Apply for 2026 2027 Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships: Funding Amount, Eligibility Criteria and Selection Process Explained

Apply for 2026 2027 Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) is proud to announce the Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, designed for early-career faculty and researchers in India. These prestigious fellowships offer a unique opportunity to deepen research expertise, expand academic horizons, and access world-class resources at leading U.S. institutions.

Spanning eight to twelve months, the program not only supports advanced research but also fosters long-term academic partnerships between Indian scholars and their U.S. counterparts—laying the foundation for meaningful, cross-border collaboration in a global academic community.

Read the full article to explore important details such as Funding Amount, Eligibility Criteria, and the Selection Process — and be sure to apply before the deadline!

Last Date of Application: 15^th July 2025

Table of Contents

Focus Areas (Apply for 2026 2027 Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships)

Anthropology
Economics
Education Policy and Planning
History
Language/Literature/Linguistics
Performing Arts
Political Science (including, but not limited to, International Security and Strategic Studies)
Psychology
Public Policy
Sociology
Urban and Regional Planning (with emphasis on smart cities and waste management)
Visual Arts

Benefits (Apply for 2026 2027 Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships)

These fellowships provide J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges per U.S. Government guidelines, round-trip economy class air travel, a modest settling-in allowance, and a professional allowance.

Subject to availability of funds, a dependent allowance and international travel may be provided for one accompanying eligible dependent provided the dependent is with the grantee in the U.S. for at least 80 per cent of the grant period.

Eligibility Criteria (Apply for 2026 2027 Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships)

The applicant must have a Ph.D. or a D.M. degree within the past four years. They must have obtained Ph.D. degree between July 15, 2021 and July 14, 2025. The applicant is required to upload their Ph.D. or D.M. degree certificate/provisional on the online application;

The applicant must have a publication in a reputed journal. They must upload a recent significant publication (copy of paper/article) on the online application (not exceeding 30 pages);

If applicant is employed, please follow the instructions carefully regarding employer’s endorsement. If applicable, obtain the endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority on the FN Postdoc Letter of Support from Home Institution. The employer must indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period. Candidates working under government-funded projects are also required to get endorsement from their affiliating institutions in India.

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.

In the application, the applicant is required to indicate the period in which they can complete the proposed project in the United States. The applicant must determine grant duration carefully. Should they be selected for a grant, it will be for the period specified in their application. The duration cannot be changed.

Application Requirements (Apply for 2026 2027 Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships)

You can apply for only one Fulbright-Nehru fellowship category during a competition cycle.

Plagiarism in the application will lead to disqualification. Some US universities and colleges have developed and published policies on the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) on applications for admission or affiliation with their institution. Some institutions may scan applications for the use of language produced by GenAI. While individual institutional policies range widely and policy responses from US universities will continue to evolve, copying language/content produced by GenAI directly into your application may negatively impact admission or affiliation decisions.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Extensions and Transfer of visa sponsorship will not be permitted.

Prospective Fulbright participants should be aware that public health conditions, availability of consular services and travel, as well as U.S. institutional operating status and policies may affect their ability to travel to the U.S. and participate in academic programs.