Ashoka University

Young India Fellowship: A Path to Leadership

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Become a Young India Fellow

Admissions Overview

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. Each Fellow in the Class of 2026 will receive partial or full financial support.

Who Should Apply

There is no typical profile of an ideal Fellow. However, common characteristics include intellectual curiosity, drive, open-mindedness, potential for leadership and demonstrated record of engaging meaningfully with professional, academic and non-academic interests.

What We're Looking For

While there is no typical profile for a Young India Fellow, the following attributes provide a broad sense of what we seek. The video below, featuring the former Dean of the YIF, also highlights the qualities of an ideal Fellow.

We are looking for individuals who are on a quest for knowledge and seeking a holistic educational experience. Our ideal candidate is committed to all aspects of the programme and actively contributes towards a thriving peer learning community.

We look for Fellows who are passionate about exploring their true potential and have a drive to reach for the stars. We also look for self-awareness and humility to believe that they need to learn more, with a commitment to lifelong learning.

Our Fellows must not only demonstrate resilience in overcoming challenges but also possess a deep-rooted drive to solve problems and make a meaningful impact on society. We seek individuals with qualities such as integrity, initiative, and open-mindedness, along with a proven track record of meaningful engagement in their work, studies, or areas of interest.

Eligibility

In addition to demonstrating potential for leadership, emotional maturity, strong intellectual ability, and a commitment to improving the state of the world, candidates must meet the following criteria.

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 2025 are also eligible to apply. Having work experience (either full-time, entrepreneurship, freelancing or internships) may be advantageous. Many Fellows have postgraduate credentials as well.

There is no age limit for applying to the YIF. Fellows in the Class of 2025 range in age from 19 to 34 years.

Our Selection Process

The rigorous, holistic YIF selection process is conducted in two rounds, designed to admit a diverse and outstanding cohort from India and abroad. Recognizing the varying levels of access and privilege among applicants, we review each submission within the applicant’s unique context. Applications are accepted within specific time frames for each round, and Fellows are selected from the pool of submissions for that round. Please note that you can apply only once per admissions cycle and in only one round. If you miss the Round 1 deadline, you may complete your application in Round 2. The different stages of the application and selection process are as follows:

01
Online Application

The online YIF application form is designed to be a reflective process, and helps the selection committee understand your candidature holistically. While one may be able to complete the entire application in a few hours, we recommend spacing your time towards the application over a few days, such that you can reflect on your journey and are in a position to submit an application that you believe represents you well. A few candidates may receive a call from the Admissions team with clarifying questions about any information or response provided in their application forms. 

This section requires general candidate information, including your biographical details, contact information, academic background, professional experience, and non-academic engagements.

The essay section is a critical component of the application form and allows the reviewers to understand how applicants think, reflect, and engage with ideas and the world around them. 

You are required to upload a government-issued ID, a photograph, a one-page CV/resume, and supporting documents for your listed non-academic activities.

In addition to understanding your engagement with various YIF information sources, these sections also help us understand about any learning resources or medical support Fellows may require to fully benefit from their time at Ashoka.

02
Personal Interview(s)

YIF interviews are typically 25-40-minute conversations between the candidate and two panellists (faculty, leadership, or alumni). Through this stage, we aim to get to know candidates in-depth and understand how they might benefit from the YIF and how their presence in the cohort might be beneficial to others. We expect candidates to bring forth the most authentic version of themselves. A few candidates may be invited for a second conversation.

Early applicants within each round will get an opportunity to interview earlier. 

A few candidates in each round will receive an invitation from the YIF Admissions Committee to appear for the Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship interview. Invitations will consider academic, non-academic and/or professional excellence, combined with performance in the holistic selection process. Please note that there is no separate application process for the Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship.

Once shortlisted, one Letter of Recommendation (LoR) must be submitted on behalf of each applicant. The LoR must be submitted by January 30, 2025, for Round 1 applicants. 

03
Decisions

Decisions are sent once in each round. Applicants would typically receive one of the following decisions: an offer of admission (with or without the Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship), waitlisted for admission, or a denial of admission. Admitted and waitlisted candidates will have the opportunity to apply for the need-based financial aid. 

Upon receiving an offer of admission, you will have the opportunity to secure your place in the YIF. Your offer letter will also include the results of your Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship interview (if applicable). At this stage, the application for a need-based scholarship opens as well. Further details on the scholarship are available below.

If placed on the waitlist, your application remains under consideration, and the final decision will be communicated later. You may still apply for a need-based scholarship while on the waitlist. Further details on the scholarships are provided below.

Funding Your YIF Education

Thanks to generous philanthropic support, primarily from HDFC Bank, we have been able to significantly increase funding for Fellows. We are proud to share that all Fellows in the Class of 2025-26 will receive partial or full financial support. Explore the various funding options available to you:

Admissions Timeline: Class of 2026

  • The admissions cycle consists of Rounds 1 and 2; you can apply only once per admissions cycle and in only one round.
  • We encourage candidates to apply early, even within a round.
  • Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, meaning they are reviewed as they are received.
  • Interviews will be prioritised for candidates who submit their applications early and are shortlisted.
  • The decision stage is not rolling—decisions for all candidates within a round are communicated together.
  • The need-based Financial Aid form will open once per round for candidates who receive an offer of admission or are waitlisted in that round.
  • The need-based Financial Aid form will remain open for a week. Please read the Financial Aid section to prepare accordingly.
  • The mentioned dates are subject to change. Please visit this page regularly to stay updated. We typically notify applicants of any change via email as well.

Round 1 Deadline - January 5, 2025

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Round 1

  • Personal Interviews: December 2024 to January 2025
  • LoR Submission Deadline: January 30, 2025
  • Interviews for Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship: February 2025
  • Offers of Admission: End of February 2025
  • Application for Need-based Financial Aid: End of February 2025

Round 2

  • Application Deadline:  March 10, 2025
  • Personal Interviews: February 2025 to April 2025
  • LoR Submission Deadline: April 2, 2025
  • Interviews for Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship: April 2025
  • Offers of Admission: End of April 2025
  • Application for Need-based Financial Aid: End of April 2025

The Young India Fellowship is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. We do not discriminate between applicants on the basis of ability, religion, caste, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, interests, or points of view. We aspire to build and sustain a learning community in which all students feel that they belong.

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