Fulbright Program Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

11379-IN

Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Awards (All Disciplines)

India

South and Central Asia

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Award Details

Grant Activity

For research or teaching, or a combination of teaching and research activities. Teaching can include co-teaching, guest lectures, workshops, seminars. Depending on the department, it is likely that the grantee will also work with faculty on curriculum and program development. Applicant may determine percentage of the grant dedicated to each activity and should define this clearly in the project abstract/summary and the project statement. Opportunities for guest lectures at other universities may also be available.

In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars will be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities‎.

Grant Length

Four to nine months; Flex grants: 4-6 months

Grant Dates

Grants may begin any time after July 1, 2021. Grants must begin by March 31, 2022.

Locations

Affiliations are available throughout India except for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition to universities and colleges, affiliations with think tanks, nongovernmental organizations and research centers will be considered.

Applicant is encouraged to indicate affiliation preference and secure an invitation letter from an institution when possible. If the applicant does not have a preferred host institution, USIEF will be happy to assist with identifying an appropriate one. Affiliations will be finalized by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) after the grantee is selected. USIEF reserves the right to change the affiliation if the one indicated in the application is unsuitable for any reason.

Flex Option

Yes

Flex Description

The Flex Award is designed for scholars who require multiple visits to the host country. This option allows grants to be conducted over short segments. Interested applicants should clearly indicate plans for Flex in their project statement, including a project timeline.

Flex grant parameters:

Minimum length of the total grant is four months and the maximum is six months
Minimum length for any grant segment is one month and the maximum is five months
Two grant segments may be spread over one or two consecutive years
Flex grant activity must be completed by August 31, 2023
Applicants should indicate in their project proposals how they intend to engage with the host institution and academic community beyond their research project

Discipline Type

Applications are sought in all disciplines

Special Features

South and Central Asia Fulbright Regional Travel Grant

During their grant period, Fulbright Scholars in the South and Central Asia (SCA) region may apply for a regional travel grant to engage in a variety of activities at academic institutions and non-profit organizations in eligible SCA countries (India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Republic of the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). Activities that U.S Scholars may engage in include: faculty and student lectures, graduate or faculty seminars, conferences, curriculum development, public lectures, panel presentations, needs assessment, or some combination thereof. Scholars in the arts may be invited to give master classes or recitals, participate in exhibitions or workshops, or consult with cultural institutions. Activities may not include research. This grant will cover travel to and from the destination and lodging may be offered by the hosting institution. Scholars may only apply for this grant once in country on their Fulbright grant. As funds are limited, scholars are limited to one such travel grant. Flex scholars are not eligible for this award.

South and Central Asia Fulbright Midyear Conference

With funding provided by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the U.S.-India Educational Foundation (the Fulbright Commission in India) invites eligible Fulbright Scholars in the South and Central Asia region to attend the annual South and Central Asia Fulbright Midyear Conference in India (usually held in February or March). The conference is an opportunity for current Fulbright U.S. Scholars who are on their Fulbright grants in the SCA region at the time of the conference to gather to discuss each other’s work and educational exchange issues and to invite suggestions for the future development and enhancement of the Fulbright Program. Financial assistance to attend the conference is provided as an additional Fulbright grant benefit.

Award Requirements

Application Requirements

Invitation Requirement

A letter of invitation is optional

Invitation Requirement Additional Information

Applicants are encouraged to identify appropriate host institutions for their projects. In the event that the applicant doesn’t have a preferred host institution, USIEF will be happy to assist. For suggested host institutions, please contact Priyanjana Ghosh, Senior Program Officer: Priyanjana@usief.org.in.
Applicants who have been in touch with potential host institutions should include any correspondence in the application, such as letters of invitation or expressions of interest.
Appropriate placements will be finalized for selectees by USIEF.
Applicants who do not indicate a preference for a host institution (especially those applying for teaching grants) and are open to an affiliation at an institution outside major metropolitan areas are encouraged to indicate this in their applications.

According to government of India guidelines, each scholar will be officially affiliated with a recognized Indian university/institution for their project and will be guided or assisted by an academic supervisor. Therefore, USIEF will confirm final affiliations for candidates awarded Fulbright-Nehru grants. This is part of the official clearance and visa process.

Language Proficiency Requirements

None, English is sufficient

Additional Language Requirement

All teaching will be in English; additional language proficiency is not required.

For research, basic knowledge of a local language in the location of research can be an advantage; applicants are not required to submit a language proficiency evaluation.

Applicant Profile

Additional Qualification Information

Awards are open to practicing professionals and faculty of any academic rank. Early career academics are encouraged to apply.
Community college faculty members are eligible for affiliation with undergraduate colleges and are encouraged to apply.
Applicants without significant experience in India are encouraged to apply, as are India specialists.
Scholars who can contribute new methods of pedagogy, specifically interactive methods, group work and project-based learning are encouraged to apply.
Scholars may be placed at institutions with varying academic/administrative arrangements; undergraduate colleges often make optimum use of visiting scholars.

