None

Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships (USA)

Table of Content

Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships
Benefits
Field of Study
Eligibility criteria
Application deadline

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) announces the opening of its annual competition for Fulbright-Nehru and other Fulbright fellowships. Funded by the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, such exchanges have helped bring the people of India and the United States closer together through opportunities that enrich fellows’ academic, research, teaching, and professional capacities.  Alumni of such exchange and scholarship programs have demonstrated strong leadership in their academic disciplines and professions.  Outstanding Indian students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

The fellowship will provide J-1 visa support, round-trip economy class air travel from fellow’s home city to the host institution in the U.S., funding for tuition and fees, living and related costs, and accident and sickness coverage per U.S. Government guidelines.*
The Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships provide no financial support for dependents.

* USIEF funding may not cover all costs and the fellow may need to supplement grant benefits with other resources.

Field of Study

Applications are invited in the following fields only:

Economics: The study of production, demand, and allocation of resources in society, economic trends, and effects of government economic policy on the economy. Subspecialties include development economics, international economics, macroeconomics, microeconomics, labor economics, agricultural economics, and public finance, among others.

Environmental Science/Studies: The study of the environment in all its complexities. Subspecialties include environmental toxicology, natural resource management, pollution prevention, environmental law, environmental engineering, and environmental policy analysis, among others.

Higher Education Administration: The study of all aspects of higher education administration including policy planning and management, student affairs, academic affairs, admissions and enrolment management, curriculum design, learning assessment, financial management, alumni and community relations, internationalization of higher education, quality assurance, and use of technology in higher education, among others.

International Affairs: The study of international relations with reference to foreign policy, conflict resolution, international security and strategic issues, international economic policy, environmental and energy policy, refugee and migration issues, human rights, and gender policy, among others.

International Legal Studies: The study of all aspects of international legal studies including business law, commercial and trade law, employment and labor law, environmental law, global health law, human rights, intellectual property rights and law, international organizations, securities and financial regulations, litigation law, and tax law, among others.

Journalism and Mass Communication: The study of all aspects of mass communication, including individual and convergent media platforms such as print, broadcast and new media. Sub-specialties include media management, and communications research and strategy. Subspecialties include media management, print journalism, online journalism, broadcast (radio, television, internet) journalism, and communications research and strategy among others.

Public Administration: The study of management as it relates to the government sector (local, state, federal) or organizations serving the public. Subspecialties include policy analysis, non-profit management, international development, public sector management, public finance, healthcare management, and city/urban development, among others.

Public Health: The study of all aspects of public health including biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, health law, bioethics and human rights, health policy and management, public health delivery systems, international health, and reproductive, maternal and child health, among others.

Urban and Regional Planning: The study of all aspects of urban and regional planning, including sustainable infrastructure, transportation policy, planning and improvements, water and sanitation, town and rural planning, equitability, public space programming and governance, land use, community visioning, urban resilience, housing and real estate development, and waste management, among others.

Women’s Studies/Gender Studies: The study of issues relevant to women, feminism, and gender including development, health, history, education, sexuality, law, and policy, among others.

Eligibility Criteria

Below is a detailed breakdown of the eligibility criteria for the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship 2024-25:

Applicants must be citizens of India. They should currently reside in India and have a permanent address in the country.
Bachelor’s Degree: Applicants should have completed a recognized Indian bachelor's degree with a minimum of 55% marks. This degree must be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. The eligibility varies based on the course and field of study, but typically, a 4-year undergraduate degree or a 3-year degree with additional qualifications such as a diploma is accepted.
Relevant Work Experience: Candidates must have at least three years of full-time professional work experience relevant to the proposed field of study. This experience should highlight their commitment to community service, leadership potential, and social impact.
While there is no specific age limit for applicants, the fellowship is ideally suited for young professionals, usually between 25 and 35 years of age. The focus is on identifying candidates who have a few years of experience and are looking to enhance their careers through further education.
Applicants should possess a track record of leadership and active involvement in community activities. They should have demonstrated their commitment to societal development through various initiatives, whether professional, academic, or voluntary.
Since the medium of instruction in U.S. universities is English, applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in the language.
Applicants who have received any other U.S. government-funded scholarships or fellowships in the past are not eligible for the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship.
Similarly, applicants cannot hold any other fellowships or grants during the tenure of the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship.
One of the key eligibility requirements is that applicants must demonstrate their intention to return to India and contribute to the country's development. After completing their studies, fellows are expected to bring back the knowledge and skills acquired to benefit their communities and the nation as a whole.

Application Deadline:

Timeline and Placement Process

May 15, 2024	Application Deadline
End June 2024	Review of applications
End August 2024	Interviews of short-listed candidates
End August 2024	USIEF notifies principal and alternate nominees. Nominees take tests (such as TOEFL and GRE)
October 2024	USIEF forwards applications of recommended candidates to the U.S. for J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) approval and placement
March/April 2025	USIEF notifies the finalists about the FFSB approval
May/June 2025	Pre-Departure Orientation
July/August 2025	Pre-academic training in the U.S. (if required)
August/September 2025	Degree program begins

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Scholarship at Uniplus Global to apply