Visiting Scholar Program

The Visiting Scholar Program situates entering academics in one of the best interdisciplinary environments for scholars and practitioners looking to continue research in a highly fruitful and supportive environment. Scholars will have access to the Institute’s cutting-edge research centers, including its archives, data centers, and collections related to South Asia.

Visiting Scholars will be expected to join public lectures and faculty seminars as well as collaborative workshops/projects during their stay, and learning from these inter-institutional development discussions will enable cross-disciplinary discourse while strengthening the Institute’s development of scholarship relating to new challenges faced by South Asia.

The program will constitute an otherwise unavailable experience to extend research questions with a focused lens while simultaneously building professional networks. Those who encourage the proposal with clear connections to the Institute’s central topics—sustainable development, culture and heritage, democratic resilience, religious pluralism, human rights—will be given priority.

Key Details

• Application Deadline: November 30, 2024

• Program Start: Spring or Autumn 2025 (based on mutual agreement)

• Eligibility: Applicants must provide evidence of a publication record or significant applied work in South Asian Studies or a related field. A well-defined research agenda is necessary and should align easily with the objectives of the Institute.

Benefits for Visiting Scholars

• Formal association with one of the foremost research centers for South Asian Studies

• Personalized office and access to all on-site research facilities

• Ability to publish through the Institute’s working paper series and policy briefs

• Opportunities to present papers at Institute workshops and regional conferences

• Mentorship resulting in subsequent publication and policy application in academic/reality-based settings.

---

Why Collaborate with the Sundar Singh Institute?

Those welcomed into the Institute family in 2025 will gain more than an affiliation to their CVs; they will become part of a larger endeavor to create implementable knowledge for purposes of justice, sustainability, and peace across the region. Our faculty and fellows will be a diverse cadre of scholarly, policy, and public theologic practitioners dedicated to the transformation of social equity from the Academy and beyond.

However, scholars will not simply be placed here to pursue their own pathways of research relative to their interests, but rather, to contribute to the burgeoning dynamic of the Institute that fosters scholarly productivity and applicable relevance across multiple fields.

This is an amazing opportunity to engage in discourse that extends beyond the pages of publication into policy and community praxis.

Think of this as your new home—where scholarly thought will prosper in an ethically sound atmosphere.

South Asia Policy Fellowship 2026

The South Asia Policy Fellowship will be a prestigious, one-year fellowship for emerging scholars and practitioners dedicated to generating and sustaining high-impact, policy-relevant research in the South Asian realm. As a fellow, the candidate would become part of the Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies’ vibrant research community and collaborate directly with our current faculty members on the pillars of our endeavors: democratic governance, inclusive economic development, regional security, and climate adaptation.

Fellows will conduct independent and collaborative research related to policy projects and attend high-level academic and policy conversations and briefings. They will co-author policy briefs and research articles that the Institute will consider for publication as part of our research agenda focused on policy relevance.

Fellows will gain exposure to the Sundar Singh Institute’s advanced research resources and interdisciplinary collaborative opportunities, compounded by directed guidance by preeminent thinkers in South Asian studies, public policy, ethics, and international relations. The ideal fellow would not only provide a solid ethical foundation but also be driven by policy and academic excellence.

Due Date: March 15, 2026

Eligibility: Must possess a completed Master’s/terminal degree (or relevant life experience) in a related field; preferred candidates will have experience in previous South Asian policy development and research.

Compensation: Monthly stipend, access to the Institute’s in-person libraries and online databases, attendance at lectures and workshops held internationally for potential public recognition in conjunction with professional development.

---

Why Collaborate with the Sundar Singh Institute?

Those who wish to enter this prestigious, year-long fellowship will join other established scholars and practitioners in bringing intellectually and practically developed skills to a globally connected policy think tank. The Institute creates an integrative atmosphere where action, dialogue, and research flow seamlessly.

Potential Research Impact: Research with a policy focus can resonate with those who experience the politics and implications of South Asia daily; development is conducted with internationally renowned leaders in the field.

Access to International Communities: For those seekers with long-term academic and professional pursuits in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, or the Maldives, the Sundar Singh Institute will significantly enhance current opportunities.

Publication Potential: Co-author articles for peer-reviewed journals and strategic briefs for local and international organizations. Writing links can create a basis for better decision-making in South Asia and beyond.

Mentorship Within Continuous Delegation: Once assigned to a fellow mentor, continuous matching of interests will connect with leaders in applications reflective of the potential of research findings based on fellow passion.

Whether one is looking to establish oneself as a new leader or grow their excellence, the vibrant approach of the Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies guarantees growth in their academic discipline, access to professional engagement opportunities, and meaningful contributions to South Asia’s future.