Tamil Nadu Govt to Fully Fund Overseas Study for College Students

• Fifty final-year students, mainly from rural areas, will be selected.
• State government will fund tuition, travel, and accommodation.
• Students will study at top QS-ranked universities with credit transfer.

Students from government arts, science, and engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu will join their counterparts from top private institutions in studying abroad for a semester, as the Higher Education Department seeks partnerships with accredited foreign universities.

A senior official informed DT that the semester abroad program would be available to students in their final year next. Describing the specifics of the initiative started by the Tamil Nadu government, the official stated that 50 students would be chosen, primarily from rural regions, according to particular criteria such as their academic achievements. Eventually, it would be broadened for additional students based on need.

"The entire expense, including travel and accommodation, will be borne by the State government,” he said, noting that the program was anticipated to be officially introduced shortly.

“It will be a unique opportunity for the students to gain international learning and living experience, and they will get a chance to work with eminent faculty members of those universities,” he said.

In this programme, courses that are currently popular will be chosen based on input and recommendations from experts and senior officials in the Higher Education Department, unlike the usual exchange programmes provided by private institutions, the official stated.

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"Only those foreign universities that have a high World QS Ranking score will be selected for the programme," he said.

The program would guarantee that students have the chance to operate in a multicultural, global setting, which will enhance self-assurance and autonomy, he stated, noting that they would also acquire the best research methods and experiences through engagement with research academics.

Once the study abroad period concludes and students go back to their home institutions to resume their studies, the credits obtained at the foreign university will be transferred to their degree program through a quality conversion process, he noted.