Jefferson Scholars Foundation National Fellowship 2026, USA (Fully Funded)

Overview

Doctoral (PhD candidates only)

This is not a postdoctoral fellowship

Description

Doctoral (PhD candidates only)

This is not a postdoctoral fellowship

Applicants must either:

Expect to complete their dissertation by the end of the fellowship year, or

Submit a clear and realistic two-year dissertation write-up plan

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Jefferson Scholars Foundation National Fellowship, applicants must:

Be a current PhD candidate

Be close to completing their dissertation or have a documented two-year completion plan

Demonstrate strong academic excellence and research quality

Show leadership potential as an emerging scholar

Present a research agenda that contributes new perspectives to policy-facing scholarship

Be willing to participate in on-campus residential visits and fellowship conferences

Commit to building and participating in a scholarly research network

Additional Information

Degree Level

Doctoral (PhD candidates only)

This is not a postdoctoral fellowship

Applicants must either:

Expect to complete their dissertation by the end of the fellowship year, or

Submit a clear and realistic two-year dissertation write-up plan

Available Subjects

The fellowship encourages interdisciplinary research, including but not limited to:

History

Political Science

Public Policy

Law

Political Economy

Sociology

Communications & Media Studies

International Relations

American Politics

Foreign Policy

America and the World

Research must engage policy-relevant questions and contemporary global or U.S. political issues.

Benefits

The Jefferson Scholars Foundation National Fellowship offers extensive academic and professional support, including:

Dedicated research funding for scholarly network activities

Paid expenses for:

Workshops

Conferences

Reading groups

Symposia

Manuscript development sessions

Mentorship from senior scholars in your research area

Required on-campus residential visits (up to two weeks)

Participation in:

Fall dissertation development conference

Spring research workshop with junior and senior scholars

University press editor workshop to support publication outcomes

Access to the interdisciplinary academic community of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation

Eligible Nationalities

Open to all nationalities

Non-U.S. citizens are fully eligible to apply

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Jefferson Scholars Foundation National Fellowship, applicants must:

Be a current PhD candidate

Be close to completing their dissertation or have a documented two-year completion plan

Demonstrate strong academic excellence and research quality

Show leadership potential as an emerging scholar

Present a research agenda that contributes new perspectives to policy-facing scholarship

Be willing to participate in on-campus residential visits and fellowship conferences

Commit to building and participating in a scholarly research network

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit a complete online application consisting of the following materials:

Applicant information sheet

Project description (up to 1,200 words)

Research plan (up to 500 words)

Scholarly network proposal (up to 1,200 words)

Op-ed or blog post (up to 750 words) demonstrating public engagement

Professional development statement (up to 500 words)

Bibliography (maximum 3 pages)

Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)

Writing sample (up to 40 pages)

Two letters of recommendation (one must be from the dissertation advisor)

Letters are submitted through the application system or emailed directly to:

nationalfellows@jeffersonscholars.org

Selection Timeline

Application Deadline: 2 February

Final Letters Deadline: 9 February

Applications are reviewed only after all materials are received

Deadlines may vary, visit official website for more information.

Why Apply For The Jefferson Scholars National Fellowship

This fellowship is ideal for PhD candidates who want to:

Strengthen their dissertation for publication

Engage with leading scholars across disciplines

Build long-term academic and policy-focused research networks

Develop professional skills beyond traditional doctoral training

Frequently Asked Questions Faqs

Is the Jefferson Scholars Foundation National Fellowship fully funded? Yes. The fellowship provides dedicated funding for research collaboration, academic events, conferences, workshops, and network activities, significantly reducing out-of-pocket research expenses.

Can international PhD students apply for the Jefferson Scholars National Fellowship? Absolutely. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible, and the fellowship welcomes international scholars whose research engages American or global policy issues.

Is this fellowship open to postdoctoral researchers? No. The National Fellowship is strictly for PhD candidates. Applicants must be actively working on their dissertation and close to completion.

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Jefferson Scholars Foundation National Fellowship 2026, USA (Fully Funded)

Overview

Description

Eligibility

Additional Information

Degree Level

Available Subjects

Benefits

Eligible Nationalities

Eligibility Criteria

Application Procedure

Selection Timeline

Why Apply For The Jefferson Scholars National Fellowship

Frequently Asked Questions Faqs

Everything You Need To Study Abroad

Never Miss A Scholarship

Searching Scholarships For You

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Funding

Organization

Degree

Subjects

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