YIF offers you an opportunity to complement the academic depth that you gained in your undergraduate education, with intellectual breadth. The multiple ways in which you engage with the curriculum and extra-curricular initiatives enables you to build or sharpen skills that are in high demand, regardless of where you work or study: Writing, Collaboration, Communication, Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking and Leadership.

In addition to the shorter courses, there are two flagship components of the programme, which runs for eight months of the year. The Critical Writing programme trains you to read closely, think critically and write effectively. The Experiential Learning Module (ELM) allows you to apply your learning and improve your skills through working on real-world projects.

The year-long programme is divided eight terms of six weeks each. You will study six core courses and choose fourteen electives from a pool of more than twenty five. This allows you the flexibility to craft your own Fellowship experience to experiment and to align it to your future goals.

1 Year

8 Terms

6 Weeks Each

6 Core Courses

14 Electives from a pool of 25+ courses

1 Experiential Learning Module

1 Critical Writing Programme

2 Levels of Mentorship

Academics and leaders from the best universities and organizations across India and the world deliver courses specifically designed for the YIF programme. The diversity in courses is also reflected in the varied styles of teaching and assessment, which includes discussions, seminars, field visits, presentations and group work. While catering to multiple learning styles, this allows you to learn from a range of perspectives, and prepare yourself to be a critical thinker - a key 21st century skill.

Ashoka has institutionalised the Socratic way of teaching: focusing on teaching students how to think rather than just what to think. YIF, as part of the University, encourages students to ask questions rather than just passively absorbing and churning information; and generate debate and discussion around issues rather than imposing a top-down model of knowledge dissemination. At YIF, we want to change your perspective from the standard rote learning pedagogy and introduce in the classroom an innovative and interactive pedagogy which will lead to knowledge creation and creative thinking. 

Each course offering is from a distinct academic or professional domain. Disciplines range from sciences to social sciences and from leadership to the arts. Course offerings include public policy, art appreciation, gender and media studies, leadership, group dynamics, business essentials, Shakespeare, communication, and Indian elections.

Renowned Educators

The Young India Fellowship attracts the finest academicians, practitioners and experts in the field to the classroom, and gives them the autonomy to innovate, create and craft curricula. This is a rare freedom within academia and ensures an unparalleled teaching and learning experience, not just for YIF, but across all programmes at Ashoka University.

The YIF offers a dynamic range of courses every year that are carefully curated and offered by renowned faculty from India and abroad. Core courses need to be completed by all Fellows, while electives are offered as choices that Fellows are free to pick from.

Core Courses & Elective Courses