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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

India

56 Fulbright-Nehru Open Study/Research Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Grant Period
Flexible Start
Grant Length
9 Months
Award Type
Open Study/Research
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
9 Months
Grant Period
Flexible Start

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
Pre-Departure 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
Dual citizens of this country are eligible
Residency in host country permitted in year prior to grant
Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Not Required

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
Independent Study/Research:
Yes
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
No
Affiliation
Independent Study/Research:
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
Affiliation Fees/Tuition offered at discretion of host university/Award
Housing Arrangements

Housing arrangements will be made with the assistance of the Fulbright Commission, local facilitators and brokers, and the host institutions. 

Dependents
Dependent financial support is available

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.

Fulbright Program Management Contact
FBstudent.SCA@iie.org
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
http://www.usief.org.in
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Priyanjana Ghosh: Priyanjana@usief.org.in