{"id":82100,"date":"2026-08-12T15:15:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/?p=82100"},"modified":"2026-08-12T15:15:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:15:44","slug":"amgen-scholars-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/amgen-scholars-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Amgen Scholars Program 2027: Eligibility, Stipend and Application Guide for Indian Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">12<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">min read<\/span><\/span>\n<div class=\"quick-read-box\">\n\n  <div class=\"qr-header\">\n    <span style=\"font-size:18px;\">\u26a1<\/span>\n    <h3 class=\"qr-title\">Quick Read<\/h3>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <ul>\n    <li>The Amgen Scholars Program runs at 26 institutions worldwide.<\/li>\n\n    <li>Indian students enrolled in India apply to the Asia region.<\/li>\n\n    <li>The US program accepts only citizens and permanent residents.<\/li>\n\n    <li>IIIT Hyderabad funds ten scholars with Rs.1,90,000 each summer.<\/li>\n\n    <li>Asia applications open in November and close in February.<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n  <div class=\"qr-footer\">\n    \ud83d\udc49 Best for: Indian undergraduates planning a funded 2027 summer research application.\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Content<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #192a3d;color:#192a3d\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #192a3d;color:#192a3d\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/amgen-scholars-program\/#What_the_Amgen_Scholars_Program_Is_and_Who_Funds_It\" title=\"What the Amgen Scholars Program Is and Who Funds It\">What the Amgen Scholars Program Is and Who Funds It<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/amgen-scholars-program\/#Amgen_Scholars_Program_Eligibility_for_Indian_Students_Depends_on_Your_Region\" title=\"Amgen Scholars Program Eligibility for Indian Students Depends on Your Region\">Amgen Scholars Program Eligibility for Indian Students Depends on Your Region<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/amgen-scholars-program\/#Which_Amgen_Scholars_Program_Host_Institutions_Indian_Students_Can_Apply_To\" title=\"Which Amgen Scholars Program Host Institutions Indian Students Can Apply To\">Which Amgen Scholars Program Host Institutions Indian Students Can Apply To<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/amgen-scholars-program\/#What_the_Amgen_Scholars_Program_Pays_Indian_Students_in_Rupees\" title=\"What the Amgen Scholars Program Pays Indian Students, in Rupees\">What the Amgen Scholars Program Pays Indian Students, in Rupees<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/amgen-scholars-program\/#Amgen_Scholars_Program_Documents_Checklist_for_Indian_Applicants\" title=\"Amgen Scholars Program Documents Checklist for Indian Applicants\">Amgen Scholars Program Documents Checklist for Indian Applicants<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/amgen-scholars-program\/#How_to_Apply_to_the_Amgen_Scholars_Program_Step_by_Step\" title=\"How to Apply to the Amgen Scholars Program: Step by Step\">How to Apply to the Amgen Scholars Program: Step by Step<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/amgen-scholars-program\/#Amgen_Scholars_Program_2027_Timeline_Mapped_to_the_Indian_Academic_Year\" title=\"Amgen Scholars Program 2027 Timeline Mapped to the Indian Academic Year\">Amgen Scholars Program 2027 Timeline Mapped to the Indian Academic Year<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/amgen-scholars-program\/#3_Takeaways_on_Amgen_Scholars_Program\" title=\"3 Takeaways on Amgen Scholars Program\">3 Takeaways on Amgen Scholars Program<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/amgen-scholars-program\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_Amgen_Scholars_Program\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions About Amgen Scholars Program\">Frequently Asked Questions About Amgen Scholars Program<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_Amgen_Scholars_Program_Is_and_Who_Funds_It\"><\/span><strong>What the Amgen Scholars Program Is and Who Funds It<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Amgen Scholars Program is a funded undergraduate summer research experience.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amgenfoundation.org\/science-education\/amgen-scholars-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Established in 2006, it now runs at 26 institutions<\/a> across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada. Scholars work full time on an independent research project under a faculty mentor for eight to ten weeks, then present that work at a regional symposium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The money comes from the Amgen Foundation, with Amgen India funding the IIIT Hyderabad site. Harvard University provides direction and technical assistance to the global program. In October 2025 the Foundation<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amgen.com\/stories\/2025\/11\/amgen-foundation-renews-commitment-to-signature-amgen-scholars-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> renewed its commitment to extend the program through 2027<\/a>, adding roughly 500 more places. More than 6,000 students from over 1,000 colleges and universities have taken part, and alumni now work in scientific fields across more than 40 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing to register early: every regional program lists an interest in pursuing a PhD as an eligibility criterion. This is not decorative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Counselor insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> Students assume the screen here is marks. In practice the reference letters and the one-page statement carry more weight, because selection committees are looking for a student who will still be in a lab in five years. A 9.1 CGPA with a statement that talks about placements reads worse than an 8.2 with a specific research question.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Amgen_Scholars_Program_Eligibility_for_Indian_Students_Depends_on_Your_Region\"><\/span><strong>Amgen Scholars Program Eligibility for Indian Students Depends on Your Region<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Region is the first gate, and it is decided by where you are enrolled, not by your passport.