Paid NLSIU Research Fellowships at NLSIU, Bengaluru, January 2027 Intake (Graduate, Postdoctoral and University Research Fellowships; 20 Positions; Rs 50,000 to Rs 2,00,000 per month)

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru has invited applications for its NLSIU Research Fellowships, offered on a contract basis, for the intake starting January 2027 only. The call, published on 15 September 2026, covers three fellowships:

• Graduate Research Fellowship (10 positions)
• NLSIU Postdoctoral Fellowship (5 positions)
• University Research Fellowship (5 positions)

This is a fresh call for the January 2027 intake. It is separate from the 2025-26 round of the programme, whose final application deadline was 30 June 2026.

The Research Fellowships programme supports scholars at different stages of their academic and professional careers to spend dedicated time at NLSIU on research in law, the social sciences and public policy, and to engage with the University's intellectual community. NLSIU states that it supports research that advances fresh theoretical perspectives, or that generates robust empirical evidence, identifies pathways for institutional and system reform, and bridges scholarship, policy and practice. Both interdisciplinary and disciplinary research are welcome.

Established in 2025-26, the programme builds on NLSIU's earlier Academic Fellowship programme, which graduated three cohorts into academic positions and PhDs.

The starting monthly remuneration for each category is:

• Graduate Research Fellowship: Rs 50,000 per month
• Postdoctoral Fellowship: Rs 1,20,000 per month
• University Research Fellowship: Rs 2,00,000 per month

The final remuneration is determined by the candidate's educational background, qualifications, relevant experience and overall suitability. Postdoctoral Fellows who show satisfactory performance receive a 10% increase in the fellowship amount in the second year.

• Who can apply: recent graduates and young scholars with up to three years of post-qualification experience, holding a graduate degree in law or a postgraduate degree in social sciences, public policy and/or allied disciplines. Work experience is not mandatory.
• Candidates currently enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate programme may apply if they receive their degree by the time they join. Candidates pursuing a doctoral degree are not eligible.
• Duration: minimum 6 months, maximum 2 years.
• Work: supporting research centres, chairs and projects through desk research, literature reviews, briefs and concept notes, research and grant proposals, and organising workshops, conferences and seminars, with faculty mentorship for the Fellow's own research.
• Output: at least one solo written piece (policy brief, blog or research article) during the fellowship or in each year of it.

• Who can apply: candidates awarded a PhD in law, social sciences, public policy or allied disciplines in the past three years (counted from the date of the notification), and candidates who have submitted their PhD thesis by the date of the notification. Candidates yet to receive the degree must submit a provisional certificate confirming the viva voce date and the outcome before joining.
• Candidates who have previously held any postdoctoral position at any university or research institution are not eligible.
• Duration: up to 2 years.
• Output: submit a draft book manuscript to a publisher, publish one peer-reviewed article a year and at least two short-form pieces a year for the NLS Scholarship Repository, and teach one elective course a year in their field (subject to approval of the Academic Review Committee).

• Who can apply: leading experts with a recognised PhD, at least 10 years of teaching, and a demonstrable publication record including solo-authored books and articles in well-recognised academic journals. Appointments are made both by invitation and through this open application process.
• Duration: minimum 3 months, extendable up to 2 years.
• Output: one peer-reviewed journal article a year (for fellowships longer than a year), one to six short-form pieces for the NLS Scholarship Repository depending on duration, one elective course each academic year, and contributions to research workshops, strategy and faculty and student exchanges with the Fellow's home institution.

The fellowships are based at the NLSIU campus in Bengaluru, and Fellows are expected to be on campus during their fellowship period.

Apply through the separate Google Form for the relevant fellowship, linked from the official NLSIU call (a Google sign-in is required to open the forms). There is no application fee.

NLSIU takes in Fellows twice a year, in January and July, and reviews each intake separately. Apply only for the intake in which you intend to start: this call is for fellowships beginning in January 2027. Candidates who are not selected may reapply in later rounds.

NLSIU states that, owing to the volume of applications, it will contact only candidates shortlisted for interview and those selected.

The last date to apply is 30 October 2026, 5:00 PM IST.