Ashoka University: A Thriving Student Community

Ashoka University is a private research university located in Sonipat, Haryana, India. The university was founded in 2014 and currently has around 2,600 students, 80% of whom are undergraduates. The university offers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs with various specializations. The intake capacity for undergraduate courses is 130, while that for postgraduate courses is 200. The university has a holistic admissions process that considers a range of factors, including academic scores, essays, and interviews. The university provides excellent job opportunities, with top companies arriving at the institute for the recruitment process.

Undergraduate intake and fees

Ashoka University, a private research university located in Sonipat, Haryana, offers a range of undergraduate programmes with a focus on liberal arts, humanities, management studies, science, and law. The university has a total student population of around 2,600, 80% of whom are undergraduates. The undergraduate intake capacity for each course is 130 students. The university offers both merit-based and entrance-based admissions, with the selection process including an application form, an aptitude test, an essay, and an interview.

The undergraduate programmes at Ashoka University include Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees, with specialisations such as Economics, Philosophy, Sociology, Anthropology, Mathematics, History, English, Biology, Computer Science, and Physics. The duration of these courses is typically three years, and the fees for the first year range from INR 5.02 lakhs to INR 9.67 lakhs. The university also offers a Young India Fellowship, a one-year postgraduate diploma in Liberal Studies, with fees of INR 45,000 for the first year.

The admission process for undergraduate programmes at Ashoka University typically involves an online application, followed by assessments such as the Ashoka Aptitude Test or SAT, and an interview. The university provides need-based financial assistance to students, with 42% of students receiving financial aid and 102 students receiving full scholarships. The university has a holistic admissions process that considers not only academic scores but also the student's essay responses, letters of recommendation, and interview performance.

The undergraduate fees at Ashoka University are relatively high, with the first year of a BA or BSc programme ranging from INR 5.02 lakhs to INR 9.67 lakhs. However, the university ensures that no student is denied education due to financial incapacity, and it offers a range of scholarship opportunities based on financial need. The university has a diverse student body, with representation from 18 countries, 105 cities, and 342 schools. The gender distribution is 56% women, 43% men, and 1% neutral gender.

The liberal arts education at Ashoka University is interdisciplinary, allowing students to combine subjects such as philosophy, political science, economics, and entrepreneurship. The university offers a unique course structure with foundation courses in critical thinking, literature, environmental studies, economics, and more. Students can also choose from a variety of minors, such as entrepreneurship, media studies, performing arts, and international relations. Additionally, Ashoka University offers a Scholars Programme, which is an optional fourth year leading to a postgraduate diploma in Advanced Studies and Research.

The university has established partnerships with renowned international universities, such as Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, HEC Paris, Duke University, and King's College London, among others. The faculty at Ashoka University is highly qualified, with around 135 full-time faculty members and 46 visiting faculty members, including distinguished scholars and industry leaders. The university's graduates have pursued higher education at top universities worldwide, including Oxford, Cambridge, and Cornell.

Expansion plans

Ashoka University, a private research university located in Sonipat, Haryana, has ambitious expansion plans for the next 15 years as part of its 'Build Ashoka' phase. The university, which was established in 2014, currently has around 2,600 students and a 1.4 million square feet campus.

Expanding Campus Size and Student Enrolment:

• Ashoka University plans to quadruple its existing campus area from 1.4 million square feet to 6 million square feet. This expansion will accommodate the university's goal to double its student enrolment from 2,600 to 5,000 in the next five years.
• To achieve this, the university laid the foundation stone for a new 27-acre campus in Sonipat in September 2021, which is expected to be operational by 2027.
• The new campus will include six academic buildings, 10 residential buildings, utility and services buildings, and a sports field.

Focus on the Sciences:

• While Ashoka University is currently known mostly for its Liberal Arts programmes, it plans to intensify its focus on the Sciences.
• The university has established the Trivedi School of Biosciences and will be building a Science Park, which will include a 120,000 square feet Bioscience building, an innovation centre, and a vivarium, among other things. These buildings are expected to be ready by 2025.
• The university also intends to expand its Computer Science programme, moving towards interdisciplinary computing with fields such as Computational Biology, Computational Astrophysics, and Digital Humanities.
• Additionally, the university will increase its PhD programme, aiming to scale up from 100 PhD students to 400-500 in the next five years, and it will also start a post-doctorate programme.

Other Initiatives:

• Ashoka University plans to raise Rs 3,750 crore for its 'Build Ashoka' phase in the next five years.
• The university also aims to establish itself as a world-class institution by focusing on interdisciplinary education and research, blending global governance practices with a distinctive pedagogy and international faculty.
• It will continue to develop partnerships with leading colleges and universities worldwide, having already established collaborations with over 50 institutions.
• Ashoka University is committed to making education accessible by providing need-based financial aid to its students. Since its inception, the university has provided Rs. 510 crores in financial aid to over 4,500 students, with 1,800 of them receiving a tuition-free education.

With these expansion plans, Ashoka University is striving towards becoming a leading institution in India, known for its multidisciplinary education and research.

Courses offered

Ashoka University offers a wide range of courses across various disciplines, including Liberal Arts, Humanities, Management Studies, Science, and Law. Here is a detailed overview of the courses offered by the university:

Undergraduate Programmes

Ashoka University offers a multidisciplinary undergraduate programme where students can choose their major and minor from various interdisciplinary options. The university encourages students to explore different areas before finalising their specialisation. The undergraduate programme covers a diverse range of subjects, allowing students to gain a broad education.

