The US-based research university Rice University has announced that it is expanding into India with the opening of Rice Global India in Bengaluru on Monday. By serving as a strategic hub, the new global centre in Bengaluru will enable Rice University to interact with India's top research and academic institutions.

Along with strengthening academic and research collaboration initiatives with numerous other institutions, including the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, the centre will also take the lead in assisting the university in navigating its operations in India. 

Rice University scholarships 

Rice University introduces scholarship program to fund up to $2 million annually for Indian students as part of its India expansion. Scholarships support professional master's degrees through exchange programs, attracting top talent from India and further advancing Rice's global presence. The university is initially committing $2 million per year but has room to expand as demand increases.

"These scholarships are part of our broader strategy to support international students, especially from India, who seek advanced academic opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and renewable energy," said Reginald DesRoches, President of Rice University. "By offering these resources, we hope it will help talented students access the best education possible at Rice."

With master's level scholarships, Rice University maintains its tradition of full funding for its doctoral programs. All PhD scholars at the university receive comprehensive support packages which include full tuition coverage and an annual stipend of over $35,000, the university expects high demand for its doctoral programmes, especially in interdisciplinary fields such as healthcare, technology, and environmental sustainability.

To strengthen academic and cultural relations between India and the US, Rice University will also launch an undergraduate student exchange program. In order to promote greater intercultural understanding and cooperation between the two countries, students from partner institutions in India will get complete reimbursement for their educational costs under this program.