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The Fulbright Scholarships 2026–27 program is one of the world's most celebrated—and prestigious,international academic exchange programs. The Fulbright Program is funded by the U.S. government and offers a total of more than 9,000 merit-based scholarships annually to students, researchers, educators, artists, and professionals in over 160 countries to pursue academic study, conduct research, teach, and exchange experiences.
Scholarship Registration & Login Portal Available Now
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 to promote understanding and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The program has grown ever since, through a vast global network of partnerships including over 1,000 governments, universities, and institutions around the world instead of just the United States.
Annually, the Fulbright Program provides funding for:
- Almost 4,000 international students
- Close to 900 visiting scholars
- Several hundred educators and working professionals
- With a total of over 400,000 participants since its founding, Fulbright Scholarships continue to serve as a vibrant vehicle for academic exchange, global research collaboration, and cultural diplomacy.
Fulbright Scholarships 2026–27: Key Fellowship Opportunities for Indian Citizens
The Fulbright Program in India is administered by the United States–India Educational Foundation (USIEF), and is one of the largest in the world, having over 350 fellowships every year.
USIEF administers a variety of Fulbright opportunities for Indian citizens, including:
- Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships: Fully funded scholarships that allow Indian students to study towards postgraduate degrees in the U.S.
- Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships: Support for Indian Ph.D. scholars to conduct a part of their research in one of the U.S. institutions.
- Fulbright-Nehru Academic & Professional Excellence Fellowships: Grants to Indian faculty, researchers, professionals to teach and research in the U.S.
- Postdoctoral Fellowships: Opportunities available for early-career Indian researchers to update their knowledge and competencies and build partnerships abroad.
- Professional and Teacher Development Programs: Short-term fellowships for mid-career professionals and educators to experience the one of a kind U.S. education system and strengthen their leadership skills.
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships 2026–27: Eligibility, Fields of Study & Deadline
The Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships 2026–27 are esteemed U.S.-India exchange awards for enterprising professionals with substantial leadership potential. Indian students may undertake a resultfully funded two-year Master's degree at premier U.S. universities through these fellowships.
Eligibility
- Must have a degree equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor's degree.
- Minimum of three years of full-time job experience required.
- Must have a strong commitment to return to India and make a contribution to her development.
Applicants must express interest in pursuing a Master's in one of the following topics:
- Economics
- Environmental Science/Studies
- Higher Education Administration
- International Legal Studies
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Public Health
- Sustainability/Sustainable Development
- Urban and Regional Planning
Deadline for Application: May 14, 2025
Benefits and Financial Coverage
Key Benefits associated with the Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships include:
- J-1 Visa sponsorship: The fellow will receive full sponsorship for the visa required to study in the U.S
- Airfare: Round-trip economy airfare from the fellow's home city in India to the host university in the United States.
- Tuition and living costs: Full funding for tuition, academic fees and a living stipend and other living related costs.
- Health insurance: Accident and sickness coverage per U.S. Government regulations.
Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships 2026–27: Research Support in the U.S. for Indian PhD Candidates
The Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships 2026–27 provides Indian doctoral scholars with an opportunity to carry out part of their research at American higher education institutions, which are recognized as some of the best globally. This prestigious fellowship does not only support international academic exchange; it fosters collaborative research in other countries. Students will also have the chance to audit courses, which are not eligible to use for a degree. For students selected to be fellows, they will be working with experienced and knowledgeable faculty in the U.S. as they pursue their research.
Eligibility Process:
- Must be enrolled in a PhD program at an Indian university as of November 1, 2024.
- Must have a strong academic record and demonstrate past research capabilities in their respective subjects.
- Only available for pre-doctoral research; no fellowships will be awarded to students who have completed their PhD or are in the process of submitting their thesis.
- There are no awards for government employees of the Government of India or State Governments.
Required Documents:
- A recommendation letter from current PhD supervisor, with the following clearly illustrated:
- Date (when registered) of PhD programme;
- a brief description of research topic;
- justification of why PhD candidate should be a fellow;
- Research sample: published/presented academic paper, or (relevant) part of Master's or M.Phil thesis.
(Note: All documents must be submitted within 20 pages)
Application closing date: July 15, 2025
Students that are interested, and would like to apply, are encouraged to visit the official Fulbright India website for details and guidelines on how to apply.
Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships 2026–27: Develop Your Research in the U.S.
The Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships support early-stage Indian faculty and researchers. This program affords fellows the opportunity to access world-class research infrastructure in the U.S., work within their area of expertise, and create long-term partnerships with U.S. universities and scholars.
- Deadline to apply: July 15, 2025
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships 2026–27, applicants must meet the following eligibility conditions:
Fields of Study Eligible for Funding
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Education Policy & Planning
- History
- Language, Literature & Linguistics
- Performing Arts
- Political Science (including International Security & Strategic Studies)
- Psychology
- Public Policy
- Sociology
- Urban and Regional Planning (intelligent cities, waste management)
- Visual Arts
Fellowship Benefits
Explore the various advantages and support provided through the fellowship program:
How to Start an Application for the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship Programmes 2026 - 27
Interested candidates will need to take the following steps to apply for the 2026 - 27 Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship Programmes:
Steps to Complete an Application
- Registration
- Go to the IIE online application portal.
- On the first page, click on "Create an account."
- Basic Information
- Fill in the following information: email address, first name, last name, and date of birth (drop down).
- Click on "Continue."
Important Note:
- Use your name as it appears (or will appear) on your passport.
- If you don’t have a last name, enter FNU (which means First Name Unknown).
- Enter a valid email ID that you will be able to access for at least 2 years after application.
- Email Confirmation and Password
- Check your email for a temporary PIN sent from Fulbright@iie.org.
- Use the PIN to login and create your password.
Application Note
- Login and start your application:
- Using your email ID and password, login.
- Click on "Start New Application" and follow the on- screen instructions.
