Should You Choose A University or a Career Path First?

We decide undergraduate degrees and colleges at the cusp of school and university: a time when the mind is yet to undergo significant intellectual transformations. One can never know for sure at 18 what they might end up doing later in life. The moment one makes the mistake of choosing degrees tailored towards particular professional ends, all of their undergraduate years are lost in working towards a job. The experience of an undergraduate degree is diluted by this hyper-concentrated job hunt. At a time when the mind expands through varied intellectual engagements, these so-called professional degrees constrict the mind by rendering everything but that one fated job useless. 

The struggle for primacy between a university and a career path is, in itself, a false dichotomy. While each of us has childhood aspirations and feels convinced of a particular career path at 18, based on both ambition and social location, entering university with an open mind simultaneously generates a universe of possibilities vis-à-vis career trajectories. For instance, one might be bent on taking the UPSC examinations after an undergraduate degree, but four years of Political Science at Ashoka might alter their plans. The student might end up working at a think tank or find their calling in political journalism. This is not to dismiss childhood dreams, but to suggest that there does exist a world beyond, which might just be better suited to the individual in question. However, public institutions in India do not allow for this aperture and orient students towards conventional patterns of employment.

Ashoka does its best to resolve this conflict, not by advertising certain career paths, but by fortifying its students with the skills to be able to make the right choices for themselves. To begin with, everybody gets to major and minor in any subject of their liking. Everybody has complete freedom to stray from the majors and minors they declare during their applications and explore. There aren’t any neat major-minor combinations to choose from, allowing people to study what they enjoy, not what the institution mandates. Dabbling in areas of interest, while sitting with matters one might have found difficult or uncomfortable to grapple with, there does come a moment of ecstasy when one knows for sure what it is they could go to war for. That is how interests and subsequent career paths get solidified. 

Besides academics, Ashoka also offers assistance in looking for both internal and external internship opportunities. We have a dedicated Internship Cell that organises Internship Preparatory Programmes, internship fairs and sessions with industry experts to help students build contacts and identify interests. An internship, that is, learning on the job, helps one navigate the nitty-gritties of being part of the workforce, and decide for sure whether they see themselves in the grind four years from now.

The Career Development Office (CDO), as well as the Office of Postgraduate Studies work closely with interested students, helping them get placed in jobs and graduate programs of their choice. 

The CDO manages a system called the Superset through the student-led Placement Committee. Interested students must build their profiles on Superset and get those verified through PoCs from the Placement Committee to be eligible to apply for jobs and internships. 

The Office of Postgraduate Studies, similarly, chalks out application plans with students, assisting through the process of drafting Statements of Purpose, collating writing samples, procuring letters of recommendation, and applying for scholarships. 

Nothing, of course, is ever possible without our Professors, who remain steadfast in walking their students through this whirlwind of a journey. Conversations with professors have often helped us identify what it is that drives us passionate and insane. They answer queries we never knew we had.

The key, I think, is to enter university with an open mind. Ashoka gets us to unlearn everything we have been taught and start thinking from scratch. These four years mark that period of a thorough reconstitution, where we rebuild our intellectual abilities, and decide the vocation that shall make life joyful and worth living. 

– Written by Srishti Choudhury, English Major, 51���

51���

What Makes a University Future-Proof?

The world around us is undergoing a profound transformation at a fast pace, and it’s imperative that we learn how to unlearn and relearn to stay relevant. As rightly pointed out by Carl Rogers- “The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change."The rapid technological evolution and evolving job markets have set new standards for students, widening their horizons with tempting opportunities ready to be harnessed. In such a world, universities cannot solely rely on legacy, prestige or rigid curriculum. A future-proof university is one that will lay the founding stone for students to build their careers in multiple avenues, equip them with the skills to achieve the unachievable and ultimately produce global citizens: proactive to the needs of the world. 

Three pillars by which such institutions can be defined are- curriculum adaptability, faculty depth and student agency. Examining these elements through the example of 51���, a premier liberal arts university in India, will provide essential inputs on how universities can curate the lives of their students towards a successful future. 

Curriculum Adaptability: Preparing for a Changing World

Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and digital tools are reshaping teaching methodologies, assessments and skills. Universities fixated on rigid curriculum, and set patterns without any scope for malleability, will fail to shape their students to address interdisciplinary issues like climate change, AI invasion and public policy. The solution is simple: adapt an interdisciplinary approach to prepare students for future work environments by training them to cut the Gordian Knot.  

51��� as a Case Study

51��� has carved a legacy of its own through its interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum. Here, students have the liberty to choose across disciplines to design a curriculum that is apt not just for their future career but also suits their interests and aptitudes - for example, a Computer Science student may choose English, Biology and Performing Arts. This flexibility allows students to combine diverse streams, explore domains and develop analytical and critical thinking, along with satisfying the innate creativity within themselves, thereby producing happy, well-rounded personalities more suited to this modern-day world. 51��� boasts of schools spanning Humanities, Economics, Biosciences and Social Sciences, all designed to encourage academic enquiry with interdisciplinary research-based learning aimed at addressing real-world challenges. Added to this is the integration of entrepreneurship and innovation centres to pique the students’ interests in business ventures, strategies and creation, giving them an edge over others and, of course, preparing them for the new world.

Faculty Depth: The Intellectual Backbone of Universities

Curriculum alone cannot run a winning race. It needs an experienced jockey who is capable of helping their students manoeuvre their way in this competitive world. At 51���, the faculty holds the reins of the winning race by their depth, diversity, knowledge and engagement. They are the ones who are active in research, conversant with the needs of the industries and their guiding policies. Hence, they are better equipped to mentor the students beyond the classroom. Such faculty is Ashoka’s USP as they keep the students’ minds active with curiosity, feed fodder for research and offer real-world perspectives. Ashoka allots a mentor for each student to help in their process of understanding and executing their goals. Students can book innumerable ‘office-hours’ to interact with the faculty, not only to clarify their doubts but also to talk freely about their aims and aspirations. At every step, the faculty is ready to offer the right advice for courses, research opportunities and academic pathways. 

It is only at Ashoka where Entrepreneurship and other departments include faculty with industry experience to offer practical insights into their teaching and mentoring. This unique blend of academic and practical expertise helps in connecting the theoretical world to real-world scenarios, thus making the faculty the backbone of the University.

Student Agency: Ownership of Learning and Careers

Evolving times need evolutionary agencies to create future-ready students. Such students can be created with the help of a student agency that can help shape a student’s academic path, offer opportunities to pursue independent projects and explore beyond conventional career choices. A student agency provides clarity in choosing courses, offers opportunities in research and internships, and exposes students to diverse career paths. 

51��� provides multiple platforms that empower students to carve their career paths. 

1. Career Development and Internships
The university’s Career Development Office supports students through counselling, internships, and skill-building programmes running from the first semester to graduation. 

Internship initiatives such as LEAD expose students to organisations across sectors, helping them build practical skills and explore different career pathways. 

2. Entrepreneurship and Startups
The InfoEdge Centre for Entrepreneurship guides students through ideation, incubation, and scaling of ventures, enabling them to turn ideas into viable businesses. 

3. Interdisciplinary and Social Impact Projects
A notable example is Civinc, a civic-engagement platform conceptualised by an Ashoka alumna and developed through interdisciplinary collaboration between students and faculty. The project used technology to improve governance and civic participation, demonstrating how student initiatives can address real societal challenges. 

Such initiatives reflect a culture where students are not passive recipients of knowledge but active creators of solutions.

51��� is an exemplary example of a holistic ecosystem that is slowly yet steadily creating students who are future-ready. Its buzzing classrooms, sprawling lawns, the red-bricked walls, the tiled pathways and nooks and corners are the breeding ground for agile minds preparing them for complex and unpredictable futures. At its centre lies the faculty and student agency around whom revolve the empowered students. 

51��� has successfully proven that interdisciplinary curriculum, strong mentors and student-driven initiatives are the key to shaping not just the future of students but the society as well.

– Written by Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major at 51���.

51���

Choosing a University in the Age of AI and Automation

Why Interdisciplinary Beats Narrow Degrees

A traditional degree is like a room with four solid walls. They have a predefined path laid out for students to follow, a selective few courses that students must take to attain their degree and a fixed handful of skills that the institution believes may suit a student of a particular degree. There is no freedom, no hole in the wall, through which students can explore beyond the boundaries of this ‘room’. They have no option of traversing other fields of expertise and thus would not possess the knowledge or the skills to grow and to innovate in a field that they are truly passionate about. 

In the age of AI and automation, where the definition of disciplines is changing, new branches of knowledge are appearing and the role of human beings in each field is growing more uncertain, it is crucial for students to not only develop a fixed set of skills pertaining to a particular field but also to nurture their critical thinking abilities, their potential to innovate and solve real-world problems. This is where the Interdisciplinary truly beats the Traditional. In the modern day, real-world problems can only be solved by crossing domains of knowledge, and innovation can only be found at the crossroads of disciplines. 

An interdisciplinary curriculum allows students to see problems holistically and develop intellectual adaptability. Students are not only expected to identify problems, use the most relevant tools and come up with solutions, but are also encouraged to think of the “what else?” factor. Interdisciplinary students often see the historical background of modern issues and assess the social and cultural dimensions of decision-making. Balancing empirical evidence with qualitative insights is a key aspect of the interdisciplinary curriculum. Additionally, possessing an adaptable mindset that leads students to ask - ‘What framework works best in this situation?’ instead of ‘How do I use this formula?’ - which is crucial for them to navigate the unfamiliar social and professional contexts of the real world and face global challenges head-on.

Most importantly, the interdisciplinary curriculum mirrors how knowledge is actually created. According to Medicci’s effect, true innovation only occurs when ideas and disciplines intersect. Many important breakthroughs, whether in development economics, behavioural science or policy development, emerge at these intersections. Interdisciplinary universities that encourage students to cross boundaries align their educational system with how research, innovation and policy happen in real-world scenarios. 

Beyond the Technology: CS + Humanities + Policy

With the onset of the age of AI, many believe that having exceptional technical skills is the only way to remain relevant, while others believe that technical skills will soon be obsolete, as they are something AI can do better than humans, and instead, we should all focus on developing our critical thinking and soft skills. However, the truth is that the future does not only belong to the coders or the ones with soft skills, but to those who know how to ask the right questions, questions rooted in ethics, human value and social impact. 

The fields of AI and Automation are technical at their core. Being able to understand the data, analyse it, code and run algorithms are all essential skills that allow students to build and interpret technology instead of simply using it. Taking basic computer science classes related to machine learning, AI, data science, and coding will not only benefit those who are interested in Computer Science but also those who want to venture into research, policy and even entrepreneurship. 

Sampurna Pandey, a third-year Computer Science major at 51���, outlines her perspective on the matter:

“As a Computer Science major with an Economics minor at 51���, I see my education less as technical training and more as preparation for thinking clearly in an age shaped by AI. My coursework forces me to move constantly between building systems and questioning their incentives, between writing models and asking what data means, who it benefits, and how decisions scale. Classes in machine learning, algorithms, and systems give me the computational backbone, while economics sharpens how I reason about markets, risk, behaviour, and policy.

