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 Liberal 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.

2306 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 year-long programme is divided into eight terms of roughly six weeks each.

• In every term, Fellows take around 2-3 multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary courses within the YIF Curriculum.
  • The first half of the year (Terms 1 to 4) typically has Core Courses which all Fellows mandatorily take. Most first-half courses are Core.
  • The second half (Terms 5 to 8) gives Fellows an opportunity to take Elective Courses in smaller class sizes. Most second-half courses are Electives.
  • Some Fellows, through a recent addition to the YIF, also get the opportunity to Cross-Register for coursework outside the YIF Curriculum, across various Departments and Centres at Ashoka.
• There are two flagship components of the programme, which run in parallel for about seven to nine months of the year, starting with Term 1 and ending in Term 6 at present. Term 4 typically comprises block-teaching, wherein these components are not in effect:
  • The Critical Writing – Inquiry and Expression component trains Fellows to read closely, think critically and express effectively.
  • The Experiential Learning Module (ELM) allows Fellows to work in small groups on real-world projects with partner organisations or even on their own self-designed projects.
• Three other components, under the umbrella of Holistic Learning and Engagement, bring opportunity in perspective-taking to the Fellows: Mentorship, and in recent years, The Crossover Series and Alumni-in-Residence.

 

Core, Elective and Cross-Registered 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 19-20 courses – from a combination of core, elective and cross-registered offerings.

Experiential Learning

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

The Experiential Learning Module (ELM) is a core component of the YIF curriculum where the Fellows work in teams on real-world projects from diverse sectors in collaboration with organisations, or on their own projects. The ELM compliments academic learning at the YIF by equipping Fellows with structured problem-solving techniques, while also training them in designing and implementing sustainable solutions. It helps students learn how to work collaboratively, solve complex problems with an interdisciplinary approach, and build domain knowledge.

Critical Writing - Inquiry and Expression

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

The Critical Writing component focusses on nurturing critical enquiry 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 2026 after enrolment.