Harvard University – Mittal Institute India Fellowship for International Students
Harvard University – Mittal Institute India Fellowship is a prestigious…
Harvard University – Mittal Institute India Fellowship is a prestigious initiative that exemplifies the university’s commitment to academic excellence and global engagement. Anchored within the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute (LMSAI), a dynamic center for interdisciplinary research and regional collaboration, this fellowship offers a transformative platform for early-career scholars and practitioners in India. Designed to connect rigorous academic inquiry with real-world challenges, it empowers individuals to drive meaningful impact through research, policy, and innovation across South Asia.
About the Mittal Institute India Fellowship
The Mittal Institute India Fellowship is a six-month program designed to support individuals based in India who are engaged in high-impact research, creative work, or professional practice with clear social, economic, or policy implications. Launched to strengthen Harvard’s connections with South Asia and foster collaborative inquiry, the fellowship provides recipients with access to Harvard’s unparalleled academic resources, faculty mentorship, and global platforms for dissemination.
This fellowship is hosted at the Mittal Institute’s India Office, headquartered in New Delhi, and offers fellows a unique opportunity to contribute to region-specific research while aligning with Harvard’s broader mission of global outreach and academic excellence.
A Platform for Transformation
The Mittal Institute India Fellowship is not merely a grant or a research stipend; it is a launchpad for innovation, leadership, and global thought partnership. It is designed for individuals who are deeply engaged in topics such as:
- Public health and pandemic response
- Climate change and sustainability
- Governance and public policy
- Education and technology
- Gender and social equity
- Rural development
- Arts and culture preservation
- Economics and development strategy
The fellowship is particularly powerful because it provides a cross-disciplinary platform that blends academic inquiry with practical relevance. Fellows are encouraged to adopt interdisciplinary approaches and are mentored by both local and Harvard-based faculty, fostering a dialogue that transcends borders and institutions.
Program Structure and Benefits
The 2025 India Fellowship cohort will commence in September 2025 and run through February 2026. Here are the key components of the fellowship:
1. Research Mentorship
Fellows are matched with a Harvard faculty mentor whose expertise aligns with their research. These mentoring relationships are dynamic and foster a mutual exchange of ideas, providing fellows with rigorous academic guidance and feedback throughout the fellowship term.
2. Access to Harvard Resources
Even while based in India, fellows receive access to Harvard’s extensive library systems, online journals, and databases. Additionally, they are invited to participate virtually in select seminars, workshops, and events hosted by the Mittal Institute and other departments at Harvard.
3. Stipend and Funding
The fellowship includes a modest stipend to support the fellow’s work during the six-month term. While not intended to cover all expenses, the financial support helps facilitate fieldwork, access to data, and dissemination activities.
4. Capstone Project and Dissemination
By the end of the fellowship, each participant is expected to produce a policy paper, report, or creative output that contributes to public understanding or scholarly debate. These works are often featured in LMSAI’s publications and presented at public events or webinars, enhancing the fellow’s visibility on a global platform.
5. Community and Collaboration
Fellows join a vibrant community of scholars, practitioners, and students connected to Harvard and the South Asian region. This network often leads to lasting collaborations and opens doors to future academic or professional endeavors.
Who Should Apply?
The fellowship is tailored for early-career professionals and scholars who are citizens or residents of India and have demonstrated commitment to impactful research or practice. While there is no strict age limit, most successful candidates have completed their postgraduate education and have 3–10 years of experience in their field.
Ideal candidates include:
- Academics seeking to deepen their research impact
- Policy practitioners working on regional or national reforms
- Social entrepreneurs and NGO leaders scaling innovation
- Artists and cultural historians preserving regional heritage
- Journalists or writers addressing critical social narratives
What unites successful applicants is their capacity for independent thought, a clear research or practice agenda, and a passion for creating meaningful change.
Application Process
The application process is rigorous yet straightforward. Interested candidates must submit the following documents:
- Personal Statement (1,000 words): Outlining motivation, goals, and how the fellowship will advance their work
- Project Proposal (1,500 words): Including methodology, timeline, expected outcomes, and relevance to South Asia
- Curriculum Vitae
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Writing Sample or Portfolio (if applicable)
The application is hosted online via the official Mittal Institute website. Candidates are encouraged to start early, as the documentation and recommendation letters may take time to compile.
The deadline for applications is 7 July 2025 at 11:59 PM IST.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a virtual interview with the selection panel in August 2025, and final decisions will be announced by the end of that month.
Voices from the Fellowship
Past fellows have used the platform to conduct fieldwork on maternal health in Bihar, develop mobile learning platforms for underserved communities, explore climate adaptation strategies in Himalayan villages, and revive traditional art forms through digital storytelling.
Dr. Neha Verma, a 2023 fellow working on climate-resilient agriculture, reflects:
“The Mittal Institute Fellowship helped me refine my research questions with input from Harvard mentors and gave me the confidence to present my work at international conferences. The experience was truly career-defining.”
These stories are a testament to the fellowship’s potential to amplify voices, sharpen ideas, and catalyze impact.
Why This Fellowship Matters
India today sits at a pivotal moment in its development journey, grappling with the dual pressures of modernization and equity. The Mittal Institute India Fellowship plays a vital role in nurturing homegrown thought leadership, ensuring that solutions to South Asia’s challenges are informed by local expertise and global insight.
In an age where scholarship must be both rigorous and relevant, this fellowship represents the best of both worlds. It brings together Harvard’s academic excellence with India’s dynamic social landscape to forge new ideas, support evidence-based solutions, and empower a new generation of changemakers.
Final Thoughts
For aspiring scholars, researchers, and practitioners committed to shaping the future of South Asia, the Harvard University – Mittal Institute India Fellowship is more than an academic opportunity—it is a catalyst for transformation.
If you’re ready to elevate your work and engage with a global academic network while staying rooted in India’s complex realities, now is the time to act.
Submit your application by 7 July 2025 and take your first step toward joining a powerful community of thinkers and doers who are changing the world—one idea at a time.
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