J N Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship

Benefits & funding

• Loan scholarship of up to Rs 20 lakh. The endowment notes that not all candidates qualify for the maximum amount.
• Simple interest of 2% per annum.
• The loan agreement runs for seven years. Repayment is in five equal instalments between the third and the seventh year from the date of disbursement, and early repayment is accepted.
• A guarantor is mandatory, and the guarantor carries liability on par with the candidate.
• A scholar who accepts the loan scholarship is eligible for a criteria-based travel grant and gift award from the allied Tata Trusts.
• Every academic discipline qualifies. Fields the endowment lists range from artificial intelligence and data science to clinical psychology, industrial design and public policy.

Eligibility

• Indian citizen, not older than 45 years as on 30 June of the award year (30 June 2026 in the most recent cycle).
• Graduate of a recognised Indian university with at least 60% marks on average in undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
• The undergraduate degree must be from a recognised university in India.
• The course abroad must be full-time and recognised as a graduate program, which is postgraduate in Indian terminology: a Master’s degree, a PhD or postdoctoral work.
• Final-year students and candidates awaiting results may apply. An admission letter is not needed at the time of applying, and the endowment must be told once admission is secured.
• Candidates already studying abroad may apply at the end of their first year or at the start of the second, provided at least one full academic year (12 months) remains.
• Candidates on an educational break such as CPT or OPT need two full semesters or three quarters remaining.
• Not eligible: exchange programmes, seminars, conferences, training, workshops and paper presentations; undergraduate study; postgraduate degrees taken by distance or online learning; any study inside India; and diplomas that admit students at higher-secondary level.
• Candidates who were not selected in an earlier year, and those who could not take up an award they had won, may apply afresh.

Application process

1. 1
   Apply during the annual window. Forms are on the endowment website only while a cycle is open, which ran from 5 January to 29 March in the most recent cycle.
2. 2
   Submit personal and academic details, work experience if any, and a statement of purpose of no more than 800 words that conveys the thinking behind the academic choice, together with a photograph, Aadhaar card, passport and marksheets.
3. 3
   Shortlisted candidates are informed by email about a week before the aptitude test, and the endowment arranges a mock test first. The test assesses critical thinking and problem solving, and is not subject-specific.
4. 4
   Attend an interview with a subject expert. Interviews are generally held online over Microsoft Teams or Zoom, and the most recent cycle scheduled them between May and June 2026. An admission letter, final transcripts and recommendation letters are required at this stage, and interview performance carries the highest weight in the selection.
5. 5
   Awardees are announced by mid-July. Selected candidates complete the documentation and sign the loan agreement, and the guarantor submits a PAN card, Aadhaar card, photographs and income proof or the latest filed ITR.

Program timeline

1. Applications opened for the Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 cycle.

   Jan 5, 2026

2. Applications closed.

   Mar 29, 2026

3. Mock aptitude test, 10:00 to 18:00 IST.

   Apr 25, 2026

4. Aptitude test, 17:00 IST.

   Apr 27, 2026

5. Interviews with subject experts, held online.

   May to June 2026

6. Awards announced.

   Mid-July 2026

7. Dates for the next cycle have not been published; recent cycles have opened in early January.