FULBRIGHT-NEHRU DOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
Scholarship Region
International Region : USA
Scholarship For
Higher studies
Last Date
01/07/2026
Scholarship Amount
Not Available
Scholarship Type
Government
Scholarship Fields
Other
Scholarship General Information
The Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship is a six to nine-month program that will help the student show the problems that are faced by the community. Under this fellowship, the student will be able to do full-time research on various concerns. The student who clears the eligibility criteria can complete the application form by going through the official website. This Fellowship encourages the student to do research without worrying about financial needs. Before filling out the application form, students need to check the eligibility criteria that are mentioned by the authorities on the official website. To be eligible under this Fellowship the student must hold a PhD degree.
To provide research opportunities to the students, The United States Indian Education Foundation has launched the Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship. Under this fellowship, students will be able to do their research work without worrying about any financial problems. The duration of the fellowship will be 6 to 9 months and no extension will be considered. All the students who clear the eligibility criteria can easily apply for this Fellowship by filling out the application form on the official website before the last date. This Fellowship is a great opportunity for all the student who are doing their research work.
ITEM | DESCRIPTION |
Name | FULBRIGHT-NEHRU DOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS |
Provided by | United States India Educational Foundation |
Purpose | To provide research opportunities to the Ph.D. students |
Scholarship Amount | J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, an Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges per U.S. Government guidelines, round-trip economy class air travel, applicable allowances, and modest affiliation fees |
No. of Scholarships | Varies (Depends on Availability) |
Required Qualification | Ph.D |
Scholarship for | For Research Work |
Official Website |
Eligibility Criteria
1. The applicant should have done reasonable study pertaining to their research objectives, especially in the identification of resources in India and the U.S. Applicant must be registered for Ph.D. at an Indian institution on or before November 1, 2023. On the online application form, one of the recommendation letters must be from the Ph.D. supervisor that comments on applicants’ research, need for the fellowship, and must indicate the Ph.D. registration date and topic;
2. This grant is intended for Ph.D. students to conduct research essential to their dissertations/thesis. Therefore, the expected Ph.D. thesis submission date should at least be three months after the Fulbright-Nehru grant end date. For example, if May 2026 is the grant end date, the applicant cannot submit their thesis before August 2026. Please indicate the Ph.D. registration date and the expected Ph.D. thesis submission date in the Applicant Annexure.
3. If the applicant is employed, they 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 must indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period; and
4. The applicant must upload a copy of the original published/presented paper or extracts from the Masters’/M.Phil. thesis on the online application form (not exceeding 20 pages).
Note: These fellowships are for pre-doctoral level research. Applicants with Ph.D. degrees or those at the final stage of Ph.D. thesis submission will not be considered.
Award Amount
The fellowships provide:
1. J-1 visa support.
2. A monthly stipend.
3. Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges per U.S. Government guidelines.
4. Round-trip economy class air travel.
5. Applicable allowances and modest affiliation fees( if any).
6. No allowances are provided for dependents.
7. The grant is not sufficient to support family members.
No. of Scholarships Available
The number of fellowships is subject to availability for more please visit the Official Website.
Important Dates
The last date to apply for this Fellowship is July 1, 2026.
Application Fee
No Separate Application or Fee is Required to get the scholarship, it will be automatically considered, once you enrolled for the program.
Application Procedure
To apply for Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships, applicants must complete the application form available on the official website of USIEF. The step-by-step application process is mentioned below:
Step 1: Applications must be submitted online at: https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2025.
Step 2: Please carefully review the FNDR Applicant Instructions before starting your online application.
Step 3: Please refer to FNDR Applicant Checklist before applying.
Step 4: In addition, you must complete FNDR Applicant Annexure and FNDR Employer’s Endorsement Form (if applicable) and upload on your online application.
Required Documents
Applicants must note that the fellowship application form must be completed in one session only and one session expires if your page is inactive for 60 minutes.
Student Supporting Documents are:
1. Academic Transcripts
2. Resume
3. 3 Letters of Recommendation
4. Copy of Passport
5. English Language Proficiency Test Score like TOEFL
6. Experience Abroad
7. University References
8. Paper presented in Masters or M.Phil
9. Awards and Recognition
10. Grants and travel plans
Note: Plagiarism and late submission of applications will not be entertained.
Selection Process
To make applicants comfortable with the whole selection process, USIEF offices organize Fulbright mentoring workshops that guide applicants on the elements of a strong application. One can contact the USIEF office in one's region for information on the mentoring workshops. Selection panels will often use the following criteria to review applications:
1. Academic credentials and professional ability
2. Merit of the proposed Fulbright project
3. Commitment to the community or national service
4. Need to conduct research in the U.S.
5. Outcomes, Potential Impact, and Benefits
6. Potential to contribute as a cultural ambassador (irrespective of specialization)
The review process takes two to three months after the application deadline. For the Interview round, shortlisted applicants must appear for an in-person interview in New Delhi. Recipients of Fullbright Scholarships will be informed through email.
Other Info
Applications are invited in the following fields only:
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, sero-surveillance)); Public Policy; Sociology; Urban and Regional Planning (with emphasis on smart cities and waste management); Visual Arts; and Women’s and Gender Studies.
Affiliation
The applicant will be affiliated with one U.S. host institution. USIEF strongly recommends all applicants to identify institutions with which they wish to be affiliated and to correspond, in advance, with potential host institutions. If the applicant has secured a letter of invitation from a U.S. institution, they must include it as a part of the online application. Selected scholars will have opportunities to audit non-degree courses, conduct research, and gain practical work experience in suitable settings in the U.S.