Cornell University Tata Scholarship: Eligibility, Benefits, and Application Process

The Tata Scholarship for Indian students at Cornell University is a financial award by the Tata Education and Development Trust. This philanthropic affiliate of the Tata Group endows $25 million of financial aid to undergraduate Indian students at Cornell University. 

Approximately 20 students receive the Tata Scholarship for pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Cornell University every year. The scholarship covers the entire duration of a four-year undergraduate course. Students receive this scholarship annually and must maintain academic excellence to renew it annually. 

The scholarship benefits include full tuition costs and other relevant program fees. However, based on individual profiles, the scholarship may not cover living expenses. Read the full blog below to learn more about the Tata Scholarship for Cornell University in detail. 

Tata Scholarship for Cornell University: an overview for Indian students

The Tata Scholarship for Cornell University is a financial aid award funded by the Tata Education and Development Trust. It covers all bachelor’s degrees except 5-year UG programs. The award benefits 100% of tuition costs and other relevant fees. 

At any given time, 20 Indian students pursuing a four-year undergraduate degree receive the scholarship. However, students must maintain satisfactory academic performance to renew their scholarship annually. 

Students must complete their Tata Scholarship, common application, and CSS profile. Those who demonstrate financial need, academic merit, and leadership potential are more likely to receive the scholarship. 

Although the scholarship is available to all 4-year bachelor’s degree students, some fields of study are preferred more. The fields include: 

• Engineering
• Agricultural Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Art and Planning
• Economics 
• Management 
• Business
• Physical Sciences
• Biological Sciences

Here’s a complete list of applicable courses for the Cornell University Tata Scholarship:

Note: It is clear that pursuing a higher education program at Cornell University with the Tata Scholarship can cover your tuition fees and offer other benefits. However, competition for this scholarship is very high. 

If you want to study at Cornell but don’t secure the scholarship, you should be prepared for annual expenses ranging from ₹40 to ₹50 lakhs. That’s why many students turn to low-interest education loans as the next best option.

This is where FundRight becomes invaluable. 

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Of course, you must apply for the Tata Scholarship if you fit the eligibility criteria, which are explained next. 

Also Read: 10 Best Scholarships for Master for Indian Students

Eligibility criteria for the Cornell University Tata Scholarship

Here are the requirements you must meet to receive the Tata Scholarship for Cornell University:

Citizenship:

• You must be a citizen of India.
• You must have attended a secondary school in India. 
• You must hold a valid Indian passport.

Academic qualifications:

• You must either be completing or have completed grade 12 from a recognized board of education. 
• You must have received an admission offer from Cornell University for a 4-year long undergraduate program.

Financial requirements:

• Since the Cornell University Tata Scholarship is a need-based financial aid, you must be eligible for it. 
• You must produce documents for your family income to provide your eligibility. 

Area of study:

All 4-year undergraduate degrees at Cornell University are applicable for the Tata Scholarship. However, students applying to the following colleges receive preference over others:

• College of Engineering
• College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
• Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Management major and Applied Economics)
• Majors in physical sciences, biological sciences, social sciences, and other sciences

English language tests:

• You must demonstrate your proficiency in the English language. 
• The university accepts IELTS, TOEFL iBT, and DET (Duolingo English Test).
• The minimum score requirement for IELTS is 7.5, 100 for TOEFL iBT, and 130 for the Duolingo test. 

Standardized tests:

• You must submit your SAT or ACT scores. 
• You don’t have to submit your SAT subject test results as the university doesn’t require or expect them. 

Continuation: 

• You must prove the financial need for the Tata Scholarship to keep receiving the funding. 
• Cornell University provides funding through scholarships for up to eight semesters. 
• Throughout this duration, you must maintain your academic performance. 
• The funding will not be provided if you are pursuing dual degrees or have additional semesters in your coursework due to double majors. 

Also Read: Scholarship to study in the USA For Indian students: How to apply ?

Benefits of the Cornell University Tata Scholarship

The Tata Scholarship for Cornell University is a financial aid awarded to 20 Indian students. These students receive the award annually after renewing it by maintaining good academic performance. 

