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

The Jefferson Scholars Foundation National Fellowship is a prestigious, highly competitive fellowship designed for outstanding PhD candidates whose research engages critical questions in American politics, public policy, foreign policy, and global affairs. Hosted in partnership with the University of Virginia, the fellowship supports emerging scholars with strong academic records and demonstrated leadership potential.

This fellowship is open to international applicants and focuses on helping scholars complete and prepare their dissertation work for publication while building influential academic networks.

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

• Dedicated research funding for scholarly network activities
• Paid expenses for:

1. Workshops
2. Conferences
3. Reading groups
4. Symposia
5. Manuscript development sessions

• Mentorship from senior scholars in your research area
• Required on-campus residential visits (up to two weeks)
• Participation in:

1. Fall dissertation development conference
2. 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

• 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

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.

• Open to all nationalities
• Non-U.S. citizens are fully eligible to apply

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

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

1. Applicant information sheet
2. Project description (up to 1,200 words)
3. Research plan (up to 500 words)
4. Scholarly network proposal (up to 1,200 words)
5. Op-ed or blog post (up to 750 words) demonstrating public engagement
6. Professional development statement (up to 500 words)
7. Bibliography (maximum 3 pages)
8. Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
9. Writing sample (up to 40 pages)
10. Two letters of recommendation (one must be from the dissertation advisor)

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

[email protected]

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