Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships — Fellowship

The Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships support dissertation-related research by Indian scholars registered for a Ph.D. at an Indian institution. United States-India Educational Foundation awardees spend six to nine months at one U.S. host institution, where they conduct research and may audit non-degree courses or gain relevant practical experience.

The 2027–2028 competition focused on critical minerals and supply chains, defense and security, energy security, science and research collaboration, space cooperation, and technology and innovation. The application deadline for that cycle has passed.

Benefits & funding

J-1 visa support.
A monthly stipend and applicable allowances.
Round-trip economy-class air travel.
Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges coverage under U.S. Government guidelines.
Modest host-institution affiliation fees, if applicable.
No dependent allowance; USIEF states that the grant is not sufficient to support family members.

Eligibility

Applicants must be responsible Indian citizens and must not hold or be applying for U.S. permanent residence; U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents are ineligible. Indian citizens with active permanent-resident status in another country are also ineligible.
Applicants must not reside in the United States during the February 2026–July 2027 recruitment and placement cycle and must undertake to return to India after the fellowship.
Applicants must have registered for a Ph.D. at an Indian institution on or before November 1, 2025. The research must be essential to the dissertation, and the expected thesis submission date must be at least three months after the grant ends. Applicants who already hold a Ph.D. or are at the final thesis-submission stage are ineligible.
Eligible fields are geology, materials science, mining engineering, cybersecurity, aerospace engineering, robotics and autonomous systems, energy engineering, petroleum engineering, energy innovation and technology commercialization, bioengineering, artificial intelligence, semiconductor engineering, astrophysics, planetary science, space systems engineering, satellite communications, data science, quantum computing, and electrical and electronics engineering.
Applicants must demonstrate strong academic or professional achievement and sufficient English proficiency.
Employed applicants must obtain the required employer endorsement and confirmation of leave. Employees of India’s central or state governments are ineligible, while researchers, scientists, and academics at the listed government-funded research bodies, institutions, and universities may apply.
There is no age limit or age preference.

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Eligible nationalities
India
Education required
PhD Enrolled

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Application process

1
Create or use an account in the IIE application portal and select the 2027–2028 Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships award.
2
Complete the online application after reviewing the India-specific applicant instructions and checklist.
3
Upload the required materials, including the curriculum vitae, research objective, personal statement, FNDR Applicant Annexure, Ph.D. registration certificate, a writing sample of no more than 20 pages, and the employer endorsement when applicable.
4
Enter three recommenders; one recommendation must come from the Ph.D. supervisor and confirm the research topic and registration date.
5
Submit the complete application and ensure references are received by the deadline.

Program timeline

February 18, 2026
Applications began being considered for the 2027–2028 cycle.
Application and reference deadline.
July 1, 2026, 23:59:59 IST
Application review.
End of September 2026
Review outcomes sent to applicants.
Early October 2026
Shortlisted-candidate interviews.
Early November 2026
Semi-finalists notified, TOEFL taken, and recommended applications forwarded for approval and placement.
December 2026
Finalists notified of approval.
April 2027
Pre-departure orientation.
May 2027
Program begins.
August or September 2027