YIF – Structure and Design

YIF | A Yearlong Programme | A Fellowship For Life

Started in 2011, the Young India Fellowship (YIF) educates and nurtures diverse individuals to solve pertinent problems that will ultimately create a better world. Offered as Ashoka University’s flagship residential postgraduate diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies, the YIF is unlike any other graduate academic programme. It exposes Fellows to a multidisciplinary and multidimensional curriculum, through which they get access to diverse areas of study, research and practice within a year. This often helps Fellows reimagine themselves and discover or strengthen their areas of interest. It also prepares them to solve complex problems using a multidisciplinary approach, no matter what they do in their lives.

Fellows study a curated selection of about 20 courses taught by renowned educators, work on a team-based project to solve a real-world problem, and learn how to think critically and express effectively. They also engage with and are mentored by inspiring individuals from the Ashoka community and beyond, and live with a diverse community of around 100 exceptional individuals from many walks of life.

2394 individuals from India and abroad have commenced their lifelong journeys as Young India Fellows. They are spread across the world, pursuing impactful careers in development and corporate sectors, government, academia, and as entrepreneurs. Many work at some of the world’s most aspirational organizations and continue to study on prestigious scholarships at leading academic institutions globally. Fellows keep coming back to the Fellowship and contribute to shaping and nurturing it further. They continue to support and collaborate with each other and with members of the larger Ashoka ecosystem in their professional and personal pursuits.

Curriculum Design

YIF offers Fellows an opportunity to complement the depth that Fellows gained in previous educational, professional and personal experiences, with intellectual breadth. The multiple ways in which they engage with the curriculum, their peers and the larger ecosystem, enable them to build perspective and sharpen abilities, regardless of what pertinent issues they eventually end up solving for – as academics, researchers, professionals, entrepreneurs, artists and more.

The rigorous year-long YIF is structured into eight terms, each approximately six weeks in duration. The YIF curriculum consists of four key pillars:

● Core and Elective Coursework: A set of foundational and thematic coursework delivered by Ashoka University faculty, visiting faculty and practitioners from across various fields and disciplines. The first half of the year (Terms 1-4) comprises core courses that all Fellows partake in, while the second half (Terms 5-8) allows Fellows to build multi- and inter-disciplinary grounding through elective coursework in smaller sections. Most second half courses are offered as electives.

● Critical Inquiry and Expression: A year-long module focussed on shaping critical reading, writing and expression skills along with tools to synthesise cross-disciplinary learning at the YIF.

● Immersive Experiential Learning: Focussed on group-based project work on self-designed problem statements or collaborative engagements with partner organizations, through the Experiential Learning Module.

● Holistic Learning and Engagement: Comprises a set of credited foundational components in the first half of the year through the Learning and Engagement Module, along with three non-credited components that are spread across the academic year: Mentorship, Alumni and Guest Engagement, and Peer Learning.

 

 

 

Core and Elective Coursework

Ever had an educator who profoundly influenced you? We bring together many.

At the heart of the YIF is exposure to multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary coursework across varied domains, taught by renowned academicians, practitioners, and experts. Through the course of the year, Fellows take roughly 18 courses – from a combination of core and elective offerings.

Experiential Learning

Work on a project which has real-world impact. Explore interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Experiential Learning Module (ELM) is a core and compulsory part of the YIF. Fellows typically work in teams of four with the knowledge, skills, and reflective capacities to engage with complex and pertinent challenges through immersive experiences and sustained, collaborative partnerships.

The vision of the ELM is to cultivate a learning environment where Fellows are encouraged to explore and innovate through sustained community involvement, anchored in reflection, critical inquiry, and thoughtful engagement—fostering deep understanding of self, society, and systems.

Critical Inquiry and Expression

The ability to think critically and express effectively is valuable. No matter what you do.

The Critical Inquiry and Expression (CIE) component focusses on nurturing critical inquiry and expression. Taught through an interdisciplinary theme and in smaller sections of around 25 Fellows each, this course runs in parallel to the core curriculum for most of the academic year.

Peer Learning

Challenge and enhance your understanding of the world around you. Try the YIF classroom. 

Young India Fellows are a group of promising young individuals, selected through a rigorous and elaborate search for passionate achievers with a desire to bring about change. At the YIF, a gold medalist from IIT, a history major from LSR, a Kathak dancer, a banker from Goldman Sachs and a journalist from Reuters, all attend lectures together. This creates an unparalleled peer learning environment rich with multiple perspectives. From engineering to design, film to agriculture, medicine to art, and law to journalism, being amidst diverse peers will enable cross flow of ideas and learning – which will complement and challenge what you learnt in your previous experiences.

Holistic Learning and Engagement

Gain perspective from eminent leaders and scholars, and from senior YIF alums. 

Mentorship, Alumni-in-Residence and The Crossover Series (along with guest sessions), collectively comprise Holistic Learning and Engagement at the YIF. These are three crucial avenues for perspective-taking and complement the rigorous credited coursework.

The curriculum details provided here are subject to change at the Programme’s discretion. Any necessary updates will be communicated to the YIF Class of 2027 after enrolment.

Commencement of the Postgraduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies is subject to approval from the relevant statutory and regulatory bodies.