Fellowship for Superannuated Faculty Members: UGC Research Opportunities for Retired Academicians

By /

The “Fellowship for Superannuated Faculty Members” scheme is a fellowship scheme by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Department of Higher Education to provide opportunities to superannuated faculty members of Universities/Institutes/Colleges, hereinafter “Institutions” to pursue research in their area(s).

Benefits

  1. Tenure & Slots:
    • Duration: Up to 3 years or until the candidate reaches 70 years of age, whichever is earlier.
    • Slots: 100 fellowships awarded annually, subject to the Commission’s discretion.
  2. Financial Assistance:
    • Fellowship Amount: ₹50,000 per month.
    • Contingency Grant: ₹50,000 per annum for research-related expenses.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Institutional Affiliation:
    • Professors/Associate Professors (about to superannuate within 6 months or already superannuated) from:
      • Universities (including affiliated colleges/institutions) recognized under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956, with valid NAAC accreditation.
      • Deemed Universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, with valid NAAC accreditation.
      • Institutions fully funded by Central/State Governments and authorized to award degrees.
      • Institutions of National Importance.
  2. Age Limit:
    • Applicants should be up to 67 years of age at the time of application.
  3. Academic & Research Requirements:
    • Supervised Ph.D. dissertations of at least 10 full-time candidates, with 3 Ph.D. degrees awarded in the last 10 years.
    • Principal Investigator for at least 3 sponsored research projects funded by national/international agencies.
  4. Administrative Restrictions:
    • The applicant must not hold any administrative responsibilities during the fellowship tenure, which commences post-superannuation.
  5. Undertaking Requirement:
    • Both the applicant and the institution must submit an undertaking as per the Annexure-I in the guidelines.

Application Process Online

  1. Call for Applications:
    • Applications are invited once a year via advertisements in leading newspapers, employment news, and the UGC website (ugc.ac.in).
  2. Steps to Apply:
    • Step 1: Visit the Portal
      Go to https://frg.ugc.ac.in and select the relevant scheme.
    • Step 2: Registration
      • Click on “New User” to register.
      • Fill in your details, including a valid email address for future correspondence.
      • Upload a passport-sized photograph and signature (size: up to 1MB, format: jpg).
      • Click “Submit” to complete the registration.
    • Step 3: Login
      • You will receive an email from [email protected] with your login credentials.
      • Change your password upon first login and proceed to the dashboard.
    • Step 4: Complete Profile
      • Fill in details under the Eligibility Criteria section.
      • Upload supporting documents as per guidelines.
    • Step 5: Application Form Submission
      • Complete the application form, including research proposal details.
      • Take a printout of the auto-generated form, get it signed by the HoD/Registrar, and upload it before final submission.

Documents Required

  1. Photograph & Signature:
    • Passport-size photograph and signature (size: up to 1MB, format: jpg).
  2. Research Proposal:
    • Complete proposal (size: up to 5MB).
    • Abstract of the proposal (size: up to 1MB).
  3. Institutional Endorsement:
    • Auto-generated application form signed by the HoD/Registrar.
  4. Proof of Eligibility:
    • Certificates confirming Ph.D. supervision of 10 full-time candidates.
    • Documentation for 3 sponsored research projects handled as Principal Investigator.
  5. Other Supporting Documents:
    • Age proof, academic qualifications, and undertaking (Annexure-I).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. What is the objective of the Fellowship for Superannuated Faculty Members?
    To provide retired faculty members an opportunity to pursue research and contribute to their fields post-retirement.
  2. What is the tenure of the fellowship?
    The fellowship is granted for 3 years or until the applicant reaches 70 years of age, whichever is earlier.
  3. How many fellowships are awarded annually?
    100 fellowships are awarded each year, but this number can be adjusted by the UGC.
  4. What is the financial assistance provided under this scheme?
    Fellows receive ₹50,000 per month as a stipend and ₹50,000 per annum as a contingency grant.
  5. What is the age limit for applicants?
    Applicants must be up to 67 years old at the time of application.
  6. Can I apply offline for this fellowship?
    No, applications are accepted only online via the UGC Fellowship Portal.
  7. Do I need to complete the application in one sitting?
    No, you can save your application progress and return to complete it before the submission deadline.
  8. Is there any application fee?
    No, there is no fee required to apply for this fellowship.
  9. Does submission of the application guarantee the award of the fellowship?
    No, submission does not guarantee selection. Applications are evaluated based on eligibility and merit.
  10. What happens if incorrect information is provided?
    Providing incorrect/incomplete information may result in disqualification or cancellation of the fellowship at any stage.

Sources & References

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top