Stanford MBA Program

The specific number and types of candidates admitted each year will vary and will also depend on the applicant pool at the time.

There are no quotas or targets for any group. The one constant is that it will always be based on those who will contribute to a stimulating, diverse educational experience.

While we consider gender, ethnicity, nationality, and personal, professional, and academic experiences, among other aspects, we ultimately admit individuals and not categories of people.

Reliance Dhirubhai Fellows will be required to repay all Fellowship funding if they elect not to return to India within the required timeframe.

Reliance Industries, Ltd. created the Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship at the Stanford Graduate School of Business to support promising Indian students with financial need in obtaining an MBA at Stanford. This fellowship program, made possible by a generous gift from Reliance Industries, Ltd. allows Stanford to extend its outreach within India to the best and brightest MBA candidates, regardless of their financial situation. Reliance is dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders in India who are committed to the country's human and socio-economic progress.

We make admission decisions person by person, not group by group. There are no quotas or targets in the admission process. The Stanford MBA class typically reflects the applicant pool, so the specific number and backgrounds of candidates admitted each year varies depending on the applicant pool at the time. The one constant is that we always offer admission to students who will contribute to a stimulating, diverse educational experience. While we consider gender, ethnicity, nationality, and personal, professional, and academic experiences, among other aspects, we ultimately admit individuals and not categories of people. Through the Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship we are encouraging individuals who might never have thought it possible to apply to and attend the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

We recognize the importance of India's voice in the global marketplace, and within our classrooms.

Stanford's international reputation as a leader in management education is built on the quality and diversity of our students, whose broad range of experiences and backgrounds fosters a distinctively collaborative community. Indian students are an important part of the student body at the School, as they provide direct and personal insight into an emerging global economy that has a powerful impact on business and management. We place tremendous importance on educating and preparing the future generation of Indian leaders, in both the public and private arenas, to produce positive change and growth within the country--and educating the student body about India's potential.

This fellowship is funded directly by Reliance Industries, Ltd. There are very few full fellowships available to MBA students, covering all financial costs related to tuition, books, accommodation, and travel. The Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship is the only full fellowship for Indian MBA students.

Each Reliance Dhirubhai Fellow will receive the full cost of attendance, including tuition, living allowance, books and supplies, course materials, medical insurance, study trip, and travel. For the current year, this is approximately $85,000 for a single student and $95,000 for a married student per year.

The cost of attendance is listed on our website at www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/financial_aid/tuition_expenses.html

There is no obligation for Reliance Dhirubhai Fellows to work for Reliance Industries, Ltd. at any point in the process or during your careers. Reliance Industries, Ltd. would, however, be very amenable to speaking with Fellows who express an interest in career opportunities with Reliance.

Reliance Dhirubhai Fellows are required to return to India within two years of graduation from the Stanford MBA Program. Otherwise you will be required to repay the Fellowship funding you have received.

With a broad range of interests, Stanford MBA students pursue many different types of career opportunities. You can work for a major corporation, lead a nonprofit, serve in government, head an educational institution, develop a life sciences company, run a factory, or succeed in organizations of every size and description. Reliance Dhirubhai Fellows will apply the management and leadership skills learned at Stanford to developing the Indian economy.

Your decision will be posted in your online application. If you are chosen as a finalist your notification letter will outline your next steps.

Yes, you must be an Indian citizen (living in India) and must be either studying or working in India to apply for the Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship..

Furthermore, all Reliance Dhirubhai Fellows must return to India within two years of graduation to work for a period of at least two years.

In selecting up to 50 Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship finalists, we will consider academic and professional merit, commitment to developing India, and financial need based on a review of each individual's personal resources.

The Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship finalists will be subject to the identical admission standards of all other Stanford MBA applicants. All Stanford MBA applicants are evaluated on intellectual vitality, demonstrated leadership potential, and personal qualities and contributions.

For more information on the Stanford MBA admission criteria and process, please visit www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/admission/

We do not know how many Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship applications we will receive.

From the applications submitted, we aim to select up to 50 finalists who will be able to apply to the Stanford MBA Program at no charge.

From those 50 finalists, Stanford ultimately will select up to five Reliance Dhirubhai Fellows and up to five alternates.

Yes, you may still apply to the Stanford MBA Program if you are not selected as a finalist for the Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship..

You would bear all costs of the admissions process however, including application fees, exam fees, and financial aid verification fees. (University/college seniors currently receiving financial aid may apply for an application fee waiver if you provide documentation from your school's Financial Aid Office. Although we understand the financial burden that other applicants may be under and sympathize with your circumstances, we are not able to waive the application fee in other cases--with the exception of Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship finalists.)

All Stanford MBA students, regardless of citizenship, are eligible for financial assistance based on demonstrated financial need. Financial assistance typically includes both fellowships and educational loans. The Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship is extremely generous in that students receive full financial support in the form of a fellowship.

During the screening of the Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship applications, 10th board, 12th board, JEE and/or CAT scores (if available) will be considered. All of the selected finalists for the Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship will also be required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) as part of the Stanford MBA admission process. If you become a finalist, you will be issued a GMAT fee voucher which will allow you to register online for an exam date of your choosing.

Please refer to the information on our website.

Work experience is not required. You know best when the time is appropriate to pursue an MBA education. We accept outstanding students-and that includes students who enroll directly from an undergraduate or graduate program without full-time work experience. Candidates enrolling directly from university usually have an extensive record of extracurricular leadership, as well as superb academic credentials. These students are mature and self-confident and can also effectively articulate the reasons why they wish to attend business school now.

If you already have an MBA or similar degree in management studies, you are eligible to apply to the Stanford MBA Program. We would not encourage you to do so, however, without a compelling reason. You may wish to review our course offerings to see how much of the program would be repetitious. Then, if you decide to apply, make a compelling case in both your Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship application and your Stanford MBA Program application to explain why you want to have another MBA education.

Stanford University will assist you in the visa process once you are admitted to the Stanford MBA Program. The first step will be to determine which visa is right for you. Most students study under the F-1 visa and a few study under the J-1 visa. Detailed information will be sent to you upon your admission to the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

The entire process is completely free of charge for prospective Reliance Dhirubhai Fellows. If you are selected as a finalist, all fees associated with applications, exams, and financial assistance verifications will be waived. In the case of GMAT fees, a voucher will be issued to all finalists.

The Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship will cover all financial costs related to tuition, books, accommodation, and travel for the full duration of the two years of study. The cost of attendance is listed on our website at www.gsb.stanford.edu/finaid/cost

Financial need is determined as the Cost of Attendance for one year minus your contribution based on a review of your personal resources (annual household income, cash savings, investments including retirement, and home equity).

Students will ultimately be required to complete the Financial Aid Applications and submit copies of your tax returns and other documentation. Information about the process is available on the GSB Financial Aid website at www.gsb.stanford.edu/finaid/

Intentionally reporting incorrect information may result in the withdrawal of the award and/or withdrawal of our offer of admission to the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

The Fellowship is a full fellowship to cover tuition, fees, and all living expenses for two years. There are no partial Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship awards. If you are not selected as a Reliance Dhirubhai Fellow but are admitted to the Stanford MBA Program, we would highly encourage you to complete the standard financial aid process since the School has a number of other financial resources to assist students.