The First Graduate Scholarship in Tamil Nadu is a tuition fee concession (waiver) for students who are the first person in their family to pursue a degree. The government reimburses/waives the tuition fee for eligible students in professional and higher-education courses. To claim it, you first get a First Graduate Certificate (issued by the Tahsildar) through the e-Sevai portal, then submit it during college admission/TNEA counselling the tuition fee is then waived automatically.
What is the First Graduate Scholarship?
The First Graduate Scholarship (also called the First Graduate fee concession or முதல் தலைமுறை பட்டதாரி scheme) is a Tamil Nadu government scheme that gives a tuition fee waiver to students who are the first in their family to study for a degree.
Despite the name “scholarship”, it is mainly a tuition fee concession — the government waives or reimburses the tuition fee portion of your course. It is not usually a cash scholarship paid to you; instead, your tuition fee is reduced/waived at the college.
Documents involved:
- First Graduate Certificate (proof that you are the first graduate in the family)
- Joint Declaration (listing your family members and their education)
First Graduate Scholarship Overview 2026
| Detail | Information |
| Scheme | First Graduate (tuition fee concession) |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Benefit | Tuition fee waiver/reimbursement |
| Certificate issued by | Tahsildar (Revenue Department) |
| Apply via | e-Sevai portal (tnesevai.tn.gov.in) |
| Key rule | No graduate in the family |
| One per family | Yes — only one child |
| Income limit | Usually none for the tuition waiver |
| Claimed during | College admission / TNEA counselling |
| Also needs | Joint Declaration form |
Who is Eligible for the First Graduate Scholarship?
You can apply if:
- You are a resident of Tamil Nadu.
- No other member of your family is a graduate this includes your father, mother, and siblings (brothers/sisters).
- No sibling has already availed the First Graduate fee concession.
- You are joining a degree/professional course (like Engineering, Arts, Science, etc.).
- You are the first person in the family enrolled for graduation.
Only one child per family can usually get this concession. If an elder brother or sister has already used it, you may not qualify. The concession is generally based on first graduate status, not family income.
Common Eligibility Doubts in First Graduate Scholarship
Many students have the same doubts — here are answers:
- “My sibling started a degree but discontinued (did not complete) it.” → If they are not a graduate (did not complete) and did not avail the concession, you are generally still eligible. (Confirm at the Taluk office.)
- “My parents has a degree I did not know about.” → If any parent is a graduate, you are not eligible.
- “My sibling is a graduate but never took the First Graduate concession.” → If a sibling is already a graduate, you are usually not eligible, even if they never claimed the concession.
- “My parents did B.Ed / a professional degree.” → A B.Ed or any degree counts as being a graduate so you would not be eligible.
What is the First Graduate Certificate?
The First Graduate Certificate is the official proof that you are the first graduate in your family. It is issued by the Tahsildar (Revenue Department) and is the key document to claim the tuition fee concession.
What it contains:
- Your name and details
- A statement that you are the first graduate in your family
- Details supporting that no family member is a graduate
Note: It is sometimes linked with the “No Graduate Certificate” — a certificate stating there is no graduate in the family.
The Joint Declaration:
Along with the certificate, you usually submit a Joint Declaration — a form where you and your parent/guardian declare the education details of all family members (father, mother, grandparents, brothers, sisters), confirming none is a graduate.
Documents Required for the First Graduate Certificate
Keep these ready when applying:
- Aadhaar card (and CAN number for e-Sevai)
- Ration card / address proof (Tamil Nadu residence)
- SSLC (10th) and HSC (12th) marksheets
- Passport-size photo
- Details of all family members and their education (for the declaration)
- Any ID proof — voter ID, PAN, driving licence, passport (as accepted)
- Joint Declaration form (signed by you and your parent/guardian)
How to Apply for the First Graduate Certificate (Step-by-Step)
You apply through the e-Sevai portal. Here is the process:
Step 1: Go to the e-Sevai portal (tnesevai.tn.gov.in ) and log in (register a CAN first if you do not have one).
Step 2: Select the Revenue Department, then the “First Graduate Certificate” service.
Step 3: Enter your CAN — your details auto-fill.
Step 4: Fill in the course and family details, and the declaration information.
Step 5: Upload the documents (Aadhaar, marksheets, address proof, etc.).
Step 6: Submit — you get a Transaction/Application ID.
Step 7: After Tahsildar verification, the First Graduate e-Certificate is issued.
Step 8: Download the e-certificate from “My Applications”.
You can also apply at any e-Sevai centre with your documents.
How to Claim the Tuition Fee Waiver at College
You must claim the waiver at admission:
- Apply for the e-First Graduate Certificate on e-Sevai (before counselling).
- Submit the certificate and Joint Declaration during TNEA online document verification or college admission.
- On allotment/admission, submit physical/printed copies to the college scholarship/admission cell.
- The tuition fee portion is then waived automatically from your fee payment (you see it deducted on the fee receipt).
The waiver usually covers only the tuition fee — you still pay for hostel, mess, transport, exam, and other fees.
How Much is the First Graduate Scholarship Benefit?
