Inter-national Short Term Research & Academic Collaboration Programme

About the Program

This programme accommodates visits ranging from 2 weeks, enabling participants to collaborate on research projects, conduct internships, participate in academic exchanges, and contribute to ongoing research initiatives across all departments.

Unlike structured exchange programs with fixed calendars, this programme operates year-round and adapts to individual research timelines, institutional partnerships, and funding opportunities. It represents a faculty-driven, centre-facilitated model where substantive academic collaboration drives every visit.

Programme Objectives

• Enable international researchers to contribute meaningfully to ongoing research projects.

• Facilitate direct faculty-to-faculty and researcher-to-researcher collaborations

• Provide hands-on research experience in world-class laboratories and facilities

• Build long-term international research partnerships and networks

• Enhance the research ecosystem through diverse international perspectives

• Support joint publications, collaborative research outputs, and academic exchanges

• Create opportunities for emerging scholars across all academic levels

Who Can Participate

This programme is open to a diverse range of international participants:

Degree Levels & Participant Types:

• Bachelor's/Undergraduate Students – Project-based internships and research attachments

• Master's Students – Thesis research, collaborative projects, and academic exchanges

• Doctoral Researchers – Extended research collaborations and joint PhD work

• Post-Doctoral Scholars – Advanced research projects and faculty mentorship

• Research Staff & Fellows – Project-specific technical collaborations

Types of Research & Academic Engagement

Participants can engage through various mechanisms tailored to their research goals:

Research Internships

• Structured internship placements within faculty research groups
• Summer/winter research attachments on specific projects
• Hands-on experience with specialized equipment and methodologies

Doctoral Research Collaboration

• Extended research stays (3–7 months) for PhD-level work
• Co-supervision arrangements with home and host institutions
• Access to advanced facilities and interdisciplinary research networks

Project-Based Collaboration

• Joint research projects aligned with faculty expertise
• Interdisciplinary team-based research initiatives
• Short-term technical collaborations (2–8 weeks)

Academic Exchange & Mobility

• Bilateral academic exchanges with partner institutions
• Specialized training workshops and seminars
• Cross-institutional degree completion programs

Disciplinary Breadth & Research Domains

The programme welcomes researchers and students across all disciplines

Funding & Support Mechanisms

The programme utilizes a hybrid funding model to ensure scalability and accessibility:

External Funding Programs

• JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization) – Japanese student exchanges and internships
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) – Postgraduate and doctoral research support
• NSF IRES (USA) – International Research Experiences for US undergraduate students
• UTFORSK (Norway) – Internship mobility grants

Institutional Funding

• Faculty Research Grants – Direct support from faculty project budgets
• Institute of Eminence (IoE) Grants – Targeted mobility allocations from IIT Madras
• Centre of Excellence Funding – Support for research aligned with strategic centers

Other Support Options

• Home Institution Funding – Support from students' home universities
• Self-Funded Visits – Independent students welcome to arrange own support
• Scholarships & Awards – CV Raman Fellowships, bilateral exchange scholarships

Eligibility & Requirements

How the Programme Works

Faculty-Driven, Centre-Facilitated Model

Initiation Phase – Faculty Nomination

• IIT Madras faculty identify international students through professional networks, collaborations, or direct outreach
• Faculty formally nominates the candidate to the Office of Global Engagement (OGE)
• Nomination includes research scope, project details, and expected outcomes

Administrative Processing

• OGE acts as a single-window clearance cell for all administrative matters
• Visa support and formal invitation letters generated
• Coordination of accommodation, campus access, and registration
• FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) clearance managed

Research Engagement

• Direct engagement with faculty research teams
• Access to state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities
• Participation in seminars, workshops, and academic events
• Opportunities for collaborative publications and joint outputs

For Faculty (Host Supervisors)

• https://www.iitm.ac.in/