YSP Foundation Programme – FAQs

The Young Scholars Programme Foundation is a five-day on campus programme that introduces high school students to liberal arts & sciences education. It is a certified programme in which students are exposed to different disciplines such as History, Literature, Computer Science, Psychology and more through interactions and group discussions. The programme incorporates a range of activities such as faculty presentations, writing sessions, small group activities and creative workshops. Further details can be found at https://www.ashoka.edu.in/ysp.

Yes, YSP Foundation Programme is distinct from all other YSPs. It offers exposure across the breadth of foundational disciplines within Liberal Arts and Sciences. Additionally, scholars engage in 21st Century Skills within YSP Foundation, making it a one-of-a-kind experience. 

Students who wish to apply for the YSP Advanced (Foundation+ Any other YSP) programme, there is a separate application form and they can apply using that application form.

Liberal Arts & Sciences education celebrates discussion and debate in the classroom. A Liberal Arts & Science education focuses on providing critical thinking skills and multiple perspectives to students, which is considered an essential part of leading an ethical and purposeful life. Essentially, it incorporates breadth and depth across multiple disciplines.

YSP Foundation Programme

Session 1: May 20 – May 24, 2024

Session 2: June 3 – June 7, 2024

Please note: both sessions are the same. They have been scheduled twice due to the busy engagements of high school students during the months of May and June. 

The YSP Foundation days are creatively designed to engage young minds in the best possible manner by eminent Ashoka faculty and staff. A typical day at YSP Foundation begins with students starting with the morning for academic sessions. Students are in three sessions before lunch, with a snack break in between. The day continues with writing sessions, workshops, guest speaker series and more. Students are given a transition time of at least 15 mins between each session. In the evening, students are invited to be part of an optional Unwind session offering an opportunity to network with their peers and Ashoka UG students in a more informal setting. The final schedule will be shared with participants of YSP Foundation closer to the programme.

Yes, students will be given a certificate on successful completion of the programme, provided all sessions are attended and there has been desirable participation by the student. Upon receipt of your certificate, please save it securely for your use later on, however, if you happen to lose it, a second copy of the certificate will be provided which will be chargeable for a sum of INR 500/- Rupees.

Attending the YSP Foundation programme will give you an insight on liberal arts & sciences education and the Ashoka pedagogy. This will surely help you with your undergraduate application form at Ashoka University. However, this does not guarantee admission to the Ashoka UG programme.

Extended Application Deadline: 28th April 2024, Sunday, 23:59 hrs. 

An application fee of Rs 500/- has to be paid with the submission of the completed application form. This is non-refundable.

YSP General course fee is INR 49,500.

If selected, the student has to pay the full fees to secure their spot.

Students who wish to opt for both YSP Foundation + another stream (YSP Advanced) combined programme, the total programme fees to be paid is INR 85,000.

The programme fee includes access to all the sessions for the course duration, including founder talks, interactive sessions, and follow-up reading materials.

Yes, need-based financial aid is available.

The financial aid section is available on the online application form. Please visit the application portal to register and receive an application ID. This section can be accessed after filling the first section of the YSP Foundation application form. You can then continue to fill in the details required to avail financial aid in the application form and submit the completed application form.

The application for financial aid is part of the online application to the Young Scholars Programme (YSP Foundation Programme). Students who apply for aid will have to submit the required documents as mentioned in the form for need-based evaluation of financial aid.

5 working days after the final YSP Foundation application deadline.

• From the evening before the commencement of the programme: NIL.
• Up to seven days before the commencement of the programme: 75% of the fees will be deducted.
• Up to fifteen days before the commencement of the programme: 50% of the fees will be deducted.
• Up to twenty-one days before the commencement of the programme: 25% of the fees will be deducted.
• All refunds will be processed after / within 30 days of the completion of the programme. This refund will be assessed on a case by case basis, and ONLY in case of a clash with the national or state boards. In such cases, the date-sheet will need to be provided, following which the refund will be permitted.

Since the YSP Foundation 2024 is back On-Campus, technical requirements will be taken care of by the Institute.

The application will be based upon your academic performance (your mark sheet/s), the essay to be written as part of the application and co-curricular activities reflects the same. However, we always look for Students who are open and curious about learning new things

This year students who are appearing for their Class 12 board examinations in 2024 are eligible for the YSP Foundation programme.

The mark sheets of the previous two grades.

• Students starting Class 9: Submit mark sheets for Class 7 and 8.
• Students starting Class 10: Submit mark sheets for Class 8 and 9.
• Students starting Class 11: Submit mark sheets for Class 9 and 10. (in case board results are not available, the latest Class 10 result, e.g. pre-boards/ first term, is acceptable).
• Students starting Class 12: Submit mark sheets for Class 10 board exams and Class 11 or recent most available academic records.
• Applicants should upload at least one available mark sheet, which could be from the previous two years of education.

No, there is no cut-off percentage for applying to the programme.

Yes, there is a waitlist. Students who are on the waitlist will be informed, and as vacancies open up, they will be contacted for admission.

Candidates will be notified about the admission decision via their registered email. YSP staff actively monitor all emails and respond with the required information promptly.

YSP  is a very engaging programme, attending each session will add value to your learning and knowledge across various topics and also help later in college applications and making informed choices. Hence, attendance and participation are strongly advised for a meaningful experience and to obtain the programme certificate.

Yes, all YSP Foundation student participants will have to accept terms and conditions that will include:

• Being responsible and ethical netizens.
• Sensitive & committed to learning.
• No use of offensive language on any platform.
• The YSP General Code of Conduct will be sent to all admitted students who will need to sign before they start the programme.

The counselors are some of Ashoka’s finest students, carefully chosen after a rigorous selection process. They are trained to work and lead activities with high school students.

All YSP FLAS faculty are members of the teaching staff at Ashoka and are some of the foremost academicians in their fields with several papers to their credit. They have years of experience teaching talented students across the world.

Guardian are welcome to drop-off their child but not allowed to stay overnight on campus.

Yes, you need to have a valid School/Government issued ID card.

No, they are not allowed.

The Ashoka Campus houses an Infirmary for basic health care support along with an Ambulance in case of Medical Emergencies.