Fellowship & Fully Funded Graduate School Lists

23 Apr 2025 • 20 min read

40 Humanities Fellowships for Research and Study

The humanities encompass a vast range of disciplines, from literature and history to philosophy and cultural studies, and fellowships provide crucial support for scholars pursuing research, teaching, and creative projects in these fields. Whether you’re an early-career researcher, an independent scholar, or a faculty member seeking funding for a major project, numerous opportunities are available. This list highlights diverse humanities fellowships, including postdoctoral positions, research grants, and programs that support fieldwork, archival research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Many fellowships offer stipends, institutional affiliations, and access to valuable resources to help scholars advance their work. Explore the opportunities below and take the next step in your academic journey!

1. Tufts University Residential Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Environmental Humanities Fellowship at Tufts University is a two-year residential postdoctoral opportunity focused on reimagining campus environments, ecological justice, and knowledge production. Hosted by the Center for the Humanities in partnership with a Mellon Foundation-funded project, the fellowship invites humanities or humanistic social sciences scholars to contribute to research on diversifying monocultural landscapes, deconstructing institutional land histories, and fostering collaborative, justice-centered education models. Fellows participate in seminars, organize public events, and engage with visiting scholars while receiving a stipend, health benefits, workspace, and support for independent research. No teaching is required. Applications require a cover letter, CV, and research statement.

2. Vanderbilt Collaborative Humanities Postdoctoral Program (CHPP)

The Vanderbilt Collaborative Humanities Postdoctoral Program (CHPP) is a three-year fellowship designed for recent PhDs in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who use interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary issues. Fellows engage in research, teach undergraduate courses, participate in seminars, and receive faculty mentoring while placed in an academic department. The program offers a salary of at least $61,008, benefits, research funding, and a relocation bonus. Candidates must have earned a PhD by or after a specific date, depending on the entry year. Applications require a research statement, teaching statement, CV, and a proposed timeline of scholarly activities.

3. Mahindra Humanities Center Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Mahindra Humanities Center Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University offers five one-year fellowships for scholars in the environmental humanities. Open to all humanistic disciplines, the program supports research on climate change, biodiversity, environmental justice, food systems, and more. Fellows participate in biweekly seminars and are encouraged to engage with the Center’s Environment Forum. The fellowship provides a $70,000 stipend, health insurance, $2,500 in research support, and $1,500 in relocation expenses. Fellows must reside at Harvard for the entire term of the fellowship.

4. Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities

The Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities at the Wolf Humanities Center, University of Pennsylvania, offers five one-year fellowships for early-career scholars in the humanities. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the theme is “Truth.” Fellows receive a $66,300 stipend, $3,000 in research funding, and discounted health insurance. They must teach one undergraduate course, participate in the Mellon Research Seminar, and contribute to a public symposium. This residency-based fellowship prioritizes interdisciplinary projects and scholars who would benefit from Penn’s academic community.

5. Stanford Humanities Center Mellon Fellowship of Scholars in the Humanities

The Stanford Humanities Center Mellon Fellowship of Scholars in the Humanities is a two-year postdoctoral fellowship (with a possible third-year extension) for recent PhD recipients in select humanities fields. Fellows teach two courses annually in a Stanford humanities department or interdisciplinary program, receive faculty mentorship, and engage in weekly cohort meetings to share research and professional insights. They also have access to the Stanford Humanities Center’s programs and workshops. Eligible applicants must have received their PhD within a specified timeframe and cannot hold a PhD from Stanford. The fellowship provides a $98,000 stipend, full benefits, a $6,000 annual research fund, and a $9,000 relocation stipend.

6. Cornell University Klarman Fellowships

The Cornell University Klarman Fellowships allow exceptional early-career scholars to pursue innovative research in any discipline within Cornell’s College of Arts & Sciences. Fellows receive three years of fully funded research support without teaching obligations, allowing them to focus on original and interdisciplinary work. Each fellow is mentored by a faculty host, with the option of a co-host from any Cornell school or college. Applicants must have earned their PhD within a specified timeframe and cannot have previously held a position at Cornell for more than six months. The fellowship offers a competitive salary and full benefits, making it one of the most prestigious postdoctoral programs in the country.