<a href=\"https:\/\/amgenscholars.com\/asia-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Applications may be submitted in one region only<\/a>, based on where you are currently enrolled and intend to take your undergraduate degree. An Indian student at an Indian college is an Asia-region applicant. That is the whole answer, and it rules several things out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Region<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Who can apply<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Open to an Indian student enrolled in India<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Host institutions<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Deadline<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>United States<\/td><td>US citizens or permanent residents at four-year US institutions, GPA 3.2 or above<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>14<\/td><td>Early February<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Europe<\/td><td>Students enrolled at institutions in Bologna Process countries<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>5<\/td><td>Early February<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Asia<\/td><td>Students enrolled at universities in Asia, including India<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>5<\/td><td>Early February<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Australia<\/td><td>Students enrolled in Oceania with work and study rights in Australia<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>1 (Melbourne)<\/td><td>Varies<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Canada<\/td><td>Canadian citizens or permanent residents<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>1 (Toronto)<\/td><td>Varies<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The US restriction is explicit on the host pages, not implied.<a href=\"https:\/\/amgenscholars.berkeley.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> UC Berkeley states that international students are ineligible<\/a> and directs them to the international programs instead. Duke lists the same requirement:<a href=\"https:\/\/undergraduateresearch.duke.edu\/amgen-eligibility-requirements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> US citizens or US permanent residents<\/a>, enrolled at accredited four-year US institutions, sophomore through non-graduating senior, cumulative GPA 3.2 or above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the Asia program, the criteria are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Enrolled at a college or university in Asia that awards a bachelor&#8217;s degree. India is listed under Southern Asia in the eligible-countries list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At least one year of undergraduate study completed by the time the summer program begins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Not graduating before the program begins, and returning for at least one more semester or quarter afterwards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A strong record of academic performance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>English evidence at TOEFL iBT 72, IELTS overall 5.5, or an equivalent, if English is not your first language.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An interest in pursuing a PhD.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no citizenship requirement for the Asia program, and no minimum CGPA is published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Counselor insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> The students who lose the most time on this are Indian students already at a US university on an F-1 visa. They see Harvard and Stanford on the host list, assume enrolment is what matters, and build an application. Enrolment is what decides your region, but the US program adds a citizenship condition on top of it. Those students are eligible for no region at all while they remain enrolled in the US.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Amgen_Scholars_Program_Host_Institutions_Indian_Students_Can_Apply_To\"><\/span><strong>Which Amgen Scholars Program Host Institutions Indian Students Can Apply To<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Five hosts sit inside the Asia region: IIIT Hyderabad, the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, the National University of Singapore and Tsinghua University. Each runs its own application, and you may apply to as many as you want within Asia. Each Asia host takes at least 10 scholars, which puts the regional cohort at roughly 40 students a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The India site is new.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/in\/news-releases\/first-amgen-scholars-program-in-india-launches-at-iiit-hyderabad-302839774.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Amgen announced the launch of the first Amgen Scholars Program in India at IIIT Hyderabad<\/a> in July 2026, with an inaugural cohort of 10 scholars drawn from India, Vietnam, Qatar and Dubai. The commitment behind it runs for two years, through summer 2027. Its specifics differ from the other hosts in ways that matter to your application:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>The research focus is narrow: AI and machine learning applied to drug design and discovery, healthcare, cheminformatics, genomics and fundamental sciences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amgenscholars.iiit.ac.in\/details.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mathematics must be one of the subjects in your undergraduate program<\/a>. Prior coding experience is described as desirable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ten seats, eight weeks, residential on campus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any intellectual property from your research is assigned to IIIT Hyderabad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Indian students do get selected at the other Asia hosts. The<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dbs.nus.edu.sg\/outreach\/amgen-scholars-program\/nus-amgen-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> NUS 2025 cohort included a student from IIT Madras<\/a>, and the 2023 cohort included a student from IIT Kharagpur. Kyoto restricts applications to students in the first three years of a science-related program. If Japan is your target, it is worth reading around the wider funding landscape in<a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/scholarships-in-japan-for-indian-students\/\"> scholarships in Japan for Indian students<\/a>, and if Singapore is,<a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/study-in-singapore-for-indian-students\/\"> study in Singapore for Indian students<\/a> covers what a longer stay costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Counselor insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> Applying to all five hosts is allowed but rarely works. Each application asks for a statement tied to a specific lab, and the ones that read as copied across five institutions get filtered fast. Two well-matched applications beat five generic ones, and the match should be on the lab&#8217;s actual published work.