Young India Fellowship

The Young India Fellowship is a unique postgraduate diploma programme in Liberal Studies. It brings together 100 fellows from diverse backgrounds, including academic, professional, socio-economic, and geographical backgrounds. The programme is designed to foster interdisciplinary learning and comprises eight terms of six weeks each, with up to four courses per term. It emphasises writing, research, and experiential learning, including an eight-month part-time Experiential Learning Module.

Graduate Programmes

Ashoka University offers master's degree programmes in Economics, English, Liberal Studies, and the Ashoka Scholars Programme. Additionally, the university provides short-term programmes such as Summer Research Programmes and Ashoka X, a virtual education initiative.

PhD Programmes

The university offers PhD programmes in a range of disciplines, including Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics, English, History, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology.

Lodha Genius Programme

The Lodha Genius Programme is a joint initiative between Ashoka University and the Lodha Group. It aims to support and mentor exceptional students from the ninth grade through their early careers. The programme offers science and mathematics courses, practical life skills lessons, mentorship, and internship opportunities.

Centre for Writing and Communication

The Centre for Writing and Communication is the largest centre at Ashoka University. It focuses on developing critical thinking, writing, and communication skills in students.

Trivedi School of Biosciences

The Trivedi School of Biosciences was established in partnership with the University of Michigan. It offers research and academic programmes in biosciences and is directed by renowned virologist Shahid Jameel.

Harish and Bina Shah School of Humanities

The Harish and Bina Shah School of Humanities provides a liberal education in the humanities, encouraging critical thinking and a broad-based curriculum.

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala School of Economics and Finance

The Rakesh Jhunjhunwala School of Economics and Finance offers programmes in economics and finance, preparing students for careers in these fields.

Other Departments and Centres

Ashoka University also has various other departments and centres, including Environmental Studies, International Relations, Sociology and Anthropology, Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability, Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy, and Centre for Studies in Gender and Sexuality. These departments and centres offer a diverse range of courses and research opportunities, contributing to the university's interdisciplinary approach to education.

Admissions process

Ashoka University is a private research university located in Sonipat, Haryana, India. It was founded in 2014 and currently has around 2,600 students, with 80% being undergraduates. The university offers a holistic admissions process that evaluates each application based on the applicant's academic performance, extra-curricular activities, interests, and potential. Here is an overview of the admissions process for undergraduate programmes at Ashoka University:

Stage 1: Application and Assessment

The first stage of the admissions process involves submitting a completed application form along with the required documents and assessments. Here are the mandatory and optional application requirements:

• Student and Family Details
• Academic Scores (Classes X to XII)
• Non-Academic Engagement
• Personal Essays
• Letter of Recommendation (optional but mandatory for transfer students)
• SAT/ACT/CUET Scores (optional)

Additionally, all applicants are required to take the following assessments:

• On-the-Spot Essay (OSE): Evaluates critical thinking, creativity, and engagement with the prompt.
• Ashoka Aptitude Assessment (AAA): Evaluates thinking skills, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Stage 2: Shortlist for Interview

After the initial application and assessment stage, select students are shortlisted for an interview. The admissions committee conducts a holistic review and evaluation of each application form and assessment before shortlisting candidates.

Stage 3: Decisions and Financial Aid

The final stage of the admissions process involves the admissions committee reviewing the interview performance and making a decision. Once a student receives an offer of admission, they can apply for financial aid. It is important to note that financial aid is separate from the admission process and does not impact a student's admission.

Overall, the admissions process at Ashoka University is designed to be inclusive and focused on affirmative action, taking into account the diverse backgrounds and access to opportunities of the applicants. The university offers a range of undergraduate programmes, including the Young India Fellowship, Horizons Achievers Programme, and Visiting Student Programme, among others.

Scholarships

Ashoka University offers a range of scholarships to its students. The university is committed to making its world-class education accessible and affordable for students from all walks of life. Here is an overview of the scholarship programmes offered by Ashoka University:

Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Computer Science and the Sciences:

Ashoka University awards merit-cum-means scholarships to exceptional undergraduate students intending to major in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, or Computer Science. A total of 25 scholarships are awarded, in addition to the need-based financial aid available to all students. Of these, five candidates receive a 100% waiver on tuition and residence, while the remaining 20 receive a 100% waiver on tuition.

Arunkumar & Ramniklal Mehta (ARRA) Scholarship:

The ARRA scholarship is offered in partnership with the Rosy Blue Foundation. It is a merit-cum-means scholarship for exceptional undergraduate students. The Rosy Blue Foundation provides scholarships to two incoming, first-year, full-time undergraduate students for three or four years, depending on the duration of their degree programme. The students receive a 100% waiver on tuition and residence fees, along with a stipend.

Need-Based Financial Aid:

Ashoka University also provides need-based financial aid to students, with 47% of its students receiving financial assistance. The university's financial aid is assessed solely on the basis of a student's family financial standing and is not based on scholastic merit or other non-financial factors. Students can receive anywhere from a 25% waiver on tuition to a full waiver on the total fee.

College Board India Scholars Program:

This programme recognises Indian students who score 1300 or above on the SAT. These top performers, if they demonstrate significant financial need (family income less than INR 8,00,000 per annum) and receive a firm offer of admission from Ashoka University, are eligible for a full tuition scholarship for their entire programme of study.

Other Scholarships:

In addition to the scholarships mentioned above, Ashoka University also offers various other scholarships and need-based financial aid. These include the Young Scholars Programme, Horizons Achievers Programme, Visiting Student Programme, and the Lodha Genius Programme. The university also provides fee concessions for Haryana residents, with the percentage of the fee concession determined by the university.

Frequently asked questions