AIIS Fellowships 2025 for Indian Studies Research

The AIIS Fellowships 2025 offered by the American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS) provide exceptional funding opportunities for researchers focusing on India across diverse academic fields. These long-standing programmes support both doctoral candidates and early-career scholars seeking to undertake dissertation research, fieldwork, archival study, or exploratory postdoctoral research in India. As one of the most respected international mobility schemes for Indian Studies, the fellowships enhance global academic collaboration, cultural understanding, and interdisciplinary scholarship. Researchers benefit not only from financial assistance but also from structured administrative support, formal institutional affiliations, and access to India-based research supervisors. This call offers detailed information on funding, eligibility, benefits, research areas, and the application process for the 2025 competition.

Where Did We Come From? Turn the Page and See

INDIA: AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL HISTORY (2ND EDITION) (OIP)

Grant Details

Grant Name: AIIS Fellowships 2025
Funding Agency/Institution: American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS)
Location: USA and India (International Research Mobility)
Research Field(s): Indian Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, History, Anthropology, Sanskrit Studies, Culture, Politics, Interdisciplinary Research
Grant Type: Research Fellowship / Travel Fellowship / International Mobility Grant
Project Duration: Varies according to research plan
Funding Amount:
- Junior Research Fellowship: USD $7,000
- Early Career Scholar Travel Fellowship: USD $2,500
Start Date (Expected): 2025–2026 research cycle
Mode of Research: Individual, field-based, archival, or interdisciplinary
Application Type: Annual open call

Research Areas Supported

Indian history, society, and culture
Sanskrit studies and classical heritage
Anthropology and ethnography in India
Political science, governance, and social change
Regional studies and cultural research
Interdisciplinary projects related to India
Doctoral dissertation research in India
Early-career exploratory or project-based research

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Requirements

Academic Qualifications:
- Junior Fellowship: Must be a doctoral candidate at a US university
- Early Career Fellowship: PhD awarded in 2020 or later
Career Stage: Doctoral researchers and early-career scholars
Nationality/Residency: Open to both US and non-US citizens, provided they are enrolled in or employed by US universities
Affiliation Requirement: Must be a graduate student or full-time faculty member at an accredited US institution
Experience Level: Academic background relevant to proposed Indian research

Preferred Qualifications

Record of publications
Prior fieldwork or archival experience
Interdisciplinary research skills

Not Eligible

Undergraduate students
Applicants not affiliated with a US institution
Teams or group proposals (AIIS awards are issued to individuals)

Grant Benefits

Funding Support: Research stipend or travel funding based on fellowship type
Travel Allowance: Support for travel to India
Research Materials: Access to archives, libraries, and field resources
Institutional Affiliation: AIIS assistance in securing an Indian university or research supervisor
Administrative Support: Guidance before, during, and after the fellowship
Publication & Dissemination Support: Encouragement to publish research outcomes
Professional Development: Exposure to Indian academic networks and field expertise