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Grantee Responsibilities, Reports and Travel Regulations
As Fulbright scholars in India, you are academic professionals as well as cultural ambassadors representing the values and ideals of the United States. With this prestigious grant comes the responsibility to uphold the highest standards of conduct—academically, professionally, and personally. It is vital to remain actively engaged with your host institution and local community, making the most of your time here by fostering meaningful cultural exchange, collaboration, and mutual understanding between the two countries. Your presence plays a key role in building lasting relationships and shaping the future of the Fulbright Program in India.
Engagement with Host Institutions and Reporting Responsibilities
Maintaining a positive and professional relationship with your host institution is a vital part of the Fulbright experience in India. Whether you are a senior scholar or a student, engaging meaningfully with your host helps create a foundation for academic exchange, mutual respect, and potential future collaborations between institutions.
Fulbright students are expected to stay in regular contact with their academic supervisors and pay regular in-person campus visits to review project timelines and deliverables. Additionally, students must inform both USIEF and their academic coordinators of any planned domestic or international travel.
Before concluding the fellowship, students are encouraged to present their final research findings to their academic supervisor and/or the student community through a presentation, talk, or workshop. It is also highly recommended that students take time to meet with their academic supervisor, colleagues, and others before they leave India at the closure of their grant. Expressing appreciation through a thank-you note, or any other meaningful gesture is encouraged to sustain their support and collaboration for future grantees.
Report requirement:
- Grantee Monthly Report: due at the end of each month for the first three months of the grant
- USIEF’s midterm (500- 1000 words) and final narrative reports (500- 1000 words) on the progress of your research work. These reports must be countersigned by both the grantee and the grantee’s Indian academic supervisor. These reports should be submitted to the designated U.S. Program staff at USIEF
- Grantee Final Reports: Both narrative and feedback final reports are due before the end of the grant
Grantees under the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Awards, Distinguished Scholar and Fulbright-Kalam Awards are expected to provide timely updates on the progress and outcomes of their projects. These reports help USIEF assess the impact of the grant and support future program development.
- Midterm Report to USIEF for grants over six months. For Flex grantees, a report must be submitted after completion of each phase of the grant.
- Grantee Final Report: due at the end of grant
Travel during the Grant period:
Fulbright grants are full-time commitments, and personal travel unrelated to the grant project or research should be kept to a minimum. All travel—domestic or international—must be communicated to USIEF in advance and adhere to the guidelines below.
All Fulbright Scholars and Student Researchers are strongly encouraged to remain in India for the duration of their grant. However, all Fulbright-Nehru Scholars/ Student Researchers, and Fulbright-Kalam scholars regardless of the duration of the grant, are permitted a cumulative total of 14 days of personal travel including weekends and holidays outside of India, with advance, written permission from USIEF. Requests for international travel must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the intended departure date and should be emailed to the appropriate USIEF program staff. USIEF will review the request and inform the grantee of the decision.
Fulbright-Nehru and Fulbright-Kalam Flex grants, regardless of the duration, are permitted a cumulative total of 7 days of personal travel including weekends and holidays outside of India with advance, written permission from USIEF.
Any travel outside of India without the written consent of USIEF will result in the immediate suspension and possible revocation of the Fulbright-Nehru grant.
Note: The SCA Regional Travel Grant for Senior Scholars is considered personal travel outside of India and part of the 14 days of out-of-country travel.
Permission for international travel will only be given during the grant period, and grantees must be in India on the last day of their grant. Requests for international travel towards the end of the grant or during any extension period will not be entertained. USIEF will not pay for any travel costs.
Grantees traveling outside of India will receive regular grant benefits except Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) coverage, which will be withdrawn for any period they are out of India.
U.S. Fulbrighters in India are required to inform USIEF at least one week in advance of any domestic travel outside their primary grant location.
Senior Scholars are requested to send their travel requests to Priyanjana, with a copy to the appropriate USIEF regional staff.
Student grantees should direct their travel requests to Neeraj, also copying the USIEF regional staff in their correspondence.
Failure to abide by this policy could be considered a violation of the Program Terms and Conditions and therefore may result in the immediate suspension, termination, and/or revocation of the Fulbright grant, in accordance with FFSB Policies regarding revocation, termination and suspension of grants.
Jammu and Kashmir: Fulbright students and scholars in India are prohibited from traveling to Jammu & Kashmir without permission. Any travel to this region without prior permission will result in the immediate suspension and revocation of the Fulbright grant.
The U.S. Program team will handle all your inquiries and will do their utmost to help you take full advantage of your grant. You can request USIEF for access letters to gain admission to National Archives and State Archives.
USIEF is an excellent source of information on India and can be a central contact between grantees and local sources. USIEF staff can be a general reference for advice regarding living arrangements, financial or research issues, and in personal dealings no matter how seemingly trivial. Grantees will be treated, always and in equal measure, as individuals and professionals living away from home who are carrying out important work in India.