FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Coexistence Fellowship 2026
About the Fellowship
1. How long is the fellowship?
The fellowship is for a period of two years, beginning in November 2026.
2. Who can apply for the fellowship?
The fellowship is open to Indian nationals who are committed to working full-time on their proposed fellowship project. We particularly encourage applications from individuals and communities who are underrepresented in conservation dialogues.
3. Does the project need to be from a specific landscape?
No. We welcome applications from diverse landscapes across India. Our previous fellows have come from different states and represented diverse communities and ecosystems. Please take a look at the people and places from the first and second cohort to know more.
Eligibility
4. Is there an age limit for applying?
There is no specific age limit. We recognise that ideas of who is considered "young" or "old" can vary across communities and contexts. We welcome applications from people who have been working or engaging with a particular landscape or issue for a significant period of time.
However, the fellowship is intended for individuals who can benefit from the training and mentorship offered through the programme. Senior or already well-established conservation professionals, and individuals with a Ph.D. or higher qualification, are not eligible.
5. Do I need a degree to apply?
The educational requirements depend on your relationship with the proposed project landscape:
-
Applicants who are not from the project landscape: An undergraduate degree in any discipline is mandatory. A master's degree in any discipline is preferred.
-
Applicants from the project landscape: Education up to at least Class 10 is essential. An undergraduate degree is preferred.
At least one member of the two-person team must have a graduate degree and moderate fluency in reading, writing, and speaking English.
6. Does my project need to have a human-wildlife interaction angle?
Yes. The fellowship specifically supports projects that seek to understand and foster coexistence between people and wildlife. Projects may explore human-wildlife interactions, relationships, conflicts, or other dimensions of coexistence and should be grounded in the values and philosophy of coexistence.
7. Does my project have to be a research project?
No. The fellowship supports both research and conservation initiatives. Projects may use approaches from any discipline, as long as they contribute to understanding or fostering coexistence between people and wildlife, or of coexistence ideologies, perspectives or knowledge systems.
8. Why does the fellowship require two fellows?
The fellowship is designed around collaboration between two fellows who bring different experiences, knowledge systems, and perspectives to the project. The model encourages learning and co-production of knowledge between community-based and conventional academic or professional perspectives, with the aim of supporting the project and the landscape in the longer term.
9. Can both fellows be from outside the project landscape?
No. At least one fellow must be from the proposed project area.
10. Can both fellows be from the same community or landscape?
Yes, as long as the team meets all other eligibility requirements.
11. Can I apply individually if I do not have a fellow partner?
No. The fellowship is designed for teams of two, and individual applications without a proposed partner will not be considered. Applicants are encouraged to identify a partner with whom they can meaningfully collaborate and who brings complementary experiences or perspectives.
12. Does the project need to work directly with local communities?
Strong preference will be given to projects that plan to work closely with local communities.
Training Programme
13. Is the training programme mandatory?
Yes. Participation in the in-person training programme is mandatory. Only candidates who are able to attend the full training periods will be considered for the fellowship.
14. When and where will the training take place?
The training will take place for a month and half, starting in early November 2026, at the campus of the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), Bengaluru.
15. What will we learn during the training programme?
The training is designed to help fellows develop different ways of understanding and engaging with landscapes and coexistence. The interdisciplinary coursework will expose fellows to diverse perspectives and approaches, including ecology, sociology, anthropology, art, and the basics of ethnographic research, alongside wider debates in conservation and coexistence.
The training will also provide fellows with practical skills needed to undertake interdisciplinary fieldwork.
16. Will the training be conducted in English?
Yes and No. While English will be the working language of the training programme and official communications, the sessions are multi-lingual, depending on the languages spoken across each cohort. We aim to make the classroom environment as inclusive as possible, and fellows are encouraged to support one another with translation and interpretation where needed. At least one fellow in each team must have moderate fluency in reading, writing, and speaking English to be able to support their partner and enable shared learning.
17. Can I attend the training online?
No. The training is an in-person component of the fellowship. Candidates must be available to attend the full training programme in Bengaluru.
Fellowship Support and Funding
18. What financial support will fellows receive?
Each fellow will receive a stipend of INR 25,000 per month for two years. In addition, fieldwork expenses of up to INR 2,50,000 per year will be provided for the fellowship project.
19. What can the fieldwork funds be used for?
The fieldwork funds are intended to support expenses directly related to carrying out the fellowship project, including research and fieldwork-related costs. The fellowship stipend is separate and is intended to support the fellows during the fellowship period.
20. Will travel expenses to Bengaluru for the training be covered?
Yes. To-and-fro basic travel costs will be covered, including 3rd AC train travel, and airfare for long-distance journeys where direct rail connectivity is limited. Accommodation and meals will also be provided.
Fellowship Experience and Outputs
21. What are the expected deliverables of the fellowship?
We encourage fellows to decide the form of their final outputs based on what is most meaningful and useful for their project and the human/nonhuman communities involved.
Previous fellows have contributed through formats such as short films, documentaries, storybooks, research papers, and media articles. Fellows may explore other appropriate formats as well.
Fellows that complete their project deliverable on time, will receive a certification of completion of the Coexistence Fellowship.
22. Will fellows receive mentorship during the fellowship?
Yes. Throughout the two-year fellowship, fellows will be mentored by experts from various fields, assigned as per the requirements of each project.
Application Process
23. When is the application open?
Applications will be open from 16 August 2026 to 16 September 2026.
24. How do I apply?
Interested candidates should complete the online application form.
25. When will the interviews take place?
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview, tentatively in the last week of September 2026.
26. When will the selected fellows begin the fellowship?
The fellowship will begin on 9 November 2026, with the mandatory in-person training programme in Bengaluru.
27. Do I need to be available full-time for the fellowship?
Yes. Fellows are expected to work full-time on their fellowship project for the duration of the fellowship.
28. Can I apply if I am already working with an organisation?
Yes, provided you are able to commit to working full-time on the fellowship project for the duration of the fellowship, and submit a no objection letter from your place of work.
29. Can I apply if I am a student?
Applicants must be able to work full-time on the fellowship project. If you are enrolled in another degree or fellowship programme, you are not eligible to apply.
About the Fellowship Approach
30. How is this fellowship different from the Coexistence Champions Programme?
Coexistence Fellowship Coexistence Champions
For teams of two For individuals
For early career people, For mid career, established people, like a small
beginning to explore ideas of grants programme
conservation and coexistence
Full time, two years Can be part time, two to five years
Through its unique paired structure, this fellowship challenges conventional power frameworks and hierarchies: urban/rural, outsider/insider, teacher/student, researcher/field assistant. It focuses on collaboration, equity and co-creation.
31. What kind of applicants are you looking for?
We are looking for teams who have a meaningful connection with a landscape or issue and who are interested in exploring new ways of understanding and fostering coexistence between people and wildlife, or of coexistence ideologies, perspectives, or knowledge systems.
We particularly encourage applications that bring together diverse forms of knowledge, work closely with local communities, and can benefit from interdisciplinary training and mentorship.
32. I have more questions. Who can I contact?
For any questions that are not answered in these FAQs, please write to: coexistence.fellowship@gmail.com.