Fulbright Scholarship India 2024: Eligibility, Last Date, Application Form & Process

The Council of International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) offers the prestigious Fulbright scholarship to candidates worldwide. The council has placed Fulbright commissions in many countries. The commission in India is called the United States-India Education Foundation (USIEF).

The aim is to provide scholarship opportunities for Indian students and enable their academic and professional growth. In this article, the readers will know how to get a Fulbright scholarship. The Fulbright scholarship last date 2024 is July 15th, 2024 (tentative).

Table of Contents

• List of Fulbright Scholarships
• How to Apply?
• Essential Documents
• Selection Process
• Important Dates
• Terms and Conditions
• Contact Details

Check Other Important Scholarships in India

State wise Scholarships

Discipline Level Scholarships

Category wise Scholarships

Class wise Scholarships

Course wise Scholarships

 List of Fulbright Scholarships 2023-24

The committee offers scholarships, fellowships, and awards in agriculture, arts, education, environment, humanities, public health, science, and technology under the Fulbright scholarship program.

The selected candidates will receive an amount to cover their tuition fees, cost of living, visa charges, airfare, and medical insurance. The list of Fulbright scholarships for 2024 and Fulbright fellowship programs is below.

• Fulbright Nehru Master's Fellowships
• Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships
• Fulbright Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships
• Fulbright Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
• Fulbright Nehru International Education Administrators Seminar
• Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship
• Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Programme
• Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Programme
• Fulbright Distinguished Awards in the Teaching Programme for International Teachers
• Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Programme 

Fulbright Nehru Master's Fellowships

The Indian students pursuing a master's program in arts and culture management (including heritage conservation and museum studies), economics, environmental science, higher education administration, international affairs, international legal studies, public administration, public health, urban and regional planning, and women's studies/gender studies at selected US colleges and universities can apply to this program.

The program will prefer highly motivated candidates who demonstrate strong leadership qualities. However, after completing the program, they should return to India and contribute to their local communities. The duration of the fellowship program is between one to two years. 

Eligibility Criteria

Fulbright Nehru master's fellowship is one of the popular Fulbright Nehru scholarships for Indian students. They should fulfill the following criteria to be eligible to apply:

• They should have completed an equivalent of a US bachelor's degree from a recognized university.
• The candidates should possess one of the following degrees:
• Four-year bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Full-time postgraduate diploma (if the undergraduate course is less than four years)
• They should have secured a minimum of 55% marks.
• Should have worked as a full-time paid employee and have at least three years of work experience in relevant sectors.
• Should have experience in leadership and community service.
• Should not have another degree from any university in the US.
• The candidates should obtain the employer's endorsement from the administrative authority related to the FN Masters Employer's endorsement form. 

Benefits

The candidates will receive the following rewards:

• The selected candidates will receive support while applying for the J-1 visa.
• The scholarship will cover the economy class airfare charges from the candidate's home city to the US institution.
• The provider grants funds for tuition fees and living costs.
• They also provide medical coverage as per the US guidelines (accidents and sickness coverage).

Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships

Candidates registered for a PhD at an Indian institution can apply for this scholarship. They should be Indian citizens; the fellowship lasts six to nine months. The scholarship allows the candidates to affiliate with one of the selected US institutions. However, if they have obtained a letter from an institution in the US, they should mention it in their online application.

This fellowship applies only to applicants at the pre-doctoral research level. Those with a Ph.D. degree or pursuing the final stage of a Ph.D. degree cannot apply for the fellowship program.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the fellowship programme are as follows:

• Only the Fulbright Nehru grant alumni can apply to the fellowship program.
• They must have registered to pursue their PhD at an Indian institution.
• They should be residing in India during the project.
• They should attach recommendation letters from the PhD supervisors in the online application form. The letters should mention the applicants' research, their need for fellowship, and the PhD registration date and topic.
• The candidates should submit their thesis at least three months after the last date of the Fulbright-Nehru grant. 
• They should follow the instructions mentioned in the employer's endorsement if employed. The candidates can download the employer's endorsement form from the USIEF website.
• The candidates should upload their published/presented paper or extracts of their master's/ M.Phil thesis while submitting the online application form.

