Education Scheme (FES) for First Graduate students
This is the most widely-used scheme at Anna University. The Tamil Nadu government covers the full tuition fee for students who are the first graduate in their family, provided their parental annual income is below the prescribed limit.
Eligibility
- The student must be the first graduate in their family (no parent, grandparent, or sibling who has completed a degree)
- Parental annual income must be at or below the state-prescribed ceiling (currently ₹2.5 lakh per annum, revised periodically)
- The student must be a Tamil Nadu domicile
- Admission must be through TNEA (Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions) counselling, not management quota
- Course must be a regular UG programme at an Anna University affiliated college
What you get
Full tuition fee waiver for the entire course duration (typically 4 years for B.E./B.Tech, 5 years for B.Arch). The waiver applies only to the tuition component, not to hostel fees or special fees.
How to apply
- During TNEA counselling, declare your first-graduate status and submit the First Graduate Certificate
- The First Graduate Certificate must be obtained from your Tahsildar before counselling
- Submit Community Certificate (if applicable) and Income Certificate from the same Tahsildar’s office
- Once admitted, the college will process the FES claim automatically
- No separate online application is needed for this scheme
2. SC/ST Post-Matric Scholarship
Students belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe categories receive their tuition fee, exam fee, and a monthly maintenance allowance under the centrally-sponsored Post-Matric Scholarship. Tamil Nadu administers it through the e-Sevai portal.
Eligibility
- Student must hold a valid SC or ST community certificate from a Tamil Nadu Tahsildar
- Parental annual income must be below ₹2.5 lakh per annum
- Student must be a regular full-time student at an Anna University affiliated college
- Cannot have failed in the previous academic year
How to apply
Apply via the Tamil Nadu e-Sevai portal (tnesevai.tn.gov.in) under the SC/ST Welfare Department schemes. Fresh applications open every July, renewal applications open every August.
3. Single Girl Child Scholarship
Anna University provides a special scholarship for girl students who are the only child in the family. The scheme rewards families that have invested in their daughter’s professional education.
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a girl student admitted to an Anna University UG or PG programme
- She must be the only child of her parents (no siblings, brother or sister)
- Family income must be below the state ceiling
What you get
A scholarship amount in the range of ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 per year, plus fee concessions, depending on the year of study and the merit position.
4. Sports Scholarship
Students who have represented the state or country in recognised sports events at the school or college level are eligible for the Anna University Sports Scholarship.
Eligibility
- Representation at state-level (gold medal) or national-level (any medal) in a recognised sport
- The sport must be on the Anna University recognised list
- Certificate must be from a state or national federation, not a private club
Amount
Sports scholarships at Anna University typically range from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 per year, depending on the level of representation. International medalists may receive higher amounts case-by-case.
5. Merit Scholarship for College Toppers
Students who finish in the top 10 percentile of their batch in any semester are eligible for the Merit Scholarship. The scheme is funded from the Anna University Endowment Fund and the Alumni Association’s annual contribution.
Eligibility
- Cumulative GPA of 8.5 or above
- No backlogs in any semester
- Rank within the top 10 of the department
Amount
Between ₹5,000 and ₹25,000 depending on the rank position and the specific endowment under which the scholarship is awarded.
Documents you will need
Regardless of which scheme you apply for, keep these documents ready:
- First Graduate Certificate (for FES) – issued by Tahsildar
- Community Certificate (SC/ST/OBC/MBC/BC) – issued by Tahsildar
- Income Certificate – issued by Tahsildar, valid for one academic year
- Aadhaar card – linked to active mobile number
- Bank passbook – in the student’s name, IFSC visible
- Class 10 and 12 mark sheets
- Bonafide certificate from college
- Passport-size photographs – 4 copies
- Sports certificates – if applying under Sports Scholarship
Common reasons applications are rejected
From watching many students go through this process, the most common rejection causes are:
- First Graduate Certificate dated after admission: The certificate must be dated before the academic year started. Get it the same week you confirm your seat.
- Income certificate expired: Income certificates have a one-year validity. Many students submit one from the previous year, which gets rejected during verification.
- Bank account in parent’s name: The scholarship is disbursed only to the student’s own account. Open one in the student’s name with Aadhaar seeded.
- Community certificate mismatch: The community certificate must match the community declared in the admission application. Any mismatch leads to a long verification delay.
- Failed semester: A backlog in any subject disqualifies the student for that academic year’s scholarship. Clearing the backlog in the supplementary exam restores eligibility for the next cycle.
Frequently asked questions
Can a student claim both FES and SC/ST Post-Matric simultaneously?
Yes. FES covers tuition fee from the state government, while SC/ST Post-Matric covers maintenance allowance and other components. They are not mutually exclusive.
What if my college is not on the Anna University affiliation list?
Then the Anna University schemes do not apply. However, the Tamil Nadu government runs equivalent schemes for other state universities. Check with your college’s scholarship coordinator.
Is the scholarship paid before or after fees are deposited?
For FES, the college usually waives the tuition fee upfront and recovers it from the state government. For SC/ST Post-Matric, students typically pay fees first and receive reimbursement later. For the merit scholarship, payment is at the end of the academic year.
Can a management quota student get FES?
No. FES is only for students admitted through TNEA single-window counselling. Management quota and NRI quota are excluded.
Where do I check my application status?
For FES, contact your college accounts office. For SC/ST Post-Matric, log in to e-Sevai portal and check the application tracker. For Anna University internal schemes, check with the Student Welfare Office at Anna University main campus.
Helpful contacts
- Anna University Student Welfare: 044-2235-7004
- Tamil Nadu Directorate of Collegiate Education: 044-2851-7404
- e-Sevai Helpline: 1100
Last verified: 14 May 2026. We update this page within 48 hours of any official notification. If you spot an inaccuracy, write to us at editor@scholarshiparena.in.