7. Dartmouth College Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Dartmouth Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships provide early-career scholars in the humanities with two years of research and teaching experience at Dartmouth College. Fellows conduct independent research while teaching in their host department or program and receive mentorship from faculty. Fellowships are available in the Department of Art History, which may change depending on the application cycle. The fellowship offers a competitive salary, benefits, and research support, making it an excellent opportunity for scholars seeking to advance their academic careers in underrepresented fields.

8. Folger Shakespeare Library Fellowships

The Folger Institute Fellowships support scholarly and artistic research in the humanities, offering long-term, short-term, and artistic fellowships. The Long-Term Fellowships provide nine months of full-time research support for scholars with a terminal degree. At the same time, the Long-Term Public Humanities Fellowships focus on public-facing research projects and do not require a terminal degree. Short-Term Fellowships offer one to three months of research support to PhD candidates or equivalent scholars, and Artistic Research Fellowships support creative projects engaging with the Folger’s collections. The Books in Progress Fellowship provides a workshop for early-career scholars needing manuscript review. Fellowships can be conducted onsite, virtually, or in a hybrid format.

9. NEH Grants for Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions (FPIRI)

Grants for Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions (FPIRI) support fellowships at institutions devoted to advanced study and research in the humanities. The FPIRI program sponsors fellowships that provide scholars with research time and access to resources that might otherwise not be available. Fellowship programs may be administered by independent centers for advanced study, libraries, museums, and research centers but can be applied for by fellows on behalf of the institution. Individual scholars apply directly to the institutions for fellowships and stipends of $5,000 a month, which are provided by the FPIRI.

10. Awards for Faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

The Awards for Faculty program strengthens the humanities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities by encouraging and expanding humanities research opportunities for individual faculty and staff members. Awards support individuals pursuing scholarly research that is of value to humanities scholars, students, and/or general audiences. The program welcomes proposals in all areas of the humanities, regardless of geographic or chronological focus. This program offers applicants flexibility in project outcomes and award periods. Projects must be based on humanities research. Projects may be at any stage of development. Maximum award amount: $5,000 per month.

11. The Virginia HBCU Scholars Fellowship

The Virginia HBCU Scholars Fellowship helps HBCU-affiliated writers, community scholars, faculty members, and doctoral candidates with their research process through funding, access to academic publishing outlets, public promotion, and professional community/peer support. Projects of interest can range across the disciplines of traditional humanities, public and digital humanities, as well as human-centered social sciences. Based on the applicant’s proposed budget, short-term fellowship awards range from $5,000 to $15,000, and long-term fellowship awards range from $20,000 to $45,000.

12. NEH Fellowships for Scholars Conducting Field-Based Humanities Research in Palestine

The Palestinian American Research Center (PARC) offers National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions (FPIRI) competition for research in the humanities or research that embraces a humanistic approach and methods. Applicants must be scholars who have earned their Ph.D. or completed their professional training and must be U.S. citizens or have lived in the United States for the last three years. Applicants must propose at least four to ten consecutive months of research in Palestine.

13. Chateaubriand Fellowship – Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS)

The Chateaubriand Fellowship – Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS) provides PhD students currently enrolled at a U.S. university the opportunity to conduct research in France in any discipline of the Humanities and Social Sciences. The fellowship lasts 4 months and provides travel, health insurance, and a monthly stipend of 1,704 Euros. Candidates do not have to be U.S. citizens, but they must be enrolled in an American university.