What I value most is that Ashoka refuses to silo these skills. Seminar-style discussions, colloquiums, writing-heavy humanities courses, and research projects push me to articulate technical ideas to non-technical audiences, defend assumptions, and collaborate across disciplines, skills that genuinely matter much more than coding in an AI-driven world. I’ve learned to treat models not as black boxes, but as tools embedded in social and economic contexts. That combination, technical depth, analytical scepticism, and communication, makes me feel genuinely prepared to stay relevant as technology evolves.”&�Բ�����;

On the other hand, humanities disciplines, including but not limited to literature, international relations, philosophy and history, help students cultivate critical thinking, empathy and moral reasoning. It allows them to understand what is truly beneficial for the community. Tie this with the technical skills one gains from computer science, and students are already halfway prepared to venture out into the world, one with the presence of AI. This ensures that students do not just understand why technology matters, but also how to apply it in a meaningful way. 

Lastly, policy is an integral aspect of modern society. It shapes the world we live in, just like technology. Policy governs the systems set up around us and is interconnected with not just us, but with the technology we use as well. It shapes regulation, ethical safeguards and access. Students who are well versed in policy, both analysing and implementing them, have the power to dictate how AI, automation and similar technologies can impact societies, from the labour market to human rights. 

At 51���, such a diverse blend is not just encouraged but is upheld by the very educational system our interdisciplinary curriculum follows. We give students the freedom to choose both their academic and professional trajectories and assist them at every step to ensure they can reach their goals. Our system ensures that students not only explore and gain a deep understanding of a variety of subjects, but also can carve out their own place and support their future with AI. 

Future-proof Skills

Now, we know career paths are never linear. One often switches between roles and industries multiple times in one's life. Additionally, the perceived value of present-day skills is shrinking. With a rapidly changing world, what employers, companies or even admission committees truly seek in students is more than how good a grasp they have on their subject material or skillset. They want to see how fast an individual can learn, adapt and think, and the placement and admission process reflects this very expectation. What is important for students at this stage is to focus on developing “future-proof” skills, i.e. “a combination of adaptable and enduring competencies that ensure long-term employability and relevance in a rapidly evolving job market”. 

Let us explore some of these skills in brief: 

• Cognitive Flexibility: One must develop their capacity to constantly learn, unlearn and relearn as industries continue to evolve and one’s career path changes. They must also learn to draw their own insights from a variety of contexts and mix analytical thinking with creative reasoning to solve problems better.
• Human-centric Soft Skills: This, in my viewpoint, is incredibly essential to have. We must remember that while AI is continuously refined at a rapid pace, it can only ever be capable of optimising processes, and it can never truly replicate human communication, empathy, negotiation, or way of thinking. AI is built to enhance human capabilities, not replace them. Hence, holding onto and refining our soft skills such as creative problem solving, empathy, adaptability and teamwork is important now more than ever.
• Digital/Data literacy: This refers to the ability to understand, interpret and analyse data sets and utilise them to draw insights and make decisions. 
• Lifelong Learning: Future jobs will always require you to grow your skills and knowledge to stay relevant in your chosen field. Being able to evolve with the fast-paced professional and academic landscape will always serve as a competitive advantage for everyone.

‘Future-proof’ skills not only make you more marketable but also make you inherently resilient and confident in your abilities. Afterall, everyone’s goals should not only be to survive, but to thrive in any professional environment.

Ashoka’s Long-Term Relevance

Ashoka’s holistic curriculum is designed to incorporate the usage of these very future-proof skills in day-to-day student life. At Ashoka, students do not just gain knowledge in courses, but through each assignment, class, presentation and workshop, students are pushed to grow and evolve into budding professionals, with a good grasp on theoretical concepts, technical skills, and human-centric abilities. Regardless of one’s major, be it computer science, economics, international relations or psychology, students are always encouraged to forge connections across disciplines and find ways to incorporate knowledge across fields.

The next generation of leaders will not just need technical expertise or a thorough knowledge of their individual fields, but will be required to engage with problems and situations in diverse contexts and find the most effective solution. 51���’s emphasis on interdisciplinary teaching and evaluation methods helps strengthen this tendency in students. For instance, a Global Economy course may require students to present a critical analysis and a proposal on a major macroeconomic topic. This utilises not only economic theory concepts but also nudges students to engage with real-life macroeconomic topics themselves, immerse themselves in research papers and develop the ability to analyse, interpret and give feedback on published papers along with policies they think would solve the real-life problem better. 

Education at Ashoka not only hands you the tools to solve problems, but strives to create a simulation of real-life situations wherein students are to use these tools to arrive at suitable resolutions. Other methods of evaluations often include and are not limited to, on-field work (such as collecting data, observations, interviews), presentations of individual solutions to relevant big shots in the field, writing research papers, proposals and alternative policies to given problems. This all-encompassing education system ensures that students do not simply remain absorbers of knowledge, but the creators of it. Most importantly, the networks students may find here, from partnerships with world-renowned universities, to top-of-the-field faculty and researchers, to giants in the industry, are something that remains a perennial asset in one’s life. It is something that not only enriches an individual but, in the modern age, is something that ensures you remain on top, relevant and impactful in your field. 

After all, what is truly important for us to move forward in this changing world is for us to evolve as the world evolves, to become better and more advanced, not just in technology but in our essence as human beings, in how we do work, in how we think and perceive the society around us and in how we can affect the future of this civilization.

– Written by Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major at 51���.

51���

The Hidden Cost of Choosing the Wrong Undergraduate Degree

An undergraduate degree does determine the course of one’s academic and, metonymically, professional career. Hence, the traditional fixation for STEM, law, and, more recently, fancy MBA degrees - paths of study generally considered employable. However, to push through a degree without the least bit of academic gratification is unimaginably painful, and, in quantitative terms, affects performance and grades, translating into poor or no placements. It is often in moments of personal or financial crisis that people consider switching over to a degree they might enjoy and feel motivated to work towards. In most cases, people arrive at this realisation when they find themselves at a point of no return. They’re either too old or simply jaded to put themselves through the rigour of an undergraduate degree all over again, and often sacrifice their interests, fearing social disapproval and contempt. 

Besides, not everyone can afford to switch during what is supposedly mid-career. Those who decide to take the plunge also agree to a financial commitment. Apart from the money spent on an undergraduate degree of little value in their lives, they must now bear the cost of perhaps an even more expensive degree. Often, people are compelled to take loans because self-funding is no longer an option, and are then trapped in an incessant cycle of debt.

Alongside the glaring financial commitment, a delayed degree is sure to incite feelings of loneliness and inadequacy. One must interact with peers a lot younger than them, studying the same course, working under faculty around the same age as them, while also straddling family pressure. We tend to feel indebted to our parents for the financial burden, at a point in life when one ought to be financially independent. 

Speaking of the individual alone, I don’t think any amount of investment buys back the energy one has in their late teens and early twenties, the years set aside for an undergraduate degree. This is not to say that age should be allowed to determine when and how one decides to plan their life, but years once lost seldom return. Especially when there’s a switchover, one is most likely to have expended a lot of energy in the degree they started out with, and dropped out only when hit hard by the exhaustion and disinterest. While one might still be genuinely interested in the degree they pursue when they decide to switch tracks in life, which, by itself, is a brave decision, nothing equals the energy to conquer the world and make it big when one is fresh out of school. Again, in quantitative terms, lost years are hard to justify to potential employers and also to universities. The question one is often asked under such circumstances being - How do you hope to work with us when it took you all these years to decide what was best for you? - A question I might ask those who switch paths would be, Where do you get all that energy from?

To resume from a place of burnout is not the ideal place to start. When operating from such a standpoint, one is working to partly deal with this burnout and come out of it, in a sense, as opposed to the newfound energy and excitement one has at 18, when one is working to build something new and make a mark in one's chosen field.

All these factors put together underscore the need for early flexibility, which is one of Ashoka’s greatest strengths. Each of us has the privilege and the time to explore possible options and then arrive at a decision regarding majors and minors. There are also no stipulated rules regulating major-minor combinations, and till the end of our second year, we do have the time to switch. Perhaps this isn’t emphasised enough, but an undergraduate degree, besides determining employment, directly and latently, informs the way we think, read, write, conduct ourselves and perceive the world around us, because every discipline has its unique way of training the mind into building a relationship with the world we inhabit, and the people we inhabit it with. 

– Written by Srishti Choudhury, English Major, 51���

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How Ashoka Prepares Students for Global Graduate Schools

Importance of a Good Letter Of Recommendation

The key to bridging past achievements to future potential is a well-crafted Letter of Recommendation (LOR). While a grade provides data and the growth curve, an LOR offers a third-person perspective that proves not only a student’s academic feats but also validates her character, work ethic, and provides a glimpse into the potential a student holds within herself. As time ticks, an LOR is acquiring an important role in creating credibility while seeking admission in leading universities across the globe. The document stands as a formal endorsement of a student’s capabilities and unique abilities by a professor who often is in a position to highlight a student’s soft skills, like leadership quality and teamwork, which cannot be captured correctly by a grade sheet. Finally, in the interdisciplinary world of academics where universities stress on creating global citizens, an LOR is the ticket for a committee to see a student’s multifaceted character. Hence, it’s imperative to entrust oneself to good work that can be validated by a professor for reference by various centres of learning as you move towards your goal.

Depth in Research

In the race for getting into the top graduate schools, students often think that simply “doing many things” and listing them in their resume is enough. However, what graduation admission committees actually look for in an applicant is their in-depth knowledge of and commitment to a specific field of research. 

At Ashoka, research experience is given a lot of significance, which can be seen in how mandatory method courses, advanced electives, independent study modules and thesis projects help students develop this depth. Students can utilise various opportunities offered on campus, like personalised study modules under the guidance of top-of-the-field professors in psychology labs, senior research thesis in Economics and field-based policy work to graduate with experience in understanding and engaging with literature, handling data sets and interpreting them using software, formulating questions and defending arguments. All these skills are of immense importance during graduate admissions. A student who can clearly understand and articulate their area of specialisation, why it matters in the real world and how they approach their research stands out in a pool of applicants who may have resume padding but no strong research background.

Overlooked Soft Skill: Writing

One of the most undervalued soft skills any student can possess is the ability to write clearly, rigorously and confidently. Nowadays, global graduate programs assume that all incoming students can think critically, read thoroughly and write at a high level. Students at 51��� undergo research and case-based learning, and thus, their writing skills are constantly evolving through all the proposals, abstracts, term papers and essays they write in their respective major elective courses. Additionally, all students are required to complete Foundational Courses, such as Indian Civilisation, Great Books, Literature and the World and Introduction to Critical Thinking that pushes students to learn to write detailed, crisp pieces and ways to express their thoughts, creative ideas and opinions in a coherent, eloquent and expressive manner. 

Good writing skills are not only required for writing term papers and thesis, but it also translates into a strong Statement of Purpose, writing samples and research proposals, something that strengthens a student’s graduate degree application. 

Importance of Long-term Faculty Mentorship

Successful graduate applications are often a result of long-term planning, rather than short-term decisions. An essential component of any such planning process is the presence of prolonged mentorship and faculty guidance. 

Each student at Ashoka is assigned a faculty mentor from their second year. The faculty present at Ashoka do not just guide students through coursework, but also through exploring subjects of interest beyond the classroom, choosing research directions, pushing students towards suitable programs, and giving regular advice on projects or papers students are working on. They even play an important role in shaping their application process by helping them time applications, strengthen profiles, and advising on additional skills and experiences one needs to gain to increase their chances of a successful application. The advice these mentors give is informed and shaped by years of experience in global academia. 

Additionally, mentors also provide students with a conducive uninhabited space for them to share their experiences, anxieties and confusion regarding their decision to pursue research as a career, the skills and additional projects they should do, thus providing clarity in the application process and providing them with the resources to approach the preparation for graduate studies in a strategic way. 

