At 14, Adarsh Kumar left his home in Bihar’s Motihari with ₹1,000 and an old laptop. He was hoping to study in Kota, but could not afford coaching. Six years later, he is set to study at Georgetown University in Qatar on a full scholarship worth around ₹3.5 crore.The scholarship will cover his tuition, accommodation, meals, flights, visa, health insurance and other educational expenses. At Georgetown’s Education City campus in Doha, he will study with students from more than 70 nationalities.For a student who once could not afford a coaching institute in Kota, the admission is a remarkable opportunity. He shared a video of the convocation on his official Instagram account @adarshbihari.in.
From Bihar to Kota with ₹1,000
He left home for Kota hoping to join a coaching institute and find a path towards a better future.
Raised by a single mother, Adarsh understood early how money can determine access to education. At 14, he left home for Kota hoping to join a coaching institute and find a path towards a better future. But he could not afford the fees.Instead of returning home or giving up on his plans, he started looking for other ways to learn and build. He experimented with startups, worked on grassroots projects and eventually founded Skillzo, a platform aimed at helping students access skills, mentorship and opportunities. The initiative has now reached nearly 20,000 students.
Winning the Global Student Prize
He was selected from almost 11,000 nominations and applications from 148 countries.
Adarsh was declared the winner of the 100,000 $ and the Global Student Prize 2025 at a ceremony in London. He was selected from almost 11,000 nominations and applications from 148 countries to make the cut for the annual prize, given to an exceptional student who has made a real impact on learning and society at large.
He faced 22 university rejections
Adarsh’s own university application process was difficult. He received 22 rejections before enrolling with Second Chance, founded by Cornell University alumna Joan Liu. By then, Georgetown University’s regular admissions cycle had closed. His application reached Georgetown through Second Chance’s partnership with the university related to supporting Palestinian students.Georgetown agreed to review his profile. “It taught me that sometimes talent is not the problem. People simply need someone willing to open a door and give them a chance,” Adarsh told India Today.“I was sitting with my mother when I received the email”Adarsh received his Georgetown admission email while he was with his mother. “I was sitting with my mother when I received the email,” he said. “I remember being extremely excited and almost unable to believe what I was reading. After everything that had happened during the admission process, seeing the Georgetown University in Qatar offer with a full scholarship was a very emotional moment.”His mother was the first person he told. “She has been the person behind me throughout this entire journey. Seeing her reaction made the moment even more special,” he said.
Why he chose Georgetown
An old photo of Adarsh Kumar.
At Georgetown, Adarsh plans to study Political Science, Economics and International Relations, while exploring other subjects as well. His interest in policy comes partly from his experiences in Bihar. “I have always been interested in understanding why some policies work while others fail, and how decisions made by governments ultimately affect ordinary people,” he said.“Coming from Bihar has also shaped that interest. I have seen how education, employment, healthcare and access to government schemes can fundamentally change someone’s opportunities.”He says studying in Doha will also give him an opportunity to understand the Middle East and interact with students from different countries. He is also interested in Georgetown’s opportunities to study at its Washington, DC, and Italy campuses.
His plans after Georgetown
Adarsh wants to work in policy, governance and social impact, with a focus on education, employment, youth development and economic opportunity. His long-term goal is closely linked to Bihar. “Ultimately, I would like my work to contribute to making Bihar and India places where a person’s circumstances at birth do not determine how far they can go,” he says.He also hopes his admission will encourage students from smaller towns and financially constrained families to consider applying to universities they may otherwise see as out of reach. “I come from Motihari in Bihar, and I know that many students from smaller cities and economically constrained backgrounds often assume that universities like Georgetown are simply not meant for them,” he says.“If a student from a government-school background in Bihar can eventually receive a full scholarship to Georgetown, then other students should at least believe that they have the right to try.”After 22 university rejections, Adarsh has one more message for students facing setbacks. “There will be rejections but I’d tell them not to reject themselves. I had many of them myself. But one rejection should not become a conclusion about your potential,” he says. “Build something meaningful with the opportunities you already have, and then keep applying for the opportunities you think are beyond your reach.