14. Humane Studies Fellowships

The Humane Studies Fellowship is a non-residency fellowship program that awards up to $15,000 per grant application to each participant and provides a support network to foster academic success. The fellowship is open to full-time graduate students from accredited universities worldwide with research interests related to human flourishing in society. They relate their work to the humanities and social sciences and are dedicated to advancing ideas that support free societies through research and teaching. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

15. New York Public Library Short-Term Research Fellowships

The New York Public Library Short-Term Research Fellowships provide funding for scholars outside the New York metropolitan area conducting graduate-level, postdoctoral, or independent research in the arts and humanities. Fellows receive a stipend of $1,000 per week for one to four weeks to conduct research onsite at NYPL’s three research centers: The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, and The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Applicants must demonstrate how access to NYPL collections is essential to their research. The fellowship is open to international applicants and U.S. citizens outside New York City.

16. American Antiquarian Society Fellowships

The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) maintains a significant research library in American history, literature, and culture through 1876 in Worcester, MA. The AAS-NEH fellows are part of a community that includes the AAS staff, area college and university faculty, and the recipients of AAS short-term fellowships (including scholars from all over the U.S. and abroad, Ph.D. candidates, and creative artists and writers producing work for the general public) and other long-term fellows. Twenty-eight months of AAS-NEH fellowship support are available.

17. American Center of Oriental Research (Amman) Fellowship

The fellowship program at the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR) in Amman, Jordan, supports scholars and students conducting research in fields such as archaeology, anthropology, history, art history, conservation, and Near Eastern studies. The fellowship offers residential facilities, access to a comprehensive library, and various resources to assist with research projects in Jordan and the broader region. Fellows can benefit from a vibrant academic community and interdisciplinary initiatives.

18. Library Short-Term Resident Research Fellowships

The Library Short-Term Resident Research Fellowships at the American Philosophical Society (APS) Library & Museum provide one- to three-month residential fellowships for scholars needing to conduct research using APS’s extensive collections in the history of science, the American Revolution, and Indigenous languages and cultures. Each year, 25-30 fellowships are awarded, offering a stipend of $3,000 per month to help cover costs while working in residence in Philadelphia. Fellows gain access to APS’s three research centers, including the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research, the Center for Digital Scholarship, and the David Center for the American Revolution. The fellowship is open to scholars in all fields, and fellows must complete their residency within a year of being awarded

19. Wallenberg Academy Fellows

The Wallenberg Academy Fellows program in Sweden aims to give young researchers working conditions that enable them to focus on research and tackle difficult, long-term research questions. The program addresses young researchers in medicine, natural sciences, engineering and technology, humanities, and social sciences. Swedish universities are invited to nominate candidates for the program. The Swedish Academies will evaluate and select the most promising researchers, and the universities will then take long-term responsibility for these individuals. Fellows will receive grants for 5 years of SEK 1,500,000 – 2,500,000/year.

20. CAORC Multi-Country Research Fellowship Program

The Multi-Country Fellowship Program supports advanced regional or trans-regional research in the humanities, social sciences, or allied natural sciences for U.S. doctoral candidates and scholars who have already earned their Ph.D. Preference will be given to candidates examining comparative and/or cross-regional research. Scholars must conduct research in two or more countries outside the United States, at least one hosting a participating American overseas research center. Approximately twelve awards of up to $12,600 each will be given annually.

21. CAORC-NEH Research Fellowship

The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC)/National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Research Fellowship Program supports advanced research in the humanities for U.S. postdoctoral scholars and foreign national postdoctoral scholars who have been residents in the U.S. for three or more years immediately preceding the application deadline. Scholars must carry out research in a country that hosts a participating American overseas research center: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cyprus, Georgia, Indonesia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan (senior scholars may be permitted to travel to Lahore and Islamabad subject to approval), Senegal, Sri Lanka or Tunisia. Fellowship awards are for four to six consecutive months, and selected fellows are awarded $5,000 monthly.

22. National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship

Fellowships support individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both. Recipients usually produce articles, monographs, books, digital materials, archaeological site reports, translations, editions, or other scholarly resources in the humanities. Projects may be at any stage of development. Fellowships cover periods lasting from six to twelve months at a stipend of $5,000 per month. The maximum stipend is $60,000 for twelve months.

