Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship

Stanford University is amongst the top 10 global universities offering courses in almost all fields of study. In fact, the MBA program acceptance is competitive and therefore the tuition fees are also expensive. The 2 year MBA program at Stanford Graduate School of Business costs INR 55.64 lakhs per year alone. This is where the Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship comes into action. Indian students can apply for the Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship to reduce the expense burden on their shoulders. 

Name	Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship
Funded by	Reliance Industries
Course	MBA (2-year program)
University	Stanford University
Grant	150,000 USD
Eligibility	Indian citizen
No. of awards	3
Application Deadline	31 May 2023 (Closed)

What is the Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship?

Reliance Industries funds this scholarship program to help Indian students with lower financial means fulfill their dreams of getting an MBA at the prestigious Stanford University. The fellowship awards cover at least 80% of the tuition fee and associated fees for three applicants every year.

So it all started 40 years back when Mukesh Ambani, now the richest man in India, had to drop out of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and return to India to help his father, Dhirubhai, build Reliance. What the Indian billionaire failed to achieve, he made sure that at least 3 Indians fulfilled their dreams. The Reliance Foundation started the Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship in the year 2008. 

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Grant Details 

Further, this scholarship awards a maximum grant of 150,000 USD per fellow from India for the two-year program. The fund for the second year gets automatically renewed in the cases where students maintain good academic records throughout their first year of the program. The amount awarded to each fellow differs and depends upon their application. The Fellowship can use this grant for the following expenses while pursuing an MBA at Stanford.:-

• Tuition fee
• Living expenses
• Health Cover

Please note: The amount cannot be used for accommodation, airfare, travel expenses, spouse or child care, and the application process. 

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Important Dates 2024

The dates for the Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowships for the September 2023 intake are closed now. However, it is important to know that the application for this fellowship is independent of your Stanford MBA program application.  

Entry Requirements 

Students must carefully check the entry requirements before applying for the scholarship program. If you meet these eligibility requirements, only then will your application will be considered.

• Students must be Indian citizens.
• They must be eligible for the Stanford MBA program.
• They must have a graduate degree in hand.
• English proficiency scores through IELTS/TOEFL are required.
• They must have passed the minimum cutoff for GMAT or GRE.

You should also prepare the following documents before you apply for the fellowship:

• All academic transcripts 
• Letters of Recommendations 
• Resume with latest professional qualifications 
• 250-word essay 
• Financial documents 
• All awards, certificates and honours received before

Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship Application Process

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you with the Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship application process:

• Firstly, you should know that you can apply for the fellowship before you apply for the Stanford MBA program. 
• Prepare your 250-word essay on why you should be considered for this fellowship and gather all the important documents required for the fellowship application. Apply before the deadline and wait for a month before you are notified. 

You can prepare for your Stanford MBA application during the waiting period for the Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship. Follow these tips to know how to get into Stanford.

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Selection Process

The Standford MBA acceptance rate is 5.4%-6.2% which is extremely competitive. Therefore, the selection committee awards only those candidates who have promising careers after MBA. We have explained the selection process in the following table for your better understanding:

Stage	Selection is done by	Selecting	Selection Criteria
Stage 1	Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship	Top 50 finalists	MeritFinancial NeedCommitment to Development
Stage 2	Stanford University	3 fellows	IntellectLeadership Personal Contribution

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Terms and Conditions 

To avoid the cancellation of this fellowship, you must follow the terms and conditions given below if you are awarded. 

• After completing your 2-year MBA program, you must return to India.
• The sentence in active voice would be: “An Indian company must employ you for a minimum of 2 years, and you cannot be employed anywhere else in the world.”You cannot spend the grant on accommodation, airfare, travel expenses, USA Student visa application and Stanford MBA application.

Since this fellowship is a believer in developing India primarily, they have put forward a condition for all awardees to return and work in India for at least 2 years after their Stanford MBA program. According to the fellowship’s rules, awardees must return to India after completing their training. Additionally, they must spend two years working for a company in India. Reliance Industries Limited does not require working for them. The organization will require non-compliant students to reimburse the fellowship expenses.

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