FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS — FELLOWSHIPS

Who is eligible to apply?

• Applicants for the Doctoral and Dissertation Fellowships must reside in the United States or Canada and be U.S. or Canadian citizens or international students holding a valid student visa to study in North America. For full eligibility details, see the Fellowship program page.
• Applicants for the Dissertation Fellowship are candidates for a Ph.D. or Th.D. degree at an ATS-accredited graduate school in the United States or Canada. D.Min. students and others in practical degree programs are not eligible for this fellowship. Download the full 2027 Dissertation Fellowship Application Guide for all eligibility and application requirements.
• Applicants for the Postdoctoral Fellowship are scholars based in the United States or Canada who will complete all Ph.D./Th.D. work, defend their dissertations, and receive their degrees no later than June 30, 2027. 

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A FELLOWSHIP FROM LI?

• Visit the fellowship page for the specific program, download the application guide, and review all requirements. When you are ready to apply, click APPLY button. All application materials must be submitted online by uploading documents in PDF format through our portal.

WHAT Do LI FELLOWSHIPS Not FUND?

• LI Fellowships are not scholarships and do not cover tuition or other educational expenses.

DOES LI PROVIDE SAMPLE ESSAYS OR PROSPECTUSES?

• No. Because proposals vary so widely, we do not provide samples of essays or prospectuses.

MAY I SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TO MORE THAN ONE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM?

• Yes, but you may apply to only one Louisville Institute fellowship program within the same grant year (June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027).

CAN I APPLY FOR A FELLOWSHIP IF I’M ENROLLED IN A SCHOOL OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA?

• No. Applicants must reside in the United States or Canada; be U.S. or Canadian citizens or international students holding a valid student visa; and be enrolled in an ATS-accredited school in the United States or Canada.

CAN I APPLY FOR A DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP A SECOND TIME?

• Yes. You may apply again if you meet all eligibility requirements and expect to complete your dissertation in the calendar year following your application (i.e., if you apply in 2027, you should expect to finish by December 31, 2028). See the Dissertation Fellowship page for full details. Applicants who have previously received and declined a Louisville Institute Dissertation Fellowship are not eligible to reapply.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PREVIOUS PROJECTS YOU’VE FUNDED?

• Use the toolbar search function to search the entire site by topic, scholar, or project. You can also browse previous projects on the Awards page.

DOES LI PROVIDE SAMPLE PROPOSALS?

• No. Brief project descriptions are available on our website, but we do not provide samples of successful proposals. Each grant selection committee has its own distinct selection process. Applicants should consult colleagues for feedback, and craft a proposal that fits their skills and interests.

WHEN ARE APPLICATIONS DUE?

• All materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline. If you encounter problems with the online application, please email us at fellowships@louisville-institute.org.

WHAT IF I MISS THE DEADLINE?

• Late applications are not accepted. You may apply in the next grant cycle.