Benefits

The candidates will receive the following:

• J-1 visa support
• Monthly stipend
• Accident and sickness medical coverage for exchange students
• Economy class air tickets
• Applicable allowances 
• Modest affiliation fees (if any)
• The selected fellows will get an opportunity to audit non-degree courses, conduct research and gain work experience.

Note: The fellowship grant will not be enough to support the family members. The dependents of the fellows will not receive any allowances.

Fulbright Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships

The Fulbright faculty development scholarship creates an opportunity for Indian faculty, researchers, and professionals to conduct teaching and research at a US institution. The candidates can get a chance to develop a curriculum and conduct workshops and seminars. However, the decision depends on the selected US institution. The duration of the fellowship is four to nine months.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria are:

• The candidates should have a PhD or equivalent published work.
• Candidates who do not teach should have a master's degree or published an equivalent paper in the relevant field.
• They should have five years of teaching or research experience in the relevant field.
• The candidates should upload a copy of their published report or article while applying for the fellowship.
• If the candidates are employed, they should obtain recommendation letters from the home institution. 

Benefits

The selected candidates will receive the following benefits:

• J-1 visa support
• Monthly stipend
• Medical coverage for accident and sickness for the exchange students as per the US government's guidelines
• Economic class air tickets (round-trip)
• A modest allowance for the candidate to settle-in
• Professional allowance

Note: Depending on the availability of funds, if a selected candidate is on an eight or nine-month grant, the commission will provide dependent allowance and international travel to the candidate's one accompanying dependent. The dependent should stay in the US for at least 80% of the grant period. 

Fulbright Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

The Indian faculty and researchers who have begun their research careers can strengthen their research capacities by applying for the Fulbright Nehru postdoctoral scholarship. The selected fellows will have access to the best resources in the related fields, enabling them to build relationships with the US faculty and institutions.

The duration of the program varies from eight to twenty-four months. While applying, the candidate should mention the time of the proposed project in the US. The committee will determine the program's period based on the candidate's duration in their Fulbright scholarship application form. 

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, the candidates should:

• Be an Indian citizen.
• Be proficient in the English language.
• Should hold a PhD or a DM degree within the last four years.
• Should upload the degree and provisional certificate on the online application.
• Should possess demonstrative evidence of their superior academics and professional achievements.
• Reputed journals should have published the applicant's work.
• Should upload their latest publication while applying for the fellowship.

Benefits

The benefits of the Fulbright Nehru Postdoctoral Research fellowships programme are:

• J-1 visa support and a monthly stipend
• Accident and sickness medical cover for exchange students 
• Economy air-tickets for candidates travelling from India to the US
• Settling-in allowance
• Professional allowance

Note: Depending on the availability of funds, if a selected candidate is on an eight or nine-month grant, the commission will provide dependent allowance and sponsor international travel to the candidate's accompanying dependent. However, the dependent should stay in the US for at least 80% of the grant period.

Fulbright Nehru International Education Administrators Seminar

The United States Indian Educational Foundation (USIEF) organizes seminars exclusively for Indian candidates with at least two years of international development and management experience at their respective institutions. The higher education administrators from Indian educational institutions will get an opportunity to learn about the United States' education system through the Fulbright Nehru International Education Administrators Seminar.

USIEF will select fourteen Indian administrators to attend the two-week workshop held in the United States. The selected administrators can learn about the US higher education system, their different types of institutions, curriculum development, student services, research collaborations, and faculty and student exchange programs.

Eligibility Criteria

The candidates should meet the following criteria:

• The candidates should hold mid- to senior-level college or university administrator positions, such as vice-chancellors, deans, department heads, and registrars.
• Should have a minimum of two years of experience.
• Should hold a high-level degree or should have succeeded in the professional front.
• Administrators who want to increase their faculty and students through international collaboration and exchange programs can apply to this seminar.

