The Fulbright Scholarship for Indian students is a program with up to three accepted degree levels, including Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral. The grant period is a “Flexible Start” and lasts for 9 Months. Also, the award type is “Open Study/Research” with CLEA availability.
This scholarship is also part of the Indian government Sscholarships for studying abroad. Regarding the award profile, the Fulbright-Nehru Student research grant offers you the opportunity to conduct individual research projects in India for 9 Months.
The Grant Period is a “Flexible Start”. Note that Doctoral candidates can begin their grants anytime between July and March or the specified time by the Grant. Non-Ph.D. grantees must attend a mandatory orientation in Delhi in mid-August 2024 before the start of their grants.
Fulbright Scholarship for Indian students Application
Below is important information you need to know about this grant for Indian students:
Go here to apply for Fullbright scholarship for Indian students.
1. Orientation
- Pre-departure orientation is compulsory.
- The pre-departure orientation sessions will take place virtually in May/June. All recipients of grants must make arrangements to attend the orientation virtually, as it is a requirement for their grants.
2. Candidate Profile
While applications from all fields will be considered, strong preference will be given to candidates with academic backgrounds in the following disciplines:
- Agricultural Sciences
- Anthropology
- Bioengineering
- Chemistry
- Computer Science (including, but not limited to, cyber security, digital economy, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics)
- Earth Sciences
- Economics
- Education Policy and Planning
- Energy Studies
- History
- Language/Literature/Linguistics
- Materials Science (with a focus on environmental applications)
- Mathematical Sciences
- Neurosciences
- Performing Arts
- Physics
- Political Science (including, but not limited to, International Security and Strategic Studies)
- Psychology
- Public Health (including, but not limited to, pandemic preparedness and comprehensive surveillance, such as genomic surveillance, sewage surveillance, and serosurveillance)
- Public Policy
- Sociology
- Urban and Regional Planning (with an emphasis on smart cities and waste management)
- Visual Arts
- Women’s and Gender Studies
Fulbright Scholarship for Indian students Eligibility Requirements
Individuals who hold dual citizenship with this country are eligible to apply. Applicants must have resided in the host country for at least one year before the grant period.
1. Accepted Degree Levels
The following degree levels are accepted for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program:
- Bachelor’s
- Master’s
- Doctoral
2. Foreign Language Proficiency
Proficiency in a foreign language is not required for most cases. For certain research projects, a working knowledge of a modern Indian language may be important for successful outcomes.
3. Critical Language Enhancement Award
The Critical Language Enhancement Award (CLEA) offers Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantees the opportunity to engage in intensive language study alongside their research grants. This award provides tuition reimbursement for language training in the host country.
The application for CLEA is submitted in conjunction with the Fulbright U.S. Student application. Note that being awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student grant does not guarantee you getting the CLEA. That is because each award is reviewed separately and depends on various factors.
4. Acceptable Languages
The following languages are acceptable: Bangla/Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, and Urdu.
Prior Language Study: not required!
The language training period is 3-6 months, with a minimum of 3 months of intensive language training before the grant period.
This training can be combined with concurrent studies, allowing for a total language training period of up to 6 months.
Critical Language Enhancement Award Team:
- Neeraj Goswami: neeraj@usief.org.in
- Kalden Shringla: kalden@usief.org.in
- United States-India Educational Foundation
Types of Fulbright Proposals
- Independent Study/Research: Accepted
- Graduate Degree Enrollment: Not accepted
Affiliation Requirements
- While not mandatory at the deadline, a letter of affiliation is recommended for Independent Study/Research proposals.
- Fulbrighters can pursue affiliations throughout India, except the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Approved Institutions/Organizations: Fulbrighters must be affiliated with institutions/organizations of higher education that are approved and listed on the website of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. This includes institutions accredited by bodies such as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), University Grants Commission (UGC), and other apex-level bodies of the Ministry.
- Medical institutions accredited by the Medical Council of India (MCI) are also eligible for affiliation.
Indian students approved for the Fulbright scholarship cannot be affiliated with non-government organizations (NGOs), think tanks, research organizations, or any other institutions that are not recognized by the regulatory bodies mentioned above.
The applicant is encouraged to express their affiliation preference and obtain an invitation letter from an institution, if possible. If the applicant does not have a preferred host institution, the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) will help in identifying a suitable one.
The finalization of affiliations will be done by USIEF after the grantee is selected. USIEF reserves the right to change the affiliation if the indicated one in the application is deemed unsuitable for any reason.
Affiliation fees/tuition
They are offered at the discretion of the host university or the award. The specific housing arrangements will be facilitated by the Fulbright Commission, local facilitators, brokers, and host institutions.
Financial support for dependents is available. For all grantees, a monthly maintenance allowance will be provided for only one accompanying dependent.
Research Clearance and Indian Visas
All Fulbright-Nehru grantees are required to obtain clearance and a student visa from the Government of India. The detailed procedure for obtaining a student visa will be communicated to the grantees by USIEF upon selection. Travel grants to India cannot be issued until the necessary approvals from the Government of India and student visas are obtained.
Archival Research
Applicants should mention in their proposals if they will need to access records and papers in the National Archives, New Delhi, or State archives. USIEF will assist in obtaining the required letter from the U.S. Embassy, which is necessary for entrance into the archives.
Archaeological Research
Applicants must explicitly state in their proposals if they will need to visit excavation sites. Selected candidates in this field will be required to complete a form to obtain special clearance from the Archaeological Survey of India.
Public Health / Medical Research
Applicants conducting health-related research may require additional approvals. USIEF will guide candidates throughout the process.
Security Concerns
The Fulbright Commission in India will thoroughly review all Fulbright proposals for feasibility and security concerns. Applicants must remain flexible in response to changing conditions, and grantees must comply with all security procedures implemented by the Commission in consultation with the U.S. Embassy in India.
Change in Marital Status
All grantees must notify IIE and USIEF in the event of any change in their marital status. Applicants who get married after submitting their applications should allow a minimum of 6-8 weeks for their spouses to obtain visas.
- Fulbright Program Management Contact
- Email: FBstudent.SCA@iie.org
- Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
- Website: usief.org.in
- Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
- Name: Priyanjana Ghosh
- Email: Priyanjana@usief.org.in
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