- The Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships are designed for highly motivated individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities, have completed the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree, have at least three years professional work experience, and are committed to return and contribute to their communities in India.
- These fellowships are awarded for up to two years to pursue a master’s degree at U.S. colleges and universities.
- Post-nomination process:
- Placement of successful candidates is done by the Institute of International Education (IIE), New York. Recommended applicants are not required to apply to U.S. institutions on their own. IIE/Fulbright Program will apply to four different institutions on their behalf, taking into consideration the candidates’ preferred institutions and the candidates’ competitiveness. If a recommended candidate has previously applied to U.S. institutions and has requested a deferral from the institution, the candidate must notify USIEF immediately.
About
Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships
Degree Masters
Offered By Government
Type External
Amount ₹0
Deadline NA
Deadline Type NA
Last updated September 15, 2025
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Who Can Apply for Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships
- Must have completed an equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from a recognized Indian university with at least 55% marks. Applicants must either possess a four-year bachelor's degree or a completed master's degree; or a full-time postgraduate diploma from a recognized Indian institution, if the bachelor's degree is of less than four years' duration
Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships Eligibility Criteria
- Must have completed an equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from a recognized Indian university with at least 55% marks. Applicants must either possess a four-year bachelor's degree or a completed master's degree; or a full-time postgraduate diploma from a recognized Indian institution, if the bachelor's degree is of less than four years' duration;
- Must have at least three years' full-time (paid) professional work experience relevant to the proposed field of study by the application deadline;
- Should demonstrate experience in leadership and community service;
- Must not have another degree from a U.S. university or be enrolled in a U.S. degree program; and
- If employed, should follow the instructions carefully regarding employer’s endorsement. If applicable, obtain the endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority on the FNMasters Employer’s Endorsement Form. The employer must indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period.
- Employees of the Government of India and Indian State Governments are not eligible for any Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships. This includes civil servants in central services (such as IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS, and allied services), state government services (including state civil services), and bureaucratic staff employed in central and state ministries or departments.
- General Prerequisites
- Applicant must be responsible citizens of India who can contribute to cultural understanding between India and the United States.
- Applicant must not be residing in U.S. during the recruitment and placement cycle (February 2025-July 2026).
- Indian citizens with active permanent resident status in foreign countries are ineligible.
- Applicants must not be applying for or holding a U.S. permanent resident (green card).
- Applicant should have a strong academic or professional achievement. Additionally, applicant must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English to undertake the project/program and adapt to life in the U.S.
- If an applicant plans to travel abroad (e.g., for a conference or fellowship) during the application cycle (February 2025-July 2026), they must notify USIEF in advance.
- If employed, the applicant must be eligible for leave during the fellowship period.
- Applicant must give an undertaking to return to India on the completion of the fellowship.
How to Apply for Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships
- All applications must be completed online at: https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2026
- Your email address is your username. When you create an account for this online application,
record your password in a secure place. You can log in and out of the application as frequently as
you like using your username and password. If necessary, you can reset your password by
clicking the “Forgot Your Password” link on the log-in page. Do not write in CAPS. - You are not required to complete this application in one session. You can re-enter at any time
and edit your application before you submit it. However, please remember that 60 minutes of
inactivity will automatically log you out. You will have to log in again to resume your application. - Once you submit your application, you can NO longer make any changes to it.
- Responses to questions on the application must adhere to established character limits.
- Prepare required documents and save them in PDF format. It is highly recommended that to
preserve any formatting and special characters in your documents, you upload them in PDF
format. - Review the entire application before submitting it. The application should be free of grammatical and spelling errors.
Documents Required for Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships
- Application
- Curriculum vitae/Resume
- Official Transcripts
- Three Recommenders
- Upload Personal Statement
- Writing Sample
- Copy of Passport
- CV
- Portfolio
- Test Scores (TOEFL and GRE)
Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships
Degree Masters
Offered By Government
Type External
Amount ₹0
Deadline NA
Deadline Type NA
Last updated September 15, 2025