Why Admits Happen Repeatedly

51��� has successfully created a niche for itself among students on account of its interdisciplinary curriculum and the teaching methodology, which emphasizes research-based learning. Liberal arts is the need of the hour as it’s the gateway to a global citizenship, the most desired quality of a student in the current world scenario. Ashoka offers innumerable opportunities to a student to train themselves to be a progressive and agile learner under the able guidance of the faculty, making them conscious, creative and critical in their problem-solving skills. Hence, Ashokans are gradually making their presence felt in the job arena. Their exposure to cutting-edge learning makes them suitable for any industry. The 2024-25 placement cycle boasts of almost 124 companies as diverse as BCG, American Express, Colgate, Star-TV and Teach for India, to name a few. 

No wonder admission is booming at Ashoka, where students are happy to continue for Master’s because of their established relationship with the faculty and the campus and familiarity with the academic culture. The various programs run by the university are a bonus for the students, for whom the campus offers the perfect platform to jump to more prestigious universities and programs.

India vs Abroad

This inevitable comparison is often the talk of the table after a student graduates. Honestly, the decision is purely individualistic and often biased by precedence. With excellent educational loans and exchange programs, it is only evident that a student would like to venture out to test her potential, realise her goals and leave a mark. But we cannot undermine the scope Indian universities have to offer. So, the determining factor is a student’s career goals in the long run. Indian premier institutions like IITs and IIMs already offer exemplary curriculum that are a confirmed ticket to a dream job. But equipped with good financial backing, a student can venture abroad, fulfilling a global ambition. 

What is interesting is that Ashoka offers world-class education under the able guidance of faculty members with a rich experience in the field at various renowned universities. The curriculum is on par with Ivy League colleges, making it a lucrative place to hobnob with the goofy as well as the most intellectual. Learning is not imposed but organic, where merely prodding topics and asking questions answers half the queries. Added to it is the benefit of being home away from home, the safe campus with warm and healthy social interaction.

If you are one caught in the crossfire of Indian universities versus universities abroad, your deciding factor should be your priority list. If realising the goals set tops the list, abroad, though expensive, is a better deal in terms of ROI. Moreover, Indian universities are still exam-centric, while abroad, universities emphasise practical learning, research and curriculum flexibility, offering a student almost a customised curriculum to cater to individualistic goals. 

A word of caveat, as far as academics are concerned, there’s ‘no one shoe that fits all’. One must decide based on individual interest, aptitudes, and above all, how far one would go to fulfil their goals. 

– Written by Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major at 51���.

51���

What Happens After You Choose Your Major at Ashoka?

Ashoka believes in expanding possibilities through education, not delimiting interest by defining academics within familiar frameworks of convention. Ideas are put to practice in the way academics are designed. At Ashoka, we are expected to declare our majors and minors only at the end of our second year, that is, after four semesters of rigorous coursework. Unlike most public universities, there are no stipulated combinations. Students go on to pursue traditionally bizarre major-minor pathways. For instance, we have Biology majors pursuing minors in English or Sociology, apart from the more conventional combinations like Computer Science and Mathematics, English and Creative Writing, and so on.

This flexibility is also visible when students have to commit to studying a single discipline. Majors at Ashoka are not fetters. Declaring one’s major at Ashoka does not obligate them to see it through, should they wish to switch, or try courses from a different discipline that catches their fancy. Majors need to be declared only at the end of one’s second year, giving students adequate time to explore their options and make an informed decision. Students often switch over to their minors as their majors and vice versa. Even after four semesters, there is always enough time to complete both major and minor requirements. 

Every student’s academic journey at Ashoka is highly personalised. In a sea of options, no two students at Ashoka ever have identical trajectories. Even within the same major, no two students would have taken the same courses. Except for some core courses and survey courses that all majors must take, everybody is free to choose from a wide range of electives. While core courses are foundational in launching into a major, electives are specialised courses, concentrating on a specific slice of the Professor’s area of research. While core courses are necessary for conceptual grounding, electives allow students to identify their strengths and weaknesses and narrow in on their interests. 

Besides, students with the same major might have different minors, and some departments also allow for interdisciplinary majors. Students also get to take two co-curricular courses of their choice. Unlike in public universities, these courses need not align with majors, but are only meant for recreation and learning. 

An ode to our major, the fourth-year thesis, is the culmination of all the exploration that a student does in their initial years at Ashoka. In their final year, students get to undertake a year-long research project on a matter of interest from their majors under a faculty advisor. The advisor is usually somebody whose area of expertise aligns with the student’s area of interest, and with whom the student would have taken some courses. The thesis is typically a 15,000-word-long academic essay written across the seventh and eighth semesters, with preliminary research beginning at the end of the sixth semester. Students are encouraged to conduct original, primary research, situate themselves within existing research, and propose and defend their argument. The thesis goes through multiple rounds of feedback with the advisor and, finally, thesis writers need to defend their theses before a panel of peers and professors. The thesis remains an invaluable document, testifying inquiry, dedication and consistency years after we graduate. On a practical note, the prospectus for one’s thesis also doubles as a writing sample for students applying to graduate school. 

Majors at Ashoka do not mean closure, but aperture. A major is not meant to restrict one’s academic choices, but to expand those. Part of the degree also consists of free credits, against which we get to do courses of our choosing. These need not be major or minor courses, but from any department, and are only meant to further a student’s learning. 

Majors have their way of melding into our blood - the way we think, read, write, speak, and just exist. We love to be defined by our majors. 

– Written by Srishti Choudhury, English Major, 51���

51���

Life at a Fully Residential University: Why It Shapes Leaders

The moment one leaves home to begin life afresh, making peace with unfamiliar spaces, trying to create a semblance of home away from home, they must look for answers they might have been served on a platter all along. Living at a fully residential university forces you to look for these answers, and, somewhere along the way, you evolve into a mature, confident and independent adult. If you lose something, you need to find a way to look for it. If you are hungry, you walk to the mess or cook for yourself, all while calculating finances. 

However, independence comes at the cost of responsibility. Your decisions - whether they result in reward or punishment - are yours entirely. Even when you’re teetering on the edge, you learn to land on your feet. While the lows may hit you hard, the highs are equally reassuring. It is fun to straddle contradictions, academics, life, and, of course, sleep, but at the end of it all, it is nice to know that you can finally look after yourself.

When alone, you seek family in friends and peers. At Ashoka, we learn far more from each other than we ever do in classrooms. Learning never stops, but flows into conversations, dinner table jokes, and social media debates. Our classes are designed such that peer interactions are integral to learning. Alongside professors, students interact with Teaching Fellows (TFs), Teaching Assistants (TAs, who are usually batchmates or seniors), and, of course, each other. Almost every course requires some amount of groupwork, be it presentations, posts or reports. Students are free to see their TAs and TFs during office hours for course-related clarifications, further discussions, or quick chats. 

The emphasis on peer learning is reflected in independent student organisations and leadership on campus. Although these student-led initiatives have faculty mentors, students are responsible for setting targets, building teams, and executing the vision they set out with. At Ashoka, leadership is never vertical, but horizontal and democratic. Everybody has a voice, and decisions are never declared but collectively arrived at. The Student Life Office (SLO) supports all such initiatives, inciting students to show accountability, transparency and progress. Besides their pedagogical function, participating in student-led organisations is also a lot of fun! It allows us to make new friends, tap into networks, and simply be part of the chaos behind every event. Student leadership also induces frankness within teams. 

All said and done, we understand that there might be times when things get a little too hectic. It is alright to take a break, slow down, and ask for help. Ashoka takes its students’ mental and physical health very seriously. We have our own 16-bedded infirmary offering primary medical care and free First Aid. Our general physicians offer free consultations, and specialised practitioners like physiotherapists and gynaecologists come into campus on certain days of the week. The infirmary also has a 24-hour ambulance service, helping weak and immobile students around campus.

The Ashoka Centre for Well Being (ACWB) offers free and confidential one-on-one sessions with trained psychologists for students struggling with stress, anxiety and other mental health issues. ACWB also allows for walk-in sessions should there be an emergency, and has a helpline for immediate relief in cases where waiting is not an option. The Student Care Office also calls in psychiatrists at regular intervals. Ashoka makes every effort to ensure that no mental health concern is left unattended.

It goes without saying that community bolsters better mental health. Since Ashoka has a residential campus in a remote location, students have formed multiple clubs and societies to ensure meaningful engagement and recreation beyond academics. Clubs and societies span across a variety of interests, some of them being the performing arts like dance, music and theatre. For those with literary and journalistic inclinations, we have Red Brick Words, Ashoka’s poetry club and one of the oldest clubs on campus. The Edict, the student-run newspaper, allows interested students to report on campus events across beats like Sports, Arts and Culture and Opinions. On the fiscal side of things, we have an Economics Society which, alongside other events, hosts its annual fest, Equilibrium. The Entrepreneurship Club, the Business Club, the Investments Club, and so on, offer like oppo opportunities.

Life at Ashoka is organised such that nobody ever feels the absence of home. Ashoka just has its way of seeping into the lives of students through its many academic and extracurricular opportunities. We build similar, yet unique lives, replete with our own aspirations, interests, recreations and, of course, the friends who make life joyful and worthwhile. 

– Written by Srishti Choudhury, English Major, 51���

51���

Beyond Consulting: Career Pathways After 51���

Whenever one envisions a rewarding life after graduation, one instantly conjures up images of management consulting, investment banking, or corporate roles. While many 51��� graduates do choose consulting, careers after Ashoka are incredibly diverse, ranging from footprints in technology, public policy research, innovative startups, social impact, creative industries, and more. Aided by Ashoka’s liberal arts philosophy - which emphasises interdisciplinary thinking, problem-solving, and communication - Ashokans are trained to navigate this breadth with elan and confidence.

1. The Canvas of Career Opportunities

Once they graduate, Ashokans have an array of careers to choose from, reflecting the university’s holistic and interdisciplinary learning model.

1. Despite Ashoka not being a traditional engineering college, the intersections of humanities, data skills, and entrepreneurship embedded in their curriculum have opened doors for students in technology spaces. Graduates in Economics, Computer Science and Data Science have a fertile ground to apply their knowledge in the leading tech industry that values analytical and critical thinking. They are capable of landing a job in product, analytics or research roles. Not only this, some alumni have played their civic roles by blending their knowledge in public policy and computer science. A great example is Civinc, a civic engagement platform built by students and alumni to improve local governance through technology. The university offers and encourages students to take up internships and projects to cultivate their tech readiness even before they graduate.
2. Ashoka is known for its niche in policy and research. Graduates are known to play a significant role in research organisations, policy making, data design and evidence-based advocacy. Centres like the Ashoka Centre for a People-centric Energy Transition (ACPET) offer pathways where graduates apply econometrics, environmental modelling, and interdisciplinary research to real-world policy questions around energy transitions. Students can also work at entities like the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP), which combines analytical research with strategic non-profit impact. Such exposure is lucrative for graduates interested in social impact who put their skills in critical thinking, writing and bigger picture understanding to their advantage.
3. The thriving spirit of entrepreneurship is sown in every Ashokan not only through their academics but also through their myriad student clubs, incubation support and alumni network. Many Ashokans have launched startups or joined early-stage ventures, especially in sectors like edtech, sustainability, policy platforms, and social impact enterprises. The university’s ecosystem allows uninhibited experimentation where students are encouraged to explore the untrodden path, thus promoting the entrepreneurial spirit.
4. Not all Ashokans pursue the most sought-after tech or research roles. Many consciously pursue creative and non-profit careers, again inculcated by the university’s tilt towards creating conscious and conscientious citizens. Hence, some graduates have joined NGOs to make a change in their micro and macro worlds. The emphasis and innumerable opportunities to hone their communication skill helps Ashokans thrive in roles that require narrative sophistication and critical insight. Thus, careers in media, journalism, publishing, writing, and cultural industries are common.