Benefits

The scholarship rewards are:

• J-1 visa support
• Accident and sickness medical cover for exchange students 
• Economy air-tickets for candidates travelling from India to the US
• Travel and lodging within the US
• The selected candidates cannot travel with their dependents to the seminar.

Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship

The USIEF provides the Fulbright-Kalam climate fellowship programme to students who are researching and identifying resources in India. The aim is to promote understanding between the two countries by sharing their knowledge and skills. The Fulbright Kalam scholarship intends to engage the US and Indian scientific and technical scholars in climate research and education.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicants should meet the following criteria:

• They should be Indian nationals.
• They should have an excellent academic background.
• The candidates should be proficient in English.
• They must submit an undertaking that they will return to India after completing the programme. 

• Doctoral research level

• The candidates should have conducted adequate research in the relevant field (especially identifying resources in India and the US).
• They should be pursuing a PhD degree from a recognised Indian institution. 

• Postdoctoral research level

• They should have completed the PhD degree within the last four years.

Scholarship Benefits

the benefits are as follows:

• J-1 support visa
• Medical coverage
• Airfare from India to the US (economy class)
• Monthly stipend
• Settling allowance
• Professional allowance

Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Programme

The USIEF provides the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program. The English teachers teaching at the college level who have just started their career, those in training to become teachers, or professionals in related fields (American studies, American/English literature) can apply to this program.

The selected candidates can teach Bengali, Hindi, or Urdu at select US campuses. It is a nine-month non-degree grant tentatively starting in August/September. 

Eligibility Criteria

The candidates should meet the below criteria:

• Should be Indian nationals.
• Candidates should be residing in India throughout the application and selection process.
• Should demonstrate maturity, integrity and professionalism.
• Must be fluent in the English language.
• Should have a minimum score of 79-80 in TOEFL (online).
• The candidates should have at least a master's degree in English language, English/American literature, American studies, linguistics, comparative literature and related fields.
• Should have an excellent record in academics.
• Candidates with teaching experience are preferred.

Note: Candidates who are applying for PR or are permanent residents of the US are not eligible to apply.

Benefits

The selected candidates' rewards are as follows:

• J-1 visa support
• Monthly stipend
• Medical coverage (accidents and sickness) for exchange students
• Travel support
• The selected US institute will offer tuition awards to support the coursework. 

Note: The programme will not provide dependents or spouses of the selected candidates with the J-2 visas

Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Programme

Senior secondary teachers in India can benefit from the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) program. It is conducted for six weeks in a selected university in the United States. Fulbright TEA is a non-degree and non-credit academic program. The selected teachers will be able to travel to the United States to enhance their teaching skills and develop their expertise. 

The TEA program provides teachers with academic seminars on new teaching methodologies, creating student-centered learning, lesson planning, and instructional technology training. After completing the program, the candidates will be eligible to train other teachers, collaborate on projects between their home schools and American schools, compete in small grant awards for essential teaching materials, and participate in other activities.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Be Indian citizens and should be residing in India.
• Should be a full-time senior teacher.
• Should be teaching class VI to class XII.
• Should have completed a minimum of five years of training in the following disciplines:
• English
• English as a foreign language (EFL)
• Social science
• Mathematics
• Science
• Special education
• They should be residing and teaching in one of the following states: Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
• Should have an undergraduate degree.
• Should reside in India at the time of application and selection.
• Should secure at least 450 in TOEFL or 61 in iBT TOEFL or an equivalent English exam.
• Should be committed to teaching after the completion of the programme.

