- Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship
- Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship
- Fulbright Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships
Whether a candidate is a fresh graduate, a postgraduate or a passionate researcher, the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship is designed to extend support to students. Let us explore the details on eligibility, awards, application timeline, and the stepwise application process for the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship.
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship – Eligibility Requirements
In order to become eligible for the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship, an applicant must fulfil the following eligibility criteria. Let us consider these one by one.
Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships 2026-27: Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be an Indian national.
- They must be a registered PhD scholar in an Indian institution on or before 1st November 2024.
- The candidate should have done adequate research in the relevant field, especially in the identification of resources in India.
- Applicants must have a strong academic record as evidenced by the transcripts and recommendations.
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships 2026-27: Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must have completed an equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor’s degree from a recognised Indian university with at least 55% marks.
- They must possess a four-year Bachelor’s degree or have completed a Master’s degree, or, have a full-time postgraduate diploma from a recognised Indian institution, if the Bachelor’s degree is of less than four years duration.
- The candidate must have at least three years of full-time (paid) professional work experience relevant to the proposed field of study.
- Applicants must have earned experience in leadership and community service.
- They should not have obtained another degree from a U.S. university or be enrolled in a U.S. degree program.
Details – Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships 2026-27
Fulbright Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships 2026-27: Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be a national of India or the U.S.
- They must have obtained a PhD degree with at least five years of relevant teaching, research, and professional experience (for faculty/researchers).
- Candidates must have earned their Master’s degree with at least five years of relevant experience (for professionals outside academe).
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship – Benefits
The applicants will receive the following benefits under the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship program.
Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships 2026-27: Awards
- A monthly stipend
- J-1 visa support
- Accident and sickness program for exchanges as per U.S. government guidelines
- Round-trip economy class airfare
- Applicable allowances and modest affiliation fees, if any
Details: Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships 2026-27
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships 2026-27: Awards
- J-1 visa support
- Round-trip economy class air travel from the fellow’s home city to the host institution in the U.S.
- Funding for tuition, living and related costs
- Accident and sickness coverage as per the U.S. government guidelines
Fulbright Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships 2026-27: Awards
- J-1 Visa support
- A monthly stipend
- Accident and program exchanges as per the U.S. government guidelines
- Round-trip economic class travel (two round-trip economy class air tickets)
- A modest settling-in allowance
- A professional allowance
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship – Required Documentation
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume
- Academic degree and marksheets
- Language test scores
- Letter of invitation
- Passport
- FNDR annexure form
- FNDR endorsement form
- Study/research objective
- Personal statement
- Portfolio, if applicable
- Scanned copies of your marksheets or transcripts and diploma/degree certificates
- Scanned copies of proof of work/professional experience
- Three reference letters
- Writing sample (not exceeding 20 pages)
- A scanned copy of the PhD registration certificate
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship – Application Timeline
The last date to apply for Fulbright Nehru fellowships is mentioned below:
- Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship: May 14, 2025
- Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship: July 15, 2025
- Fulbright Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship: July 01, 2025
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship – Terms and Conditions
- The candidates can apply for only 1 Fulbright-Nehru fellowship category during a competition cycle.
- Flex grantees are not eligible for dependent benefits. Plagiarism in the application will lead to disqualification.
- Unless otherwise specified, Fulbright-Nehru applications are to be submitted online.
- Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
- Extensions and transfers of visa sponsorship will not be permitted.
- The applicants will be affiliated with one of the U.S. host institutions for their grant. USIEF strongly recommends that all applicants identify institutions with which they wish to be affiliated and to correspond in advance.
- If the applicants have secured a letter of invitation from a U.S. institution, they need to include it as part of their online application. USIEF will consider up to seven Flex Grants.
- A maximum of two round-trip economy class air tickets for the grantee only will be provided (one ticket per trip).
- The minimum length of the total grant is four months, and the maximum is six months.
- The grant must have two segments.
- The minimum length for any grant segment is one month, and the maximum is three months.
- Applicants may propose for a grant in one-month segment only once.
- Indian academics and professionals contribute to the internationalisation of the curriculum at their U.S. host institutions and the understanding of recent developments not just in India but globally.
- The recipient will be affiliated as a visiting scholar at the U.S. institution and will teach courses individually or to a team.
- The applicant should upload a recent significant publication (copy of paper/article) in the online application.
- If the applicants are employed, they must follow the instructions carefully regarding the employer’s endorsement. The employer must indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period. The applicant must obtain the endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority as a Letter of Support from the home institution.
- Not more than 25 per cent of the total Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Awards will be considered for the Flex option.
Also Read: Fellowships in India – Complete List, Eligibility, Application Process and Awards
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship – Application Process
The eligible candidates can apply for the fellowship by following the steps.
Step 1: Visit the official website of the United States-India Educational Foundation
Step 2: Scroll down and click on the ‘Fellowships for Indian Citizens’ tab.
Step 3: Click on the ‘Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships’ on the left side of the page.
Step 4: Choose the fellowship you want to apply for.
Step 5: Now, navigate to the ‘Application Process’ and click on the first link.
Step 6: For first-time users, click on the ‘Create an Account’ link, whereas registered users can click on ‘Login’ option.
Step 7: To register an account, enter an email address, first and last name, and date of birth and click on the ‘Continue’ tab.
Step 8: Enter the PIN received through email to activate the account and create a password to complete the process.
Step 9: After successfully creating the account, fill in the required information step-by-step and upload the necessary documents in PDF format as required.
(Note: Applicants who already have an account can log in using valid credentials.)
Step 10: Fill in the grant and additional information, and submit the form.
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship – Contact Details
Address: Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road, New Delhi 110 001
Phone Number: +91-11-4209-0909/11-2332-8944
Email ID: info@usief.org.in, ffsp@usief.org.in, masters@usief.org.in, fvsp@usief.org.in
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship – FAQs
What is the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship?
It's one of India’s most prestigious fellowships for pursuing higher studies, research, teaching, and professional development in the U.S.
Who can apply for the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship?
Indian citizens with a strong academic/professional background, proven leadership skills, and relevant work experience. Exact criteria vary by fellowship category.
Which fields of study are supported under the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship program?
Supported fields include public health, education, environmental science, arts and culture, international affairs, and more, based on the fellowship type.
Do I need to take the GRE or TOEFL?
Yes, for some categories, standardized test scores like GRE and TOEFL are mandatory.
What are the benefits covered under the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship program?
It typically covers tuition, airfare, living expenses, and health insurance. Benefits may vary by fellowship type.
What is the duration of the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship program?
Duration varies by category—Master’s fellowships last 1–2 years, while research fellowships run for 4 to 9 months.
Who is the provider of Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship in India?
The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State.
What is the application timeline for Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships?
Key deadlines are: Master’s – May 14, 2025; Doctoral Research – July 15, 2025; Academic and Professional Excellence – July 01, 2025.
Which organisation administers the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship program for Indian students?
The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF).
What is the minimum professional work experience required for applicants to the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship?
At least 3 years of full-time paid professional work experience is required.
Can an Indian PhD student who registered after 1st November 2024 apply for the Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship 2026-27?
No. Eligibility requires registration on or before 1st November 2024.
What is the key eligibility difference between the Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship for faculty versus non-academic professionals?
Faculty and researchers need a PhD and 5 years of experience, while non-academic professionals must have a Master's degree and 5 years of relevant experience.