Doctoral Fellowship for Ph.D. and Th.D. Students

Doctoral Fellowship for Ph.D. and Th.D. Students

Overview: FTE offers a one-year fellowship with financial support, mentorship, and community for under-resourced and underrepresented Ph.D. and Th.D. students who have completed the coursework stage. FTE has been committed since 1954 to increasing diversity in religion and theological faculty in North America, with particular focus on supporting scholars of African descent and increasingly other historically underrepresented groups.

Award Amount: Up to $35,000 living stipend (historical awards have ranged from $25,000-$35,000)

Geographic Scope: US and Canadian-accredited institutions; applicants must be US citizens, Canadian citizens, or permanent residents

Focus Areas: Ph.D. or Th.D. programs in:

Religion

Theological studies

Biblical studies

Target Populations:

Scholars of African descent

Latino/a, Asian, and First Nations doctoral students

Under-resourced and underrepresented students in theological education

Eligibility:

Must be enrolled full-time in Ph.D. or Th.D. program in religion, theological, or biblical studies

Must be US citizen, Canadian citizen, or permanent resident

Must have completed all coursework by September 1 (beginning of fellowship year)

Must be at dissertation stage (ABD) or past coursework stage but not yet at candidacy

For ABD applicants: dissertation committee must have approved dissertation research proposal and writing plan with full approval to proceed before application submission

Must be studying at US or Canadian-accredited institution

Must be in position to write full-time during fellowship year

Ineligible: Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) students and students in doctoral programs with non-US/Canadian accreditation bodies

International Students: International students with citizenship and/or residency outside US or Canada are NOT eligible

Mission Alignment: Fellowship supports scholars whose work:

Serves and/or addresses concerns of communities underrepresented and underserved in theological education and religious studies

Contributes to seminary, college, and/or university teaching and scholarship in North America

Addresses the changing demographics, perspectives, and experiences of students in theological education

Contact: Marissa Akery, Community Engagement Manager (makery@fteleaders.org)

Physical Address: WeWork Decatur, Floor 4, 120 West Trinity Place, Decatur, GA 30030

Mailing Address: 2870 Peachtree Rd NW Suite 915 #7080, Atlanta, GA 30305

Phone: 678.369.6755

Application Process

Application Deadline: February 16 by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (Annual)

Award Notification: Applicants will be notified by end of April 2026

Feedback: FTE can only provide personalized feedback to applicants offered a Fellowship due to high volume of applicants

Note: Only complete applications submitted by deadline will be considered

Required Application Materials

All applicants must submit:

1. Curriculum Vitae
- Most recent CV or resume
- Must include at minimum:
- Contact information
- Education
- Employment history
- Awards/fellowships
- Licenses/certifications/publications
- Academic presentations
- Professional affiliations
- Community and church service
- Skills/interests

2. Academic Essay (3-page maximum, single-spaced)
- Situate yourself within your discipline(s)
- Describe specific research interests, focus, and methodologies
- Identify scholars whose ideas are most helpful and promising in your work
- Explain how your project and/or research interests serve and/or address concerns of underrepresented and underserved communities (e.g., African, Asian, Indigenous, Hispanic descent) in theological education and religious studies
- Describe plans to contribute to seminary, college, and/or university teaching and scholarship in North America
- Include list of courses you are prepared to teach or would like to teach
- Describe how dissertation project will contribute to theological education and to the church

3. Vocational Essay (2-page maximum, single-spaced)
- Indicate vocational commitments as theological educator to specific or multiple underrepresented and underserved communities
- Describe connection, involvement, and relationship to concerns and interests of aforementioned communities beyond the academy
- Explain what contributions beyond the academy you hope to make as theological educator

4. Letters of Reference (2 required)
- One faculty letter of reference
- One non-academic/community letter of reference
- Provide names and contact information for both persons
- Important: Confirm all contact information is correct

5. Budget Statement
- Completed within application form
- Based on estimated income and personal expenses for academic year 2025-2026

6. Personal Biography
- One paragraph, single-spaced

7. Unofficial Transcripts
- From current doctoral program

8. High-Resolution Headshot
- Professional photograph
- No selfies

Additional Materials for Dissertation Stage (ABD) Applicants Only

9. Dissertation Abstract and Summary (1-page maximum, single-spaced)
- One-page abstract and summary of proposed dissertation project

10. Writing Timeline
- Table with proposed writing timeline for each dissertation chapter

11. Dissertation Committee Information
- List of all dissertation committee members with names
- Indicate name of adviser
- Submit within application form

Application Features

• Applicants can save and return the application before submission
• Application portal allows uploading of all required materials