ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
The Tibet Fund’s scholarship programs support Tibetan students in pursuing higher education by reducing financial barriers and expanding access to academic opportunities. By investing in students at critical stages of their academic journeys, the programs strengthens individual potential while building long-term community resilience. Through close collaboration with local partners and institutions, the program ensures that support reaches students who demonstrate both need and promise.
We administer multiple scholarship initiatives for Tibetans studying at colleges, universities, and institutes. Programs are designed for students with varying financial needs, academic goals, and career aspirations. These include the Girl’s Scholarship Program, the Tibetan Scholarship Program, the Tibetan Professional Scholarship Program and other partial and full scholarships.
To learn more about the scholarship programs, click on the links below.
The Tibetan Girls Scholarship Program (TGSP), established in 2018, ensures that Tibetan girls from low-income families can access higher education. Scholarships are awarded solely based on financial need and cover tuition and living expenses, removing the primary barriers that prevent talented young girls from pursuing college degrees. To date TGSP has supported 96 girls, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. These girls pursue bachelor’s degrees in fields such as education, computer science, Tibetan studies, nursing, psychology, environmental science, and fine arts at leading institutions.
The program’s impact is best reflected in the journeys of students like Tsering Choeden and Tenzin Tsomo.
Tsering Choeden was raised by her grandparents and uncle after losing her father at the age of three, at Mainpat Tibetan Settlement in Chhattisgarh. Her uncle, a seasonal sweater seller, has been the family’s sole breadwinner. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, their already limited income was deeply impacted, but the TGSP scholarship arrived as a much-needed lifeline. With support from TGSP, Tsering was able to pursue her Bachelor’s in Commerce at Jyoti Niwas College, Bangalore. She graduated in 2024 and now, her academic journey continues as she is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration at Christ University, Bangalore. In her words: “The scholarship was such a relief to me and my family. My grandparents and uncle didn’t have to worry about my college fees.”
Tenzin Tsomo grew up in Hunsur Tibetan Settlement, where her parents worked multiple jobs but still struggled to find financial stability. Watching their daily hardships shaped her resolve to study hard and build a better future for herself and her family. With support from the scholarship, Tenzin was able to complete her bachelor’s degree in psychology at JSS University in Mysore, an opportunity that would have been difficult for her family to afford. She is now continuing her journey, pursuing an MSc in Clinical Psychology at Kristu Jayanti University in Bangalore.
The Tibetan Professional Scholarship Program (TPSP), launched in 2009, supports Tibetan graduates in pursuing professional master’s degrees in India and Nepal through merit-based awards. By making high-quality graduate education accessible to students who might otherwise be unable to afford it, the program is helping build a new generation of skilled professionals and community leaders.
One such scholar is Palden Tsomo, a first-generation college student who discovered her passion for computer science in high school. With support from TPSP, she is now pursuing a Master’s in Computer Applications at Kristu Jayanti College, where she is working on projects that apply artificial intelligence to practical tools such as digital attendance and productivity systems.
“This support has given me the freedom to focus on my studies and my future,” Palden says. “It’s more than financial aid. It motivates me to keep working hard and believe in what I can achieve.” She hopes to one day launch a socially driven tech startup using machine learning to create solutions in healthcare and education.
Since 1988, The Tibet Fund has administered the Tibetan Scholarship Program, one of the longest-running educational initiatives for Tibetans in exile. To date, the program has enabled more than 490 Tibetans to pursue higher education in the United States, including at institutions such as Harvard University, Columbia University, and U.C. Berkeley. Current scholars are studying fields including cyber security, science education, public health, journalism, and international law.
Many of these scholars go on to serve Tibetan communities around the world, taking on influential leadership roles within the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), civil society organizations, and other key institutions.
More than an academic opportunity, TSP is a powerful investment in the next generation of Tibetan leaders and changemakers. Among its alumni is Tenzin Chemey, now Director of Tibet TV under the Central Tibetan Administration, whose journey reflects the transformative impact of the program. A mother and civil servant when she applied, Chemey pursued graduate studies in international politics and media in the United States, gaining exposure to diverse perspectives, academic rigor, and cross-cultural learning that profoundly shaped her leadership and creativity. Today, she uses storytelling and visual media to amplify Tibetan voices, preserve Tibetan identity, and mentor younger generations. Reflecting on the experience, she says, “Each TSP scholar represents the potential of Tibetan youth—young individuals who, if given adequate resources and opportunities, can excel in their fields of passion and become a powerful force for change within the Tibetan community in exile.”
