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Bengaluru, June 26, 2026: Sona Star Innovation Pvt. Ltd. has collaborated with the University of West Alabama (UWA) to launch the SonaUWA 1+1 International Pathway Programme. This program provides an opportunity for Indian Students to earn a fully US-accredited Master of Science Program in Data Science with a substantial portion of their studies done in India.
The program was inaugurated by Mr. Thyagu Valliappa, the CEO and Chief Mentor of Sona Star Innovation and S.C.A.L.E. (Sona Centre for Advanced Learning & Entrepreneurship) at Sona Towers, Bengaluru.
As part of the pathway, the students will spend the first year of the MS in Data Science Program at SCALE in Bengaluru with a UWA-approved and provided curriculum. This course includes emerging technologies of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and other subjects of high relevance and demand. For the completion of the US-accredited Program, students will then travel to UWA for the second year. As part of the launch, Mr. Thyagu Valliappa commented that the program intends to increase the availability of American higher education to Indian students by making it more affordable while maintaining the academic rigor, and that the curriculum and the academic standards of SCALE will be the same as those on the UWA campus.
Students achieving a GPA above or equal to 3.5 for this program will be awarded a preferential scholarship of US$5,000 across two semesters at UWA. With the scholarship, the total cost of the international pathway will be approximately ₹ 19 lakh, making it similar to the cost of the entire program in India. There is a weekend-only option in Bengaluru for the program. Those opting to do their second year in India will do so through in-person classes by visiting faculty from the University of West Alabama.
As a STEM program, graduates will qualify for the 36-month STEM OPT in the U.S. At the launch event, Sona Star Innovation launched the UWA Experience Room, a virtual reality room providing the opportunity to experience studying and living on the University of West Alabama campus. In September 2026, the first students of the SonaUWA 1+1 International Pathway Program (with 30 students) will have the opportunity to go to UWA. Applications to the MS in Data Science will be accepted until September
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