2. The Role of the Career Development Office

The Career Development Office (CDO) is the capstone of Ashoka’s career development. It helps students with placements and internships, guides them to navigate options they might not have considered.

a. Structured Career Support

The CDO offers structured programmes to groom the students for various career paths:

• Internship Preparatory Programme - where students identify interests, build resumes, and secure meaningful early experiences.
• Placement Preparatory Programme - which includes mock interviews, sector-specific workshops, and one-on-one career counselling. 

The CDO gives individualistic sessions to students to help them connect their academic majors with sectors they might not intuitively think of - from research labs to policy consultancies.

b. Bridging Academia & Industry

The office closely works with recruiters and partners across sectors - including companies, NGOs, research institutes, and startups - to expand opportunities beyond the usual corporate routes. For example, Anitya - the Social Impact Club - runs development sector bootcamps in collaboration with the CDO, bringing in policy makers and sector leaders so students can explore impact careers firsthand. 

With 120+ academic and research collaborations and 85+ national and international interdisciplinary projects launched, 51��� has built a robust research ecosystem that encourages collaboration beyond traditional boundaries.

3. Alumni Journeys: Real Stories, Real Paths

The best way to assess 51��� is through the paths the alum has taken, especially those that defy the consulting stereotype.

a. Innovators & Founders

Aishwarya Sunaad has spearheaded ventures that combine technology, civic engagement, and social change. The Civinc civic engagement platform shows how interdisciplinary education can directly lead to impactful tech solutions. Samyak built Workverse, a platform that simulates real-world workplace environments to train graduates in critical skills like creative problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and communication. He’s also active in social entrepreneurship initiatives like Adopt One. 

b. Policy and Research Leaders

The curriculum is incredible for fostering analytical and research skills. Two students, Taif Altaf (Young India Fellow, 2026 Scholars) and Daksh Walia (M.A. Economics, 2023 Scholars), have won the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, showcasing Ashoka's strong academic environment that fosters the qualities (excellence, character, leadership) needed for this prestigious Oxford award. As listed on LinkedIn, this commitment to scientific and interdisciplinary research has led to over 787+ research publications, 431 papers featured in top international journals such as Scopus, Web of Science, and GS. Each study, initiative, and partnership reflects Ashoka’s dedication to producing research that is both relevant and impactful.

4. Non-Obvious Careers Ashoka Students Pursue

A few popular yet non obvious career pathways Ashokans have taken up in the recent past are in the following fields-

• User Experience & Product Strategy in tech firms
• Impact Investing & Social Finance roles in VC or philanthropic funds
• Civic Tech & GovTech initiatives
• Policy Analytics & Data Journalism
• Creative Entrepreneurship (media houses, digital storytelling platforms)
• Climate and Sustainability Consulting
• Academic Research & PhD tracks leading to teaching and policy roles

These varied options only establish the university’s liberal arts background - rooted in curiosity and adaptability that appreciates the traditional and builds new domains. 

5. Career is a Journey, Not a Destination

Choosing a career after graduation today is not just about picking the most beaten or sought-after job. For youngsters today, a career is synonymous with their personality, a narrative that fits their skills, values, and evolving interests. The University’s liberal arts approach is extremely helpful in building critical reasoning, empathy, communication, and interdisciplinary insight - all skills that are essential across sectors. 

– Written by Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major at 51���.

51���

Research from Year One: What that Actually Means at Ashoka

A first-year student inclined towards research is often unsure about how to carve a path that will lead them to a subject in which they can dive deep into the world of academia. While most college students are still figuring out dining hall timings and where their early morning classes are located, students at Ashoka are already seated in research labs, talking with faculty about their areas of interest and deciding on how they can help contribute to the projects and research currently being carried out on campus.

It is always in the best interest of a student to start exploring as early as possible, taking up courses in various fields and gaining experience in research. 51��� strives to create a campus environment that is welcoming and supportive, where students have numerous opportunities to explore their interests and passions right from year one.

How Undergraduates Enter Research Labs

A key feature in the research environment at 51��� is the accessibility of faculty research labs to undergraduate students. At Ashoka, there is no strict social hierarchy determined by student seniority or the number of courses completed. Instead, all students are evaluated based on their skills and interests in specific fields. As a result, students ranging from first-year undergraduates to PhD candidates have equal access to all labs at Ashoka.

Students who look for research opportunities early usually join various projects by either cold mailing professors whose work and area of research interests them or by taking courses that may naturally lead them to obtain a research assistant position. Ashoka also provides students with the opportunity to work on Independent Study Projects (ISPs) with Professors (these can be taken for credit) on fields and subjects that are of interest to them, and may also participate in the Summer Research Programmes our university offers.

Generally, all faculty members are open to working with motivated students, students who are driven, curious and willing to learn more. This open and free research culture not only creates an innovative environment where students gain hands-on experience outside of classroom walls, but it also allows unsure first and second year undergraduates to try their hand at different fields and refine their academic interests well before having to make graduate school decisions.

What This Looks Like Across Disciplines

Every day, valuable research is carried out in various disciplines such as Computer Science, Biology and Physics and all students, even the undergraduates, play an important role in each project. In Computer Science, the undergraduate research focuses on data science, cybersecurity, AI/ML and other interdisciplinary branches of research, such as the application of CS in Biology and Economics. Students work on machine learning models and systems research, often making significant contributions to research papers, conferences and project work with faculty. We have realised that research in computer science often scales well with undergraduate involvement, which is why students see tangible results early in their academic careers.

Biology research, on the other hand, tends to be more methodical and slow, yet students still endeavour to engage deeply and contribute meaningfully by conducting lab experiments, assisting in field research, and working on data analysis and literature review. In this discipline, publications may take time, but students gain lab experience and gain the know-how of conducting research, something which is essential for master's or PhD programmes. In Physics, students work on streamlined subject matter such as theoretical models, astrophysics or biophysics, and some even publish research papers and engage in projects from their third year. Even when some projects are heavy on the theoretical aspect, students learn essential skills such as reading advanced papers, collaborating with top-of-the-field faculty members and most importantly, how to think and analyse like a physicist.

Experiential Learning at Ashoka

The academic sphere is highly competitive and is constantly evolving every year. Students who wish to pursue careers in this world must adapt to each change and set themselves apart at the same time, all while gaining the knowledge and experience essential to flourishing in the world of academia.

At Ashoka, students gain valuable experience and knowledge outside the classroom, and are already thriving in the real-world environment far before they graduate, all because of the various opportunities one can avail. Students not only collaborate with faculty and assist them with their research, but they also contribute to the research papers, some of which are published. Students have the opportunity to present their work at national and international conferences as well. Even when the research does not immediately lead to publication, students who make meaningful contributions are awarded with strong letters of recommendation, and the experience often leads them to discover a clear research statement and a well-defined academic trajectory that interests them.

51��� also offers undergraduate research Summer Internship Programs (SIPs), primarily through the Ashoka International Summer Research Programme (AISRP), which connects students with faculty mentors for 8-10 weeks in fields like biology, sustainability, and science policy. Additionally, students can find broader research opportunities through the Career Development Office (CDO). The CERN Summer Student Programme (for Physics, Maths, CS, Engineering) and the CERN Openlab Summer Programme (for Computing) are also among some of the most coveted research opportunities for undergraduates at 51���. These highly competitive programmes include hands-on projects and lectures, under the supervision of Ashoka’s GESP (Global Education and Strategic Partnerships) office.

How Does This Matter in Graduate Programmes?

Graduate program admissions, especially for PhD programmes, do not solely depend on how good a student’s grades or CGPA are. The admissions process often takes into account a student’s experience in research, be it having a clear understanding of one’s academic interests, knowing the process of research, familiarity with academic inquiry and literature, and strong recommendations from researchers and faculty members a student has worked with. Having these experiences up one’s sleeve will increase one's likelihood of getting into a good programme at a reputable university.

Starting one’s journey in academia and research early in Ashoka has its own advantages, the primary one being that students clearly know what line of research they are passionate about. They work closely with the faculty, some of whom are the best in their field and gain first-hand experience in working with top researchers in a real-time setting. Students can actually understand and see for themselves what a research career would look like instead of simply trying to understand it through lectures and office hours. The knowledge of whether they are suited for this career early on in their academic life will allow them to choose their career with certainty and confidence, and will give them the time to build their repertoire accordingly.

Knowing the exact subject matter you are interested in doing research in and having some prior research experience in that field is essential for those who would like to pursue a PhD degree right after their undergraduate programme.

Thus, the time spent at 51��� adequately prepares one to seamlessly transition from a sheltered try-and-test-it-out environment to the real world one is thrown into when they are selected into a PhD or even a Master’s Programme.

– Written by Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major at 51���.

51���

Inside a First-Year Classroom at 51���

A first-year classroom at 51��� is unusual in that it doesn’t replicate the typical Indian education scenario - professors lecturing huge classes, some students dozing off, most lost in their own world.

Ashoka classrooms are usually designed around the Socratic style of teaching, that is, learning through inquiry. Classes are dynamic, where students are encouraged to speak as much as professors. Students learn as much through mutual discussion and debate as by way of lecture.

Foundation Courses Demystified

A crucial characteristic that makes a first-year classroom at Ashoka stand out as compared to other Indian universities is the pedagogic strategy of Foundation Courses (FCs). Every undergraduate student at Ashoka, irrespective of their majors, must complete a total of 9 FCs, namely Introduction to Critical Thinking (ICT), Great Books, Mind and Behaviour, Literature and the World, Economy, Politics and Society, Environmental Studies, Principles of Science, Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematical Thinking and Indian Civilisations.

These FCs, spread across a range of disciplines, encourage interdisciplinary thinking and afford students a taste of each of these disciplines, allowing them to make informed decisions about their majors and minors. For example, ICT, taught by the Undergraduate Writing Program, is one of our flagship courses that instructs students in critical thinking and academic writing, and unlearning patterns of memorisation that the Indian school system forces students to internalise - skills every Ashokan must keep safe in their dossier.

What a Typical Week at Ashoka Looks Like

A typical week during one’s first semester at Ashoka would consist of two hour-and-a-half-long lectures for each of their four FCs, and one hour-long Discussion Section (DS) for each course except ICT. While professors hold lectures for classes comprising at least a hundred students for FCs, the DSs, led by Teaching Fellows (TFs), break up these classes into smaller sections. The DSs are meant to go over topics covered in class, and often provide one-on-one support through office hours and discussions with the TFs. This kind of individualised support is key when students are still fledglings, and helps strengthen their skills in reading, writing and overall learning.

Learning, Assessments and Discussions

It is impossible to make a standardised claim about assessments and coursework, because every course at Ashoka is unique, and professors have different ways of designing their courses. However, generally speaking, academics at Ashoka are not oriented towards pre-exam cramming, but gradual assimilation. Courses usually have readings, weekly assignments like posts, presentations, field trips and quizzes that ensure continuous study, a midterm assignment or exam, and a final essay or exam.

Every component contributes to the final grade, with maximum weightage usually accorded to the midterm and final assignments/exams.

The course load in any given semester is mostly manageable with steady effort. Class participation is also a significant component, which is something we unlearn from Indian boards, where we are taught to absorb, cram and regurgitate. Class participation reflects initiative and effort, and students are more than welcome to disagree, object, question and challenge both their classmates and the professors. Such discussions help raise questions and resolve confusion.