Benefits

The scholarship rewards are as follows:

• J-1 visa support
• Pre-departure orientation for the candidate in India
• TEA will cover the academic programme fees 
• Lodging and meals
• Medical coverage (accident and sickness)
• If necessary, transportation facilities to the practicum school
• Daily allowances during the programme
• Baggage allowance
• Workshop in Washington DC
• The candidates can apply for alumni small grants

Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Programme for International Teachers

USIEF provides Fulbright Distinguished Awards in the Teaching program for school teachers. The program will bring around 47 teachers worldwide to the United States for a semester. It is a non-degree and non-credit professional development program. The selected teacher can pursue individual or group projects, take professional development courses, and share their expertise with teachers and students at select universities or local schools.

The candidates will be mentored and gain cultural enrichment throughout the program. The selected teachers can compete for small grant awards for essential teaching materials, offer other teachers training, and participate in other activities after returning to India.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, the candidates should:

• Be Indian citizens.
• Reside and teach-in on of the following states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal, Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• Have a graduate degree.
• Be a full-time teacher at the primary, middle, secondary or senior secondary level.
• Completed have five years of teaching experience.
• They should be a primary and secondary level; library media specialist, guidance counsellor, curriculum specialist, special education coordinator and administrator.
• They should spend at least 50% of their time with students. 
• Proficient in the English language.
• Should be committed to teaching even after the programme.

Note: The Ministry of Education officials, educational administrators, principals, university faculty, private English language tutors are not eligible to apply for the programme.

Benefits

The selected candidates will receive the following benefits:

• J-1 visa support
• Medical coverage
• Pre-departure orientation for the candidates in India
• Welcome orientation for the chosen candidates in Washington DC
• Lodging and meals
• The programme will cover the fees for the academic training programme
• Transportation facilities to the local school in the US
• Daily allowances during the programme

Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Programme

The USIEF provides the Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship program to train fellows in prevention research, epidemiology, treatments, and substance abuse policy. The program selects young, accomplished, and mid-career professionals for ten months and is a non-degree graduate study. The program aims to meet the requirements of policymakers, administrators, planners, government managers, and non-government organizations who commit to serving the public and the nation.

The program encourages qualified women and individuals from minority and underprivileged communities to apply. The program includes master's level academic courses, seminars, projects, field trips, and attending professional meetings and conferences. Therefore, the selected fellows will gain practical experience in the related fields.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria of the candidates are as follows:

• Should have a master's degree or a professional degree (minimum of four years duration).
• Should have a minimum of five years of professional experience in their related fields. 
• Demonstrate leadership qualities.
• Should hold a record of public service. 
• Should submit an undertaking that he/she will return to India after the fellowship.

Benefits

The selected fellows will receive the following:

• Monthly stipend
• The fellowship will cover the tuition fees
• Monthly maintenance allowance
• Medical coverage as per US government’s guidelines
• Books and supplies allowance
• Airfare tickets
• Travel facilities to attend the workshop in Washington DC
• professional activities allowances (such as field trips, professional visits and conferences)

Note: The fellowship will not provide any subsidies to the candidate's dependents, and the stipend will not be enough to support the family members

How to Apply for Fulbright Scholarships 2023-24?

The candidates can complete the application process for the different types of Fulbright scholarships by clicking the application links in the table below. The candidates can find all the details about the Fulbright scholarship application form on the official United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) website. The candidates can apply for the Fulbright Nehru scholarship 2024 programme by following these steps:

Step 1 - The candidates should click on the link given in the table below.

Step 2 - They should click on 'create an account'.

Step 3 - The applicants should fill in the details. 

Step 4 - After filling in all the details, they should click on 'continue'.

Step 5 - The candidates should enter the PIN sent to the registered email ID and birth date.

Step 6 -  Next, they should click on 'login'.

Step 7 - The applicants should change the password.

Step 8 - After changing the password, they should click on start new application.

Step 9 - Now, they should click on 'create application' on the pop-up page.

Step 10 - The candidates should read and agree to the terms and conditions by ticking the box at the bottom of the page.

Step 11 - They should click on 'continue'.

Step 12 - The candidates should fill in the details of each application page and click on continue.

