India
60 Fulbright-Nehru Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodFlexible StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
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 2027 through March 2028.
Non-Ph.D. grantees are required to attend a mandatory orientation in Delhi in mid-August 2027 before the start of their grants.
Orientation
Mandatory
Virtual Pre-Departure Orientation sessions will be held in May/June 2027. All grantees should plan to participate virtually as a condition of their grants.
Candidate Profile
Applications are welcome from students in all academic and professional fields. At the same time, USIEF actively encourages and prioritizes projects aligned with the following thematic areas, which reflect shared U.S.–India strategic interests and the skills needed for the 21st-century global economy:
1. Critical Minerals and Supply Chains
- Geology
- Materials Science
- Mining Engineering
2. Defense and Security
- Cybersecurity
- Aerospace Engineering
- Robotics and Autonomous Systems
3. Energy Security
- Energy Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Energy Innovation and Technology Commercialization
4. Science and Research Collaboration
- Bioengineering
- Artificial Intelligence
- Semiconductor Engineering
5. Space Cooperation
- Astrophysics
- Planetary Science
- Space Systems Engineering
- Satellite Communications
6. Technology and Innovation
- Data Science
- Quantum Computing
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Students from the arts, humanities, and social sciences are strongly encouraged to propose interdisciplinary, comparative, or policy-relevant projects engaging these areas.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), India’s Fulbright Commission, offers approximately 60 Fulbright U.S. Student awards for the 2027–28 academic year.
Since 1950, USIEF has facilitated over 21,000 fellowships, supported by the U.S. Department of State, the Government of India, and other partner agencies. This long-standing collaboration reflects both the historic significance of the Fulbright Program in India and the depth of the U.S.–India educational partnership.
The landmark 2008 Fulbright agreement elevated India to a full partner in funding and governance of the program, substantially expanding opportunities for U.S. students. Since then, Fulbright-Nehru awards have supported a growing and diverse cohort of American academics engaged in teaching, research, and professional exchange across India.
India is a compelling destination for Fulbrighters today. As the world’s largest democracy and one of the fastest-growing major economies, India offers an unparalleled environment for studying questions of global significance—ranging from public health, environmental trends, urbanization, and digital governance to advanced manufacturing, energy security, space science, and artificial intelligence. Students benefit from India’s scale, varied backgrounds, and openness to international academic collaboration.
Eligibility
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
English will suffice in most cases. A working knowledge of a modern Indian language may be important for the success of some research projects.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Affiliations are available throughout India except for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Travel to certain protected or restricted areas may require prior approval from the Government of India. Applicants should consider these requirements when designing their projects or identifying potential host institutions.
According to Government of India regulations, Fulbright students must be affiliated with recognized institutions of higher education approved by the Indian Ministry of Education, including institutions accredited by the UGC, AICTE, NMC, or other apex regulatory bodies, as well as medical institutions accredited by the relevant authorities.
Applicants are encouraged to identify a preferred host institution and secure an invitation letter when possible. If an applicant does not have an affiliation, USIEF can assist in identifying an appropriate host institution after selection.
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
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
Monthly maintenance is intended to cover housing, travel, and incidentals.
Dependents Allowance: An additional $200 USD monthly is available to support a maximum of one dependent. Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad to qualify for additional dependent benefits. International travel benefit is for grantee only. No travel allowance provided for dependents.
Note also:
The last installment of maintenance or allowances is pro-rated if students depart their grant early.
USIEF will wire transfer the allowances to the grantee’s U.S. bank account every two months and will bear the wire transfer fees up to $15 for each wire transfer. For claiming the wire transfer fee, grantees will have to submit a copy of their bank statement that clearly shows that the wire transfer fee is charged on the transfer made by USIEF.
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Excess baggage fees
- Research/Materials allowance
- Excess baggage fees: One-time baggage allowance of $600 paid at the end of the final phase of the grant upon submission of final reports to USIEF and IIE.
- Broker's Fee for Housing: up to $500 available on a reimbursement basis, up to the maximum amount listed.
- Research allowance: A one-time research allowance of $500 provided at the beginning of the grant.
Additional Grant Benefits
- Mid-year seminar
South and Central Asia Fulbright Conference
The South and Central Asia Fulbright Conference brings together Fulbright U.S. Scholars and U.S. Student Researchers to discuss each other’s work, network, and share their experiences as international exchange participants. Funding for the conference is provided by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The conference is typically held within the region in February or March, and financial assistance to attend is provided. To be eligible, participants must be on their Fulbright grants at the time of the conference.
Please note that conference plans are subject to change depending on programmatic or regional considerations.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
The cost of living varies from city to city. Applicants who wish to know more about the estimated cost of living can write to USIEF. USIEF officials can connect applicants to alumni who have lived in the same city where the applicant wishes to be placed.
Dependents
For all grantees, a monthly maintenance allowance is payable for one accompanying dependent only. No travel allowance provided for dependents.
Housing Arrangements
Housing arrangements will be made with the assistance of the Fulbright Commission, local facilitators and brokers, and the host institutions.
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.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Upon confirmed selections, applicants proposing research involving human beings or animals as research subjects who plan to formally publish the results or to use the results in a graduate program should have their projects vetted by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at their home institutions in the U.S. For more details, please check following weblink:-https://fulbrightindiaguide.org.in/institutional-review-board-irb-approval/
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 clearly state in their proposals whether they will need to visit excavation sites. Selected candidates in this field will be required to fill out a form that USIEF will submit to the government of India 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.