Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships (2027-2028)
USIEF (United States-India Educational Foundation)
Application deadline
1 Jul 2026
Calculating…
Overview
The Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships are offered by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF). They let Indian Ph.D. students travel to the United States to do research that is essential to their doctoral thesis. Selected scholars can also audit non-degree courses at U.S. universities and gain practical work experience there.
The fellowship runs for six to nine months. It provides J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges, round-trip economy class air travel, applicable allowances and modest affiliation fees. USIEF does not publish a fixed rupee figure. No allowances are given for dependants, and the grant is not enough to support family members.
You must be an Indian citizen registered for a Ph.D. at an Indian institution on or before November 1, 2025, and your expected thesis submission date must be at least three months after the grant ends. People who already hold a Ph.D., or who are at the final stage of thesis submission, are not considered. Employees of the Government of India and of State Governments are not eligible, but researchers from bodies such as CSIR, ICAR, DRDO, ISRO, ICMR, BARC, IISc and the IITs are eligible.
Research must fall in one of six priority areas, including energy security, space cooperation and technology and innovation. Applications are made online at the IIE portal. The deadline for the 2027-2028 cycle was July 1, 2026, so this cycle is now closed. Watch the USIEF page for the next round.
At a glance
| Who can apply | PhD |
|---|---|
| Streams | Critical Minerals and Supply Chains (Geology, Materials Science, Mining Engineering), Defense and Security (Cybersecurity, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics and Autonomous Systems), Energy Security (Energy Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Energy Innovation and Technology Commercialization), Science and Research Collaboration (Bioengineering, Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductor Engineering), Space Cooperation (Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Space Systems Engineering, Satellite Communications), Technology and Innovation (Data Science, Quantum Computing, Electrical and Electronics Engineering) |
| Category | All |
| Age | — |
| Income limit | — |
| Gender | — |
| States | All India |
| Benefit / amount | No fixed rupee amount is published. The fellowship provides J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, an Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges, round-trip economy class air travel, applicable allowances and modest affiliation fees. No support is given for dependents. |
| Duration | Six to nine months |
| Renewable | No |
| Last date | 1 Jul 2026 |
| Opened | — |
Documents you'll need
- Curriculum vitae / resume (maximum 4 pages)
- Study / research objectives
- Personal statement
- Scanned mark sheets and diploma / degree certificates
- Ph.D. registration certificate
- Writing sample - published or presented paper, or extracts from the Master's / M.Phil. thesis (not exceeding 20 pages)
- Three reference letters, one of which must be from the Ph.D. supervisor
- Letter(s) of invitation from the U.S. host institution (if secured)
- FNDR Employer's Endorsement Form (if employed)
- FNDR Applicant Annexure
How you're selected
Applications are reviewed in end September 2026. USIEF informs applicants of the review outcome in early October 2026. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed in early November 2026. Semi-finalists are notified in December 2026 and take the TOEFL. USIEF then forwards recommended applications to the U.S. for J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) approval and placement. Finalists are notified about FFSB approval in April 2027, attend a Pre-Departure Orientation in May 2027, and the program begins in August/September 2027.
FAQs
Who can apply? Indian citizens who are registered for a Ph.D. at an Indian institution on or before November 1, 2025. Your expected thesis submission date must be at least three months after the fellowship ends. Applicants who already have a Ph.D., or who are at the final stage of thesis submission, will not be considered.
Who is not eligible? Employees of the Government of India and of Indian State Governments, including IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS and allied services and staff of central and state ministries. Researchers and academics from CSIR, ICAR, ICGEB, DRDO, ISRO, ICMR, DBT institutions, DST laboratories, BARC, IISc and the IITs are eligible. You also cannot be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
How much money do I get? USIEF does not publish a fixed amount. The fellowship gives J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges, round-trip economy class air travel, applicable allowances and modest affiliation fees. There is no money for dependants.
How long is the fellowship? Six to nine months.
What was the last date? The deadline for the 2027-2028 cycle was July 1, 2026, 23:59:59 hrs (IST). That round is closed. For the next cycle, check the official USIEF notification.
How do I apply? Apply online at https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2027 when a cycle is open. Read the FNDR Applicant Instructions first, and upload the FNDR Applicant Annexure and, if you are employed, the FNDR Employer's Endorsement Form. Incomplete applications are rejected.
Can I renew or extend it? No. USIEF states that extensions and transfer of visa sponsorship will not be permitted. You may also apply for only one Fulbright-Nehru fellowship category in a competition cycle.