Why Students at Ashoka Grow Faster

Students at Ashoka, naturally, grow and learn faster because learning is both guided and independent. We reap the benefits of attending lectures and discussions if only we put in the initial work of preparing for class - reading, completing assignments, and also making a note of questions or thoughts that might be raised in discussion. So long as one is willing to learn, there is no place like Ashoka when it comes to academic gratification. Lectures are not just meant to explain, but to broaden our realms of possibility.

A first-year classroom at Ashoka would never rush through syllabi or prepare for exams. Unlike public universities, where students study a maximum of two subjects per semester, the first semester at Ashoka offers a diversity of courses, familiarising students with different praxes of reading, writing, and, broadly, engaging with the world in a nuanced and responsible fashion.

– Written by Srishti Choudhury, English Major, 51���

51���

Who is Eligible for Scholarships at 51���?

For many students, studying in a world-class institution is a dream that is often met with barriers and uncertainty. To these students, scholarships are like a lifeline, something that helps them overcome obstacles to achieve their dream and pursue a bright future.

At 51���, scholarships are a significant part of our commitment to making top-quality education accessible to all, regardless of their financial background or academic path. If you are someone who aspires to study at 51���, one of India’s top interdisciplinary institutions and is yet unsure how our scholarships support your academic journey and make it easier, you’ve come to the right place!

Merit-based vs Need-based Scholarships

51���, in accordance with its principles of upholding an academically rigorous and culturally diverse environment, awards scholarships that not only aim to reward excellence and talent but also provide financial support for top-quality educational access to all. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to those students who have demonstrated their determination, knowledge and skills through various endeavours, academic or otherwise, and/or have performed exceptionally well in national aptitude examinations such as JEE Mains, IISER (IAT) or the Indian National Olympiads (INO).

On the other hand, need-based scholarships are provided to those who require financial assistance for their education. What matters here is whether a student is capable of sponsoring their education at a university. We, at Ashoka, prioritise providing need-based scholarships to promote financial inclusivity and accessibility to top-notch education to all who dream of being a part of a world-class interdisciplinary curriculum that gives you a platform to grow and build your future. So, to put it simply, you can think of Merit-based scholarships as a recognition of your hard work and potential for brilliance. Need-based scholarships, on the other hand, aim to level the playing field and give everyone a fair chance at pursuing their dreams.

Scholarships: Categories and Eligibility

Scholarships are simply modes to help bring you closer to a bright future. Ashoka understands the importance of these modes to students and ensures that the allocation of scholarships is fair, diverse and suitable for students coming from different backgrounds and circumstances.

There are two main merit categories at Ashoka: Special Merit Scholarships and Achievers’ Merit Scholarships. Special Merit Scholarships are where 100% tuition fee waivers are awarded to 50 exceptional students who have performed extremely well in national examinations such as JEE Mains, CMI or the Indian National Olympiads (INO). One must score high in these tests to have a strong opportunity to receive this scholarship. The qualifying criteria are as follows:

• JEE Mains: Minimum of 98 percentile
• CMI Entrance Examination: Top 100 Rank
• IISER Aptitude Test: Top 2000 Rank
• Students who have qualified for the Training Camp stage of the National Olympiads in Mathematics, Science, Astronomy, Linguistics and Informatics

One must note that this scholarship is only available to students who wish to pursue a Science major (Computer Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Mathematics).

The Achievers’ Merit Scholarship offers up to a 100% tuition fee waiver to 150 students, completely based on their individual performance on 51���’s holistic admission process. Students must have also performed remarkably well in their school board examinations (ISC/ICSE and CBSE) to be eligible for this scholarship. [The final or predicted board scores for classes 10 and 12 should be 98% or above.]

What makes Ashoka’s scholarship application process so unique is that a student is eligible for either the Achievers’ Merit Scholarship or the Special Merit Scholarships, and can also remain eligible for additional need-based scholarships to ensure that financial barriers do not hold back individuals with the potential to excel in either academic or co-curricular activities.

Need-based Scholarship: Holistic Approach

At Ashoka, we are committed to providing a well-rounded education to a diverse range of learners. We believe that promising students should not be held back by financial limitations or any such circumstances. So, we provide up to a 100% tuition fee waiver to those candidates who are qualified to receive this scholarship.

Unlike other rigid scholarship programmes that evaluate students based on a fixed income bracket, Ashoka ensures a holistic approach that allows us to get the full picture of a student’s familial circumstances and their ability to pay so that we can bridge the gap where needed to ensure the student’s access to quality education and academic success. This is why, for our Need-based scholarship application, we look at current income and supporting documentation, savings and investments, educational loans, if any, wealth details, family business details (where applicable), whether the job is pensionable and any other financial responsibilities.

For further information, you can view the Need-Based Scholarships application form here.

Common Myths

We all know how complicated and uncertain scholarship applications may be. There might be multiple students who are unsure if they might qualify for either a Merit scholarship or a Need Scholarship, but that is why we are here to help!

A predominant misconception about scholarships is that it is only for toppers. This is not true. In fact, Ashoka has multiple scholarships that cater to different needs or difficulties students may have, which might pose a barrier to their pursuit of better education and a definitive route to a future career. Whether a student is someone who cannot finance their education or has the potential to excel and grow in their field, they are eligible for a scholarship that can support them.

In contrast, if you are someone who believes that only those who are in need of financial assistance are eligible for a scholarship, then we would like to point you towards our merit scholarships that allow you to realise your potential and grow in an educational field of your choosing.

Now, if you are an international student who is under the impression that Indian students are more likely to get scholarships than international students, fear not! Ashoka provides both need-based and merit-based scholarships without any bias. If you meet the eligibility requirements for a need-based scholarship (which requires the appropriate financial documentation from your home country) or have achieved outstanding results in your national exams for a merit-based scholarship, you have an equal opportunity to receive funding, just like any Indian student.

When are scholarship decisions made?

The timeline for making the decision is quite simple. The first stage is the application and admission process, during which you must receive an offer of admission. Scholarship applications follow this stage. Merit Scholarships are typically awarded around the time of admission, based on the student’s test scores, board marks and overall performance in the 51��� application process. Once admitted into the university, the student who seeks a need-based scholarship has to fill out a scholarship application along with financial documentation. The university will then assess your ability to sponsor your education and will decide whether to give you a scholarship accordingly.

51���

Beyond the Sciences & Arts Divide

Ashoka’s promise of a liberal arts curriculum does not just imply ‘arts’ in the traditional sense of the humanities. Instead, it affords a different perspective to the study of both the arts and sciences. The sciences are as much a part of the liberal arts project as the humanities.

What sets Ashoka apart from other science programmes across the country is that these are not vocational degrees tailored towards particular fields of employment, but fundamentally academically-driven. Students are not just trained to produce outcomes, but to observe and understand scientific processes in real time. Ashoka’s interdisciplinary approach integrates pure sciences with disciplines like Sociology, English and Philosophy, such that one discipline does not dilute the other in importance, but interacts in a symbiotic fashion. The rigour is also sustained by lab research, guidance from world-class faculty, emphasis on ethical dilemmas like AI governance that supersede technical prowess, and encouragement towards independent and responsible research.

Why Ashoka’s Model is Fundamentally Different

The Liberal Arts model differs from pure humanities models in its insistence on interdisciplinarity. While pure humanities models usually have a single focus, emphasising on one discipline, with a minor at most, an Ashoka education would invariably open the possibility of the intermingling of disciplines. It is possible, and not a rarity, to study English and Biology together at Ashoka.

The curriculum is designed such that students are only expected to take Foundation Courses (FCs) in their first semester. FCs span a wide sweep of disciplines, namely the sciences, mathematics, history, literature and the social sciences. The variety allows students the time to dip into a range of subjects, identify their interests, and only then embark on their majors and minors. Majors are to be declared only at the end of the second year, giving students ample time to wade through their choices and make an informed decision. Students often switch around their initial choice of majors and minors, with minors turning into majors more often than not.

We also offer Interdisciplinary Majors, integrating traditionally unrelated subjects. Philosophy and Computer Science, or PHICS, as it is popularly known, Psychology and Philosophy (PsyPhi), and the more predictable English and Creative Writing, English and Media Studies and English and Performing Arts are some such examples. Students must also mandatorily complete two co-curricular courses. True to the spirit of interdisciplinarity, these courses comprise a range of performing arts and other skills, furthering horizons by providing a holistic education.

Where Theory Meets Hands-On Inquiry

Since the science curricula at Ashoka are designed to encourage research and critical thinking, a lot of hands-on experimentation and outcomes are produced in the labs furnished with state-of-the-art facilities.

Ashoka has an open-lab facility, with no boundaries between individual labs to encourage interdisciplinary research and thinking across (and against) the segregation of disciplines. Labs are furnished with sophisticated facilities, high-end analytical instrumentation for chemistry, high-performance computing clusters for physics, and PCRs and flow cytometers in the biosciences, promoting real-time research and innovations.

Apart from the sciences, we also have a Media Lab offering DSLRs, PCs, headsets, filming support and systems for projects related to sound, audiovisual production and podcasting. Given that Media Studies is a heavily hands-on, field-driven discipline, the technical support available at the lab enables students to produce their best possible results.

With every available facility, students are expected to produce original and relevant outcomes. Students work closely under the almost one-on-one supervision of expert faculty, all veterans in their fields, adhering to very high standards of experimentation, reading and writing.

Separating Perception from Reality

Ashoka is often portrayed as an elite institution where academics are easy to get by. While affluent students do aspire to make it to Ashoka, that does not make it any less difficult to get into or sustain through the course of one’s degree. Ashoka has a generous scholarship programme, ensuring that no deserving student is turned away for financial constraints. Maintaining a good academic record demands patience, hard work and consistency, while keeping pace with the academic rigour of a kind which is unheard of for students coming from national and state boards. Admission criteria are also quite strict, taking into account not just academics, but overall social and co-curricular engagement.

Ashoka leaves no stone unturned to offer the best possible education in India with its liberal arts curriculum, facilities and emphasis on research. We continually strive to make education accessible, hence the work towards blurring the rigid boundaries between the sciences and humanities. The curriculum seeks to further interdisciplinarity, allowing students to glean the affordances of unconventional intellectual interfaces.

51���

Global Futures, Rooted in India: How Ashoka Creates Internationally Ready Graduates

51���, steeped in its Indian ethos, is simultaneously committed to preparing internationally equipped students. Our faculty comprises some of the best minds from over 30 countries, holding doctorates from some of the best universities worldwide (Cambridge, Oxford, Duke, Cornell, and so on), imparting students careful and rigorous training at par with Ivy League institutions.

Study Abroad and Research Tie-Ups

To further its vision of a globally relevant education, Ashoka has multiple research tie-ups with top universities abroad and offers students the opportunity to spend a summer or a semester abroad. Conversely, Ashoka welcomes visiting students every year from over 60 partner universities spanning 21 countries across five continents. Summer research opportunities are plenty, with opportunities to work with faculty at Ashoka and abroad in diverse areas of study, namely AI Technologies, Statistics and Data Science, Animal Science, Genetics Research, Global Development concerning Sustainable Food Supply Chains, City and Regional Planning, projects in anthropology and Public Policy like Resistance Strategies, and, of course, economic development.

We also have a dedicated Office of Postgraduate Studies, providing personalised care and attention, guiding students through graduate school applications, scholarships and higher education.

