One of the pillars upon which the foundation of most of our careers stands is education. Education is that universal starting point that shapes a child’s future, it doesn’t only help in building careers but a human being as a whole; it isn’t merely about learning facts but it is an aid that helps in deciding the kind of person an individual would grow up to be.

The government of India runs a variety of schemes. It offers innumerable scholarships to help its students climb the ladder of success and one of those scholarships is the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship funded by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) to help students pursue further education in the United States of America. It serves as a stepping stone for Indian students to procure the quality education they deserve.

The Vision Behind The Fellowships

The Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships were designed to enable the students of India to pursue the higher education they dreamt of while growing up. The program was conceived to recognise students' potential, support them by availing as many resources as possible, empower them, and nurture their skills and talents. This is beneficial not just for the students’ careers but contributes to the country’s growth and development as well.

Students are the future leaders of a country and it is imperative to consistently design and execute various plans and contribute to their respective journeys. This initiative isn’t only about promoting academic excellence but it is also about appreciating the hard work put in by the students and developing a sense of belongingness towards the country they were born in.

Particulars & Benefits Of The Fellowships

The Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship is awarded to students for pursuing a master’s degree in the colleges and universities in the U.S.A. The domains covered under the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships are

• Economics

• Environmental Science/Studies

• Higher Education Administration

• International Affairs

• International Legal Studies

• Journalism and Mass Communication

• Public Administration

• Public Health

• Urban and Regional Planning

• Women’s Studies/Gender Studies.

The Fellowships provide the selected students with J-1 visa support, round-trip travel from their respective homes to the host institution’s city in economy class, funding for tuition, residence, and related costs, and health insurance as per the U.S. government guidelines.

Eligibility Criteria

Certain guidelines make a candidate eligible for applying for the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships:

• Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from India considered equivalent in the U.S.A as well with a minimum of 55% marks. The bachelor’s degree should be at least 4 years and if not, there should be a master’s or a postgraduate diploma to compensate for the same.

• Candidates must have full-time work experience in the proposed field of at least 3 years.

• Experience in demonstrating leadership and community service is also a must.

• Candidates must not possess another degree from the U.S.A.

Application Process

1. Applications are to be submitted online through their website.

2. Applicants are supposed to go through instructions and checklists with attention.

3. To complete the application, candidates must fill out the concerned form and an employer’s endorsement form if employed.

Selection Process

The selection process is critical, rigorous, and exhausting but worthy. Selected applicants who are recommended by experts in their respective fields are called for an interview with the USIEF National Selection Committee. They use various criteria for evaluating the applicants such as their credibility, skills, technical knowledge, personality characteristics, relevance of proposed work in India, and others.

Conclusion

The Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship is an opportunity for the youth of India to gain world-class education in their preferred fields and excel in their careers by learning, polishing their skills, and joining a network of scholars across the world. The scholarship is designed to empower billions of students and their families and enable them to fulfil their dreams and make them a reality.

If you’ve any questions, you can contact USIEF by writing to their official mail or you can contact them by dialling +91-11-4209-0909/2332-8944. Visit Jaagruk Bharat for latest updates about fellowships and visit our community page if you have any queries.