23. NEH Summer Stipends

Summer Stipends support individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both. Recipients usually produce articles, monographs, books, digital materials, archaeological site reports, translations, or editions. Summer Stipends provide $8,000 for two consecutive months of full-time research and writing. Recipients must work full-time on their projects for these two months and may hold other research grants supporting the same project. Summer Stipends typically support work carried out during the summer months, but arrangements can be made for other times of the year.

24. NEH Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research in Japan

The Fellowship Program for Advanced Social Science Research in Japan is a joint activity of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Awards support research on modern Japanese society and political economy, Japan’s international relations, and U.S.-Japan relations. Fellowships support continuous full-time work for 6-12 months. Successful applicants receive a stipend of up to $5,000 per month. The maximum stipend is $60,000 for twelve months.

25. National Humanities Center Residential Fellowships

The National Humanities Center in North Carolina will offer up to 40 residential fellowships for advanced study in the humanities from September through May. In addition to scholars from all humanities fields, the Center accepts individuals from the natural and social sciences, the arts, the professions, and public life who are engaged in humanistic projects. The Center is international in scope and welcomes applications from scholars outside the U.S. Applicants must have a doctorate or equivalent scholarly credentials. The Center seeks to provide at least half salary and covers travel expenses for Fellows and dependents.

26. American Academy in Rome Prize

For over a century, the American Academy in Rome has awarded the Rome Prize to support innovative and cross-disciplinary work in the arts and humanities. Prize recipients are invited to Rome, Italy, for five or eleven months to immerse themselves in the Academy community. Each Rome Prize winner is provided with a stipend, meals, a bedroom with a private bath, and a study or studio. Those with children under 18 live in partially subsidized apartments nearby. Winners of half-term and full-term fellowships receive stipends of $16,000 and $30,000, respectively.

27. Camargo Fellowship Program

The Camargo Fellowship is a prestigious program hosted by the Camargo Foundation in Cassis, France, designed for artists, scholars, and researchers. It offers a unique opportunity for individuals to engage in creative and intellectual work in a serene environment. The fellowship provides accommodations and facilities for residents to pursue their projects, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and cultural exchange. Participants benefit from the region’s rich heritage while contributing to their fields through focused research and artistic creation.

28, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellowship

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellowship supports you as a highly qualified postdoc from Germany in conducting your research in Japan – regardless of discipline. Two separate funding lines exist: short-term postdoctoral fellowships (1–12 months) and standard postdoctoral fellowships (12–24 months). Up to 17 short-term postdoctoral fellowships and 12 standard postdoctoral fellowships may be awarded yearly. Applicants must have an academic host who works at a university or a selected national research institution in Japan. The monthly fellowship amount paid by JSPS is currently 362,000 yen.

29. Kluge Fellowships

The Library of Congress invites qualified scholars to conduct research in the John W. Kluge Center using the Library of Congress collections and resources for up to eleven months. Scholars who have received a terminal advanced degree within the past seven years in the humanities, social sciences, or professional fields such as architecture or law are eligible to apply. Fellows receive a stipend of $5,000/month.

30. APS/Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities Fellowship for Research in Edinburgh

In collaboration with the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at the University of Edinburgh, the APS offers a visiting fellowship of between 2-4 months for research in Edinburgh, Scotland, in any aspect of the humanities and social sciences. This award includes travel expenses between the United States and the United Kingdom, a private office, library, and research facilities at the IASH, and a monthly subsistence paid by the APS. Travel expenses and the monthly subsistence amount will not exceed a maximum of $6,000. The Fellowship is available only to residents of the United States or American citizens who are abroad.

31. The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship

The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship is a three-year award that offers outstanding early career researchers the opportunity to strengthen their research and teaching experience in an academic environment. The primary emphasis is on completing a significant piece of publishable research and integrating the award holder into the community of established scholars within their field. The applicant must be a humanities and social sciences researcher and be based at an eligible university or research organization for the duration of the Fellowship. Anyone of any nationality with a doctorate from a UK university is eligible. The scheme is covered under the Full Economic Costing (FEC) regime.