Step 13 - The applicants should submit all the details regarding their personal information, country information, contact information, academic and professional information, language skills, test scores, etc.

Step 14 - They should review the Fulbright scholarships application form and ensure the details are accurate. 

Step 15 - After double-checking the application form, they should click on 'save'.

Fulbright Scholarship Application Links

The interested candidates can refer to the table below to apply for any Fulbright scholarship India.

Particulars	Links
Fulbright Nehru Master’s Fellowships	Click here
Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships	Click here
Fulbright Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships	Click here
Fulbright Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships	Click here
Fulbright Nehru International Education Administrators Seminar	Click here
Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship	N/A
Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant programme	Click here
Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement programme	Click here
Fulbright Distinguished Awards in the Teaching programme for International Teachers	Click here
Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship programme	Download the application form from the USIEF website and mail it to humphrey@usief.org.in along with enclosures.

Fulbright Scholarship Important Documents

Some of the essential documents to be submitted while applying for the Fulbright scholarships are:

• Transcripts' copies
• Marks sheets
• Recommendation letters from the candidate's home institution
• FNDR applicant annexure
• FNDR employer's endorsement form

Fulbright Scholarship Selection Process 2023-24

The applicants are shortlisted based on specific eligibility criteria. The shortlisted candidates should attend a face-to-face interview with the national selection committee at the USIEF office in New Delhi. The committee will make the final decisions. The candidates will be selected based on the following criteria:

• The candidate's academic and professional competence
• Their need to research in the US
• Their communication skills
• Commitment towards their community and nation
• Their merit of the proposed Fulbright project
• Their leadership qualities, purpose, maturity, motivation and adaptability to a different culture
• Their ability to contribute as a cultural ambassador beyond their specific field

Fulbright Scholarship Important Dates

The candidates can refer to the table below for Fulbright scholarships application deadlines:

Particulars	Last Date to Apply (tentative)
Fulbright Nehru Master's Fellowships	May 2024
Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships	July 2024
Fulbright Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships	July 2024
Fulbright Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships	July 2024
Fulbright Nehru International Education Administrators Seminar	July 2024
Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship	July 2024
Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant programme	August 2024
Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement programme	March 2024
Fulbright Distinguished Awards in the Teaching Programme for International Teachers	March 2024
Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship programme	NA

Fulbright Scholarship Terms and Conditions 2023-24

The candidates should meet all the eligibility criteria while applying for the Fulbright scholarships. Some of the terms and conditions that should be kept in mind while applying for the scholarships are:

• The employed candidates should submit the employer's endorsement or recommendation letters in the prescribed manner. The employer should mention that the candidate's leave for the scholarship duration is approved.
• If required, the candidates should send recommendation letters from two or three referees before the application's last date. 
• The candidates applying for Fulbright-Nehru's master's fellowship need not apply to the US host institutions themselves. The Fulbright scholarship program will apply to different institutions on their behalf.
• The candidate can apply for only one Fulbright Nehru scholarship.
• Extensions of visas or transfer of visa sponsorships are not allowed.
• There is no age limit to apply for Fulbright scholarships.
• The period of the Fulbright scholarship programs will range from two weeks to twenty-four weeks.

Fulbright Scholarship Contact Details

The contact details of the Fulbright scholarship programmes are:

Particulars	Links
Fulbright Nehru Master’s Fellowships	masters@usief.org.in
Fulbright Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships	dr@usief.org.in
Fulbright Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships	postdoc@usief.org.in
Fulbright Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships	ape@usief.org.in
Fulbright Nehru International Education Administrators Seminar	ieasdoc@usief.org.in
Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship	climate@usief.org.in
Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant programme	ip@usief.org.in
Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement programme	ip@usief.org.in
Fulbright Distinguished Awards in the Teaching programme for International Teachers	ip@usief.org.in
Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship programme	humphrey@usief.org.in

For more details, visit our Scholarships 2024 Directory.