Application Deadline Extended For Ashoka University’s Young India Fellowship

In light of the unprecedented circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline for the tenth cohort of The Young India Fellowship, the flagship one-year multi-disciplinary residential post-graduate diploma programme of Ashoka University has been extended till 13th April. The third and final phase of admissions which began on 3rd February 2020 was previously due to end on 31st March 2020.

All offline steps of the application process like Comprehension Tests and Personal Interviews have been moved online. Relaxations have also been made on application submission requirements (such as recommendation letters and documents) that typically need offline work (such as reaching out to institutions and professors) from candidates.

Eligibility criteria and application process

Candidates who have a recognized undergraduate or postgraduate degree in any discipline (final-year candidates as well) and are no more than 28 years of age on 15th July 2020 are eligible to apply. Candidates may have work experience as well.

Evaluation is made after a thorough application assessment, a telephonic interview and a final round of a written comprehension test and an interview. The application process takes a few hours to complete—a majority of the time is typically spent on writing the essays, which ask candidates to talk about what matters most to them, their personal journey and what they hope to accomplish from the YIF, and so on.

YIF financial aid and application fees

Ashoka University is distinguished by its collective philanthropy and shared governance model, an unprecedented initiative in Indian higher education. The YIF offers up to 100% need-based financial aid to students, and there is no fee for applying to the programme. About 2/3rd of the current YIF student body is on some form of need-based financial aid, with roughly 30 per cent of the body on 100 per cent tuition waivers or more.

 About YIF, the current student body and the alumni community

Started in 2011, the YIF brings together 300 bright scholars from diverse academic, professional, socio-economic and geographical backgrounds, and exposes them to an array of new-age educational experiences that help Fellows acquire enhanced intellectual and professional capabilities.

A YIF class typically has economists, doctors, artists, lawyers, engineers, musicians, business and literature graduates, entrepreneurs, writers, filmmakers and people from several other backgrounds. The purpose is to train young people to become effective leaders of tomorrow, with a strong commitment to public service, no matter what career path they choose.

Fellows study about 20 subjects across unique fields of study, in the academic year. Each course offering is from a distinct academic or professional domain. Disciplines range from sciences to social sciences and from leadership to the arts. Course offerings include public policy, art appreciation, gender and media studies, leadership, group dynamics, business essentials, Shakespeare, communication, and Indian elections.

In addition to the academic curriculum, Fellows also undergo an 8-month long Critical Writing Programme as well as an Experiential Learning Module (a team-based project on a real-world problem statement, with a partner organization), both of which are core components of the YIF. The programme shapes 21st-century skills - critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication and empathetic leadership—that are key to succeeding in any career, be it academic or professional.

To enable faculty, curriculum and student exchange, Ashoka University has partnered with world-class institutions. Collaborations include the University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, King’s College London, Sciences Po, HEC Paris, Trinity College Dublin, University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, Tel Aviv University, Duke University, and Yale University. 

The current YIF student body (Class of 2019-20) comprises 301 Fellows from more than 120 villages, towns and cities across over 25 Indian states and UTs. They represent over 180 undergraduate institutions, and roughly half of them come with work experience. Typically, there are more female-identifying students in the YIF than any other gender expression.