A postgraduate student at the University of Melbourne is facing the cancellation of her admission and academic sanctions due to a delay in the disbursement of a minority scholarship for foreign education by the Maharashtra government. The student, who is pursuing a Master of Biotechnology, was selected under the state government's minority scholarship scheme for the academic year 2026-27. A resident of Maharashtra, she comes from a low-income background.
Student stranded without financial support
Now stranded in Australia without financial support, the student claims that despite submitting all mandatory documentation by April 2, 2026, the administrative funds have not yet reached the university. She also claims she is unable to manage basic survival and rent expenses.
According to the Government Resolution (GR) issued in 2022, scholarship funds are to be disbursed to the respective international university after receiving relevant documents from students. The student said more than two months have elapsed since the complete submission on April 2.
University issues warning
“Now, the University of Melbourne has placed an administrative hold on my student account, blocking enrolment for the upcoming semester and withholding exam results. The university has issued a warning that the admission will be cancelled entirely if the sponsored fee payment is not processed immediately,” she wrote in her letter to the government. In her letter, the student also attached communication received from the university. TOI has accessed the letter and the communication she received from the university.
An official said the social welfare office in Pune forwarded the complete scholarship proposal to the minority development department in Mumbai via email on June 1. “However, officials in Mumbai claim non-receipt of the documentation and cite a lack of state funds,” the student said.
Escalation to authorities
The matter has been escalated to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and the department secretary Yogesh Mhase, urging immediate intervention. Rajiv Khobragade of NGO The Platform, which has been raising the issue with the government, said, “Leaving a state-sanctioned scholar stranded abroad without the promised tuition fees and living expenses is institutional torture.”
