India
56 Fulbright-Nehru Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodFlexible StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
CLEA Availability
- Yes
Award Profile
The Fulbright-Nehru Student Research grant provides its recipients the opportunity to conduct individually designed research projects in India.
Grant Length
Grant Period
9 Months
Doctoral candidates can start their grants at any time from July 2024 through March 2025.
Non-Ph.D. grantees are required to attend a mandatory orientation in Delhi in mid-August 2024 before the start of their grants.
Orientation
Mandatory
Virtual Pre-Departure Orientation sessions will be held in May/June 2024. All grantees should plan to participate virtually as a condition of their grants.
Candidate Profile
While applications in all fields will be considered, strong preference will be given to the following academic 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 emphasis 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 (genomic surveillance, sewage surveillance, serosurveillance)); Public Policy; Sociology; Urban and Regional Planning (with emphasis on smart cities and waste management); Visual Arts; and Women’s and Gender Studies.
Eligibility
Accepted Degree Levels
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
English will suffice in most cases. A working knowledge of a modern Indian language may be important for the success of some research projects.
Critical Language Enhancement Award
The Critical Language Enhancement Award (CLEA) provides an opportunity for Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantees to receive intensive language study in addition to their research grants. The award provides tuition reimbursement for grantees to pursue language training in the host countries. Application for CLEA is made in conjunction with the Fulbright U.S. Student application. However, being awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student grant does not guarantee receipt of CLEA since review of each award is conducted separately and is contingent upon several factors. For additional information and requirements on the award, please see Critical Language Enhancement Award details.
Acceptable Languages: Bangla/Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi and Urdu.
Prior Language Study: Prior language study is not required.
Dates and Timing: 3-6 months, with a minimum of 3 months of intensive language training before grant that can be combined with concurrent studies, up to 6 months total.
Approved Programs: Please contact USIEF.
Critical Language Enhancement Award Team:
Neeraj Goswami: neeraj@usief.org.in
Kalden Shringla: kalden@usief.org.in
United States-India Educational Foundation
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Letter recommended but not required at deadline
Location Details: Affiliations are available throughout India except for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Fulbrighters must be affiliated with Institutions/organizations of higher education approved and listed on the website of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, including institutions accredited AICTE, UGC and other Apex Level Bodies of the Ministry (https://www.education.gov.in/en/apex-level-bodies) or Medical institutions accredited by the Medical Council of India (MCI).
Note: Fulbrighters cannot be affiliated with non-government organizations (NGOs), think tanks, research organizations, or other institutions that are not recognized by these regulatory bodies.
The applicant is encouraged to indicate affiliation preference and secure an invitation letter from an institution when possible. If the applicant does not have a preferred host institution, USIEF will be happy to assist with identifying an appropriate one. Affiliations will be finalized by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) after the grantee is selected. USIEF reserves the right to change the affiliation if the one indicated in the application is unsuitable for any reason.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Housing Arrangements
Housing arrangements will be made with the assistance of the Fulbright Commission, local facilitators and brokers, and the host institutions.
Dependents
For all grantees, a monthly maintenance allowance is payable for one accompanying dependent only.
Research Clearance and Indian Visas
Clearance and a student visa from the Government of India are required for all Fulbright-Nehru grantees. The detailed procedure for obtaining a student visa will be communicated to grantees upon selection by USIEF. Grants cannot be issued for travel to India until proper Government of India approvals and student visas are received.
Archival Research
Applicants should clearly state in their proposals whether they will need to consult records and/or papers in the National Archives, New Delhi, or in State archives. USIEF will obtain the necessary letter from the U.S. Embassy which will be required for entrance into the archives.
Archaeological Research
Applicants must state clearly in their proposals whether they will need to visit excavation sites. Selected candidates in this field will be required to fill out a form for obtaining special clearance from the Archaeological Survey of India.
Public Health / Medical Research
Applicants in health-related research may require additional approvals. USIEF will guide candidates through the process.
Security Concerns
The Fulbright Commission in India will carefully review all Fulbright proposals for feasibility and security concerns. Applicants must be flexible in response to changing conditions and grantees must comply with all security procedures set in place by the Commission in consultation with the U.S. Embassy in India.
Change in Marital Status
All grantees must inform IIE and USIEF of any change in marital status. Candidates who marry after submitting applications must allow at least 6-8 weeks for their spouses to obtain visas.