The second and final round of applications for the Young India Fellowship (YIF) Class of 2026 is now open. All Fellows selected for the upcoming cohort of the Young India Fellowship (Class of 2025-26) will receive scholarships ranging from 25% to a full 100% waiver covering tuition, residence, and meals along with stipends for additional financial assistance. The prestigious Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship will also continue to be awarded in the Class of 2026. The final deadline for applications is 10th March 2025.
Eligibility Criteria and Selection Process: YIF Class of 2026
The Class of 2026 will comprise around 100 Fellows. Candidates of all age groups and nationalities, across diverse academic, professional, geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds, who have a recognised undergraduate degree in any discipline by July 2025 or earlier (can be a final-year student at the time of application) are eligible to apply for the YIF.
The final round of admissions for the class of 2025-26 are ongoing. Candidates are encouraged to apply early, even within a round, to partake in the rolling personal interview process.
Aspiring candidates can apply by visiting apply.ashoka.edu.in to register and complete the online application. Following holistic assessment of applications, a number of candidates will be shortlisted for personal interviews. Additionally, some of these shortlisted candidates may be invited to interview for the Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship.
All Fellows who receive an offer of admission are guaranteed a minimum 25% tuition waiver, with some also being awarded the prestigious Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship. All admitted and waitlisted candidates will have the opportunity to apply for need-based Financial Aid, which goes upto a full-waiver on the entire fee along with stipends for additional assistance.
Instituted in 2011, the flagship YIF programme is a year-long residential postgraduate diploma that educates and nurtures Fellows to solve the most pertinent problems that will ultimately create a better world. Each year, around 100 driven individuals are immersed in a multidisciplinary education, exploring diverse fields, engaging in interdisciplinary learning, and collaboratively solving real-world problem statements.
