March 15th, 2026

IITKGP Foundation

Opening the World to KGP Students:
New Financial Aid Expands Global Internship Opportunities

As part of its Platinum Jubilee vision to strengthen global engagement, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur is launching a major initiative to expand international internship and research opportunities for its students—ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent talented KGPians from gaining global exposure.

Beginning this summer, the institute plans to support at least 100 BTech, dual-degree, and MTech students with financial assistance to pursue international internships and semester-away programs at leading universities, laboratories, and companies across the world. While many students secure prestigious internship offers abroad each year, the cost of airfare, visas, and living expenses often makes it difficult for some to accept these opportunities. The new funding aims to remove that barrier and enable more students to participate in transformative global experiences.

The initiative will also expand support for PhD and postdoctoral scholars, enabling longer-term research stays at leading international laboratories rather than limiting travel primarily to conference visits. These immersive research experiences are expected to deepen collaborative partnerships and enhance the global impact of the institute’s research.

The expanded financial aid program is part of a broader strategy to increase IIT Kharagpur’s global footprint. The institute is working to attract more international students through merit-based fellowships and aims to significantly increase the number of foreign students on campus in the coming years. It is also exploring international co-teaching programs, where global academics and industry leaders collaborate with IIT Kharagpur faculty to teach specialized courses and share global perspectives with students.

To further encourage international collaboration, the institute has also introduced the Platinum Jubilee Bilateral Research Initiation Scheme, which will provide seed funding for jointly conceived research projects with international partner institutions. The program will help faculty develop new collaborations and generate innovative research with global impact.

This new institutional effort builds on earlier initiatives supported by alumni. In recent years, the IITKGP Foundation USA has funded summer research scholarships that enable IIT Kharagpur students to undertake international research internships, helping several students work with faculty and research groups abroad. These scholarships have demonstrated how modest financial support can open doors to life-changing global experiences.

Together, these initiatives reflect a shared commitment—from the institute and its alumni community—to ensure that KGP students can engage with the world’s leading universities, laboratories, and industries. By expanding access to global internships, research exchanges, and international partnerships, IIT Kharagpur continues to strengthen its position as a globally connected hub of innovation and scholarship. Consider supporting these initiatives by donating to the Platinum Jubilee Fund.