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_Amgen_Scholars_Program_Pays_Indian_Students_in_Rupees\"><\/span><strong>What the Amgen Scholars Program Pays Indian Students, in Rupees<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Amgen Scholars Program is funded rather than free: you are paid a stipend, and travel and housing are covered separately. Figures differ by host.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Host<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Stipend<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Also covered<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>IIIT Hyderabad<\/td><td>Rs.1,90,800 (USD 2,000), paid in rupees in two instalments<\/td><td>Economy flights from your home city to Hyderabad, Hyderabad to Tokyo, Tokyo home. On-campus accommodation. Food or a food allowance most days.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>University of Tokyo<\/td><td>Rs.1,74,700 (280,000 JPY) approximately<\/td><td>Accommodation near campus, round-trip travel support<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Kyoto University<\/td><td>Rs.1,12,300 (180,000 JPY) approximately, in two instalments<\/td><td>Round-trip airfare to Osaka, housing in Kyoto<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>National University of Singapore<\/td><td>Rs.4,46,400 (SGD 6,000) approximately<\/td><td>Travel grant up to Rs.1,11,600 (SGD 1,500), accommodation, visa fees covered<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Tsinghua University&nbsp;<\/td><td>Rs.1,33,800 (CNY 10,000) approximately<\/td><td>Accommodation, part of a meal allowance, and transportation support&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Two costs are yours. IIIT Hyderabad requires scholars to obtain travel insurance for the full program duration at their own expense, and to arrange their own visa where one is needed. Kyoto requires private health insurance plus enrolment in a university liability insurance scheme on arrival. Neither the Amgen Foundation nor the host provides health cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Exchange rate used: Rs.95.43 per USD, from the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbi.org.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> RBI reference rate<\/a> on 11 August 2026. JPY and SGD figures are derived from cross rates at approximately Rs.0.62 per JPY and Rs.74.40 per SGD. Verify the current rate before finalising your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For students thinking past one summer,<a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/scholarships-in-singapore-for-international-students\/\"> scholarships in Singapore for Indian students<\/a> covers the degree-length awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Counselor insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> The insurance line is where families get surprised. A two-month international travel and health policy for a student runs into a few thousand rupees, and it is a condition of joining, not an optional extra. Budget it in October along with passport renewal, because a passport with under six months of validity will stall your visa.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Amgen_Scholars_Program_Documents_Checklist_for_Indian_Applicants\"><\/span><strong>Amgen Scholars Program Documents Checklist for Indian Applicants<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every Asia host requires, at minimum, an official transcript, a letter of recommendation and a personal statement. In practice the document set looks like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Document<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>What is asked for<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>India-specific detail<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Online application form<\/td><td>Personal and academic details, PDF uploads capped at 10 MB each<\/td><td>Fill it in one sitting where possible. Edits are not permitted after submission at UTokyo.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>CV<\/td><td>One PDF<\/td><td>Include coursework projects and any lab work, even unpublished semester projects<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/statement-of-purpose\">Statement of purpose<\/a><\/td><td>One A4 page at IIIT Hyderabad<\/td><td>Name the lab and the problem. One page means one page.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Official transcripts<\/td><td>Institution-issued, listing courses and marks, in English<\/td><td>Semester marksheets are not a transcript. Request a consolidated transcript from your examination or academic section in November, because Indian college offices routinely take two to three weeks.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Two reference letters<\/td><td>On official letterhead, signed, submitted by the referee through a separate portal<\/td><td>Your name must match exactly between your form and your referee&#8217;s form. Mismatched spellings between a marksheet name and a passport name cause real problems here.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>English evidence<\/td><td>TOEFL iBT 72, IELTS 5.5, or equivalent<\/td><td>Alternatively, a declaration letter from your institution confirming all your courses so far were taught in English. Most Indian engineering and science colleges can issue this, which removes the need for a test.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That declaration route is the single most useful thing on this page for an Indian applicant. It is accepted in place of a test score at IIIT Hyderabad. If a host does insist on a test,<a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/exams-required-for-singapore-universities\/\"> exams required for Singapore universities<\/a> sets out realistic band expectations, and<a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/letter-of-recommendation-for-phd-sample-examples-and-pdf\/\"> our guide to letters of recommendation for PhD applications<\/a> applies directly to what these committees want from a referee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Counselor insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> The referee deadline is separate from yours and later, which reads as a buffer and functions as a trap. At IIIT Hyderabad the applicant portal closed on 1 February 2026 and the referee portal on 6 February. Applications sit incomplete because a professor missed an automated email in a spam folder. Ask in October, share the form link yourself, and follow up in person in January.