Emeritus Fellowship (UGC)

What is the UGC Emeritus Fellowship?

Emeritus Fellowship is a scheme of the University Grants Commission (UGC), which works under the Ministry of Education. The UGC created it to let superannuated teachers who were actively engaged in research and teaching during their careers continue full-time research after retirement, without any restriction of position or pay scale.

According to UGC guidelines, the Emeritus Fellowship pays an honorarium of Rs 31,000 per month for a tenure of up to two years (non-extendable), along with a contingency grant of Rs 50,000 per year. The idea is to tap the experience of senior academics whose formal service has ended but whose research capacity has not, and to give them a structured way to complete unfinished work or open a new line of enquiry.

The honorarium is paid on top of any pension the retired teacher receives, because the fellowship recognises active research contribution rather than replacing a salary.

Who is eligible for the Emeritus Fellowship?

You can apply if:

• You are a superannuated (retired) teacher of a recognised university, college or institution.
• You were actively engaged in research and teaching during your service.
• You have a strong record of quality, published research, selection is based on the merit of your published work.
• You can complete the research within the age limit of 70 years.

Eligible host institutions include universities, institutions and colleges under Sections 2(f) and 12(b) of the UGC Act, deemed universities under Section 3 that are eligible for UGC grant-in-aid, central or state government funded institutions and colleges, and Institutions of National Importance.

You cannot apply if:

• You are above 70 years of age, or would cross 70 during the proposed tenure, the fellowship cannot run beyond that age.
• You were not a regular teacher engaged in research and teaching during service.
• You want to work at an institution that does not fall in the eligible categories above.

Selection is competitive and based on academic merit. Meeting the basic conditions makes an application admissible, but the award depends on the quality of the applicant's research record and proposal.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the Emeritus Fellowship

1. Identify a host institution — a university, institute or college in an eligible category where you will carry out the research, and obtain the consent of its Registrar or Principal.
2. Prepare your proposal: a well-defined, time-bound action plan for up to two years, along with two of your best publications or research works.
3. Watch the UGC website (ugc.gov.in) and the Fellowship and Research Grant portal (frg.ugc.ac.in) for the open call and the last date.
4. Submit the application online through the FRG portal, ensuring it is routed through the head of your host institution.
5. Retain the acknowledgement. Shortlisting and selection are done by the UGC on the merit of the research record and proposal.

How much benefit does the Emeritus Fellowship provide?

The Emeritus Fellowship provides:

• Honorarium: Rs 31,000 per month, for up to two years (non-extendable).
• Contingency grant: Rs 50,000 per year, usable for secretarial assistance, domestic travel connected with the project, stationery, postage, consumables, books, journals and equipment.
• Privileges: those available to serving faculty of the host university, including medical facilities, but not housing.

The tenure is capped both by the two-year limit and by the age of 70, whichever comes first. Applicants should confirm the current honorarium and contingency figures against the live UGC notification, as fellowship rates are revised from time to time.

Help and where to check details

The Emeritus Fellowship runs through the UGC and its host universities rather than through a citizen helpline. The authoritative references are the UGC scheme page (ugc.gov.in/ResearchAwards/Fac_ra3) and the Fellowship and Research Grant portal (frg.ugc.ac.in), where applications are filed. The UGC has not published a dedicated phone helpline for this scheme; queries go through the FRG portal and the applicant's host institution. Because this is a narrowly targeted fellowship for retired academics, prospective applicants should verify the amount, tenure and eligibility against the current UGC guidelines before applying.