Young India Fellowship

Ashoka University runs the Young India Fellowship (YIF) as its flagship postgraduate programme. Fellows study full-time for one year, and Ashoka University is situated in Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana. On completion, Fellows receive a Postgraduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies. Commencement of this programme is subject to approval from the relevant statutory and regulatory bodies.

The cycle open now is the 2027 intake, which Ashoka calls the Class of 2028. Priority Deadline: 29th November, 2026. Round 1 Deadline: 10th January, 2027. Round 2 Deadline: 21st March, 2027. Applications for the 2026 intake (Class of 2027) were open from 28 October 2025 to March 2026. The priority deadline is 24 days from today, so applicants who want the earliest review should apply before then.

What you get

Every admitted Fellow gets a scholarship. Three kinds of support apply.

Every offer includes a minimum 25 percent tuition waiver, and many receive full scholarships that cover tuition, residence, and meals. The university says no Fellow in the Class of 2028 will pay the full programme fee. A Chancellor’s Scholarship holder can still apply for need-based support to cover the meal plan.

Fees for the Class of 2028 are: Tuition Rs. 7,98,000, Residence Rs. 2,28,000 and Essential Services Rs. 5,400. Meal Plan Advance costs are in addition. For the Class of 2027, the meal plan was indicative at Rs. 70,000 and subject to change based on food price fluctuations.

The full fee, adjusted for any scholarship, is due before the programme begins. It can be paid in up to three instalments, with exceptions considered case by case. All Fellows are automatically enrolled in a health insurance plan.

Haryana residents may get a fee concession. Haryana domicile students are eligible for a full or partial fee concession under the Haryana Private Universities Act (2006), subject to the submission of a Government-issued Haryana Resident Certificate. Ashoka University decides the percentage of fee concession.

Who can apply

• Applicants should have completed a recognised undergraduate degree or equivalent in any discipline.
• Final year undergraduate students who will complete their degree or equivalent in the summer of 2027 are also eligible. Final-year students can apply with a provisional degree attested by their institution.
• There is no age limit. Fellows in the Class of 2027 range in age from 20 to 33 years.
• Work experience may be advantageous.
• The selection draws from India and abroad.
• You should be able to converse, read and write in English, because the programme’s medium of instruction is English.

Who cannot apply, or cannot continue:

• You can apply only once per admissions cycle and in only one round.
• You can reapply, but not within the same academic year. You must submit a fresh application the following year.
• There is no option to defer admission.
• You cannot hold a full-time job during the year, and part-time work is strongly discouraged.

How to apply

1. Register at the official portal, yifapplication.ashoka.edu.in. Register with a valid email address and verify it through the link sent to your inbox.
2. The online application can be completed in multiple sessions, and you can save your progress as you go.
3. The application asks for three written essays and one video essay. The video essay is mandatory.
4. Upload the documents listed below.
5. You do not need to send a printed copy of the form. Only submitted applications will be considered for evaluation.
6. If shortlisted, attend a virtual interview and submit one letter of recommendation.
7. If you receive an offer or a waitlist place, apply for need-based scholarship in the window that opens for your round.

For queries about selection, interviews or the application form, email yifadmissions@ashoka.edu.in. The official pages I read do not state an application fee.

Documents you need

For the application:

• A government-issued ID, a photograph, a one-page CV or resume, marksheets, and supporting documents for non-academic activities. The FAQ, however, says a resume is optional, so check the form before you submit.
• One Letter of Recommendation must be submitted once you are shortlisted. Letters from family members, relatives, or friends are not accepted.

For need-based scholarship only:

• Income Tax Returns for FY 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25, bank account statements for the last 12 months, salary statements for the last 3 months, loan statements if a loan expense is shown, and details of the family’s financial assets and loans.
• Business families and professionals need financial statements for the last three years, a P&L statement, a balance sheet and Form 26AS. Haryana residents need the candidate’s Haryana domicile certificate.
• Documents must be PDF or JPG files under 2MB with at least 200 DPI, or a zip folder under 2MB. Ashoka may ask for more documents during assessment.

How students are selected

Selection is conducted in two rounds. Ashoka reviews each submission within the applicant’s unique context. Academic performance is important, but it is just one of several factors. Interviews are typically 25-40-minute conversations between the candidate and two panellists from faculty, leadership, or alumni. The interviews happen online over Zoom.

A few candidates in each round receive an invitation for the Chancellor’s Scholarship interview. There is no separate application for it. Each round ends with an offer of admission, a place on the waitlist, or a denial.

Renewal

The fellowship is a single year. It starts in July and concludes with convocation in early July the following year. The official pages I read do not describe scholarship renewal for later years. A scholarship, once granted, is reflected in the fee structure and payment plan. To apply again later, you need a fresh application in a later cycle.

Important dates

The dates are subject to change, and applicants are usually notified of any change by email.