Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans Grant

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Paul and Daisy Soros Foundation
Amount: Up to US $90,000
Last Updated: March 04, 2026

Summary

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans supports thirty outstanding immigrants or their children pursuing graduate education in the U.S. annually. Eligible candidates must be 30 or younger as of the application deadline and can apply while applying to or enrolled in an eligible graduate program. Each fellowship offers up to $90,000, covering stipend support and tuition fees, fostering academic excellence and community engagement among diverse Fellowship recipients.

Overview

Background Every year, The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans (PD Soros) supports thirty New Americans-- immigrants or the children of immigrants--who are pursuing graduate or professional school in the United States. It's free to apply.You can apply when you're applying to graduate or professional school, or when you're in the first two years of the academic program you're seeking funding for.You can apply more than one.You must be 30 or younger as of the application deadline.PD Soros supports all types of full-time degrees at accredited institutions in the United States. Each Fellowship supports one to two years of graduate study in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program in the United States. Each award is for up to a total of $90,000. Here is the financial break down: Each Fellow receives $25,000 in stipend support a year (all stipend awards are capped at $50,000 per year), as well as 50 percent of required tuition and fees, up to $20,000 per year, for one to two years. The first year of Fellowship funding cannot be deferred. What is required of Fellows? Over the two years of the Fellowship, Fellows are required to attend the annual Fall Conference in New York City, which is fully paid for by the program. The Fall Conference takes place over a weekend in late October and is an opportunity for the new Fellows to get to know one another and the Fellowship staff, alumni, and community, celebrate, and examine the New American experience. In addition, the director or deputy director of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships will visit each Fellow on their respective campus during the first fall semester of their Fellowship. The Fellowship funding should allow Fellows to focus on their studies full-time, which is why Fellows are not able to work full-time during their graduate program. Finally, Fellows are required to remain in good standing in their graduate program while receiving funding. At the close of their two years as an active fellow, Fellows must submit an exit report. More details on the visit and the requirements of the Fellowship are provided when selected applicants sign a contract with the Fellowship.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To be eligible for the Class of 2023, you must be a New American who is 30 or younger as of the application deadline, and who is planning on starting or continuing an eligible graduate degree program full-time in the United States in the 2023-2024 academic year.You may apply to the Fellowship while you are applying to graduate school, or after you are already enrolled in graduate school.However, if you are in a graduate program for which you are seeking support, then you cannot have started a third or subsequent year of that program as of the October 27th deadline.New American Status​​:The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans program is intended for immigrants and children of immigrants in the United States. To be eligible, your birth parents must have both been born outside of the US as non-US citizens, and both parents must not have been eligible for US citizenship at the time of their births.In addition, one of the following must be true of you as of the October 27 application deadline:Born in the US: You are a US citizen by birth and both of your parents were born abroad as non-US citizens.Born abroad:Naturalized Citizen: You have been naturalized as a US citizen either on your own or as a minor child under the application of one of your parents. Adopted: You were born outside of the US or one of its territories and were subsequently adopted by American parents and were awarded US citizenship because of your adoption. Green Card: You are in possession of a valid green card. Refugee & Asylees: You have been granted asylum or refugee status in the US. If None of the Other Categories Above Apply: Graduated from High School and College in the US:If none of the other categories apply to you and you were born abroad but graduated from both high school and college in the US (this includes current and past DACA recipients).* If you were raised by only one of your birth parents, the following must be true:The parent who raised you must have been born abroad as a non-US citizen.Your second birth parent was not part of your life growing up and you have no contact with them.Academic StandingThe Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans program is intended for immigrants and children of immigrants who are pursuing full-time graduate degrees at United States institutions.To be eligible, you will have a bachelor’s degree as of the fall of 2023.You may be applying to graduate school at the same time that you are applying to the Fellowship, or you may already be enrolled in the graduate program that you are seeking funding for as of the application deadline. The Fellowship is open to all fields of study and fully accredited full-time graduate and professional degree programs.To be eligible for the 2023 Fellowship, you should be planning to be enrolled full-time in an eligible graduate degree program at a US university for the full 2022-23 academic year.To be eligible, you must not have begun the third year of the program that you are seeking funding for as of the October 28, 2021 deadline.Individuals who have a previous graduate degree are eligible.For individuals in a joint- or dual-degree program, the program you are enrolled in for the 2023-24 academic year must meet the eligibility requirements.Beginning this cycle, online programs, including hybrid programs, are eligible for Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships funding. Online programs must meet the eligibility requirements detailed above.During the academic year, Fellows are not permitted to work full-time; part-time work—up to 20 hours—is permitted with approval of the Fellowship director. AgeThe Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans program is intended for students who are early in their careers.All students must be 30 or younger as of the application deadline.To be eligible for the 2023 Fellowship, you must not have reached or passed your 31st birthday as of the application deadline.There is no minimum age requirement.

Ineligibility

Ineligible programsExecutive graduate programs, joint bachelors/master's programs in which both degrees are awarded simultaneously, certificate programs, post-baccalaureate programs, graduate programs that are not in the United States, and graduate programs that are not fully accredited.If an academic program was always intended to be an online program and will continue to be an online program after the pandemic subsides, then it would not be eligible for Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships funding.