Inlaks-King’s India Institute Studentship 2026 – Full Details

The Inlaks-King’s India Institute Studentship 2026 is a joint funding opportunity offered by the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation and the King’s India Institute at King’s College London (KCL), UK. The studentship is designed for registered Indian PhD scholars who wish to undertake a short-term research visit to King’s College London.

The programme supports researchers in accessing specialist academic literature, consulting subject experts, and using research resources and library collections available in the UK. Selected scholars can receive financial assistance for a research stay of up to three months.

💰 Studentship Benefits

Selected PhD scholars can receive financial support towards their research visit to the UK.

• Research Visit: Funding is provided for a research stay of up to 3 months at King’s College London.

• Travel Support: Reimbursement for international travel expenses is provided in accordance with the applicable foundation guidelines.

• Maintenance Allowance: A monthly stipend is provided towards reasonable living expenses in London.

• Research Materials: Reimbursement of up to USD 500 is available for eligible books, research resources, photocopies, and related materials.

• Health Support: Reimbursable health coverage is available up to a maximum of USD 500.

• King’s College Support: A GBP 1,000 lump-sum payment is provided by King’s College London upon arrival to support local research-related expenses.

• Academic Access: Scholars can benefit from relevant research resources, libraries, and academic expertise at King’s College London.

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

Applicants for the Inlaks-King’s India Institute Studentship 2026 must meet the following requirements:

• Academic Enrollment: Must be currently registered as a full-time PhD scholar at a recognized Indian university.

• Discipline: Research must fall within the Humanities or Social Sciences.

• PhD Synopsis: The applicant's PhD synopsis must have been formally confirmed or approved by the home university.

• Academic Qualification: Must hold a First-Class Bachelor's degree and a First-Class Master's degree.

• Age Limit: Applicant must have been born on or after 1 January 1991.

• Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen holding an Indian passport.

• Residence: Applicant should be residing in India at the time of application.

• External Expert Consultation: Applicants must provide evidence of positive communication with relevant experts outside King's College London whom they intend to consult during the research visit.

Applicants should verify that all academic, age, research, and documentation requirements are satisfied before submitting their application.

📂 Documents Required

Applicants should prepare clear and readable digital copies of the following documents:

Academic Records

• Bachelor's degree marksheets or transcripts.

• Master's degree marksheets or transcripts.

• Other relevant academic records.

PhD Documents

• Confirmed PhD synopsis.

• Proof of current PhD registration at the Indian university.

• Details of the proposed research project.

Research and Professional Documents

• Updated CV.

• Research proposal or statement explaining the purpose of the proposed UK research visit.

• Evidence of communication with relevant external experts whom the applicant intends to consult.

KCL Research Preferences

• Names of two potential academic supervisors at the King's India Institute whose research interests align with the applicant's thesis.

Identity Documents

• Indian passport or other applicable proof of nationality and identity.

Applicants should ensure that all documents are accurate, complete, and up to date before uploading them.

💻 How to Apply

The application process for the Inlaks-King’s India Institute Studentship 2026 is conducted online through the Inlaks application platform.

1. Visit the official Inlaks Submittable Application Manager.

2. Create an account or log in using your existing credentials.

3. Locate the Inlaks-King’s India Institute Studentship 2026 application.

4. Identify two potential academic supervisors at the King's India Institute whose research areas align with your PhD work.

5. Complete the online application questionnaire.

6. Upload your updated CV, confirmed PhD synopsis, academic transcripts, and supporting documents.

7. Provide evidence of communication with relevant external experts whom you intend to consult.

8. Explain how the proposed research visit to London will contribute to your doctoral research.

9. Review the complete application carefully.

10. Submit the application before the stated deadline.

11. Save the application acknowledgement or reference details for future use.

Applicants should not contact the proposed King's India Institute supervisors directly for this application. The matching and introduction process is handled by the relevant selection authorities if the candidate is selected.

🗓️ Important Dates

• Application Deadline: 31 August 2026 at 11:59 PM IST

• Shortlist Notification: Final week of September 2026

• Final Selection Interviews: Mid-October 2026

• Research Visit Period: January 2027 to June 2027

• Maximum Research Visit Duration: 3 months

• Application Mode: Online

Applicants should submit their applications before the closing time and ensure that all required supporting materials are complete.

🔍 Selection Process

The studentship follows a competitive research-based selection process that may include several stages:

1. Application Screening: Submitted applications are reviewed for academic and eligibility requirements.

2. Research Assessment: The quality and relevance of the applicant's PhD research and proposed UK visit are assessed.

3. Shortlisting: Selected applicants are shortlisted for the next stage.

4. Interview: Final shortlisted candidates participate in an online interview.

5. Final Selection: The selection committee determines the final studentship recipients.

6. Academic Matching: Where applicable, King’s India Institute facilitates the appropriate academic connection or supervisor matching for the selected scholar.

7. Research Visit: Selected scholars undertake their approved research visit within the permitted travel period.

📌 Important Points to Remember

• The studentship is jointly offered by the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation and King’s India Institute at King’s College London.

• Applicants must be Indian PhD scholars currently registered at a recognized Indian university.

• Research must fall within the Humanities or Social Sciences.

• The applicant must have a confirmed PhD synopsis.

• Both Bachelor's and Master's degrees must meet the specified First-Class academic requirement.

• Applicants must have been born on or after 1 January 1991.

• Applicants must hold an Indian passport and reside in India.

• The studentship supports a research visit of up to three months.

• Travel expenses, maintenance, health support, and research materials may be covered under the applicable funding rules.

• Up to USD 500 can be provided for eligible research materials and photocopies.

• Up to USD 500 may be available for eligible health coverage.

• King’s College London provides a GBP 1,000 support payment upon arrival under the programme conditions.

• Applicants must identify two potential King's India Institute supervisors, but should not contact them directly during the application process.

• Any research materials purchased using the designated research-material support may need to become the property of the applicant's home university library after returning to India.

• Selected scholars may be required to submit a research summary report within 30 days of returning to India.

• The application deadline is 31 August 2026 at 11:59 PM IST.

• The research visit must take place between January 2027 and June 2027.

🔗 Official Application Portal

Eligible researchers can apply through the official Inlaks online application platform:

Apply for the Inlaks-King’s India Institute Studentship 2026

The Inlaks-King’s India Institute Studentship 2026 provides an important opportunity for Indian PhD scholars in the Humanities and Social Sciences to undertake focused research in the UK. Eligible researchers should prepare their academic records, confirmed PhD synopsis, research proposal, expert consultation evidence, and other supporting documents and submit their applications before the 31 August 2026 deadline.