S.N. Bose Scholars Program 2026‑27

The S.N. Bose Scholars Program is a student exchange between India and the United States. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) runs it through its Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), together with the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and WINStep Forward. Ministry / Department: Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt of India Selected Indian students spend a summer research internship in US labs.

Current status: on hold. Currently the SN Bose Program is on hold and therefore not accepting participants. The partner page tells students to check the IUSSTF site or email WINStep Forward. Its guidelines page still points to information on the 2023 program, so the notice may be older than it looks. Do not plan around an application this year unless IUSSTF announces a new call.

What you get

• Indian scholars receive a US $2,000 stipend, health insurance and airfare, according to the SERB page. That page gives no year for these figures. SERB through IUSSTF will pay Stipend (US $ 2000), Health Insurance and Air-fare to the Indian Scholars
• The 2019 guidelines say the airfare was a round trip booked by the IUSSTF travel desk. Airfare- Roundtrip (to be booked by IUSSTF travel desk)
• Housing depends on the US university. Depending on the university, accommodation may or may not be covered. You may need your own money to top up housing costs.
• The internship runs mid of May to July every year. WINStep Forward’s page gives a shorter length, 8-10 weeks in the summer, from May to July.

Who can apply

• Citizenship: Only Indian citizens. Indian citizens currently pursuing a Bachelors or Masters’ degree at a recognized institution of higher education and learning in India.
• Subject: Open to students of Atmospheric and Earth Sciences; Chemical Sciences; Engineering Sciences; Mathematical and Computational Sciences; and, Physical Sciences. Applications in subject - fields other than those specified in the advertisement will not be considered.
• Time left in your course: The 2019 guidelines say only those candidates who have a minimum of one year remaining for the completion of their course in India are eligible to apply.
• Completion date: The WINStep Forward guidelines say degrees must be completed on or after May of the following year of application.
• Nomination: Some years applications are accepted through nominations/endorsements only. In those years, each institute’s departments nominate students, with 2 of their best students from each discipline.
• Who cannot apply: PhD students. PhD students are NOT eligible to apply. Students with a biology background should apply to the Khorana Program instead. Students with a biology background should consider applying to the Khorana Program for Scholars.
• The official pages do not set a category, family income limit, marks cut-off or age limit.

How to apply

Applications go through IUSSTF’s online portal, and only when a call is open. The steps below come from the 2019 guidelines, so check the current call for changes.

1. Open the IUSSTF program page and use the portal link at the top right of the page. Sign in through the Online Application Portal for Visitation Programs. (Use the link given on the top right hand corner of the webpage).
2. Verify your account using the link sent to your email. Please check your spam/junk folders in case the mails are not received in your inbox.
3. Log in and start the application. Click “Apply for - Start Application”
4. Fill in the form in English. You can save it and come back later. The form must be completed by all applicants in English
5. Submit the form. Applicants would not be able to change or edit their forms after submission. Note your Application ID. Please note your Application ID for future references.

Documents you need

• A statement of purpose and a research experience section. In the sections “Statement of Purpose” and “Research Experience” please give as much information as possible.
• Recommendation letters on the referee’s official letterhead, signed and stamped. The recommendations need to be on the official letter head of the referee with their ink signature and stamp (if any).
• One referee should be your teacher or tutor. One of the referees should be your teacher/tutor.
• A passport. If you do not have one, apply for it and select the ‘Applied for’ option in the form. In case you do not have a passport, kindly apply for one and select ‘Applied for’ in the application form.
• Scanned copies in the prescribed format. All documents should be scanned and uploaded in the prescribed format.
• If you are in the first semester of a master’s, attach your bachelor’s rank certificate and mark list. Kindly note that in case you are pursuing your first semester in your master’s degree (MSc/M. Tech degree), kindly ensure that you attach your Bachelors rank certificate and mark list.
• Write your exact course and degree in the form, for example “B.Tech in Civil Engineering”. Use Specific area of study and degree program enrolled in to indicate the specific undergraduate/ post graduate course you are pursuing.

How students are selected

The official pages say little about how applications are scored. You list your area of interest and possible research ideas in the form. If the student is selected, we try our best to make placements based on the area indicated by the student in the application form. False or misleading information can cost you the internship. In the event of the applicant providing false or misleading information he/she will be asked to forfeit the internship/fellowship. The SERB page says the internship is conducted for 50 Indian students each year. The internship programme is conducted for 50 Indian students to intern at partner Universities in the U.S. for a period of 10-12 weeks beginning each summer.

Renewal

The official pages do not describe renewal. Call for inviting applications is made by IUSSTF and students need to apply only against the call.

Important dates

• 2026-27: No open call appears on the official pages, and the program is on hold.
• Internship period: mid May to July each year, according to the SERB page.
• Older deadline: An older WINStep Forward page says applications were Typically January of the Year of the Internship.
• The Indian guidelines are for the 2019 cycle. They give an internship period of mid of May to July 2019.
• Some listing sites show a January 2026 deadline. The official pages I read do not confirm it.