About Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, part of Columbia University in New York, United States, is accepting applications for its Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship for the 2027–2028 academic year. The fellowship provides financial assistance to postgraduate law students interested in international trade, trade law, public interest and human rights.
The fellowship was established by the Government of India in honour of Professor Jagdish Bhagwati, an internationally recognised economist known for his work on international trade and economic policy.
Columbia Law School offers the fellowship to up to three students each academic year. Selected candidates receive financial assistance towards their studies, depending on the applicable award.
International applicants, including eligible Indian law graduates, can apply through the university’s LL.M. admission process.
The last date to submit applications is December 2, 2026.
About the Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship
The Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship supports graduate law students who want to specialise in international trade, trade law, public interest and human rights.
Need Help With Your PhD or LLM Thesis?
Explore our thesis and dissertation writing support services for PhD and LLM students. Get subject-specific academic assistance for your research project.
Explore Our Services →The programme is named after Professor Jagdish Bhagwati, who joined Columbia University in 1980 and was appointed University Professor in 2001.
His academic work has focused on international economics, commercial policy, trade agreements and the economic consequences of government regulation.
The fellowship was established by the Indian Government to support advanced legal education in subjects connected with these areas.
Unlike a research fellowship where an institution appoints a researcher to work on a particular project, this programme provides financial assistance to students pursuing an LL.M. at Columbia Law School.
Selected fellows study under the university’s regular postgraduate law curriculum.
Number of Fellowships
Columbia Law School provides funding for up to three Jagdish Bhagwati Fellows each academic year.
The university has not guaranteed that exactly three awards will be made during the 2027–2028 intake.
Selection depends on the eligibility and merit of applicants, along with the applicable funding arrangements.
The fellowship forms part of Columbia Law School’s broader financial assistance programme for LL.M. students.
About the LL.M. Programme
Columbia Law School offers a one-year LL.M. programme designed for lawyers who wish to develop their legal knowledge through postgraduate study.
The programme allows students to choose courses from different areas of law.
Unlike specialised postgraduate programmes that require students to follow a fixed curriculum, Columbia’s general LL.M. provides considerable flexibility in course selection.
Students interested in the Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship can concentrate their studies on international trade, trade law and related subjects.
They may also explore issues involving international economic relations, public policy, human rights and international legal institutions.
The university offers specialised seminars in international trade law and related fields.
Students can also participate in academic discussions, research activities and events organised within Columbia University.
Research and Study Areas
The Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship focuses on four broad fields.
These include international trade, trade law, public interest and human rights.
International trade law deals with legal rules governing trade between countries.
Students interested in this field may study international trade agreements, trade remedies, government regulation and the legal framework governing cross-border commercial relations.
Public interest law concerns the use of legal systems to address issues affecting individuals, communities and public institutions.
Human rights law examines legal protections available to individuals under domestic and international legal frameworks.
The fellowship is particularly relevant for candidates who want to study the relationship between economic policy, international legal rules and social concerns.
Columbia has not prescribed a single research topic that every fellow must pursue.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must satisfy the general admission requirements of Columbia Law School’s LL.M. programme.
Candidates must possess a first degree in law from a recognised and appropriately accredited institution.
This generally means a degree that qualifies the candidate to enter the legal profession in their home jurisdiction.
Indian applicants holding a recognised LL.B., BA LL.B. or BBA LL.B. degree may therefore be eligible.
The university expects applicants to demonstrate strong academic performance and the ability to undertake advanced legal studies.
Professional experience is also considered during the admission process.
Columbia strongly encourages applicants to obtain at least one year of full-time professional experience after completing their first law degree.
However, this is a recommendation rather than a mandatory minimum experience requirement.
Final-year law students are admitted only in exceptional circumstances.
Can Indian Law Graduates Apply?
Yes. Indian law graduates may apply for Columbia’s LL.M. programme and seek consideration for the Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship.
The fellowship was established by the Government of India, making it especially relevant to Indian applicants interested in international trade and related legal subjects.
However, Columbia’s published fellowship description does not expressly state that the award is reserved exclusively for Indian nationals.
International applicants are eligible to seek merit-based financial assistance through the same LL.M. application process.
Candidates with experience in international trade law, public interest litigation, human rights research or related legal work may find the fellowship relevant.
Applicants should demonstrate their academic interests and explain how their proposed studies relate to the fellowship.
Scholarship Amount and Financial Support
The Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship provides financial assistance to selected LL.M. students.
According to Columbia Law School’s fellowship description, the programme offers partial to full funding for up to three fellows annually.
However, the university’s general LL.M. financial assistance page states that full tuition waivers are not granted.
Its frequently asked questions also explain that complete tuition waivers are extremely rare.
Applicants should therefore seek clarification from Columbia regarding the precise financial support available under the Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship.
The university has not disclosed a fixed scholarship amount for the 2027–2028 intake.
