FIRST@IITH Fellowship Program 2026
About this scholarship
FIRST@IITH is a fully funded PhD fellowship at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad for foreign nationals in engineering, sciences, and related research areas including AI.
FIRST@IITH Fellowship Program is a doctoral funding scheme offered by the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) in India. It is designed for foreign nationals seeking to pursue a PhD in research-focused areas across engineering, science, and emerging interdisciplinary fields such as artificial intelligence.
The programme is presented as a fully funded four-year fellowship. Based on available postings, support includes a monthly stipend of INR 60,000 and an annual contingency grant of INR 100,000 to help cover research-related expenses. There is also no application fee. The fellowship aims to attract strong international candidates to IITH's research ecosystem, which is known for innovation, technology, and doctoral training.
Eligibility information in the reference postings indicates that applicants must be foreign nationals, with OCI and NRI applicants excluded. Candidates are expected to hold both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree from foreign universities in relevant engineering, technology, or related disciplines. A strong academic record is required, with a minimum CGPA of 8.5/10 or equivalent. Preference may be given to graduates of highly ranked institutions and to applicants with demonstrated research output such as publications or patents.
The fellowship is hosted specifically at Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, so the place of study is India. Available descriptions mention a broad range of departments, including areas such as artificial intelligence and engineering-related disciplines. Applicants should prepare academic records and evidence of research background, then follow IITH's PhD admissions process and fellowship instructions when applications open.
- Host institution: Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
- Host country: India
- Study level: PhD
- Funding: stipend plus annual contingency support
- Target group: foreign nationals only, excluding OCI/NRI
Eligibility
Who can apply for this scholarship
Open to foreign nationals applying for PhD study at IIT Hyderabad. Reference postings state that OCI and NRI applicants are not eligible. Applicants should hold both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from foreign universities in relevant engineering, technology, science, or related disciplines, and should demonstrate strong academic merit and research potential.
Requirements
Documents typically needed to apply
Where you can use this
Open positions accepting FIRST@IITH Fellowship Program.