Alumni Placements Abroad

As a result of continued global engagement through their years at Ashoka, students do get placed in higher education and jobs worldwide. Alumni work at global organisations like Deloitte, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), EY and so on. Ashoka, in these eleven years, can also boast of its legacy of Rhodes scholars. Vighnesh Hampapura, English major from the class of 2021-22, Daksh Walia, MA Economics from the class of 2023 and, most recently, Taif Altaf, a Young India Fellow from the class of 2026, working on access to justice, due process, and the structural barriers that shape how citizens engage with the law in India to drive evidence-based policy reforms that strengthen justice delivery for all, have us all done us proud by bagging the competitive Rhodes scholarship. Alumni have also been awarded other prestigious scholarships like the Felix Scholarship and the McCall MacBain Scholarship.

Global Curriculum with Indian Relevance

Alongside its steadfast commitment to make Ivy League education affordable and accessible in India, Ashoka’s global curriculum seamlessly blends Indian values, issues and perspectives. While every English Major must take a course on Indian Literatures, besides a wealth of electives to choose from, departments like History, Political Science and Economics place a lot of emphasis on the study of the Indian context. For instance, the Department of History mandates four survey courses titled History of India I through IV, affording a thorough chronological grounding in Indian history. The Department of Political Science offers courses on Indian Politics and electives on vignettes of political life in India. We also have a dedicated Department of Sanskrit that teaches a classical Indian language through levels of complexity, while offering electives on the study of canonical and lesser-known Sanskrit literature.

Students Need Not Go Abroad for Global Exposure

Ashoka has always been propelled by this vision - to make Ivy League education accessible and affordable in India. Through its many endeavours, it has opened up avenues for global interaction - internationally recruited faculty, research opportunities, graduate support and a particularly tailored curriculum. Ashoka strives to give each student the experience of studying abroad in India.

- Written by Srishti Choudhury, English Major, 51���

51���

A Campus that Reflects India: Diversity, Belonging and Community at Ashoka

Befittingly located in a sprawling campus where lush green trees whisper to each other, long corridors hum of youthful voices and the redbrick walls talk of excellence, 51��� stands tall in the Indian education fabric not only because of its interdisciplinary curriculum but also because it has intentionally cultivated a campus where students irrespective of ability, background, identity or language learn in an environment that respects the individuality thus fostering equity in thought and conduct.

51���, by its policy of inclusivity, has successfully engineered a sense of belongingness and community where students from different social and economic settings can comfortably blend in without being judged. It is no wonder that the campus reflects the diversity of India, where students of all backgrounds converge to interact and thrive with the common goal of becoming altruistic leaders.

Unity in Diversity

51��� has welcomed students from all educational boards, including JNVs, KVs, CBSE, ICSE, and state boards, staying true to its mission of providing a well-rounded education to a diverse range of learners, integrating them into a unified group of young leaders who take pride in their history while actively shaping their present for a brighter future. The admission process is quite comprehensive and considers not just academic excellence but also co-curricular achievements. The application considers a student's gradual academic progress from class 10 to 12, personal essays, a letter of recommendation and a one-to-one interview. What is satisfying is the nicely arranged timeline that gives a student ample time to make decisions and prepare for each aspect of the application process without feeling rushed. The conscious decision to have this mixed bag of students from rigorous and elite ICSE schools to rural-focused JNV is to allow a fluid mixing of thoughts and ideas to create the Ashokan brand: conscious of grassroots problems, critical of policies and creative in offering fresh, feasible solutions.

Unique Pairing

Ashoka offers an excellent housing policy wherein students from different countries, cities and languages are housed together, offering a beautiful blend of culture and perspectives. The Dorm Olympics, organised by the Resident Assistants once every year, is an interesting and unique ice breaker to bridge the gulf between cities, cultures and economic status. The vibrant common rooms conveniently located at every Residence Hall make it easy for one and all to mull around and find someone of a similar thought process. A year on campus definitely forges bonhomie among students from Nagaland to Kerala, from Ethiopia to Canada! Added to the above are 40 student-driven clubs and societies that offer something to cater to every diverse interest and aptitude, thus leading to the gradual building of a unique, creative and cohesive cohort.

Supportive Infrastructure

51���’s empathy is visible in the grand infrastructure conducive to students facing physical and mental challenges. Instructions are offered in braille across the campus, ramps and spacious elevators offer easy movement for students with disabilities, and the Office of Learning Support truly is supportive in its willingness to offer added help to students facing difficulties. The round-the-clock wardens cannot be disregarded as they often go out of their way to care for a sick child, offering much relief to worried parents.

An Ashokan never goes to sleep hungry. The innumerable eating joints on the campus and the vending machines enable a student to grab a bite if they have failed to go to the mess on time while preparing for a project or completing an assignment. Special mention for the excellent and well-equipped Sports Complex to keep the sporty students entertained and engaged.

Abolishing the Rural and the Urban

One of the most appealing factors of 51��� is its policy of offering scholarships to students of potential. Studying in a reputed university with a multifaceted curriculum is no longer a distant dream for students who want to make a mark in their lives. This policy helps the university to blend the rural and the urban thoughts and culture, thereby keeping the atmosphere of the campus much grounded and realistic.

Collaborative Campus Culture

The university calendar is filled with events that offer a throbbing platform for students of various backgrounds, languages and streams to come together to collaborate and deliver successful programs celebrating diverse cultural heritage. Initiatives like 'Haats' expose the international and non-local students to local Haryanvi culture and heritage, whereas 'Safarnama' allows the students to undertake a ‘safar’ or journey across Delhi exploring its rich history, culture and cuisine.

In conclusion, one cannot help but agree that Ashoka has opened the doors for a free flow of not just ideas but also perspectives to develop conscientious individuals who would learn how to coexist in harmony despite the differences.

The Melting Pot
~ Soha Brahma

Straight from school, piping hot,
Students are thrown into a pot.
Shades of red, green and yellow,
They are all kinds - boisterous, loud and mellow.

A common ground to blend,
They develop their unique trend.
With residue from their past,
They metamorphose fast,
To be individuals, more aware and new.
Like them, you will find very few!

- Written by Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major, 51���

51���

Ideas That Shape a Nation: How Ashoka’s Research Centres Influence Policy and Public Life

Ashoka is, at its core, a research University, with faculty simultaneously engaged in both teaching and research, each informing one another. Students are also encouraged to dive into research projects, assist faculty members with their research, and solidify their academic interests in the process. Ashoka, therefore, has instituted research centres to ensure that promising research is accorded all possible resources and facilities. The Centre for Economic Data and Analysis (CEDA), the Trivedi Centre for Political Data (TCPD) and the Centre For The Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) are only a few examples of Ashoka’s commitment to supporting world-class research.

On CEDA:

CEDA was instituted by the Department of Economics at 51���, primarily aiming at facilitating informed debate about economic and social developments in India. Women and Work, one of their flagship initiatives, investigates women's low participation rates in the workforce despite economic growth and increased female employment.

On TCPD:

TCPD, since its inception in 2016, strives to make India’s political data accessible to citizens through rigorous research, analysis and data infrastructure. They are committed towards democratising data. In 2023, the Centre for Data Science and Analytics took over the functioning of the TPCD and has served as a resource repository to support data-driven initiatives across academic departments and centres, namely the Departments of Economics and Political Science, the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability, the Trivedi School of Biosciences, the Koita Centre for Digital Health, among others.

On CSIP and its Allied Initiative, Anitya:

The Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP) was inaugurated to work towards advancing strategic and robust philanthropy to maximise social impact in India. In order to integrate student participation in real-time projects, the CSIP offers summer internships, connecting students with organisations for 8-12 week stints in social impact, policy and leadership. These also hold practical value in offering potential PPOs (Pre-Placement Offers). Their Guided Summer Internship Programme features panels with field experts, working with esteemed social impact organisations like the Piramal Foundation, the Samhita Social Venture, We, The People, and so on.

Anitya, The Social Impact Club, founded by students with the support of CSIP, is committed to catalysing positive change by bridging the gap between the student body and the social sector. Through a diverse range of events and activities, they have focused on impactful initiatives, skill-building, and fostering a culture of social responsibility. Their flagship Social Sector Bootcamp, organised in collaboration with the Career Development Office (CDO), interactions with and field visits to NGOs like Goonj and targeted discussions or Baithaks with industry experts, have helped nurture a culture of social consciousness on campus.

Life in the Social Sector After Ashoka:

After graduating, a significant number of Ashokans seek employment in the social sector, working on real-time projects like policy analysis and review for urban systems, designing mixed-method research studies for government projects like the UP Aspirational Cities Program, product design and knowledge management for Community Health Entrepreneurship Programs like Sadhika.

Shakya Khatri, an undergraduate currently working with the Ashoka Centre for China Studies (ACCS) said, “Working at ACCS is a very engaging experience, as I get to interact with a very diverse range of faculty, who are all very welcoming. I’ve also been able to take part in a range of cultural events and festivals that helped deepen my understanding of Chinese culture.”

Faculty in Research:

Our faculty members are continually involved in projects concerning media and policy. Maya Mirchandani, Associate Professor of Practice and Head of the Department of Media Studies, has been engaged in research on 'Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism' with a Delhi-based think tank, Observer Research Foundation. Her research is interested in deducing ways to build counter-narratives to prevent radicalisation and extremist violence through dialogue and community intervention. Her research is heavily anchored by the analysis of hate speech and the impact of counter speech messaging on social media.

Ashoka believes in education through interaction and engagement beyond classrooms. We believe that true learning begins when we try to internalise academics in conversation with the world outside. To that end, our centres offer dedicated opportunities to enable such interactions, ensuring that students keep abreast of real-time research. Members of the faculty are ever engaged in bettering the existing state of research, and are more than happy to involve students in the process.

Written by - Srishti Choudhury, English Major

51���

Embracing Interdisciplinary Learning: Shaping the Future of Higher Education

Let me start with the concept of the Medici Effect. This concept posits that true innovation and creativity originate at the intersection of diverse disciplines and cultures. It suggests that combining knowledge and learning from various fields leads to unique breakthroughs that would not be possible using a single discipline.

In our rapidly evolving world, the lines between disciplines are blurring at a rapid pace. Economists now use algorithms to gain insights into consumer behaviour, biologists turn to philosophical frameworks to navigate the ethical complexities of genetics, and computer scientists explore psychology to create technology that respects human values. The future clearly belongs to those who can weave together ideas from various fields to create a new, better world.

This is the empowering vision behind interdisciplinary education, which equips individuals to think innovatively and address the multifaceted challenges of tomorrow.

NEP 2020 Alignment with Ashoka’s Model
India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to transform higher education into a new system aligned with the aspirations of the 21st century: one that fosters holistic and multidisciplinary learning. This policy not only emphasises tenets like access, quality, affordability, and accountability but also urges all students to explore diverse academic interests, combine arts with sciences, and think beyond the traditional educational boundaries.

Have you ever dreamed of studying a combination of subjects you are truly passionate about, only to feel that it is out of reach? At 51���, this dream becomes a reality for thousands of students. The university offers a distinctive curriculum that emphasises flexibility, breadth, and depth, empowering students to forge their own academic journeys by choosing from a variety of majors, minors, and concentrations that reflect their evolving interests.

Ashoka is dedicated to developing not just high-achieving experts in their chosen field, but well-rounded individuals. The university focuses on building a solid academic foundation while fostering critical thinking and a passion for innovation. In addition, it equips students with crucial soft skills such as leadership, communication, responsibility, and adaptability. Ashoka’s vision and curriculum are closely aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, striving to create an inclusive community that nurtures responsible leaders and actively contributes to social impact and educational transformation in India.

