Dissertation Fellowships (2026-2027)

Dissertation Fellowships - Center for Engaged Scholarship

Funder: Center for Engaged Scholarship (CA, US)
Website: cescholar.org
Contact: info@cescholar.org

Program Overview

The Center for Engaged Scholarship's mission is to contribute to social and environmental justice by mobilizing the ideas and energies of engaged scholars. Through this fellowship program, CES supports graduate students using the tools of social science to advance social and environmental justice.

Funding Details

• Award Amount: $35,000 stipend paid over 9 months
• Number of Awards: Expanded to 12 fellowships (increased from 7 with Mellon Foundation support)
• Geographic Scope: Open to Ph.D. students enrolled in U.S. programs (including foreign nationals and undocumented individuals)

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Status:

Ph.D. students who have completed all departmental and institutional requirements including dissertation proposal approval

Only remaining requirement is writing and/or defense of dissertation

Must be on track to complete majority of research/data collection by June of current academic year

Should be writing dissertation chapters when fellowship begins in September

Eligible Disciplines:

American Studies

Anthropology

Cultural Studies

Economics

English & Comparative Literature

Ethnic Studies

Gender & Women's Studies

Geography

History

Philosophy

Political Science

Sociology

Research Focus:

Engaged Scholarship: Research addressing pressing social problems or injustices

Work whose findings contribute to making U.S. more just, equal, and environmentally sustainable

Must meet highest academic standards

Must speak to audiences beyond specialized disciplinary fields

Ineligible Fields (with exceptions):

Ph.D. programs in professional schools including Public Health, Education, Social Work, Law, Medicine, and Urban Planning (exceptions made for scholars in these institutions doing Arts & Sciences-equivalent work accessible beyond the profession)

What They Don't Fund

• Professional school doctoral programs as a rule (though exceptions are made)
• Non-engaged scholarship or work focused solely on disciplinary advancement

Program Administration

• Selection Process: Three-round review process (application portal review → first round review → final round committee selection)
• Application Portal: SurveyMonkey Apply (https://ces.smapply.io/)
• Funding Source: Supported by Mellon Foundation grant ($558,000 over 3 years)

Background

CES received a 3-year grant from the Mellon Foundation for $558,000 to expand the fellowship program and increase number of awards from 7 to 12. The organization also received funding from the Hewlett Foundation for related research initiatives.