A diverse group of graduates in academic gowns throwing their caps in the air.

United States Open for Fall 2026 entry — automatically assessed at admissions decision

NYU Stern Sidney Harman Fellowship

The Sidney Harman Fellowship is a merit-based scholarship for full-time MBA candidates at NYU Stern School of Business, awarded in honour of the late Sidney Harman — a Stern alumnus and lifelong champion of integrating business with the humanities. The award provides up to USD 50,000 (around LKR 16 million) across the two-year MBA, paid as a tuition reduction. There is no separate application — Stern admissions reviews every admitted candidate for fellowship consideration. Selection emphasises intellectual breadth, leadership, and the candidate's potential to bridge disciplines. For Sri Lankan applicants targeting top-tier US MBA programmes, NYU Stern's New York location (Greenwich Village) and finance / consulting recruiting strength make this a flagship-tier signal.

NYU Stern School of Business

University-funded

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Value

Up to USD 50,000 (~LKR 16M)

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Duration

2-Year Full-Time MBA

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Selection

Automatic at Admission

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Admitted to NYU Stern Full-Time MBA

You must apply for, and be admitted to, the NYU Stern full-time MBA programme. Part-time, Tech, Fashion, and online MBA variants are not eligible for the Harman Fellowship. Standard Stern admissions criteria apply (GMAT/GRE, essays, references, interview).

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Strong Pre-MBA Track Record

Typical admits have 3-6 years of professional experience, a GMAT of 720+ (or GRE equivalent), and a strong undergraduate GPA (~3.5+ / 4.0). Sri Lankan applicants from banking, consulting, family business, and tech with measurable impact are competitive.

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Open to International Applicants

Open to applicants of all nationalities, including Sri Lankan citizens. Need-based scholarships are administered separately — Harman is purely merit-based and focused on intellectual + leadership potential.

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Interdisciplinary Mindset

Selection emphasises candidates who can articulate a connection between business and the broader humanities (ethics, the arts, public policy). Stern essays are the place to signal this — Harman fellows are typically people who write convincingly about how their work fits a larger societal narrative.

account_tree Application Process

Apply to Stern MBA by Round 2

Submit your full Stern MBA application by Round 1 (October 2025) or Round 2 (January 2026) — earlier rounds are more competitive for fellowships. Application includes GMAT/GRE, 2 essays + 1 'Pick Six' photo essay, two recommenders, and the interview by invitation.

Automatic Harman review

Every admitted candidate is automatically considered for the Harman Fellowship — no extra form to complete. The admissions committee flags candidates whose essays + recommendations demonstrate the interdisciplinary leadership the award is designed to recognise.

Receive fellowship in offer letter

If you are selected, the Harman Fellowship is named in your offer letter alongside the dollar value. Some candidates receive partial fellowships under different named awards; many receive both the Harman and additional Stern Scholarships.

Confirm enrolment and visa

Pay the standard Stern deposit to confirm your seat. The Harman award is applied as a direct tuition discount across both years. You then apply for the F-1 visa with the reduced funding requirement reflected on the I-20.

Why NYU Stern?

NYU Stern is consistently ranked in the global top 25 MBA programmes (Financial Times) and is the top-ranked MBA in New York City. Stern recruits across investment banking, consulting, tech (FAANG), luxury retail, and media — with strong career outcomes for international students. Sidney Harman himself was a polymath CEO who studied at NYU and built Harman International (now part of Samsung).