Major-Minor Mobility at Ashoka
At Ashoka, one has the liberty to explore any discipline they are interested in and delve deeper to understand if it is something they see as a promising future career. Students at Ashoka have no restrictions when it comes to selecting a major or a minor; the only requirement is for students to possess an exploratory spirit and the willingness to try new things.

An Ashoka student has the option to major in Economics and minor in History to explore how past events shape the economic reality of the present, or to combine Psychology with Political Science, examining how cognitive biases influence voting behaviour. One can combine Computer Science with philosophy to understand the ethics that should govern AI or pursue an exciting fusion of English Literature with International Relations to convey the nuanced understanding of different cultures through storytelling.
The implementation of a flexible major-minor policy provides students with the unique opportunity to integrate diverse perspectives into their academics. This approach encourages them to engage in interdisciplinary exploration, allowing for a more holistic educational experience. By moving beyond the stereotypical rigid academic structures, students are empowered to venture beyond their primary fields of study and delve into new subjects, fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity and innovation. On the other hand, the interdisciplinary capstone projects at Ashoka provide them with chances to implement their knowledge creatively in a way and space of their choosing. Capstone projects don’t just add academic depth, they cultivate a mindset that’s analytical, adaptive, and creative, all while giving them the courage to move beyond.

The Role of Interdisciplinarity in Boosting Employability

In today's job market, employers are not only looking for people who thoughtlessly “do”, but they are on the lookout for people who can connect. They are not only concerned about your academic GPA or technical skills, but they also value soft skills, extracurricular activities, and flexible thinking. Your chance of getting employed does not simply depend on how long your resume is, it is also determined by how you can adapt, synthesise and cross boundaries to tread unfamiliar territory. Hence, students who have tasted an interdisciplinary education often stand out due to their critical thinking, quick problem-solving abilities, empathy, and analytical skills, all of which are essential for success in a fast-paced global economy. They are usually the ones who end up bridging the gap between teams: either by being the economist who understands behavioural psychology or a scientist who can converse with policymakers.

A liberal arts education provides a holistic learning experience that equips students with essential skills needed to perform well under pressure and communicate effectively. At Ashoka, this education is woven into the very fabric of daily learning experience. Through specially designed courses, foundation courses and independent projects, Ashoka guides students not only to hone their academic skills but also to cultivate their mindset. This mindset is what employers value most: a student’s creativity, curiosity, and confidence are what set them apart, allowing them to navigate the complexity of the job market.

For example, an English Literature major can secure a top-tier consulting job thanks to their strong communication and writing skills, innovative thought process, and valuable industry experience. Similarly, Psychology majors are frequently hired for marketing and consulting roles because of their practical experience and ability to analyse consumer behaviour and preferences to develop effective marketing strategies. This illustrates how an interdisciplinary approach can translate into real-world adaptability.

Following the Footsteps of Global Leaders
When we look at all the top universities around the world, we see a common factor linking them all together: all true innovations occur at intersections of fields and disciplines that were never thought to be related.

For instance, at Harvard University, students are not limited to their departments. You will find students fearlessly exploring new fields well beyond their major and finding creative ways of incorporating this additional knowledge into their field of study, thus establishing a new way of thinking and looking at specific problems and situations.

Stanford University, on the other hand, is known for its Human-Centred Design programmes that bring together students from diverse backgrounds such as technology, art, business and psychology to work together on real-world problems like good-quality accessible healthcare and sustainable transport. The goal is not to simply come up with the most efficient problem, but it is to understand the problem, combine all the knowledge everyone brings to the table and design solutions that make a difference.
Similarly, Ashoka has its own interdisciplinary model that fits perfectly into the global liberal education landscape. The freedom Ashoka offers to combine various majors and minors across sciences, humanities and social sciences, along with some unique integrated majors it offers, such as Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE), mirrors what globally acclaimed universities have been doing for years, but within the Indian context. Ashoka embodies a global essence while adeptly integrating it into local contexts, addressing issues such as development, sustainability, and inequality. By fostering collaboration across different departments and encouraging exploration beyond conventional boundaries, Ashoka prepares students not just for their next job but for a future shaped by innovation in the coming century.

- Written by Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major at 51���.

51���

From Ashoka to the World

Ashokans have left an indelible footprint in various universities and corporate giants around the world. They gain this competency with their regular concept building exercises through learning that hones critical thinking, and a flexible curriculum that allows free flow of innovative ideas, emphasis on strong communication skills and collaboration with mandatory group presentations. Irrespective of subjects and interests, Ashokans are given a platter of exercises that sharpen the skills stalwart companies look for in their recruits.

Where Ashokans Go: India’s Top Recruiters

Ashoka’s proficient Career Development Office (CDO) has established a robust and diverse placement ecosystem on campus, making it undoubtedly the strongest in the Indian Liberal Arts education sphere. They not only groom students to prepare for jobs and the placement cycle, but also ensure that each student has the best shot to acquire the career they dream of. Every year, Ashoka hosts multiple globally respected organisations that seek to hire Ashoka graduates. 3rd year students have access to sought-after internship opportunities, many of which could potentially turn into full-time employment upon graduation. Similarly, our 4th-year students are encouraged to apply for prestigious roles in top companies that can act as the launchpad of their careers.

The range of industries that come to Ashoka to recruit students for both internships and placements comprises some of the top names in their fields. A few noteworthy recruiters include the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Deloitte, and Ernst & Young (EY) in the consulting sector. Financial powerhouses such as the World Bank Group, Axis Bank, and American Express, along with innovative companies like Amazon and Microsoft, are some reputable companies that recruit Ashokans as well.

A Global Launchpad: Alumni from Oxford, Cambridge, Yale and Beyond

While globally acclaimed industries present a lucrative offer for Ashokans, it is definitely not the only road taken by our graduates. Ashokans have received the prestigious Fulbright, Rhodes and Inlaks scholarships to study in esteemed universities around the globe, including Oxford University, Harvard, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Yale University and London School of Economics (LSE).
Ashoka’s partnerships with universities offer students the opportunity to pursue their higher studies in institutes known for niche areas. Such acceptances demonstrate the credibility of the university in establishing an ecosystem conducive to the holistic development of a student. Hence, it is no wonder that the academic year 2023-24 saw over 150 students of Ashoka opting to go for graduate studies in top-notch universities across the world in diverse fields.

One cannot deny the contribution of the exceptional mentorship by the trained faculty at 51���, who mould the minds of the students to think like global citizens and create a trajectory to be envious of.

Choose Your Career Path: Multiple Roads to Your Success

At Ashoka, one has the freedom to carve their own career path and pursue opportunities that interest them. Some pathways that are favoured by most Ashokans are the following:

Public Policy & Development

51��� boasts a vibrant community of thinkers and change-makers who actively contribute to governance, think tanks, social enterprises, and global development organisations. The University’s departments of Economics and Public Policy are some of the finest, offering students an enriching and dynamic educational experience.

Students who are pursuing a degree in these fields develop strong analytical skills and cultivate critical thinking, all while gaining a deep understanding of social, economic, and political institutions. These qualities not only enable students to grasp the complexities of existing systems but also equip them to shape and improve these institutions for the greater good.

Consulting

Consulting firms value rapid problem-solving, excellent communication, leadership potential, integrity and intellectual drive and look for these qualities in every candidate they wish to hire. These core strengths are not something that must be trained into students, but rather something that must be inculcated over time, through experience, observation, and how you approach situations in everyday life.

At Ashoka, these core strengths are cultivated through its intensive courses, which ensure that students use a combination of quantitative and qualitative skills, as well as critical and creative thinking, to approach each problem.

Research & Academia

Students have countless chances to dive into their academic passions here at Ashoka by participating in undergraduate research projects and faculty-led initiatives. They can even partake in Capstone projects, which are comprehensive academic assignments usually done at the end of a degree programme to demonstrate the skills they have acquired by working on a real-world programme. These opportunities provide students with the hands-on experience required to succeed in the realm of academic research. Most Ashokan alumni who are passionate about academia often thrive as PhD scholars, researchers in their chosen fields, and research analysts.

Corporate Leadership & Marketing

Many corporate giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Hindustan Unilever Limited actively seek to recruit Ashokans, drawn by their outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, leadership acuity, and strong interpersonal skills. The Centre for Entrepreneurship, alongside the Department of Entrepreneurship, is dedicated to nurturing students whose only passion is business, management, and marketing. They offer essential guidance and hands-on experience, enabling students to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

Through diverse entrepreneurial courses, engaging workshops, and insightful seminars featuring industry leaders, along with vibrant networking events, Ashokans are well-equipped to carve out their success in the business world.

Why Employers Value Ashoka Graduates

Theoretical knowledge and technical skills are undoubtedly deciding factors that each student must have if they want to secure a good job, but what truly sets some students apart from others is their first-hand experiences and the invaluable insights they have gained along their journey. These students find themselves at an advantage, with a significantly higher chance of being hired by a reputable company.

At Ashoka, students are actively encouraged to tackle real-time problems and use their theoretical knowledge and judgement in their courses. For instance, students pursuing Entrepreneurship engage in fieldwork, pairing up with Sales and Marketing Managers of different companies. They visit branches to observe the day-to-day work done and uncover some major obstacles these businesses face. Similarly, Economics students are presented with research papers on economics and public policy. They analyse the policy interventions implemented in the experiments and are required to brainstorm better policy interventions and strategies.

It is this hands-on experience and the soft skills that one learns from it, along with other technical and analytical abilities, that set a student apart in the eyes of employers. It is predominantly for this reason that employers value Ashoka graduates, acknowledging their competence and potential to thrive in any dynamic environment. This seamless integration of a solid theoretical base with practical knowledge not only makes them competent students but also innovators capable of making an impact.

Redefining the Meaning of Success

As one moves through life and tries to find a path meant for them, they often question what success is and what it means to them. Does being successful simply mean landing a high-paying job in one of the Big Four consulting firms, or does it mean collaborating on a research project with a professor you look up to? The truth is, there is no one right answer, just like there is no one right path that leads to success. It is your idea of what success means to you that will lead you down the best path, one meant for you. We are well aware that finding this path, let alone making your journey through it, can be daunting. You might second-guess yourself and doubt your abilities. It is in these moments that having the right guidance from people who have been through this journey is not only valuable but essential.

51���, an institution that stands for the fundamentals of liberal education, allows its students to explore various subjects, paths and opportunities without the fear of failure. It not only ensures that each student can discover their own definition of success, and make a path leading them to that definition, but also provides them guidance, advice and support every step of the way.

Success is defined by your aspirations, the path to success is the route you take to reach your success, and to be a successful person is to be someone who has accomplished their dream through hard work, dedication and proper guidance.

Written by - Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major

51���

How Ashoka Opens Doors for Every Deserving Student

51��� places merit above all else—gender, race, nationality, caste and situation. However, talent is not always backed by the resources it needs for its realisation. To that end, Ashoka leaves no stone unturned to ensure that talent never goes unnoticed.

51��� scholarships are meted out generously to ensure that every deserving student gains access to quality education. Every year, approximately 45% of our students—which is nearly half every batch—are on some form of financial assistance or scholarship. Over the years, Ashoka has drawn up a magnanimous scholarship programme—more than ₹723 crore committed towards scholarships supporting 5,400 students. This commitment ensures that world-class education is both accessible and affordable to students from across the country, and not just a select few.

