International Affairs Fellowship in India

First year sponsored by E.L. Rothschild through the ERANDA Foundation

The Program

In 2008, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) launched the International Affairs Fellowship in India (IAF-I). The first year was sponsored by E.L. Rothschild through the ERANDA Foundation. The IAF-I seeks to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between the rising generations of leaders in the United States and India by expanding cultural exchange and enhancing communication between both countries on global issues. The fellowship assists mid-career scholars and professionals from the public and private sectors to advance their analytic capabilities and broaden their foreign policy experience in India.

CFR awards several fellowships to highly accomplished individuals who have a capacity for independent work and who are eager to undertake serious foreign policy analysis in India. CFR’s Fellowship Affairs Office assists all fellows in finding a suitable affiliation in India.

How to Apply

The program is currently on hold. For inquiries or questions, please email fellowships@cfr.org.

Eligibility

The IAF-I is only open to U.S. citizens between the ages of twenty-seven and forty-five. While a PhD is not a requirement, selected fellows generally hold an advanced degree and possess a strong record of work experience as well as a firm grounding in the field of foreign policy. The program does not fund pre- or postdoctoral research, work toward a degree, or the completion of projects for which substantial progress has been made prior to the fellowship period.

Selection Process

Selection as an IAF-I is based on a combination of the following criteria: scholarly qualifications, achievements and promise, depth and breadth of professional experience, firm grounding in foreign policy and international relations, and an application proposal that focuses on U.S.-India foreign policy issues. With respect to the proposal, applicants are encouraged to plan a systematic approach to assessing the major substantive and process issues of their planned research. The proposed work will be judged on originality, practicality, potential, likelihood of completion during the fellowship period, and the contribution it will make to the applicant’s individual career development.

Fellowship Award

The duration of the fellowship is between three and twelve months. The program awards a stipend which covers travel and living expenses in India. Fellows are considered independent contractors rather than employees of CFR, and are not eligible for employment benefits, including health insurance.

Alumni

A list of former fellows can be found online by visiting Historical Roster of CFR’s International Affairs Fellows in India.

Contact Us

fellowships@cfr.org

212.434.9740