Additional Information

Additional Comments

Archaeological Research:

Applicants must clearly state in their proposals whether they will need to visit excavation sites. Selected candidates in this field will be required to fill out a form that USIEF will submit to the government of India for obtaining special clearance from the Archaeological Survey of India.

Archival Research:

Applicants should clearly state in their proposals whether they will need to consult records and/or papers in the National Archives, New Delhi or in state archives. USIEF will obtain the necessary letter from the U.S. Embassy, which will be required for a scholar’s entry into the archives.

Helpful Links

U.S.-India Educational Foundation

USIEF encourages prospective applicants to contact current and former grantees about participating in the Fulbright Scholar Program, and invites you to read their bios.For more information on applying to India, including alumni perspectives, please view our webinars on Fulbright Opportunities in India.

Stipend & Benefits

Stipend

$4,000 per month. Additional living allowance of $200 per month per dependent, up to a maximum of three dependents who accompany the grantee for at least 80 percent of the grant period. Support in arranging housing will be provided by USIEF and the host institution.

Estimated Travel and Relocation Allowance

• Round-trip international travel for grantee. Travel for up to two accompanying dependents is also provided as long as the dependents accompany the grantee for at least 80% of actual grant duration in India.

• One-time baggage allowance of $350 for grants up to four months and $600 for grants longer than four months. The allowance is paid at the end of the grant period upon submission of final reports to USIEF and IIE/CIES.

Estimated Book and Research Allowance

A one-time teaching/research allowance of up to $750 for grants of six months or less and up to $1,000 for grants longer than six months, provided on a reimbursable basis for specific allowable expenses.

Dependent Tuition Allowance

Up to $5,000 per child or $10,000 per family for accompanying dependent children in grades K-12 on reimbursement basis. Tuition assistance is not available for scholars with Flex grants.

Special Award Benefits

For Flex (only under Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Awards), grantees will receive:

• A maximum of two round-trip tickets for the grantee only;

• Dependents are not eligible for travel benefits

• Additional Dependent allowance of $200 per month per dependent, up to maximum of two dependents who accompany the grantee for at least 80 percent of the grant period.

• Dependents are not eligible for tuition assistance.

One time baggage allowance of $350 paid at the end of the grant upon submission of final reports to USIEF and IIE/CIES.

Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the 2021-2022 academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.

Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.

Country/Area Overview

Summary

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), the Fulbright Commission in India, offers more than 54 Fulbright U.S. Scholar grants across three award categories for the 2021-22 academic year. The Fulbright-Nehru Program offers the largest number of scholar grants worldwide.

Overview

India is the world’s largest democracy, with a vibrant and growing economy, rich history, kaleidoscopic diversity, and an enormous appetite for education. Its education system is among the largest and continues to expand at a rapid pace. India attracts faculty and students to study, teach and conduct research, its expertise extending beyond the technical and business fields to nearly all academic disciplines.

India’s education priorities include increasing access and equity and improving the quality of teaching and research. The Indian higher education system follows the British model, and all instruction is in English. The system is comprised of universities and university-level institutions, colleges, and diploma-awarding institutions (e.g., polytechnics and specialist institutes). Institutions are also categorized by funding sources: central government, state government and private. Undergraduate admission is highly competitive and is exam-based for most disciplines and institutions. For arts, commerce, and science the bachelor’s degree program is three years in duration; for bachelor’s programs in engineering and technology, the degrees are four years in duration. Master’s degrees are typically two-year programs. More information about the Indian system of higher education.

The expansion of the Fulbright Program in India has been an important development. The government of India became an equal partner in the financial support of the Fulbright Program in 2008, providing significant resources to increase the number of grants and renaming it to the Fulbright-Nehru Program. USIEF administers the Fulbright-Nehru U.S. Scholar Program, providing in-country support for grantees through its five offices (New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai).

The Fulbright-Nehru Program represents the diversity of American and Indian academia. Applications are welcome from faculty, researchers and professionals, including scholars in the early stages of their careers.

The goal of the Fulbright Program in India is to ensure scholars have a deeply enriching and productive experience, academically and culturally, promoting mutual understanding between countries.

The academic year in India generally runs from July to April. Some institutions have adopted the semester system and others follow the traditional academic session with grading based on end-of-year examinations.

Fulbright-Nehru U.S. scholars are not permitted to travel to the Union Territory of Jammu or Kashmir.

All grantees receive an in-country briefing upon arrival in India. The Fulbright Commission in India pays careful attention to the safety of grantees, including those with families: spouses and children are welcome.

Application Deadline

Closed

Activity

Professional Project

Professional Project/Research

Professional Project/Teaching

Research

Teaching

Teaching/Research

Degree Requirements

Ph.D. (or other terminal degree) not required

Candidate Profile

Professionals

Academics, all levels including early career

Number of Grants

Up To 42

Program Staff

Michelle Bolourchi

Outreach and Recruitment Specialist

Phone:

202-326-7753

Email:

southcentralasia@iie.org

Sarah Causer

For India IEA

Phone:

202-686-6232

Email:

IEA@iie.org

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