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TNOU Scholarship and Fee Concession: Who Qualifies

Updated 3 October 2026 Scholarship 4 min read

Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) offers scholarships for SC/ST students and tuition fee exemption for differently-abled students. SC/ST students can get non-refundable fee reimbursement if their parents’ annual income is below Rs 1,00,000/. Differently-abled students are eligible for tuition fee exemption upon paying a Rs.300/- application fee and submitting a disability certificate.

Key facts

SC/ST Parents’ Annual Income Limit Rs 1,00,000/
Differently-Abled Application Fee Rs.300/-
Online Admission Last Date for AY 2026-27 13 October 2026

Scholarship for SC/ST Students

TNOU offers reimbursement of non-refundable fees for eligible Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students pursuing distance education in the formal stream. This scholarship is provided as per G.O.M/s No 73, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare (ADW) (III) Department dated 14.07.2004.

TNOU has not published specific scholarship application deadlines for AY 2026-27 as of 02 October 2026.

  • Student must be from SC/ST category.
  • Student must be pursuing distance education (formal stream).
  • Student must not be employed.
  • Annual income of the student’s parents must not exceed Rs 1,00,000/.
  1. Obtain the prescribed scholarship application form from the Offices of the Adi Dravidar/Tribal Welfare Department.
  2. Pay the University fees for your programme.
  3. Fill out the application form and include supporting documents, such as your Savings Bank Account Number, Name of the Bank, and Branch.
  4. Submit the completed application to the Director, SSSD, TNOU.
TNOU: Scholarship for SC/ST Students — step-by-step
Scholarship for SC/ST Students: the steps at a glance.

Fee Exemption for Differently-Abled Students

Differently-abled students enrolled in a programme at TNOU are eligible for tuition fee exemption. This provision is based on G.O. Ms. No 429, Higher Education Department, dated 16-10-2008.

  • Student must be a differently-abled person.
  • Student must be pursuing a programme at the University.
  1. Apply for admission using the prescribed Application Form.
  2. Enclose a copy of your disability certificate with the application.
  3. Submit a core banking challan for Rs.300/- along with your application.

Online Admission for Academic Year 2026-27

Students applying for admission to TNOU programmes for the Academic Year 2026-27 must complete the online TNOU Admission 2026: Step-by-Step Application Process”>admission process. The last date for online admission for AY 2026-27 has been extended up to 13 October 2026.

Scholarship and fee concession applications are typically processed after admission to a programme.

  1. Visit the Tamil Nadu Open University website.
  2. Click on the ‘ONLINE ADMISSION’ menu.
  3. On the new page, click on ‘NEW REGISTRATION’ for fresh applications.
  4. For already registered students, use the link for document upload or fee payment services.
  5. Fill in your application details as required on the portal.

Documents Required for Online Admission

When applying for online admission, which is a prerequisite for scholarship applications, ensure you have the following documents and information ready:

  • Valid e-mail ID
  • A Mobile Number
  • Credit Card/Debit Card/Internet Banking for fee payment
  • JPEG File of Highest Qualification Certificate (10th /+2/Degree/Diploma/)
  • Community Certificate (for students wishing to avail scholarship)
  • Scanned copy of applicant’s recently taken colour photo
  • Scanned copy of the applicant’s signature
What you can do Official page
Start TNOU online admission tnouportal.in/OnlineadmissionHomeAY2026.aspx
View TNOU admission procedure tnou.ac.in/admissionprocedure.php

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for the SC/ST scholarship at TNOU?

SC/ST students pursuing distance education (formal stream) are eligible if they are not employed and their parents’ annual income does not exceed Rs 1,00,000/.

What benefit do SC/ST students receive from the scholarship?

Eligible SC/ST students receive reimbursement of their non-refundable fees.

How do SC/ST students apply for the scholarship?

Students must obtain the prescribed form from the Adi Dravidar/Tribal Welfare Department, pay university fees, and then submit the form with supporting documents (including bank details) to the Director, SSSD, TNOU.

What is the eligibility for tuition fee exemption for differently-abled students?

Differently-abled students pursuing a programme at the University are eligible for tuition fee exemption.

What is the application fee for differently-abled students seeking fee exemption?

Differently-abled students must submit a core banking challan for Rs.300/- along with their admission application and disability certificate.

What is the last date for online admission for AY 2026-27?

The last date for online admission for the Academic Year 2026-27 is 13 October 2026.

What documents are needed for TNOU online admission?

You need a valid e-mail ID, mobile number, payment method, JPEG of your highest qualification certificate, a scanned colour photo, and a scanned copy of your signature. A Community Certificate is also required if you wish to avail a scholarship.

Sources

Written from the official TNOU pages and documents below, as read on 2 October 2026.

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