Shardashish Interschool Fellowship

The Shardashish Interschool Fellowship is made possible by the generous support of the UNM (Uttambhai Nathalal Mehta) Foundation.  The UNM Foundation is committed to expanding educational opportunities at all levels. Believing that education and health are cornerstones of societal development, particularly in a developing country like India, the UNM Foundation expends significant resources in both these areas. The intention of the Shardashish fellowship at Columbia University is to make available the best of global educational opportunities to bright and committed students who are economically challenged.  Beneficiaries of “Shardashish” (blessings of Mother of Knowledge) must push their existing boundaries to achieve and excel. The expectation of Shardashish fellows is that they will maximize their learning opportunities and once successful will pay it forward, through enabling others. 

Criteria for this fellowship

• Established commitment to India and its future
• Demonstrated financial need
• Preference to residents of India

• Must have applied and been admitted to one of the specific Columbia University schools and programs below:

  Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

  • MA in Biotechnology
  • MA in Mathematics of Finance
  • MA in Statistics
  • MA in Economics
  • MA in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology   

  Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

  • Any engineering discipline (MS programs only)

  School of International and Public Affairs

  • MPA in Environmental Science and Policy

Application Procedures and Deadlines

Fellowships are awarded through a competitive process after admission to one of the above programs.  Funding is for one year, varying in amount depending on the particular program, level of financial need, and application qualifications. The maximum amount for any individual fellow is $50,000 for one year. award can be applied to tuition and fees.

Application Process

Each school has a different application process.  Please review the below instructions to ensure your application is submitted correctly.

• School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)

  Please download and fill out the Shardashish Interschool Fellowship Application Form as well as the Shardashish Interschool Fellowship Needs Assessment Form. Save the documents as a single PDF and submit them directly to Maya Lugo, Assistant Director of the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy program, [email protected]. 

• Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS)

  Please download and fill out the Shardashish Interschool Fellowship Application Form and the Shardashish Interschool Fellowship Needs Assessment Form. Save the documents as a single PDF and submit them via the below linked webpage: https://apply.gsas.columbia.edu/register/sif.

• School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)

  Students should first begin a Master's of Science application with the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). After beginning the SEAS MS application, students may apply to the Shardashish Interschool Fellowship here: https://apply.engineering.columbia.edu/register/shardashish.

  Please log in with your application credentials. SEAS will not accept any applications that are submitted externally. 

Application Deadlines

The deadlines to submit the Shardashish Application Form and Financial Needs Assessment Form are below: (for fellows who will be selected to begin their fellowship in the summer or fall of 2026)

• School of International and Public Affairs *January 15, 2026*
• Graduate School of Arts and Sciences & School of Engineering and Applied Science *February 16, 2026*

Questions about submitting a Shardashish application? Please contact the admissions office in the school/program where you intend to apply.

• School of International and Public Affairs: [email protected] (Maya Lugo)
• Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: [email protected]
• School of Engineering and Applied Science: [email protected]