Enhancing Leadership Skills Through Young India Fellowship

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Address the most pertinent problems </br> to create a better world Address the most pertinent problems </br> to create a better world

Address the most pertinent problems
to create a better world

 

Ashoka University’s flagship programme, the YIF is a year-long residential postgraduate diploma programme that educates and nurtures Fellows to solve the most pertinent problems that will ultimately create a better world. Around 100 driven individuals are immersed in a multidisciplinary education each year, exploring diverse fields, engaging in interdisciplinary learning, and collaboratively solving real-world problem statements. In this transformative journey, Fellows are guided by renowned individuals from all walks of life.

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A Yearlong Programme
A Fellowship For Life

The rigorous YIF curriculum is designed to give Fellows a multidisciplinary foundation, while also allowing them to gain interdisciplinary perspectives that complement their interests and previous educational or professional experiences. Through an array of multidimensional engagements, Fellows build or sharpen abilities that are critical to ultimately solving the world’s most pertinent problems – as academicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, professionals, artists and more – while belonging to a global community of lifelong learners.

Curriculum

Woman in a sari looking at a wall display of numerous hanging photographs on strings.
Green campus with trees, benches, brick buildings, and a pathway under a clear blue sky.
A large group of people smiling, dressed in colorful traditional and casual attire, indoors.
Group of six people sitting in a casual setting, discussing documents and eating snacks.
Key elements of YIF: multidisciplinary courses, experiential learning, holistic engagement, global impact.

Admissions

The YIF Class of 2026 will comprise around 100 bright, curious and outstanding individuals from India and abroad, who will be handpicked through a rigorous and holistic selection process. The interdisciplinary programme will educate and nurture Fellows to solve the most pertinent problems that will ultimately create a better world. Fellows receive a post-graduate diploma in liberal studies from Ashoka University upon graduating and contribute to sustaining a lifelong learning-focused Alumni community. All Fellows in the Class of 2026 will receive partial or full funding.

Admissions for the Class of 2025-26 are now closed.

Our Fellows

Siddharth N Vijayaraghavan

YIF Class of 2025

MA (Integrated), English Studies, Indian Institute of Technology – Madras, Chennai

Kajal Bawa

YIF Class of 2024

BA History, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi
MA History, Daulat Ram College, New Delhi

Anushka Barthwal

YIF Class of 2025

BA (Honours), Psychology, Ambedkar University, New Delhi
MA, Psychology, Rutgers University, Newark

Helena Fuluifaga Chan Foung

YIF Class of 2025

BA, Pacific Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington

Vibha Sreeram

YIF Class of 2024

BA English Literature, Stella Maris College

Oishik Ray

YIF Class of 2024

BSc Physics, English, Mathematics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville
MSc Physics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville

Tusshar Yadav

YIF Class of 2024

BA, Social Sciences, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Tuljapur

Afshan Nisar

YIF Class of 2025

BA (Honours) History, Hindu College, New Delhi

Asha Balsing Bassi

YIF Class of 2025

Bachelor of Social Work, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati

To learn more about the diverse trajectories of our Fellows, click here.

Latest happenings

Latest happenings

Reimagining Finance for the Margins: Swathi’s Path to Purpose

Reimagining Finance for the Margins: Swathi’s Path to Purpose

May 13, 2025 11:46

YIF Alumna Swathi Pottabathini (YIF '17) awarded the Joint Japan/ World Bank Scholarship 2023-25

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Ashoka News
Ashoka University Announces Scholarships for All Young India Fellows in Class of 2025-26: Final Round of Applications Close on 10th March 2025

Ashoka University Announces Scholarships for All Young India Fellows in Class of…

Feb 25, 2025 11:19

Notably about one-third of the Class of 2025 Fellows identify as first-generation college goers, and 61% as female.

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Ashoka News
The Journey of an Educational Advocate from Lagos: Nene Ibezim’s Story

The Journey of an Educational Advocate from Lagos: Nene Ibezim’s Story

Nov 25, 2024 10:26

YIF Alumna Nene Ibezim (YIF’ 24) awarded the Lipman Family Prize Fellowship (2024).

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Ashoka News
All Young India Fellows in the Class of 2025-26 will receive scholarships

All Young India Fellows in the Class of 2025-26 will receive scholarships

Oct 14, 2024 06:37

Admissions open from 15 October 2024, first deadline on 5 January 2025

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Ashoka News
Bridging Disciplines: From Engineering to Health-Tech and Policy Reform

Bridging Disciplines: From Engineering to Health-Tech and Policy Reform

Sep 30, 2024 11:38

YIF Alumnus Karan Trichal (YIF ’21) has been selected for the Schwarzman Scholars Program to pursue a Master’s in Global…

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Ashoka News
Empowering Tomorrow: Rahul’s Journey in Aging Research

Empowering Tomorrow: Rahul’s Journey in Aging Research

Aug 01, 2024 10:47

YIF Alumnus Rahul Kodihalli Venkatesh (YIF ‘20) receives the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) PhD Studentship (2024) to pursue aging…

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Ashoka News
The boy who dreamt beyond the stars

The boy who dreamt beyond the stars

Sep 03, 2023 09:45

Aafaque R Khan, a Young India Fellow (YIF) from Ashoka's 2014 cohort, was one of the lead engineers in the…

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Ashoka News
What’s New at the Young India Fellowship: A Sneak Peek into the Upcoming Class of 2024

What’s New at the Young India Fellowship: A Sneak Peek into the…

Feb 18, 2023 12:15

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Ashoka News

Learning Resources

#AshokaIsForAll: Anurit Kanti’s Path from Ashoka University to Global Impact

Since graduating from Ashoka in 2016 (and 2015 from YIF), I have worked in various capacities in the sustainability and […]

‘How to Change a Life’ – A Course in Behavioural Science

We are at the dawn of an exciting journey for behavioural science in India. There is great demand, but the […]

‘Hollywood started feeling a bit like home’

I was born and raised in New Delhi. I studied at Delhi University before setting on the incredible Young India […]
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