32. The British Academy International Fellowships

The British Academy International Fellowships Programme supports outstanding early career researchers in taking the first step towards developing an independent research career by gaining experience across international borders. Each award is expected to involve a specific and protected research focus, with the award holder undertaking high-quality, original research. To apply through the British Academy, applicants should intend to work in any aspect of the humanities or the social sciences. The International Fellowships offer support for two years, and the award is offered at 80% FEC.

33. James Smithson Fellowship Program

The James Smithson Fellowship Program is a one-year opportunity for postdoctoral students and scholars in science, humanities, and the arts. Candidates should be interested in better understanding the interplay between research, public policy, and discourse. Fellows are immersed with Smithsonian researchers and relevant collections. They receive hands-on experience exploring relationships between research and public policy through interaction with Smithsonian and policy leaders in Washington, D.C. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and have received their doctorate within 5 years. Fellows receive a stipend of $62,000 and a $5,000 research allowance.

34. Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships

The Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships support the final year of dissertation writing on ethical and religious values in all humanities and social sciences fields. Awards are based on a rigorous national competition, and Fellows receive a stipend of $31,000 for 12 months of full-time dissertation writing. These fellowships are supported by the Newcombe Foundation and are administered by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. The Institute for Citizens & Scholars works to identify and prepare the next generation’s best minds for the nation’s most urgent needs through its various fellowship programs.

35. Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program funds the best postdoctoral applicants, nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to Canada’s economic, social, and research-based growth. Fellows can pursue research in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities-based topics. The award is for 2 years, and awardees receive $70,000 annually. This program allows applicants to launch a successful research-intensive career while working on a project that aligns with the host institution’s strategic priorities. A Canadian research institution must endorse all applicants. (Institutions may have internal deadlines).

36. Vanier Canada Graduate Fellowship

The Government of Canada launched the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program in 2008 to strengthen Canada’s ability to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and establish Canada as a global center of excellence in research and higher learning. Vanier Scholars demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and/or humanities, natural sciences, and/or engineering and health. Up to 166 scholarships are awarded annually. Fellows receive $50,000 per year for three years. See the website to learn more about the nomination process. Internal Deadline varies by institution.

37. SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships

SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships support the most promising Canadian new social sciences and humanities scholars and assist them in establishing a research base at a critical time in their research careers. These fellowships are to provide stipendiary support to recent Ph.D. graduates. SSHRC welcomes applications involving Indigenous research. SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships are valued at $45,000 per year over one or two years, up to $90,000. Most SSHRC funding is awarded through open competitions. Proposals can involve disciplines, thematic areas, approaches, or subject areas eligible for SSHRC funding.

38. Berlin Program for Advanced German and European Studies Fellowships

The Program supports North American scholars in all social science and humanities disciplines, including historians working on modern and contemporary German and European history. Applicants must be U.S. or Canadian nationals or permanent residents who are either full-time graduate students who have completed all coursework required for a Ph.D. or have received their doctorates within the past two calendar years. Awards provide between 10 and 12 months of research support and a generous travel allowance for intra-European research.

39. NEH Scholar In Residence

The Center for Jewish History (CJH) offers a fellowship to scholars through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The award supports original research at the Center in the Humanities, including but not limited to Jewish studies, Russian and East European studies, American studies, and Germanic studies, as well as musicology, linguistics, anthropology, sociology, and history. Applications are welcome from college and university faculty in any field who have completed a Ph.D. more than six years before the start of the fellowship. Full fellowships carry a stipend of up to $60,000 for one year.

40. Fellowships at The New York Historical

Leveraging its rich collections, The New York Historical’s unique fellowship programs provide scholars with deep resources and an intellectual community to develop new research and publications. Several pre-doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships will be awarded to scholars at all stages of their careers. Fellows are fully in residence and may not participate in external employment. Applicants should have a strong interest in New York State and City History. Full-time Fellowship positions offer $50,000-$60,000 stipends plus benefits.

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