JN Tata Endowment Scholarship For The Higher Education Of Indians

The JN Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians is a loan scholarship for Indian students to pursue master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral studies abroad. This merit-based scholarship was established in 1892 by Jamsetjee Nusserwanjee Tata and has been awarded to 5,700 students to date. Open to candidates across diverse fields, this scholarship offers a one-time loan scholarship that can help cover tuition fees and other educational expenses. Beneficiaries will get an amount between INR 1 - 10 lakh at an annual interest of 2%, which needs to be repaid in five equal installments within the third and seventh years.

Benefits

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  Loan Scholarship: Offers a one-time loan scholarship of up to INR 10 lakhs to support higher education abroad.

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  Partial Coverage: Assists with tuition fees and related expenses; not a full scholarship.

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  Flexible Repayment: The loan is repayable over time after course completion, with flexible terms.

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  Eligible Fields: Open to a wide range of disciplines including Biology, Economics, Psychology, Computer Science, Environment, Humanities, Healthcare, Physics, and more.

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  Additional Awards: Selected candidates may also receive travel grants, gift awards, and performance-based incentives from allied Tata trusts.

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  Recognition and Network: Scholars benefit from recognition of academic merit and gain access to a prestigious network of alumni and professionals across diverse fields. 

Eligibility Criteria

Students can apply for the JN Tata Loan Scholarship at the beginning of their studies or anytime before 12 months of course completion. Below are the primary eligibility criteria an applicant must keep in mind:

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  Nationality & Age: Applicants must be Indian citizens and not older than 45 years as of June 30, 2025.

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  Academic Qualification: A graduate (bachelor’s or master’s degree) from a recognized Indian university with a minimum average of 60% marks. Degrees obtained from non-recognized institutions in India are not eligible.

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  Program Type: Applicants must be admitted to a recognized postgraduate-level program abroad (referred to as a Graduate Program). Undergraduate studies, distance learning, online courses, seminars, workshops, training programs, and paper presentations are not eligible.

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  Course Duration: The course must span at least two academic years, with a minimum of one full year (12 months) of study remaining at the time of the award (typically July each year).

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  Application Timing:

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    Candidates currently in the final year of their degree or awaiting results can apply.
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    Applicants already studying abroad may apply at the end of their first year or the start of their second year, provided one full academic year remains.
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    Candidates may apply even without an offer letter at the time of application but must update their status upon securing admission.

   
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  Repeat Applications:

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    Applicants who were not selected in previous years or were selected but could not avail of the scholarship are welcome to reapply.
  • 
    Previous JN Tata scholars who have fully repaid their loan amount are also eligible to apply again.

   
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  Ineligible Candidates:

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    Those planning to pursue undergraduate studies, diplomas based on high school qualifications, or courses in India.
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    Applicants pursuing programs via online or distance modes.
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    Those applying for seminars, conferences, or short-term training programs abroad.

How to Apply for the JN Tata Loan Scholarship?

Eligible candidates can apply for the scholarship by visiting the official website. Register on the website for a successful application. After applying, note the system-generated reference number for future use.

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Selection Process

Phase 1: Online Application Submission (Deadline – 23rd March 2025):

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  Applicants must submit personal, academic, and professional details along with a Statement of Purpose (SoP).
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  Required documents (in grayscale PDF format) include:

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    Recent passport-size photo (500x500 px, JPEG)
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    Aadhar card
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    Passport (first and last page)
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    Academic transcripts/mark sheets
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    Statement of Purpose (max 800 words; original, plagiarism-free, focused on academic goals and university choice)
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  Additional documents for working professionals:

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    Work experience certificate (previous employer)
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    Appointment letter (current employer)
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    Latest ITR or 3 months' salary slips
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  Once submitted, no changes can be made in the portal; edits must be requested via email with reference number.
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  Applicants must validate their form before submission.

Phase 2: Aptitude Test:

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  Shortlisted candidates will receive an email notification a week in advance.
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  Test focuses on critical thinking and problem-solving; not subject-specific.
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  Candidates will receive detailed guidelines, including technical requirements and a mock test.
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  Test results are communicated via email within a week.

Phase 3: Technical Interview with Subject Expert:

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  Selected candidates will undergo an online interview (via Microsoft Teams/Zoom) between April and June.
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  Before the interview, candidates must update their application with:

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    University admission details
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    Course information
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    Funding sources and family background
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  Additional documents required:

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    Admission letter (mandatory)
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    Final year mark sheets and degree certificate
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    GRE/GMAT/TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scorecards
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    Certificates of merit, extra-curriculars, and research/projects (if any)
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    Updated resume
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    Cost of education breakdown and funding plan
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    One Letter of Recommendation addressed to “The Trustees of the J N Tata Endowment” (details of recommender only are to be submitted; the Endowment will reach out directly)
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  The interview assesses subject knowledge and academic preparedness; performance in this round carries the most weight.
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  Second-year applicants will also be evaluated based on their first-year academic transcripts.

Phase 4: Final Selection:

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  Selected candidates will be notified by mid-July via email.
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  Upon acceptance of the loan scholarship, the following documents must be uploaded:

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    Candidate’s PAN card and cancelled cheque/bank statement
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    Guarantor’s PAN card, Aadhar card, income proof (latest ITR), and passport-size photo (500x500 px, JPEG)
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  Post visa and flight booking, candidates must fill a data sheet and upload travel documents on the portal.
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  A formal appointment (in-person or online) will be scheduled to complete legal formalities. Both the candidate and guarantor must sign documents at the Endowment office.

Guarantor Requirements:

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  A guarantor is mandatory and shares liability with the candidate.
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  Preferred guarantors include parents, guardians, spouses, or in-laws.
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  In special cases, other relatives (siblings, uncles, aunts, etc.) or non-relatives (with prior approval) may serve as guarantors.
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  Required documents:

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    PAN card
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    Aadhar card
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    Passport-size photo (500x500 px, JPEG)
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    Income proof / latest ITR

Documents Required

The following documents are required to apply for the JN Tata Endowment scholarship:

Academic Documents:

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  Letter of admission from the university
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  Final year mark sheets and degree certificate
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  Official transcripts from previous institutions
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  Standardized test scorecards (GRE/GMAT/TOEFL/IELTS/PTE)
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  Statement of Purpose (SOP)Letters of Recommendation (LORs)

Professional & Supporting Documents:

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  Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
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  Work experience certificates (if applicable)
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  Research or project work documents (if any)
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  Certificates of scholarships, academic rankings, or prizes
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  Certificates of extra-curricular achievements

Financial Documents:

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  Estimated cost of education
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  Source of funds declaration
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  Candidate’s PAN card
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  Candidate’s cancelled cheque or latest bank statement
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  Guarantor’s PAN card and Aadhaar card
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  Guarantor’s income proof or latest filed Income Tax Return (ITR)
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  Financial/tax documents as required

Personal Documents:

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  Passport-size photograph (500x500 pixels, JPEG format)
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  Guarantor’s passport-size photograph (same format)

What are the contact details of the JN Tata Loan Scholarship?

Frequently Asked Questions