Columbia University is a private research university located in New York City. King George II of England issued a royal charter that allowed it to be established as King’s College in 1754. It is also the fifth-oldest university in the United States. Columbia’s campus is located in the Morningside Heights neighbourhood of Manhattan, and its medical campus is located in Washington Heights. Over 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all over the world benefit from a number of Columbia University scholarships.
One of the most notable features of Columbia is its location in New York City, which provides students with access to a wide range of cultural, intellectual, and professional opportunities. The city is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, and other cultural institutions, as well as a thriving arts scene and a diverse population.
The university is organised into twenty schools, including Columbia College, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The university also operates several research centres, such as the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the Nevis Laboratories, as well as a number of international programs, including the Columbia Global Centers.
It is home to a number of prestigious graduate programs, including the Columbia Business School, the Columbia Law School, and the Columbia Journalism School. In addition to its academic programs, Columbia University is also home to a number of research centres and institutes, including the Columbia Earth Institute, the Columbia Global Center, and the Columbia Neuropsychiatric Institute.
These centres allow faculty and students to conduct research in a variety of fields, including the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. The university has also produced numerous distinguished alumni, including three U.S. presidents, numerous foreign heads of state, and numerous other politicians, business leaders, and intellectuals.
1. Why Columbia University?
Columbia University is a top-ranked institution that offers a wide range of academic programs and opportunities for research and intellectual exploration. It offers a great quality of education, world-class facilities, academic flexibility, networking opportunities, and more. Columbia has a diverse community and a student body that represents many different cultures and backgrounds. Many students also prefer the institution for their scholarships.
Columbia University Scholarships are offered to provide financial support and recognition to students with achievements in fields like academics, sports, arts, etc. Scholarships can be significant for a variety of reasons. Tuition fees can be expensive for some programs. The scholarships can aid students with covering the costs of their education. Additionally, these awards can honour and reward students for their successes outside of the classroom.
2. Types Of Scholarships
The financial aid policy of Columbia University is a need-based process where grants and aid are provided to students who have the most need. The sum of the scholarship is given to qualified applicants through donations from charities and Columbia University alumni.
Graduate students at Columbia College can apply for a variety of Columbia University Scholarships, while undergraduates can use scholarships for financial assistance. Students are advised to apply for internal and external funding based on their financial needs and eligibility.
2.1. Internal Scholarships
Financial assistance packages, which include term-time employment opportunities and non-refundable Columbia grants, are used to pay for the education of international students. Work-study programs, fellowships, and summer internships and jobs are all included in the section on student employment.
Undergraduate financial help is now only available in the form of grants based on need. International students are not given consideration for any departmental scholarships or prizes at Columbia University. However, the institution promises to satisfy all first-year and transfer students’ documented financial needs in full.
A few departmental scholarships, which are applied to tuition costs, are available to international students starting graduate programs at Columbia. In contrast to undergraduate scholarships, graduate scholarships can be difficult to obtain. Some of the popular Columbia University scholarships along with their benefits are mentioned below:
- Helen Lansdowne Resor Scholarship – $10,000
- International Merit Scholarship – Up to $3,000
- Business Studies Scholarship – $2,000
- Northwest IB Scholarship – $1,000
2.2. External Scholarships for International Students
Some of Columbia University’s programs can be comparatively expensive, and even international students who get Columbia University Scholarships may have trouble covering the costs of their chosen program. Such students can seek fellowships and outside financial aid to help with their further studies. External sponsors and organisations offer and distribute this kind of scholarship.
Columbia University makes an effort to meet the financial needs of all of its new and continuing students as the institution with the fourth-largest number of foreign students. Additionally, there are several scholarships and incentives specifically for Indian students. A few of these external scholarships are listed below:
- Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship
The Indian government offers the Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship to Indian students who wish to pursue graduate studies at Columbia Law School. Students who intend to pursue the Columbia LLM program in international commerce, human rights, public interest, and trade law, are eligible for the fellowship. Up to three fellowships are granted each academic year, providing winners with partial to full funding.
- Fulbright-Nehru Masters Fellowships
The Fulbright-Nehru Masters Fellowships are a program offered by the Fulbright Commission in India, in partnership with the Indian government’s Ministry of Human Resource Development. The program provides funding for Indian citizens to pursue a master’s degree in the United States.
The fellowship covers tuition, airfare, a living stipend, and other expenses related to the program. The program is designed to promote mutual understanding and collaboration between the United States and India and to develop the leadership and professional skills of Indian citizens in a wide range of fields.
- Shardashish Interschool Fellowship
Indian students enrolled in specific Columbia University programs may apply for the Shardashish Interschool Fellowship. The Uttambhai Nathalal Mehta Foundation, whose goal is to increase educational possibilities at all levels, is funding this scholarship.
Students who qualify for this fellowship may receive up to $50,000. Depending on the course of study, the degree of financial need, and the applicant’s academic credentials, money is provided for a year and varies in quantity.
- Scholarships for Displaced Students
War and natural disasters have significantly disrupted and influenced the education of a large number of people. By giving displaced students the chance to attend Columbia University for higher education, the Columbia University Scholarship for Displaced Students (CUSDS) seeks to address this unparalleled humanitarian and financial catastrophe.
All 18 Columbia schools and affiliates will offer complete tuition, housing, and living aid to students seeking undergraduate or graduate degrees. The Scholarship will offer mentoring and assistance, as well as Columbia’s academic institutions and student organizations.
This scholarship program is open to foreign nationals who meet the following criteria: have refugee status and are residing anywhere in the world; have applied for or granted asylum in the US; have Temporary Protected Status in the US; or are Internally Displaced Persons.
The Scholarship is open to displaced Afghan students who are either on humanitarian parole or have special immigrant visas. Current Columbia University students and US permanent residents are not eligible to apply. The scholarship has no age limits whatsoever.