This Scholarship Offered By Tata Can Get You Into An Ivy League University

If you are an aspiring Indian student dreaming of the big American dream but taken aback by the financial tag associated with it, this scholarship is just what you need to keep the aspirations running. The Cornell University Tata Scholarship is a remarkable initiative that was first born from the vision of Ratan Tata in 2008. For 17 years since, this scholarship has continued to transform the educational journeys of talented Indian students year after year.

What makes this scholarship special?

The Cornell University Tata Scholarship has established itself as one of the most comprehensive educational support programmes made available to Indian students enrolled in an Ivy League school like Cornell University. Backed by a substantial $25 million endowment from the Tata Education and Development Trust, this scholarship narrows down on 20 deserving candidates each year and funds their tenure at Cornell University.

Recipients of the scholarship are covered for their full cost of attendance at Cornell University. This comprises tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies and personal expenses as per Cornell's published cost of attendance for the academic year. For many students hailing from humble backgrounds, the Tata Scholarship has offered a leg up in life and has helped over 340 students turn their dreams into reality.

Who can apply for the scholarship?

The eligibility criteria for the scholarship include the following key features:

• Applicants must hold Indian citizenship with a valid passport. Dual citizenship holders of Indian origin are not eligible.

• The scholarship shows preference for students who have completed their secondary education within India.

• Students applying for full-time undergraduate programmes at Cornell's Ithaca campus are eligible to avail the scholarship. This includes first-year applicants, direct transfers and visiting undergraduates across various disciplines. 

• While Cornell maintains a test-optional policy through 2025, strong SAT or ACT scores are also highly recommended. International students from India must produce an IELTS score of at least 7.5 to qualify.

The academic programmes covered include those from the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning; College of Engineering and Applied Economics and Management major in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business; as well as various other majors in biological sciences, physical sciences and social sciences.

How to apply for the scholarship? 

To apply for the Tata Scholarship, students must first submit their application for undergraduate admission and complete the College Scholarship Service (CSS) profile stating that they require financial assistance. Following this is the documentation process during which the applicant submits income statements, tax returns, employer letters and bank statements as proof of financial need. In addition to this, the student's academic records, transcripts, letters of recommendation and personal statements are then subject to an exhaustive evaluation by faculty and admissions officers at Cornell. Parallelly, the financial aid office conducts a thorough audit and a detailed review of all the financial documents submitted.

Things to note

The Cornell University Tata Scholarship is renewable for the entire tenure of the undergraduate programme. For four years spread out over eight semesters, recipients must maintain satisfactory academic performance with a minimum GPA of 3.0 to continue receiving fiscal support. For programmes spread out over ten semesters, such as that of architecture, the scholarship offers financial support for eight semesters.

For many Indian families, the cost of international education can seem almost insurmountable. The Tata Scholarship has changed the lives of many such ordinary families who have children with extraordinary dreams. For those ready to take the next step, detailed information and application guidelines are available through Cornell's admissions office. To connect for queries regarding application or admissions, reach out to admissions@cornell.edu, international@admissions.cornell.edu, tatascholars@cornell.edu or finaid@cornell.edu. Your dream of studying at an Ivy League university like Cornell may be closer than you think.