Study With Us
Programmes & Learning Opportunities
Rigorous training in field research, interdisciplinary methods, and community-engaged scholarship
Summer School
Launching the Research Journey
The Summer School is the foundational phase of the PGCertR programme, marking the formal entry point for all postgraduate researchers at the Highland Institute's School of Advanced Studies. Held annually in June, this immersive, residential training module brings together selected early-career scholars for an intensive period of methodological instruction, research design, and academic mentorship.
Over several weeks, participants engage in rigorous and interdisciplinary training designed to prepare them for fieldwork, thesis development, and publication.
Key Details
- When: Annually in June
- Where: Kohima, Nagaland
- Duration: 3 weeks residential + online
- Applications: Open in February
What to Expect
Training in anthropology, history, philosophy, environmental humanities, and interdisciplinary social sciences
One-on-one guidance from Highland Fellows and visiting faculty members
Decolonial approaches, community consent, and navigating field politics
Sessions with indigenous researchers, field practitioners, and local knowledge holders
Certification and Progression
- Participants receive an Internship Certificate in Research Training upon completion
- Option to continue into the full 12-month PGCertR programme with approval
- Progression based on proposal quality, participation, and readiness for fieldwork
Postgraduate Certificate in Research (PGCertR)
12-Month Intensive Research Programme
The PGCertR is an advanced research qualification for scholars committed to long-term, field-based research in highland communities. Following the Summer School, selected participants embark on a year-long journey of original research, writing, and publication.
Conduct independent fieldwork under expert supervision, contributing new knowledge to your field
Guidance on academic writing, peer review, and dissemination through Highland Press journals
Become part of a vibrant community of highland scholars and international collaborators
Fellowship Programme
International Research Exchanges
Through partnerships with institutions in Norway, Brazil, UK, and beyond, the Highland Institute offers fellowship opportunities enabling scholars to engage in comparative research, collaborative projects, and institutional exchanges.
Ekologos Fellowship
As part of the Ekologos project, selected participants can access:
- Study opportunities at UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- Research exchanges at UNICAMP, Brazil
- Collaborative fieldwork across Arctic, Amazonian, and Himalayan regions
Winter School
Intensive Workshops & Collaborative Writing
The Winter School brings together researchers, practitioners, and scholars for intensive workshops, collaborative writing projects, and thematic seminars. Hosted periodically in Nagaland as part of international partnerships.
Core Research Themes
Oral traditions, kinship, religious change, customary law, and ancestral knowledge
Indigenous ecological knowledge, traditional land management, biodiversity conservation
Shamanism, prophetic healing, medical pluralism, and rural healthcare ecologies
Indigenous sovereignty, cross-border trade, migration, and spatial politics of belonging
Collaborative exhibitions, repatriation, ethnographic filmmaking, and creative humanities
