The Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship is a collaborative effort between the Government of India and the United States of America (USA). This is one of the best scholarships to study in the USA and offers an excellent opportunity for international students and researchers who want to pursue higher education in the climate change field. This fellowship is provided to promote research on climate change and its impact.
This program is a part of the USA-India partnership on clean energy and climate action and is an exceptional pathway for researchers interested in making a significant impact on sustainable development. Check all the major details such as features, eligibility, application process etc of the Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships.
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Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships: Major Highlights
The Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship is a renowned scholarship provided to international students. The fellowships are strictly for pre-doctoral and post-doctoral research. The scholarship is offered to students who are pursuing research courses in India at a reputed university. Check more details below:
| Category | Details |
| Eligible Course | Pre-doctoral ResearchPost-doctoral Research |
| Eligibility Criteria | – Open to Indian PhD students registered at Indian institutions – Supports research projects in the U.S. related to climate change for 6-9 months. |
| Amount of Fellowship | Up to USD 4000 per month (may vary as per the eligibility requirements) |
| Application Link | Click Here to Apply |
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Benefits of Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship
The Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships offer a range of benefits for international students. The amount of the fellowship covers multiple expenses like expenses for J-1 visa support, a fixed monthly stipend, health coverage under the Accident and Sickness Program etc. Check some of the major benefits of the Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship below:
- Students will get round-trip economy class airfare and applicable allowances with the fellowship.
- These fellowships also cover modest affiliation fees, if required. However, it’s important to note that no allowances are provided for dependents
- The amount of the scholarship is not sufficient to support family members but is enough for the student to pursue the entire course.
- The fellowship provides access to a global network of scholars, policymakers, and climate change advocates.
- The research undertaken by fellows directly contributes to India’s climate resilience strategies.
Eligible Courses for Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships
Since the Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships are provided to pursue courses related to climate change and the environment, you can apply only for those courses. Below is the list of some major courses for which you can get the scholarship. However, the scholarship is not limited to only below mentioned course. Check more details below:
- Clean Energy Technologies and Energy Transition
- Climate and Health
- Climate Finance
- Climate Justice and Equity
- Climate Resilience
- Mitigation, and Adaptation
- Climate-smart Agriculture
- Climatology
- Critical and Emerging Technology (including applied AI for climate or agriculture, harnessing high-performance computing or quantum computing for climate mitigation, and biotech)
- Critical minerals supply chains
- Disaster resilience
- Green mobility
- Green buildings and construction
- Oceanography
- Renewable energy
- Sustainability.
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Eligibility Criteria
The most important eligibility criteria for Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships is that the applicants must be registered for a PhD at an Indian university on or before the deadline (November 1, 2023, for last year’s application). The fellowship is designed for Ph.D. students to conduct research that is essential to their dissertations or thesis. Check the major eligibility criteria below:
- Applicants should have conducted a reasonable amount of study related to their research objectives, particularly identifying relevant resources in both India and the U.S.
- One of the recommendations in the online application must be from the applicant’s PhD supervisor.
- This letter should include comments on the research, the need for the fellowship, and the applicant’s PhD registration date and topic.
- The expected PhD thesis submission date should be at least three months after the end of the Fulbright-Kalam grant. For example, if the grant ends in May 2026, the thesis cannot be submitted before August 2026.
- Employed applicants must submit an endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority via the “Employer’s Endorsement Form.” The endorsement should indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period.
- Applicants are required to upload a copy of an original published or presented paper or extracts from their Master’s/M.Phil. thesis (up to 20 pages) in the online application.
Note: The fellowships are strictly for pre-doctoral research. Applicants who already hold a PhD degree or are in the final stages of submitting their thesis are not eligible.
Application Process for Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships
The application process for the Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships is mentioned properly on the official website of USIEF. Applicants must go through the application instructions before submitting the form. The applicants are required to submit an online application form along with the required documents. Check the steps involved in the application process for Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships below:
- Applicants must submit a detailed research proposal outlining the goals, methodology, and potential impact of their project.
- At least three letters of recommendation are required which shall highlight the candidate’s research capabilities and leadership potential.
- Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews to assess their research experience, commitment to climate issues, and overall suitability for the fellowship.
- Applicants must keep track of the application deadlines which usually close around mid-year, with final selections announced later in the year.
The Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships provide international students with a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of climate research and policy development. Check all the details of the scholarship and then start the preparation. Check some common FAQs based on the same below:
FAQs
The fellowship is open to Indian Ph.D. students registered at Indian institutions. It supports pre-doctoral and post-doctoral research in climate-related fields, with projects to be conducted in the USA for a duration of 6-9 months.
The fellowship offers several benefits like J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend of up to USD 4000, round-trip economy airfare, and health coverage under the Accident and Sickness Program.
The fellowship supports research in climate-related areas such as clean energy technologies, climate resilience, disaster resilience, renewable energy, climatology, and green mobility, among others.
The applicants are required to submit an online form along with a detailed research proposal, three letters of recommendation, and documents such as a copy of an original published work or thesis extract.
No, the fellowship is intended for pre-doctoral research only. Applicants who have already earned a PhD or are in the final stages of submitting their PhD thesis are not eligible for the Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship.
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