Science Academies invite applications for 2027 summer research fellowships

The three national Science Academies have invited applications for their 2027 Summer Research Fellowship Programme (SRFP), offering students and teachers an opportunity to undertake short-term research projects under scientists associated with the academies.

The programme is jointly offered by the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru; Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi; and The National Academy of Sciences, India, Prayagraj.

Selected fellows will work with an assigned scientist or faculty member for two months during 2027, with the summer period preferred. The programme is open to eligible students and teachers studying or teaching in India.

Applications for the 2027 fellowship have to be submitted online by November 30, 2026. The academies are expected to communicate selection decisions, along with confirmation from the proposed research guide, around March-April 2027.

Who can apply for SRFP 2027

The fellowship is open to students enrolled in specified undergraduate, postgraduate, integrated and dual-degree programmes.

The eligible categories include students pursuing BS or BSc in their second year, BSc Research in the third year, BStat or BMath in the second year, and BPharm in the third or fourth year.

Students in BE, BTech and BCA programmes can apply during their second or third year, while BArch students are eligible in their second, third or fourth year.

The programme also covers students in the first year of MS, MSc, MVSc and MPharm, as well as first-year ME, MTech, MCA and MArch students. Students in MStat and MMath can apply in their first year.

Certain five-year integrated programmes, including MS, MSc, MTech, MBBS and BVSc, are covered for students in their second, third or fourth years. Eligibility also extends to specified years of PharmD, dual-degree programmes, Integrated PhD and MSc Tech programmes. PhD students are not eligible for the fellowship. Teachers must be teaching at a college or university.

For student applicants, the average marks in core subjects from Class 10 onwards through the latest completed examination must be at least 65 per cent. This marks requirement does not apply to teachers. Applicants who have already availed themselves of the academies' fellowship twice are also not eligible to apply again.

What the fellowship involves

The programme is designed to give students and teachers exposure to research through direct work with scientists associated with the three academies.

Applicants are required to identify a specific area of interest and explain, in around 150 to 250 words, what they hope to learn and achieve through the fellowship. They can also mention a particular experiment or theoretical area they would like to work on.

The academies specifically state that this write-up should focus on a specific research interest rather than providing a broad description of a subject. Applicants are also instructed not to copy the write-up from another source.

A list of scientists and faculty members who have agreed to guide fellows on short-term projects is available as part of the online application process.

Student applicants are required to provide the email address of a current teacher familiar with their academic work. The academy will contact that teacher separately for a recommendation.

Applicants must also upload scanned copies of their marksheets from Class 10 through their latest examination. Only one application is considered for each candidate.

Travel and living support

Students and teachers selected for the programme will receive round-trip train fare as per their entitlement and a monthly fellowship to meet living expenses at the place where they undertake their research.

The assigned research project can be undertaken at any time during 2027, although the academies have indicated a preference for the summer months.

The programme has been running for several years and is one of the Science Academies' established research-exposure initiatives. According to the Indian Academy of Sciences, around 2,000 summer fellowships are now offered each year, covering students and teachers, with travel and living expenses supported under the programme.

How to apply

Applications for SRFP 2027 can be submitted online through the websites of the three participating academies.

Candidates should retain the registration number generated after submitting the application, as it will be required for subsequent correspondence.

The deadline to submit the online application is November 30, 2026. Selection information and confirmation from the research guide are expected around March-April 2027.

The fellowship gives eligible students and teachers an opportunity to spend two months working on a research project under an established scientist, potentially providing early exposure to research beyond the classroom and regular academic coursework.