The benefit is a tuition fee waiver, so the amount depends on your course’s tuition fee:
- For professional courses (like Engineering at Anna University), the tuition fee is waived/reimbursed by the government.
- The exact waiver amount = your course’s tuition fee (which varies by college and course).
- It covers only tuition — other fees are still payable.
First Graduate vs Other Fee Waivers
Tamil Nadu has a few different fee benefits — here is the simple difference:
- First Graduate concession: For students who are the first graduate in the family — no income limit (usually). Waives tuition fee.
- Tuition Fee Waiver (TFW) scheme: Based on family income for economically weaker students. A separate scheme.
- 7.5% Government School Quota: A preferential admission route for students from TN government schools is about admission access, not a fee scheme.
These are different and independent; you may qualify for more than one. First Graduate is based on “no graduate in family”, TFW on income, and the 7.5% quota on government-school study.
Why the First Graduate Scholarship Concession is Under-Claimed
- Families assume it is hard to prove they have no graduates.
- Some think there is an income limit (usually there is not).
- Students don’t apply for the certificate in time (before counselling).
- Many simply don’t know the scheme exists.
If no one in your family has a degree, the process is straightforward: get the e-certificate and submit it at admission.
Common Problems and Solutions for First Graduate Scholarship
- Certificate application rejected: Check the reason (a family graduate, wrong details) and correct it.
- Sibling already availed it: Then you are not eligible (one per family).
- Certificate delayed: It needs Tahsildar verification — track by Transaction ID and follow up.
- Missed applying before counselling: Apply as early as possible; submit at the college admission cell.
- College not applying the waiver: Submit the certificate and declaration to the scholarship/admission cell and follow up.
- “Government stopped the certificate” rumour: Confirm on the official e-Sevai portal / Taluk office — do not rely on hearsay.
Conclusion
The First Graduate Scholarship in Tamil Nadu is a valuable tuition fee concession for students who are the first in their family to pursue a degree. It waives the tuition fee for eligible students — which, for professional courses, can be a large benefit. To claim it, you get a First Graduate Certificate from the Tahsildar through the e-Sevai portal, then submit it during TNEA counselling / college admission, and the tuition fee is waived from your fee receipt.
you must be a Tamil Nadu resident, no family member (parents or siblings) should be a graduate, only one child per family can claim it, and there is usually no income limit. It is independent of the income-based Tuition Fee Waiver and the 7.5% government-school quota — so check all three.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the First Graduate Scholarship in Tamil Nadu?
It is a Tamil Nadu government tuition fee concession for students who are the first in their family to pursue a degree. The government waives or reimburses the tuition fee. Despite the name “scholarship”, it is mainly a fee waiver, not a cash payment, claimed using a First Graduate Certificate.
2. Who is eligible for the First Graduate concession?
You must be a Tamil Nadu resident, and no family member — including parents and siblings — should be a graduate or have already availed this concession. Only one child per family can claim it. You must be joining a degree/professional course as the first graduate in the family.
3. Is there an income limit for the First Graduate scholarship?
Usually no. The First Graduate tuition waiver is based on your “first graduate in the family” status, not family income. This makes it different from the income-based Tuition Fee Waiver (TFW) scheme. Always confirm the current rule for your specific course.
4. How do I apply for the First Graduate Certificate?
Apply on the e-Sevai portal (tnesevai.tn.gov.in) — log in with your CAN, select the Revenue Department’s First Graduate Certificate service, fill the details and declaration, upload documents, and submit. After Tahsildar verification, download the e-certificate. You can also apply at an e-Sevai centre.
5. What documents are needed for the First Graduate Certificate?
Aadhaar, ration card/address proof, SSLC and HSC marksheets, a photo, details of all family members’ education, an ID proof, and the Joint Declaration signed by you and your parent/guardian confirming no family member is a graduate.
6. My sibling started a degree but discontinued it. Am I eligible?
Generally, if your sibling did not complete the degree (is not a graduate) and did not avail the First Graduate concession, you may still be eligible. However, confirm at your Taluk office, since the rule looks at whether a family member holds a degree.
7. How much benefit does the First Graduate scheme give?
It waives the tuition fee of your course, so the benefit equals your course’s tuition fee, which varies by college and course. For professional courses like Engineering, this can be a large amount. It covers only tuition — hostel, mess, and other fees are still payable.
8. How do I claim the tuition fee waiver at college?
Apply for the e-First Graduate Certificate before counselling, submit it and the Joint Declaration during TNEA document verification, and give physical copies to the college scholarship/admission cell after allotment. The tuition fee is then waived automatically from your fee receipt.
9. Is the First Graduate concession the same as the Tuition Fee Waiver (TFW)?
No. First Graduate is based on being the first graduate in the family (usually no income limit), while TFW is based on family income for economically weaker students. They are separate and independent schemes, and you may qualify for more than one.
10. Why do many eligible students miss this benefit?
Because families wrongly assume it is hard to prove they have no graduates, think there is an income limit, apply too late (after counselling), or simply do not know it exists. If no one in your family has a degree, the process is straightforward — apply early.
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