It has also not guaranteed a separate monthly stipend, accommodation allowance or travel grant for recipients of this particular fellowship.
The final financial assistance package will be communicated to successful applicants.
Tuition Fees and Living Expenses
Columbia Law School is located in New York City, where international students must account for tuition fees and substantial living expenses.
The university publishes an annual cost-of-attendance estimate covering tuition, institutional charges, accommodation, food, health insurance and personal expenses.
Students who receive partial scholarships may still need to arrange funding for the remaining expenses.
The university encourages applicants to explore financial assistance from external scholarship organisations and other sources.
Receiving an admission offer does not guarantee a scholarship.
Similarly, applying for the Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship does not affect a candidate’s chances of admission to the LL.M. programme.
English Language Requirements
Columbia Law School requires applicants to demonstrate strong English-language proficiency.
Candidates may be required to submit TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic results.
For IELTS Academic, the university specifies an overall score of 8.
For TOEFL iBT examinations taken before January 21, 2026, Columbia specifies a minimum overall score of 105.
For the revised TOEFL iBT introduced on January 21, 2026, the university states a preferred overall score of 5.5, with at least 5 in each section.
Certain applicants may qualify for an automatic waiver.
For example, candidates who completed their first law degree entirely in English in a country where English is an official language may qualify for exemption.
Indian law graduates who meet these requirements should check their eligibility for the waiver.
Columbia reserves the right to request English-language test results even where an applicant would ordinarily qualify for an exemption.
Documents Required
Applicants must submit a complete LL.M. admission application.
The university requires an updated resume or curriculum vitae.
Candidates must also prepare a personal statement explaining their academic background, professional interests and reasons for pursuing an LL.M. at Columbia.
Academic transcripts and degree certificates are required.
Applicants must also arrange two letters of recommendation.
The university prefers that one recommendation come from a law school professor and the other from a professional supervisor, wherever possible.
English-language test results must be submitted unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption.
Academic documents, recommendations and applicable language test results are processed through the Law School Admission Council’s Credential Assembly Service.
Personal Statement for the Fellowship
The personal statement is an important part of the application.
Candidates interested in the Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship should specifically mention the fellowship in their personal statement.
They should explain their interest in international trade, trade law, public interest or human rights and describe how the LL.M. programme relates to their academic or professional goals.
The university limits the personal statement to two pages.
Applicants must follow the prescribed formatting requirements, including double spacing and a standard font size.
Columbia also requires candidates to prepare their application materials independently.
The university expressly prohibits third-party assistance and artificial intelligence tools in preparing application components.
Candidates should therefore write their personal statements themselves and ensure that all submitted work is original.
Selection Process
The Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship is awarded through Columbia Law School’s merit-based financial assistance process.
Candidates must first apply for admission to the LL.M. programme.
The university reviews applications based on academic performance, professional experience, recommendations, the personal statement and other submitted materials.
Applicants who wish to be considered for scholarships must indicate their interest in merit-based financial assistance in the application.
Columbia then considers eligible candidates for relevant named fellowships.
The university does not require a separate application for the Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship.
The LL.M. admission process does not ordinarily include formal interviews.
Admission decisions are generally communicated around mid-March.
Most financial assistance decisions are released shortly after admission decisions.
How to Apply?
Interested and eligible candidates must apply through Columbia Law School’s official LL.M. admission portal.
Applicants should begin by reviewing the LL.M. admission requirements and the university’s financial assistance information.
They must complete the online application, upload their personal statement and resume, and pay the application fee.
The application fee is US$85, excluding any additional charges that may apply for processing documents through LSAC.
Candidates must also arrange for their academic transcripts, degree certificates and letters of recommendation to be submitted through the prescribed system.
To seek consideration for the Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship, applicants should answer Yes to the question asking whether they are applying for a merit-based award from Columbia Law School.
They should also mention their interest in the Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship in their personal statement.
No separate scholarship application is required.
Official Scholarship Information: https://www.law.columbia.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/llm/financing-your-columbia-llm
Official LL.M. Application Instructions: https://www.law.columbia.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/llm/application-process
Official Application Portal: https://apply.law.columbia.edu/
Official LL.M. Admissions Website: https://www.law.columbia.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/llm
Official Email for Admission Queries: gradprograms@law.columbia.edu
Application Deadline
The last date for submitting applications for Columbia Law School’s LL.M. programme for the 2027–2028 academic year is December 2, 2026.
The same deadline applies to candidates seeking consideration for the Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship.
Applicants must complete the online application by December 2.
Academic transcripts, recommendations and other supporting documents must also be sent to LSAC by the prescribed deadline.
Columbia advises applicants to arrange their supporting materials by November 15, 2026, to allow sufficient processing time.
Candidates who need to take an English-language test must complete it no later than December 2.
The university expects to communicate LL.M. admission decisions around mid-March 2027.
Successful fellowship candidates will receive financial assistance according to the award granted by Columbia Law School.