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Apply_to_the_Amgen_Scholars_Program_Step_by_Step\"><\/span><strong>How to Apply to the Amgen Scholars Program: Step by Step<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Each host runs its own portal, so this sequence repeats for every institution you apply to. There is no common application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Create an account on each host portal separately.<\/strong> UTokyo uses TAO, Tsinghua and IIIT Hyderabad use their own forms, NUS uses an online application with a document upload email that follows. Register in November when portals open, not in January, because account verification emails go missing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Complete personal and academic details in one sitting.<\/strong> Have your marksheets, CGPA, passport number and institute address open before you start. UTokyo permits no edits once you submit, so treat the submit button as final.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Upload your CV and statement as PDFs under 10 MB each.<\/strong> IIIT Hyderabad caps individual documents at 10 MB and asks for a statement of purpose of no more than one A4 page. Name files clearly. NUS specifies exact file naming in its checklist and treats missing or misnamed documents as an incomplete application.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enter your referee details so the separate referee portal triggers.<\/strong> Your two referees receive an automated request and submit through their own form, on institutional letterhead, signed. Your name must match exactly across your form and theirs. At UTokyo the system will not let you finalise your application until both letters are in.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Submit before the applicant deadline.<\/strong> Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances at UTokyo, and the other hosts operate the same rule. Aim to submit a week early, because portals slow under load on the final day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Track the referee portal separately until it closes.<\/strong> The referee window is a few days after yours, not part of it. In the 2026 cycle IIIT Hyderabad closed applicant submissions on 1 February and referee submissions on 6 February. Check the status field on your application, and follow up with your professor in person if it still reads pending.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Counselor insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> Applying to two or three Asia hosts means two or three referee requests landing in the same professor&#8217;s inbox, each needing a separate upload. Tell your referees the full number upfront and in one message. Professors who agree to one letter and then discover they have three forms to fill in late January are the reason applications go incomplete.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Amgen_Scholars_Program_2027_Timeline_Mapped_to_the_Indian_Academic_Year\"><\/span><strong>Amgen Scholars Program 2027 Timeline Mapped to the Indian Academic Year<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2027 dates are not published yet. What follows is the confirmed 2026 cycle, which is the pattern to plan against. Asia deadlines fall in early February with decisions by early April every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Month<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>What happens<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>What this collides with in India<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>October 2026<\/td><td>Nothing official. Ask referees now.<\/td><td>Mid-semester exams and festival break<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1 November 2026 (expected)<\/td><td>Application portals open across Asia hosts<\/td><td>End-semester teaching load<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>November to December<\/td><td>Request transcripts, draft the statement<\/td><td>End-semester exams. College offices slow down.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1 February 2027 (expected)<\/td><td>Applicant portals close<\/td><td>Winter break has ended, faculty are back but busy<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Early February 2027<\/td><td>Referee portals close, a few days after yours<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mid-March 2027<\/td><td>Selection notifications. IIIT Hyderabad notified on 15 to 16 March in 2026.<\/td><td>Practical exams and project submissions<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Early June 2027<\/td><td>Program begins. The 2026 cycle ran 7 June to 6 August.<\/td><td>Semester results may not be out yet. This is fine, since selection is on your transcript to date.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Early August 2027<\/td><td>Asia symposium. Held in Tokyo in 2026.<\/td><td>Next semester registration. Check your institute&#8217;s attendance rules before you commit.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Counselor insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> The clash nobody plans for is the August symposium against the start of the odd semester. Indian institutes vary on whether this counts as authorised absence. Get written permission from your head of department in April, right after you are selected, not in July.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Takeaways_on_Amgen_Scholars_Program\"><\/span><strong>3 Takeaways on Amgen Scholars Program<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Three things to act on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Confirm your region before you write a word. If you are enrolled in India, you are an Asia applicant with five host institutions available, and the US program is closed to you regardless of profile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work backwards from an early-February deadline. Ask two referees in October, request an institution-issued transcript in November, and draft your one-page statement before end-semester exams start.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apply only if you will still have a semester left after August and can write honestly about wanting a PhD. Both are hard screens in the Amgen Scholars Program, and neither is negotiable.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Verified by: LeapScholar&#8217;s Asia and research-admissions counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through funded summer research and PhD applications.