UNESCO - TWAS-CSIR Postgraduate Fellowship Programme 2026

📝 About the Programme

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of India and UNESCO-TWAS have established fellowships for foreign scholars from developing countries. These fellowships are designed for individuals who wish to pursue research toward a PhD in emerging areas of science and technology, utilizing facilities available in CSIR laboratories and institutes.

🎁 Benefits

Participants of the UNESCO - TWAS-CSIR Postgraduate Fellowship Programme will receive:

• Monthly stipend to cover living costs, food, and health insurance (non-convertible into foreign currency).
• Subsidized accommodation for fellowship awardees.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a maximum age of 35 years on 31 December of the application year.
• Be nationals of a developing country (other than India).
• Must not hold any visa for temporary or permanent residency in India or any developed country.
• Hold a Master's degree in science and technology.
• Be regularly employed in their home country and hold a research assignment there.
• SANDWICH Fellowships: Be registered PhD students in their home country and provide the "Registration and No Objection Certificate" from the home university.
• FULL-TIME Fellowships: Be willing to register at a university in India within the first year, if agreed to by CSIR.
• Be accepted at a CSIR laboratory/institution and provide an official acceptance letter from the host institution.
• Provide evidence of proficiency in English, if the medium of education was not English.
• Provide evidence that they will return to their home country upon completion of the fellowship.
• Not take up other assignments during the fellowship period.
• Be financially responsible for any accompanying family members.

📅 Application Date and Process

• If already registered for a PhD in their home country, applicants must ensure that the Vice-Chancellor or Registrar of their home university signs a copy of the "Registration and No Objection Certificate" (sample included in the Application Form). This copy should be sent to both CSIR and TWAS.
• Applicants must submit the acceptance letter from a CSIR institution when applying or by the deadline at the latest. Applications without preliminary acceptance will not be considered for selection.
• Applications for the TWAS-CSIR Postgraduate Fellowship Programme can ONLY be submitted via the online portal.
• Applicants may apply for only one programme per calendar year in the TWAS and OWSD portfolio.

📌 Application Deadline

06 May, 2026

🌟 How to Apply

• View detailed information about the UNESCO - TWAS-CSIR Postgraduate Fellowship Programme on the official TWAS website.
• Apply directly via the online application portal.

For more information, please visit the official TWAS website or contact the relevant CSIR host institution.

• CSIR will provide a monthly stipend to cover for living costs, food and health insurance.
• The monthly stipend will not be convertible into foreign currency.
• Fellowship awardees are entitled to subsidized accommodation.