Students from 28 States and 20 Countries:

In claiming to be a diverse and inclusive space, Ashoka maximises national, as well as international integration, by welcoming students from 28 states in India, and 20 other countries, like Belgium, France, Ethiopia, Somalia and Australia, among others. Ashoka resists being categorised as an “elite” university by emboldening students cutting across a broad spectrum of identities to stake claim to academic and physical space.

At Ashoka, it is not unusual to find students from a multitude of communities reminiscing about their memories of home over a shared dining table. Jokes and anecdotes in mother tongues often slip into the variously accented conversations, cementing friendships while encouraging mutual respect and admiration.

#AshokaforAll

Ashoka does not merely claim equality, but has, over the years, taken active measures, stepping up efforts whenever required, to enable access for anybody who might need more assistance than the conventional individual.

One such undertaking is the Office of Learning Support (OLS), a dedicated office aimed at offering academic support to individuals with physical, sensory and learning disabilities. The scholarships serve as a beacon of hope to every aspiring student—your social location does not determine your career. Merit over access, any day.

Ashoka also has a dedicated Office of Outreach that engages with schools across 28 states. Outreach efforts are not necessarily directed to the metropolitan cities, but equal efforts are expended upon Tier II and III cities like Kanpur, Shillong, Dimapur, Pondicherry, Ooty and Coimbatore, ensuring that every batch reflects India’s diverse social, cultural and economic fabric. They have also constituted a Student Ambassador Programme, consisting of existing students who offer regular campus tours to prospective parents and students, and school teachers and counsellors. Student ambassadors also interact with high schoolers, letting them into life at Ashoka—student-to-student—and encouraging them to apply.

Supporting First-Generation and Diverse Learners

An initiative at inclusion—yet unmatched by any other—is the Academic Bridge Programme (ABP) offered by the Office of Admissions in collaboration with other teams. This Programme is designed for incoming undergraduate students, mostly first-generation learners, or those coming from low-income and non-English speaking backgrounds, and international students. This programme familiarises students with English grammar and vocabulary as well as critical thinking, research methodologies and the fundamentals of academic writing, all indispensable skills at Ashoka.

Similarly, the Young India Fellowship (YIF) announced in October 2024 that every Fellow in the YIF Class of 2025-26 would receive scholarships, ranging from a 25% to a 100% waiver on tuition, meals and residence. This means that the YIF Class of 2026, our current cohort of Fellows, has all received some form of financial assistance. Almost a third of every YIF cohort consists of first-generation college students, and Ashoka’s commitment to financial support enables individuals, irrespective of social or fiscal capital, to gain access to a liberal arts education.

A Safe and Inclusive Campus

The Ashoka Centre for Well-Being (ACWB), again the first of its kind in India, offers free and confidential one-on-one in-person and telephonic counselling sessions to students, helping them cope with the anxieties of university life. They also organise occasional group sessions to help students navigate the uncertainties of academic, social and personal life at Ashoka.

We have a thriving LGBTQIA+ community with student-led societies like The Queer Collective and initiatives like Raah that offer support to combat sexual harassment. We also offer gender-neutral housing to those who do not subscribe to the binary categorisation of gender. The Centre for Studies in Gender and Sexuality, the first of its kind in India, instituted in 2015, is interested in the study of the questions plaguing the ever-dynamic categories of gender, sex, pleasure, pain, identity and inequality.

Real Stories That Have Left A Lasting Mark

Ashoka’s unwavering commitment to making education accessible is not merely fat claims on paper, but translates into individual stories that transform otherwise neglected lives.

For instance, Radha Pokhariya, a third-year Economics and Finance Major, says, “My siblings and I are the first ones from our family to go to college. When I got the admissions offer, I was very happy. But my parents were happier because it came with a scholarship.”

Ashoka, then, is committed not just to financial inclusion, but extends its umbrella of inclusion to include everyone at the fringes of social categories of gender, intellectual and physical capacities, and proficiency in English, each of which we deem “normal.” However, these categories seem to dissolve in our classrooms. We are taught to push back against restrictions and carve distinct, yet compassionate selves.

Written by - Srishti Choudhury, English Major

51���

500 Scholarships That Mean So Much More Than Money: Lives Transformed, Dreams Realised

51��� has always resisted excellence being quantified by privilege. Every year, our campus welcomes a diverse cohort of students, some carrying the weight of stories beginning in small towns and government schools, far removed from any vestige of privilege. However, Ashoka ensures that every deserving student is accorded a place here, driven by its maxim - talent deserves a fair chance.

Since its inception, Ashoka has carefully curated one of the most inclusive scholarship programmes in higher education in India. The magnitude alone attests to this assertion: more than ₹723 crore committed towards scholarships, over 5,400 students supported, and nearly half the undergraduate community receiving some form of tuition waiver or support. These numbers signify the multitudes of students whose dreams might have been compromised without the assurance of financial aid.

Celebrating Merit in Every Form

Ashoka’s scholarships are designed for both achievement and aspiration.

An Ecosystem of Access

The University’s scholarship policy is no side initiative, but a living, breathing component of our ethos.

It is no surprise, then, to find a Physics Olympiad finalist discussing quantum theory with a first-generation student from Bihar—whose admission was actualised through a full scholarship. In the classroom, biases concerning background metamorphose into collaboration.

Such a diverse student body is constituted in everyone’s best interest.

Real Stories. Real Impact.

Ashoka’s scholarships do not merely translate into numbers but living examples of individuals whose dreams have been cemented through Ashoka’s rigorous academic training across a range of disciplines. For instance, Srija U, a full scholarship recipient from the Ashoka Scholars Programme (2020) went on to pursue PhD English from Columbia University. Talking about her journey, she said, “Ashoka provided me with the kind of intellectual rigour that I was looking for.”

Vignesh, now a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and writer at Scroll India, shared that he wouldn’t have been at 51��� if not for the financial aid programme. Similarly, Mohit Kumar, Recipient of the Millennium Fellowship and a McCall MacBain Scholar from Ashoka’s UG Batch of 2022, reflected on how the Scholarship Programme helped him. He said, “Sometimes, we tend to alter our dreams due to lack of finances. But Ashoka's financial aid ensured that didn’t happen with me. It also took the pressure away from my family.”

Each of these stories showcases how the University’s Scholarship Programme brings real change. It also drives home the fundamental belief that access can coexist with excellence.

A National Commitment to Equal Opportunity

Ashoka’s leadership has carefully designed its scholarship model as a reflection of India itself — dynamic, ambitious, and inclusive. The university’s commitment of over ₹723 crores worth of scholarship has resulted in one of the most extensive need- and merit-based support systems in the country. It is normative for a student to graduate debt-free, carrying only the responsibility to render meaningful service as a capable, responsible, empowered and thinking adult.

The model also sends a quiet, yet unyielding message to other institutions: that affordability and academic rigour are not opposites, but complement one another. By blending merit recognition with need-sensitive waivers, Ashoka has reentrenched the understanding of “private education” in India — not elite, but enabling.

The Ashoka Promise

Every scholarship offered at Ashoka is a promise — that brilliance will never go unnoticed, and potential will always bloom into fruition. Whether you are a topper, a thinker, a coder, a dreamer, or a student who is deeply invested in any form of meaningful thinking, you will always find a place here.

Applications for UG 2026 are now open. Explore scholarships, eligibility, and deadlines at https://application.ashoka.edu.in/

Written by - Srishti Choudhury, English Major

51���

Life With Liberal Arts: How 51��� is Redefining Science, Computer Science and Business & Management

Stemming from the Latin word ‘liberalis’ meaning “appropriate for free men”, the liberal arts curriculum is so termed as it is the hallmark of a good education for all free thinkers ready to take on the world by their agility to think differently.

At 51���, academics are based on robust pedagogy, and its focus on experiential learning is a key differentiator when compared to other universities. The curriculum at Ashoka is curated to feed curiosity, hone creativity and collaboration. Incorporating enriching content and an interdisciplinary approach, it is enhanced by the use of technology and, of course, world-class mentorship.

The Kinesthetic Science

At Ashoka, one need not be a rocket scientist to create a rocket. A reused plastic bottle is recycled into a rocket and launched into the air, without the students realising that they have just completed a lesson on propulsion and aerodynamics.

Yes, that is Ashoka, where one does not need to graduate to research, test, and experiment. Here, science and management skills are encouraged on the very first day a student walks into the class. The encouragement to ask questions, the freedom to bounce ideas off of your peers in classes, the confidence to experiment and the leadership to collaborate is facilitated by the faculty from the very beginning.

You can see this at the Trivedi School of Biosciences, where young researchers are found to work alongside faculty members on projects that range from molecular genetics to climate resilience. The Lodha Lab for Physical Sciences allows undergraduates to experiment with quantum optics and nanomaterials—work that often finds its way into international journals. Profound scientific concepts are taught in the simplest of ways in the form of hands-on experiments, simulations, and other physical activities to enable the students to grasp complex scientific concepts.

“We want them to think like scientists, not just study science,” a Physics faculty member says. “That means forming your own hypothesis and being unafraid to be wrong.”

Computer Science: Imaginative Logic

The unique benefit of studying Computer Science at 51��� is its interdisciplinarity that emphasises a liberal arts approach, critical thinking and ethical considerations. A CS student’s competitive advantage at Ashoka is the scope to blend computing logic with learnings from various other fields such as Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, amongst others. The Computer Science Programme focuses on fundamental scientific concepts, real-life problem solving while blending AI and Ethics. Many of our graduates are now associated with global firms or have gone on to pursue research at universities such as Cambridge, Carnegie Mellon and ETH Zürich, amongst other prestigious institutions.

Mindful Management

The Havells School of Management and Leadership follows the same interdisciplinary DNA into the world of business education. The market is not just observed but studied mindfully, policies are not just learnt but framed, and brands are not just used as examples but designed in highly interactive sessions with industry experts, thereby giving Ashokans an edge over others. At the end of the program, Business Management students will gain first-hand knowledge of public policy, design thinking, consumer and organisational behaviour.

“You can’t build good companies without understanding people,” says a professor of Strategy at Havells School. “We aim to prepare leaders who can solve problems that are both economic and human.”

Boundless Disciplines

At Ashoka, the barriers to studying a discipline are broken by boundless options. A student can easily study interdisciplinary courses such as Biology-Chemistry, Computer Science-Economics, and English-History. They can enrol in diverse subjects like International Relations and Mathematics, Philosophy and Physics, and Political Science and Psychology.

The university's liberal arts approach emphasises a holistic education, where students can approach subjects from multiple perspectives, thus grooming themselves for global citizenship.

Outcomes That Speak

The outcome of this interdisciplinary approach is displayed after graduation. Students from Ashoka’s Undergraduate Programme have been accepted at top firms such as BCG, Deloitte, EY, and UNDP. Students interested in pursuing higher studies are at world-renowned universities such as Oxford, MIT, and the IISERs, amongst others.

Recruiters particularly appreciate Ashokans’ ability to think critically and creatively and communicate with clarity—skills that can be acquired only through experiential learning!

The average package for Ashoka undergraduates is now around ₹12 lakh per annum, with students getting offers up to ₹35 lakh. However, our most notable accomplishment is the wide range of paths our students have walked towards research, policy making, startups, and social enterprise, to name a few.

Education for the Evolving World

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free…
Into ever-widening thought and action,
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake”
~ Rabindranatha Tagore

Ashoka’s forte is its liberal arts curriculum. The university is a haven where its students can stand out by their capability to think creatively and critically, evolve as better individuals and shoulder social responsibilities and contribute to global issues as altruistic leaders.

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Written by- Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major

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