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Have questions about the Amgen Scholars Program? <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/webflow_progressive_form?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=in-content-cta&amp;utm_campaign=counselling\"><em>Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_Amgen_Scholars_Program\"><\/span><strong>Frequently Asked Questions About Amgen Scholars Program<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<ul class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786547385514\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What happens if I miss the Amgen Scholars Program deadline or get rejected?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Late applications are not accepted under any circumstances, so a missed deadline means waiting for the next cycle. Rejected applicants may reapply as long as they still meet the eligibility criteria, though you can hold the scholarship for one summer only. Note that current funding is committed through 2027, with nothing announced beyond that yet.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786547395856\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>How competitive is the Amgen Scholars Program?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>No host publishes a selection rate. What is published: each Asia institution takes at least 10 scholars, putting the regional cohort at roughly 40 a year, and NUS described receiving an overwhelming volume of applications for its intake. IIIT Hyderabad&#8217;s inaugural cohort was 10 students drawn from across Asia, selected on academic record, research aptitude and doctoral intent.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786547410397\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What is the Amgen Scholars Program application deadline for 2027?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Asia deadlines fall in early February each year, with decisions by early April. In the 2026 cycle, portals opened on 1 November 2025 and closed on 1 February 2026, referee portals closed on 6 February, and IIIT Hyderabad notified candidates on 15 to 16 March. Expect the same pattern for 2027, and confirm on each host&#8217;s official page.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786547424701\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Do you need research experience for the Amgen Scholars Program?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Prior research experience is not required at any host, and the program explicitly encourages applications from students at institutions where research opportunities are limited. IIIT Hyderabad describes prior experience as desirable but not mandatory, and lists motivation to learn programming instead. What is assessed is academic performance, research aptitude and genuine intent to pursue a doctorate.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786547440328\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Is the Amgen Scholars Program fully funded?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Most costs are covered: stipend, accommodation, and flights including travel to the regional symposium. Two items are not. IIIT Hyderabad requires scholars to buy travel insurance covering the full program at their own expense and to fund their own visa. Kyoto requires private health insurance. Budget roughly a few thousand rupees for these.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786547486010\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>How much is the Amgen Scholars Program stipend?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>It varies by host. IIIT Hyderabad pays Rs.1,90,800 (USD 2,000) in rupees, in two instalments. The University of Tokyo pays approximately Rs.1,74,700 (280,000 JPY), Kyoto approximately Rs.1,12,300 (180,000 JPY), and the National University of Singapore approximately Rs.4,46,400 (SGD 6,000). Accommodation and travel are funded separately, on top of the stipend.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786547507295\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Can international students apply to the Amgen Scholars Program in the US?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The US program is restricted to US citizens and permanent residents enrolled at four-year institutions in the United States, Puerto Rico or other US territories. Host universities including UC Berkeley and Duke state this directly, and Berkeley refers international students to the programs outside the US instead. An Indian passport holder studying in the US does not qualify.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786547524477\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Who is eligible for the Amgen Scholars Program?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Undergraduates who have completed at least one year of study, are not graduating before the program begins, and will return to their home institution for at least one more semester afterwards. All regions also require a strong academic record and a stated interest in pursuing a PhD. Additional conditions vary: the US program requires citizenship or permanent residency and a GPA of 3.2 or above.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786547551517\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Can Indian students apply to the Amgen Scholars Program?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Indian students enrolled at Indian universities can apply, but only to the Asia region. That means five host institutions: IIIT Hyderabad, the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, the National University of Singapore and Tsinghua University. India is listed under Southern Asia in the eligible-countries list. There is no citizenship requirement for the Asia program, and no application fee.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">12<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">min read<\/span><\/span> \u26a1 Quick Read The Amgen Scholars Program runs at 26 institutions worldwide. Indian students enrolled in India apply to the Asia region. The US program accepts only citizens and permanent residents. IIIT Hyderabad funds ten scholars with Rs.1,90,000 each summer. Asia applications open in November and close in February. \ud83d\udc49 Best for: Indian undergraduates planning [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":82103,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82100"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82100"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82135,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82100\/revisions\/82135"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82103"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}