BHU sets up panel to help students, researchers, faculty to explore international fellowships

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has set up a dedicated panel to help students, researchers, and faculty explore global opportunities through the Fulbright programme. The initiative is aimed at encouraging more members of the university community to apply for international fellowships.

To support this effort, the university has formed a Fulbright Campus Representative (FCR) committee. The panel will guide applicants, share information, and help identify suitable candidates. It will also work closely with the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF).

As part of its outreach, BHU recently organised an awareness session on the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships for 2027–28, drawing participation from across departments.

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BHU Fulbright committee to guide applicants, expand outreach

The new committee at BHU will focus on reaching out to students and faculty across the university and making them aware of opportunities under the Fulbright programme. Plans include organising workshops, orientation sessions, and information meetings.

The idea is to make the application process more accessible and ensure that interested candidates get the right guidance at every stage. The university hopes this structured support will encourage more applicants to consider international academic exchanges.

The Fulbright programme itself is one of the world’s most well-known academic exchange initiatives, offering opportunities for study, research, and teaching in the United States. The Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships are jointly funded by the governments of India and the US.

BHU session on Fulbright: VC highlights reach and impact

At the session, BHU vice-chancellor Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi spoke about the programme’s global significance and long history. He noted that Fulbright has been around for over 80 years and has reached more than 450,000 participants worldwide, including several global leaders and Nobel laureates.

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He also shared that the university has set up a dedicated email channel to make communication around Fulbright applications smoother and more organised.

He encouraged students and faculty to make the most of these opportunities and expressed confidence that the university community would fully benefit from this prestigious international programme.

BHU Fulbright-Nehru fellowships: Session insights, participation

The session at BHU began with current and former Fulbright scholars from the university sharing their experiences in the United States, offering a glimpse into both academic and cultural aspects of the programme.

This was followed by a detailed presentation from Sudarsan Dash and Pratibha Nair of USIEF, who explained the 2027–28 fellowship opportunities. They covered key areas such as available fields of study, the application process, and common mistakes applicants should avoid.

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Participants also took part in a Q&A session, where they asked questions about research proposals, eligibility, and choosing the right field. More than 180 PhD scholars, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty members attended the session.

Wrapping up the event, Prashant Singh from the department of Botany said the newly formed committee is working towards building a network of past and future Fulbright scholars within the university to improve information sharing and mentorship.