The Urban Fellows Programme (UFP) | 2023-24
India’s urban transition is unprecedented in scale and complexity. Within it lie both, the opportunities of economic development and greater employment as well as the challenges of persistent inequality, extreme deprivation and environmental degradation. The UFP offers the chance to be a part of shaping this transition.
UFP is scholarship-based, nine-month, full-time, residential, interdisciplinary and based at the IIHS City Campus in Bengaluru. It combines classroom teaching, site-based applied learning, work in live projects, and external internships to introduce Fellows to diverse forms of urban practice. The Programme is open to recent graduates and young professionals from varied educational backgrounds or practice domains. The seventh batch of UFP will graduate in May 2023.
Why be an Urban Fellow?
Why be an Urban Fellow?
Interdisciplinarity
Aspects of the UFP
Hear from our Fellows
Shape India’s Urban Transition
Many recent graduates and undergraduates are interested in working on the complex challenges that are encountered in contemporary cities. However, they are not sure how to shape their research and practice to engage with these issues. The UFP prepares Fellows to find their own practice and perspective on how to shape India’s urban transition – a critical opportunity that will define India’s future over the next century.
Develop Skills for Real-Life Problems
A core part of the UFP is to build a robust set of skills. UFP focuses on the key skills an urban practitioner needs to prepare for the future. These include technical, analytical, professional and importantly, interpersonal skills.
Engage with Thought Leaders
Throughout the UFP, Masterclasses provide Fellows the opportunity to meet, engage with, and learn from thought leaders from across disciplines, fields and practice sectors. This engagement is not just to gain technical knowledge, but to learn how to craft a life in practice, and make ethical, strategic and effective professional choices.
Acquire Interdisciplinary Knowledge
If urban problems cross disciplinary and sectoral lines, can knowledge remain within silos? Regardless of their disciplinary training, Fellows will acquire interdisciplinary knowledge and skill sets that can be a foundation for urban careers across sectors and practice domains.
Gain Urban Work Experience
The UFP provides for a two-month internship placement at a range of institutions—public and private, local and national, and across sectors and domains. These internships allow Fellows to immediately apply their learnings from the course, build professional networks and explore post-programme work opportunities.