The American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS) has opened applications for its 2026–27 Research Fellowship Competition, offering scholars an opportunity to undertake research connected to India. The programme provides three fellowship pathways: the Junior Research Fellowship, AIIS NEH Senior Research Fellowship, and Early Career Scholar Travel Fellowship.
The application deadline for the 2026 AIIS Fellowship Competition is November 19, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the requirements for their selected fellowship, as each category has distinct eligibility criteria and application instructions.
Fellowship Opportunities
The Junior Research Fellowship is designed for doctoral students conducting research in Indian Studies. Non-US citizens may apply provided they are enrolled as doctoral students at a US institution.
The AIIS NEH Senior Research Fellowship supports established scholars pursuing advanced research related to India, while the Early Career Scholar Travel Fellowship provides travel support for eligible early-career researchers.
Applicants who are not affiliated with an AIIS member institution are also welcome to apply.
Junior Fellowship Application Requirements
Junior Fellowship applicants must submit a comprehensive application containing biographical and scholarly information, the proposed project title and discipline, a 350-word project abstract, and a 150-word fieldwork justification statement.
The application must also include a short CV of no more than two pages and unofficial transcripts from undergraduate and graduate institutions.
Applicants are required to submit a project statement of no more than 2,100 words explaining the proposed research. The statement should clearly present the research questions and rationale, explain the project’s significance and relationship to existing scholarship, outline the research methodology, and provide a timetable for completing the project. The word count must be included at the end of the statement.
A 1–3 page bibliography must demonstrate how the proposed research engages with relevant existing scholarship.
Applicants must also provide a personal statement of no more than 350 words, offering additional context that is not addressed elsewhere in the application. This may include relevant experiences, inspiration, challenges, or biographical information.
Applicants who previously applied unsuccessfully for an AIIS Junior Fellowship with the same project may optionally submit a revision statement of up to 500 words, explaining how the new application has been improved.
A financial aid statement is also required.
How Applications Are Evaluated
AIIS evaluates applications through a rigorous two-round review process. In the first round, reviewers assess information submitted through the application form, including the CV, project abstract, and fieldwork justification.
Finalists proceed to the second round, where reviewers assess the project statement, bibliography, personal statement, and revision statement where applicable.
The selection committee considers four major factors: the excellence and merit of the project, project design and methodology, the candidate’s academic or professional record, and financial need.
Because reviewers come from different disciplines within Indian Studies, applicants are strongly encouraged to explain their research in clear language that can be understood by scholars outside their specific field. Excessive jargon should be avoided.
Important Fellowship Conditions
All AIIS Fellows, regardless of citizenship, must obtain a Certificate of Affiliation with an Indian research centre. US citizens must obtain either a research visa or, where applicable, special research permission for OCI cardholders. AIIS assists Fellows in obtaining the necessary documentation for research in India.
Fellowship recipients must provide proof of travel before receiving their award. Travel must generally take place within two years of selection.
AIIS has limited fellowship funding. Applicants who receive another research fellowship or scholarship exceeding $10,000 cannot hold both awards simultaneously and may be required to relinquish the AIIS fellowship so that the funding can be awarded to another scholar.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Mentoring and Application Support
AIIS offers a mentoring service for Junior Fellowship applicants who do not have faculty advisers with South Asia expertise at their home institutions. This service can provide valuable guidance to applicants developing their research proposals.
AIIS will also host a successful application webinar on October 9, 2026, designed to provide practical guidance on preparing a competitive fellowship application. Applicants can also review webinars from previous years and examine examples of successful Junior Fellowship project statements.
Application Deadline and Submission
The application deadline for the 2026 AIIS Fellowship Competition is November 19, 2026. Prospective applicants should begin preparing their research statements, supporting documents, transcripts, bibliography, and financial information well before the deadline.
Junior Fellowship applicants can access the application through the official AIIS application portal. Finalists are expected to be announced by mid-March, with fellowship recipients announced by early May.
The AIIS Research Fellowship Competition represents a significant opportunity for scholars seeking to deepen research on India while developing rigorous, field-based scholarship. Applicants with strong research proposals, clearly defined methodologies, relevant academic or professional records, and demonstrated financial need are encouraged to prepare carefully and submit complete applications before the deadline.
