The Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships for Ph.D. students (Scholars) in India.
These fellowships are for six to nine months.
Interested scholars from various fields like Agricultural Sciences; Bioengineering; Chemistry; Computer Science Economics; Education Policy and Planning; Energy Studies; Geography (including GIS and Geology); History; Language and Literature; Materials Science, Mathematical Sciences; Neurosciences; Performing Arts; Physics; Political Science, Public Health, Public policy or sociology can apply
What are the incentives or grants provided in this fellowship
J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges per U.S. rules and regulations, economy class air travel, applicable allowances, and modest affiliation fees, if any. Selected scholars will have opportunities to audit non-degree courses, conduct research and gain practical work experience in suitable settings in the U.S.
Eligibility Criteria
- The candidate must be an Indian citizen who can contribute to a full and fair picture of the culture and civilization of India, and thereby help to promote friendship between USA and India;
- The candidate must not be residing in the U.S. during the recruitment and placement cycle (February 2022-July 2023);
- Indian citizens with an active permanent resident status of any foreign county is ineligible.
- Candidate must have a high level of academic/professional achievement.
- Candidate must demonstrate proficiency in the English language to undertake the proposed project/program and adjust to life in the U.S.
- Candidate shall inform USIEF well in advance if needs to travel abroad during the application cycle July 2022 – June 2023.
- Candidate must not be applying for or holding permanent residence in the US; and give an undertaking to return to India on the completion of the fellowship.
- Candidate must have done adequate research in the relevant field, especially in identifying resources in India & U.S.aslo the candidate must be registered for Ph.D. at any Indian institution before November 1, 2021
- Recommendation letters from the Ph.D. supervisor that comments on applicants’ research, and must indicate the Ph.D. registration date and topic with the application form
- The expected Ph.D. thesis submission date should be minimum three months after the Fulbright-Nehru grant end date.
- Employed candidate must follow the instructions carefully regarding employer’s endorsement. If applicable, please obtain the endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority on the FNDR Employer’s Endorsement Form. The employer shall indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period. The applicant can download the FNDR Employer’s Endorsement Form from the USIEF website;
- Candidate must upload a copy of original published/presented paper or from Masters’/M.Phil. thesis on the online application form (not exceeding 20 pages)
Note: Candidates with Ph.D. degrees or those at the final stage of Ph.D. thesis submission will not be considered.
Application Deadline: September 15, 2022
Timeline and Placement Process
| September 15, 2022 | Application due date for 2023-2024 awards |
| Mid-October 2022 | Field-specific experts review applications |
| Mid-November 2022 | USIEF informs the applicants about the review outcome |
| Late November 2022 | National interviews of short-listed candidates |
| End November 2022 | USIEF notifies principal and alternate nominees. Doctoral research nominees take TOEFL |
| End December 2022 | USIEF forwards applications of recommended candidates to the U.S. for J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) approval and placement |
| March/April 2023 | USIEF notifies finalists |
| May/June 2023 | Pre-Departure Orientation |
| August/September 2023 | Program begins |
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online. Please visit the Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship for more fellowship details
and Application Instructions