About Young India Fellowship (YIF)

The Young India Fellowship (YIF) at Ashoka University is now accepting applications for admission for the Class of 2018-19. The YIF is a one-year multidisciplinary postgraduate diploma programme in Liberal Studies. The Fellowship brings together a group of bright young individuals who show exceptional intellectual ability and leadership potential from across the country, and trains them to become socially committed citizens of the country. YIF exposes them to a diverse set of subjects and perspectives, delivered by some of the finest teachers from India and around the world. The aim is to help Fellows become well-rounded individuals who are able to think critically about issues from multiple perspectives, communicate effectively and go on to become self-aware leaders with a commitment to public service.

The Young India Fellowship at Ashoka University is delivered in partnership with University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), Carleton College, University of California Berkeley, University of Michigan, King’s College London, Trinity College Dublin, Sciences Po Paris, Yale University, HEC Paris and Wellesley College.

YIF offers full and partial scholarships to successful applicants and there is no fee for applying to the programme.

Eligibility

The YIF programme is open to:

• Those with a  recognised undergraduate or postgraduate degree
• Those who are no more than 28 years of age on 31st May, 2018

The Fellowship promotes diversity and applicants from all areas of specialisation are encouraged to apply. While applicants who have been educated in a vernacular language as their medium of instruction are welcome, it is expected that they will be able to converse, read and write in English, since the medium of instruction at the programme is English.

For more information about YIF, please visit http: https://www.ashoka.edu.in/YIF

Admission process for the Class of 2018 opens on August 25th, 2017 and will close on March 4th, 2018.

The admission process is split into two rounds

Programme begins – 16th July, 2018

Some of the highlights of the programme include

1. Partnership: The YIF is run in collaboration with the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, Carleton College, and University of Michigan, King’s College London, University of California, Berkeley, Trinity College Dublin, Sciences Po, Yale University and Wellesley College.
2. Unique Curriculum: The Fellowship offers a broad range of learning and multiple perspectives through courses which build skills and perspectives. Some of the areas of learning at the YIF include Sociology, Economics, Statistics, Philosophy, Art, History, Literature, Business, Leadership, Group Dynamics, International Relations, Writing and Visual Communication.
3. Faculty: The courses are taught by inspiring faculty from India and abroad. Some of our eminent instructors include Kenwyn Smith, Professor of Organisational Behaviour from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; A.K. Shiva Kumar, Development Economist & Visiting Professor, Harvard University; Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Historian, Author & Chancellor, Ashoka University; and Mihir Shah, Former Member, Planning Commission of India and member of the National Advisory Council.
4. Peer Learning: The Young India Fellowship offers an invaluable opportunity for Fellows to forge relationships for the future. Typically, a YIF class comprises engineers, scientists, accountants, lawyers and designers, as well as those who have graduated with degrees in History, Sociology, English Literature and the Liberal Arts. There are also those who come with some work experience. This multidisciplinary environment, coupled with the demographic diversity in each class, gives every Fellow a unique exposure to multiple perspectives. Through group activities and projects, Fellows are exposed to – and eventually, learn and absorb – a wide range of skill-sets and interests from their peers. For many, this learning from others in their class is as invaluable as the more formal education they receive.
5. Mentorship: YIF Fellows are mentored by a group of high academic, business and social achievers in their journey to excellence. Some eminent mentors include Christophe Jaffrelot, Director, CERI, Sciences Po; Ashok Alexander, former consultant with McKinsey and head of India operations, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Ravi Bhoothalingam, Founder and Chairman, Manas Advisory; Sumantra Bose, Professor of International and Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science; and, Laila Tyabji, craft revivalist, art designer and the founder of Dastkar.
6. ELM: To complement coursework with real work experience, Fellows learn through the Experiential Learning Module (ELM), which is an eight-month long part-time engagement with an organisation on live projects. Each project is taken up by a team of 3-4 Fellows and involves working closely with the top management of the organization. Besides giving a glimpse of real-world issues, the module is aimed at equipping the students with basic team-building and problem-solving skills. Some of the ELM projects undertaken have been with Harley-Davidson India, Microsoft, Cipla, Media for Change, Natural Justice, PRATHAM, Shri. Naveen Jindal’s Office of Development, McKinsey Global Institute, Abott India, India Innovation Centre, Samagra, MP Rajiv Gowda’s Office, MP Jayant Sinha’s Office, Centre for Political Data at Ashoka Univeristy, Evalueserve, FutureBrands, and LaUltra.
7. Centres: The institute has developed Research Centres to encourage academic and research collaborations in order to establish an exciting interdisciplinary environment on campus. These include the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Ashoka Centre for Well-Being, Centre for Writing and Communication, Genpact Centre for Women’s Leadership among others.
8. Beyond YIF: Some Young India Fellows are studying at some of the world’s leading universities like University of Oxford, Stanford University, Yale University, Kellog Business School, London School of Economics and Political Science, Sciences Po, Central European University, University of Michigan, Geneva Institute, Berlage Center for Advanced Studies in Architecture and Urban Design, Columbia University and the University of Chicago. Many alumni have been awarded prestigious scholarships like Chevening, Commonwealth, Fullbright and Rhodes Scholarships.
   • Many have been placed at top corporate houses like American Express, BCG, McKinsey, Microsoft, Schlumberger, Cipla, Ernst & Young, Genpact, Goldman Sachs, Godrej, Hidesign, Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB), Star TV, Google, Religare, Ratnakar Banks, Tata Power, Hindustan Times, and start-ups like OYO Rooms, Zoztel, Convegenuis and AsaanJobs. A couple of Fellows have also cracked the UPSC exams with all-India ranks under 50.
   • Some have decided to contribute in the not-for-profit, development and sustainability sectors and have joined the ranks of organisations like the Samagra, Pradaan, World Bank, World Wildlife Fund, Amnesty International, National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), UN Sustainable Solutions Development Network, Samaj Pragati Sahayog and PRATHAM. A few Fellows have shown evidence of their entrepreneurial spirit, setting up their own start-ups or continuing with those they were already part of.
9. Guest Lectures: The Fellows attend guest lectures by global achievers and role models drawn from a range of sectors in the further pursuit of education through experience. Young India Fellows have been inspired by pre-eminent individuals like Barack Obama, Dalai Lama, Madeleine K. Albright, Raghuram Rajan, Kaushik Basu, Ramachandra Guha, Nandan Nilekani, Pranoy Roy, Rajdeep Sardesai, Shashi Tharoor, Jairam Ramesh and Robert Swan.
10. Need Based Scholarships: The YIF offers appropriate need based scholarhip support (ranging from 15% to 100%) depending on the financial status of the student.
11. Ashoka University: Ashoka University is a pioneer in its focus on providing a liberal education at par with the best in the world. The Young India Fellowship is Ashoka’s postgraduate diploma programme in Liberal Studies.

 If you have any queries, please feel free to write to us at [email protected]

YIF Admissions Team, Ashoka University

M +91 8222530504 || D +91 130 230 0000

www.youngindiafellowship.com | www.ashoka.edu.in

For more information about YIF, please visit http: https://www.ashoka.edu.in/YIF