This is a fully-funded scholarship program. The program gives students a complete waiver on their annual tuition fee. The Tata Education and Development Trust is committed to providing Indian students with financial aid towards their tuition. Hence, the scholarship benefits only include tuition fees and other relevant fees. 

The award does not include any allowance or stipend to cover the living expenses of Indian students in the USA. It also only covers 4-year bachelor’s degrees. Funding for dual degrees or extended majors is not available. 

Documents required for the Cornell University Tata Scholarship

Documents required for the Cornell University Tata Scholarship are similar to the ones required for the common application. Here is a detailed list of important documents and relevant uploading instructions you must follow:

Academic transcripts:

• You must submit your official high school transcripts for grades 9-12.
• If you are currently completing your school education, you can share the provisional transcripts for Grade 12. 
• You must submit your final or predicted exam results if you have an exam-based curriculum, including AISSCE X/ IB/ CBSE X/ A-Levels/ GCSE/ IGCSE.
• If your official transcripts are not in English, you must also submit the translated versions. 
• English translations done by a school official or a teacher are accepted. 

Counselor recommendation:

• You must submit a letter of recommendation by a school counselor/ principal, college counselor, or headmaster. 
• This letter must highlight your accomplishments in high school.  
• You must also submit recommendations from two teachers, highlighting your contributions to the classroom and academic strengths. 

Writing supplement:

• Depending on the school/ department you are applying to, your writing supplement may vary. 
• It could be an essay in about 650 words or multiple short answers in 100 words each. 
• Most schools, except the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering, require a 650-word-long personal statement. 

Standardized tests:

• You must submit your ACT or SAT scores. 
• For English proficiency, Cornell University accepts IELTS, TOEFL, and Duolingo English Test. 
• Here are the minimum scores you must have achieved in each of these tests:

Other than that, here are some supplemental materials you may require for different colleges or programs:

Important documents for the CSS Profile – Cornell University Tata Scholarship

You must complete your CSS profile to apply for financial aid at Cornell. For that, you will have to produce the following documents:

• Recently completed tax returns
• Proof of assets
• Bank statements
• Records of untaxed benefits and income
• Records of current-year income

How to apply for the Cornell University Tata Scholarship? 

To begin the application process for the Cornell University Tata Scholarship, you must complete the common application. You can submit the common application for international students through the undergraduate admissions portal. 

After completing the common application, you must apply for financial aid. You must complete your CSS (College Scholarship Services) profile to do that. Your CSS profile is an application that scholarship programs and colleges use to award non-federal financial aid. 

You can complete the application before the deadline by visiting the official CSS profile website. CSS profiles usually open in October for early and regular decisions.

Application fee for the Cornell University Tata Scholarship

Please note the following key points about the application fee for this scholarship:

• There isn’t a separate application fee for the Tata Scholarship. However, you have to pay a non-refundable fee for the common application. 
• The application fee amount is $80.
• If you are facing financial hardships, you may request a fee waiver. 
• In addition to the common application fee, you will also have to pay a fee to complete your CSS profile. 
• The CSS profile fee for the initial application is $25 and an additional charge of $16. 
• You can also receive a waiver for the CSS fee as well. 

Application deadlines for the Cornell University Tata scholarship – Early decision

Here are the important dates for the Tata scholarship:

Application deadlines for the Cornell University Tata scholarship – Regular decision

Selection criteria for the Cornell University Tata Scholarship

Every year, Cornell University chooses 20 students for the Tata Scholarship. The selection process entirely depends on the needs and merit of these students. Indian undergraduate students with weak economic backgrounds are more likely to receive the scholarship.

The selection committee also looks for students who:

• Show academic excellence
• Score well in English language tests like TOEFL, IELTS, and DTE.
• Show future promise
• Hold leadership skills

Due to the high level of competition, the acceptance rate for the Cornell University Tata Scholarship is low. Nearly ten times more students apply for the scholarship every year than the actual capacity. 

Also Read: Scholarship to Study in Australia For Indian Students: How To Apply

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