New scholarships target Indian students who have overcome adversity to ensure success
The University of Birmingham is launching a new unique and prestigious scholarship fully funded, including accommodation costs, for students in India, offering the winner a mentoring opportunity with the university’s Chancellor, Lord Karan Bilimoria, and leading former students.
The Lord Karan Bilimoria (Chancellor) Scholarship will include a full waiver of tuition and accommodation costs for the duration of the program for the winner, as well as four runners-up prizes of a £5,000 tuition waiver.
The scholarship is only open to Indian students applying for postgraduate study programs at the University’s Birmingham and Dubai campuses. Candidates must have a valid offer of study from the University of Birmingham.
Candidates must have an excellent academic record and demonstrate that they have overcome challenging circumstances. They must also come up with an innovative idea that can solve some of the complex challenges facing both the UK and India. Selected applicants who make it to the final round will be asked to submit a three-minute video that answers two key questions:
• What challenges have you overcome in life?
• What innovation would you suggest to solve a challenge facing India and the UK?
Launching the scholarship, Lord Bilimoria commented: “I am very proud of the University of Birmingham’s educational partnerships in India and delighted to launch this exceptional opportunity to encourage outstanding individuals to join us, whether it be on our iconic new campus in Dubai or at our beautiful historic campus in Birmingham.
“Our University’s motto is ‘per ardua ad alta’ which translates as ‘through adversity to high things.’ This is a sentiment that inspires us as we begin our search for scholarship candidates who have overcome obstacles to academic excellence and can demonstrate an innovative idea with the potential to solve any of the complex challenges facing India and the UK. .
“I look forward to meeting the successful candidate and it will be my particular pleasure to guide them as they embark on their journey of educational discovery with the University of Birmingham and become successful leaders.”
The applications are already open. The University’s relationship with India dates back to 1909, when the first cohort of Indian students came to Birmingham to pursue degrees in Mining and Commerce. It now has over 2,000 Indian alumni and some of India’s most distinguished and brilliant minds were educated in Birmingham, including Mr. Ajit Kumar Seth, 30th Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of India, and the acclaimed writer and critic , the late Dr. UR Ananthamurthy.
The University of Birmingham has several major partnerships in India, supported by its India Institute, which aims to increase the visibility, impact and consistency of Birmingham’s involvement in the country.
Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said: “I am delighted that the University of Birmingham is further strengthening its commitment to India with this scholarship. What a fantastic opportunity for the successful candidate to be mentored by an icon of UK-Indian business, Lord Bilimoria.”