FAQ

The Naropa Fellowship is a one-year, fully-residential, post-graduate, academic programme focused on creating and nurturing agents of change who will work towards fostering an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and growth while preserving the cultural heritage of Ladakh and the Himalayan region. The driving purpose behind the Naropa Fellowship is the urgent need to not only retain local talent, but also develop entrepreneurial skills that can help foster a robust socio- economic environment in Ladakh and the Himalayan region. Additionally, there is also a need to educate the younger generation regarding the importance of maintaining their distinctive culture and heritage. The Fellowship is thus designed to address the rising challenges of unemployment, lack of training and professional skills, and the gradual cultural erosion in Ladakhi and other Himalayan societies. The residential campus for the Naropa Fellowship Programme is located at Hemis, Ladakh. It is a well-equipped, secure living space that is provided to the Fellows on a triple-sharing basis, equipped with solar-powered centralised heating and geysers, with meals provided three times a day.
The Naropa Fellows experience an enriching year, forming life-long relationships and professional networks, and are awarded a Post-Graduate Certificate of Completion in Entrepreneurial Leadership.

The Fellowship is open to students and working professionals from all fields, with a preference for those from Ladakh and the Himalayan regions across India, Nepal and Bhutan. Students and working professionals from elsewhere, interested in ecological issues, cultural preservation, entrepreneurship, and tourism are also eligible.

The eligibility criteria for the Naropa Fellowship are:

1. A recognised undergraduate or post-graduate degree in any discipline
2. A strong academic record and extra-curricular engagement
3. A demonstrable sense of purpose and commitment towards working for the development of Ladakh and the Himalayan region

The Naropa Fellowship is a one-year, full-time, residential post-graduate programme. It is a lifetime of commitment towards improving the lives of indigenous Himalayan communities.

There are two ways through which you can apply to the Fellowship:

ONLINE (through the website)

  • Register on the website
  • Sign in and complete the application form
  • If shortlisted, appear for an interview with Team Naropa

    • OFFLINE (via Post)

  • Download and print the PDF version of the application form
  • Fill out the application form manually and mail it to the address provided at the end
  • If shortlisted, appear for an interview with the Team Naropa
You will get to hear about the status of your application within 1 month of your submission. You can also write to admissions@naropafellowship.org to find out more.
Yes, you may re-apply to the Fellowship for an academic year in the future. However, a fresh application must be submitted in this case.
The shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in Leh, New Delhi or via Skype/Phone.
The Naropa Fellowship equips its Fellows with the skills and tools needed to successfully promote business and enterprise, and to improve the lives of the communities they belong to. The Fellows are prepared to start their own new ventures or to play crucial roles in existing companies and not-for-profits. The Fellowship’s Career Development Office offers holistic career support to the Fellows and assists them in identifying opportunities in their area of interest.
The total fee for the Programme stands at INR 10 Lakhs. For the first two years, all the Fellows are awarded full scholarships, which covers full tuition, as well as food and lodging costs.
The decision to award the Scholarship to deserving candidates will be based on merit as well as financial need, and will be taken by the Naropa Scholarship Board. For the first two years, all the Fellows will be awarded full scholarship. The scholarship will also be available to international students on a needs-only basis.
The mentors are recruited from a wide variety of fields and assigned to the Fellows based on their academic or professional background, career aspirations and the project they decide to work on during the Fellowship.
The Naropa Fellows work in teams on a real-life project, which is also the basis of their overall evaluation at the Fellowship. Given the rigorous nature of the programme, Fellows do not have the time to pursue external internships or any other course of work, and it is strongly discouraged.
Use the space provided in the form to submit detailed and descriptive responses about your various extra-curricular achievements and the lessons learnt through your professional stints, if relevant. Carefully draft your essays in the section called 'Additional Information', as they are very central to our selection criteria and allow us to understand you beyond your grades.
A referee is somebody the applicant has worked under, such as a teacher, an employer, a superior from their workplace, or a mentor. The referee should know the applicant well, and be willing to answer questions regarding their candidature. Applicants should avoid mentioning their friends, peers or somebody they are related to as their referees.

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