Residential Fellowships & Travel Grants
Refer to each opportunity’s official announcement for current information, including application instructions, eligibility, and deadlines.Many fellowship applications just require an abstract, short project description, abbreviated CV, and 1-2 letters of recommendation.
If you are looking for residential fellowships, here are some to have on your radar. Some offer scholars an opportunity to work on a project in a picturesque setting that is a respite from regular life. Others afford the experience of living and working in residence at some of the world’s most acclaimed institutions. Still others provide access to special collections and/or vibrant scholarly communities.
If you are planning to take leave, start thinking about your strategy a year-and-a-half before the academic year in which you plan to be on leave. Once you identify an opportunity you want to pursue, talk to your department chair about how to proceed. This will best position them to help support your proposals.
A
American Antiquarian Societyoffers a variety of fellowships – including long-term, short-term, virtual, and post-dissertation – for visiting scholars to have a block of uninterrupted time to conduct research at its national library in Massachusetts. Application deadlines vary based on program.
American Antiquarian Societyoffers a variety of fellowships – including long-term, short-term, virtual, and post-dissertation – for visiting scholars to have a block of uninterrupted time to conduct research at its national library in Massachusetts. Application deadlines vary based on program.
C
Columbia Society of Fellows in the Humanities brings together early-career scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. In addition to research, fellows teach one course per semester at Columbia University. The application usually opens in the summer and closes in early October.
Cornell Society for the Humanitiesoffers one-year residential fellowships to scholars whose projects reflect a determined theme. Fellows spend their time in research and writing plus teach one small seminar at Cornell University. The application usually opens in the summer and closes in mid September.
Council of American Overseas Research Centers offers fellowships that support advanced research in the humanities in other countries, including multiple countries. The application usually closes in December or January. Also, each ORC offers fellowships and grants specific to its region.
D
Du Bois Research Institute,hosted by The Hutchins Center at Harvard University, supports one- and two- semester residential fellowships for research related to African or African American studies. The application usually opens in the fall and closes in January.
F
Folger Institutesupports scholarly humanities research of the early modern world at its library in Washington, DC. They offer long-term (9 months) and short-term fellowships (1-3 months). The applications usually open in the fall and close in December and in January, respectively.
Fulbright Scholars offer opportunities to teach, conduct research, and carry out professional projects around the world (in 135+ countries). The application usually opens in early July and closes in mid September (but some opportunities have other deadlines).
G
Gettyoffers residential fellowships for scholars at all stages of their career to pursue their own projects and make use of Getty collections. Recipients may be in residence from three to nine months. The application usually opens in early July and closes in early October.
H
Harvard Society of Fellowsgives scholars at an early stage of their careers an opportunity to pursue their studies in any department of Harvard University, free from formal requirements, for a three-year appointment. The application usually opens in early July and closes in early August.
Hodder Fellowshipis given to writers of exceptional promise to pursue independent projects at the Lewis Center for the Arts. Fellows spend an academic year at Princeton, but no formal teaching is involved. The application usually opens in early July and closes in mid September.
Huntington Library supports fellowships at its Pasadena, California campus. They offer a variety of residential fellowships, both long-term and short-term, as well as travel grants and exchange fellowships for study abroad. The application usually opens in late August and closes in mid November.
I
Institute of Advance Studysupports scholarship tied to Historical Studies and Social Science. Fellows pursue research with no teaching obligations while in residence at Princeton University for an academic year. The application usually opens in the summer and closes in mid October.
K
Kluge Center supports humanistic and social science (interdisciplinary and cross-cultural) research that makes use of Library of Congress’ collections. They offer residential fellowships of varying lengths, from four to eleven months. The application usually opens in mid April and closes in mid September.
N
National Humanities Center provides scholars the opportunity to focus on their work, receive exceptional support, and be among a community of scholars during year- or semester-long fellowships at the center in North Carolina. The application usually opens in early July and closes in early October.
Newberry Library in Chicagosupports research projects that utilize its collections to advance humanities scholarship. They offer long-term and short-term residential fellowships. The applications usually open in early fall and close in early November and in mid December, respectively.
P
Presidential Libraries offer research grants and travel funding to assist researchers studying the holdings at the various Presidential Libraries. Application deadlines vary based on library and program.
R
Radcliffe Fellowshipssupport engaged scholarship and innovative work that confront pressing social and policy issues. Fellows are in residence at Harvard University for one academic year. The application usually opens in the summer and closes mid September.
Ransom Centerin Austin, Texas offers short-term residential fellowships or travel stipends for research projects that require substantial on-site use of its internationally renowned collections spanning a variety of humanities disciplines. The application usually opens in the early fall and closes in mid November.
S
Stanford Humanities Centeroffers residential fellowships for external faculty that support research in the traditional and emergent disciplines of the humanities. Fellows are in residence at Stanford University for one academic year. The application usually opens in August and closes in early October.
W
Winterthur Library hosts a fellowship program broadly supporting humanistic research that draws inspiration from its library and museum collections in Delaware. They offer a variety of fellowships of different lengths. The application usually opens in early November and close mid January.
Wilson Center offers fellowships to scholars committed to addressing key challenges confronting the U.S. and the world. Fellows are in residence for 9 months and interact with policymakers in Washington. The application usually opens in July and closes in early October.