Q. If the medium of instruction in my institution was other than English, am I still eligible for the program?
A. Yes, you are eligible. However, you should be able to converse, read and write in English given that the medium of instruction at the YIF is English.
Q. What skills, background, or technical experience do I need to be a Young India Fellow?
A. No specific skill, background or technical experience is necessary to be eligible for the Fellowship. The selection committee looks for consistent decent academic performance by an applicant. It also looks for activities carried out by the applicants during school and college, which showcases their excellence at sports, performing or fine arts, science and technology or commitment to social service and helping others. We look for the individual’s ability to work well in a collaborative environment, aptitude for leadership, good communication skills, humility and adaptability.
Q. Does the entire application need to be completed within one session?
A. No. You can complete the online application in multiple sessions and have the option to save parts of the application as you proceed.
Q. What kind of training/internship would I be exposed to?
A. You will be working on a project based on your liking and background in groups of 3-4 Fellows. The Experiential Learning Module at the YIF complements the academic work with real work experience. The ELM work is supported by a team of coaches who provide essential guidance on gaining experience in research and fieldwork or the development sector; structuring business problems, data-analysis and presentations and training you for interests that lie outside of your expertise. Fellows undertake an eight-month-long engagement with an organisation after completing the first two terms of the programme.
Q. Who will be my mentors?
A. The Fellows’ mentors are pioneers and leaders in their fields, who have created new organisations, led multi-national companies as well as reputed academic institutions, or have triggered new ways of thinking. They come from diverse sectors like media, consulting, non-profit, banking, IT etc. N. R. Narayana Murthy, Arunabha Ghosh, Samir Kuckreja, Sagarika Ghose, Adil Zainulbhai, Anita Manwani and Harsh Srivastava are few among the list.
Q. Are there opportunities to be placed as soon as the course finishes?
A. Yes, there are multiple opportunities for every Fellow. However, we do not encourage you to have placements as your prime focus.
Q. How are Fellows’ placements decided?
A. The YIF programme enjoys the support of reputed companies and associations, and of mentors, donors and institutions. It will be an invaluable opportunity to forge relationships for the future and widen your frames of reference. For the Young India Fellow who aspires to a career that is off the beaten track, the Fellowship is committed to helping them build that career. No matter what you wish to do, the Young India Fellowship aspires to be an invaluable launch-pad.
Q. Can I work while the programme is going on?
A. No. You cannot be a full-time employee during the one year course of the programme. We do not encourage working even part-time while you are with us as your schedule with us will be very hectic.
