Louisville Institute: Doctoral Fellowship Grant

Louisville Institute: Doctoral Fellowship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Louisville Institute
Amount: US $6,000
Last Updated: January 23, 2026

Summary

The Louisville Institute Doctoral Fellowship supports Ph.D. and Th.D. students in their first or second year, providing a $3,000 annual grant for two years. This fellowship encourages theological education as a vocation through participation in three formational gatherings each year. Fellows engage in discussions on leadership, pedagogy, and vocational discernment while receiving financial support for all related expenses. The program aims to foster growth and collaboration among future theological educators.

Overview

NOTE: The Pre-Proposal deadline represents when the Application is due.The Full Proposal deadline represents when the Letters of Recommendation are due. Doctoral Fellowship What are Doctoral Fellowships? The two-year Louisville Institute Doctoral Fellowship invites current Ph.D. and Th.D. students in their first or second year of a doctoral program to consider theological education as a vocation. As part of the Louisville Institute’s Vocation of the Theological Educator Initiative (VTE), Louisville Institute Doctoral Fellows receive a $3,000 (USD) grant each year for two years, and join with other fellows at three formational gatherings a year (October, January, and May). All expenses for participating in the VTE gatherings, held in Louisville, KY, are covered by the Louisville Institute. The Louisville Institute understands theological education as encompassing the academic study and teaching of religion and its practices, as well as formation for ministry, leadership, social justice and public service, nonprofit and other agency work, etc. What are VTE Gatherings? Three times a year (October, January, & May), LI Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellows gather in Louisville, KY, for vocational and professional formation, relationship building, and mutual support as part of the Vocation of the Theological Educator Initiative (VTE). With their cohorts, fellows engage vocational questions about theological education, discernment, leadership, pedagogy, mentoring, research and writing, employment and tenure, public theology, guild participation, and other relevant issues. Through peer learning and in conversation with mentor-facilitators and invited resource persons, fellows together create space for dialogue, imagination, collegiality, and growth within and across the academy and the church. All expenses for participation in the VTE gatherings are covered by the Louisville Institute.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible applicants:must, at the time they apply, be students in their first or second year of a Ph.D., Th.D., or pontifical S.T.D. program at an accredited graduate school in the United States or Canada.must reside in the United States or Canada, and be U.S. or Canadian citizens or international students with an appropriate student visa to study in North America.must have at least two years remaining in their program at the time they apply. Most applicants are in or have recently completed coursework when they apply.may work in a variety of disciplines (history, ethics, practical theology, biblical studies, etc.), or work interdisciplinarily.

Ineligibility

Members of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary staff, faculty, Board of Trustees, or student body or their immediate family members (parents, spouses, or children) are ineligible for Louisville Institute grants or fellowships. Members of the Louisville Institute Advisory Board and their immediate family members are also ineligible.Louisville Institute grantees and fellows may not simultaneously hold two individual grants from Lilly Endowment-funded organizations that together total more than US$55,000.D.Min. students and others in non-research or practical degrees are not eligible for this fellowship. Students enrolled in North American doctoral programs but living outside of the United States and Canada are not eligible.Those who have applied for but not yet started a doctoral program, or who are already writing their dissertations, are not eligible for this fellowship.