Fellowship Application Guidelines

Apply by October 1

The Wilson Center offers 9-month residential fellowships through an international competition. Scholars, practitioners, journalists, and public intellectuals are invited to take part in the Center’s flagship Fellowship Program. Fellows conduct research, write in their areas of interest, and engage with policymakers in Washington, as well as Wilson Center staff and other scholars. The Center welcomes policy-relevant, non-advocacy proposals that address key challenges confronting the United States and the world.

About the Center

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars unites the world of ideas with the world of policy by supporting scholarship and linking it to issues of concern to Washington officials. Established by Congress in 1968, the Center serves as a living memorial to President Wilson, promoting dialogue between public policy and scholarship.

The Center conducts research, organizes conferences and seminars, and disseminates research through its website and email marketing. Fellows participate in the Center’s events and benefit from a diverse and inclusive environment.

Application Process

The Wilson Center awards 15-20 residential fellowships each year. Fellows are affiliated with one or more Wilson Center programs/projects and are encouraged to interact with policymakers in Washington, D.C., as well as with Wilson Center staff and other scholars.

The Application

Applicants may  submit their applications online here.

Eligibility

• Open to citizens or permanent residents from any country.
• Academic candidates must be at the post-doctoral level and have published a book or monograph beyond the Ph.D. dissertation.
• Practitioners or policymakers should have an equivalent level of professional achievement.
• English proficiency is required.

Ineligibility

• Applicants working on a degree.
• Proposals of a partisan or advocacy nature.
• Primary research in the natural sciences.
• Projects in musical composition, dance, visual arts, rewriting of doctoral dissertations, editing of texts, preparation of textbooks, anthologies, translations, and memoirs.

Notes on Eligibility

No institutional affiliation is required. Previous Wilson Center awardees may apply, but the recency and nature of prior awards will be considered.

Selection Process

Eligible applications undergo a multi-stage review process involving internal and external evaluations. Final decisions are made by the Fellowship Committee of the Board of Trustees, subject to available funding.

Criteria for Selection

• Significance and originality of the proposed research.
• Relevance to contemporary policy issues.
• Alignment with the Center’s programmatic work.
• Quality of the proposal.
• Applicant’s capabilities and achievements.
• Potential contribution to the Center’s mission.

Projects should be policy-relevant, non-advocacy, and aim to bridge the gap between scholarship and public policy.

Alignment with Programs and Cross-Regional Initiatives

Priority is given to proposals aligning with the Center’s programmatic work and addressing contemporary policy issues. Fellows are affiliated with relevant programs and may collaborate on policy reports, op-eds, seminars, and conferences.

Facilities and Services

Fellows receive a furnished office, access to conference rooms, a reference library, and a dining room. The Wilson Center Library offers loan privileges with the Library of Congress, digital resources, and research facilities. Personal computers and part-time research assistants are provided. Fellows are responsible for their own housing, but the Center offers assistance with the search process.

Stipend

A $90,000 stipend is provided for a nine-month fellowship. Fellows are responsible for their own health insurance and travel expenses.

Length of Appointment

Fellows are expected to be in residence from early September to May. Fellowships for shorter periods (minimum of four months) are occasionally awarded.

Conditions of Award

Fellows must devote full time to their fellowship study and may not accept other major activities. They are required to give Work-in-Progress presentations and participate in Center programming. Interaction with the Washington policy community is encouraged.

Deadline for Applications

Applications must be submitted online or postmarked by 11:59 pm on October 1. Applicants are notified of the selection results in March.

Instructions for Applicants

The Application

A complete application includes:

• Fellowship Application Form
• Current CV (max. three pages)
• List of publications (max. three pages)
• Project Proposal (max. five single-spaced pages)
• Project bibliography (max. three pages)
• Two letters of reference

The Project Proposal

The proposal should address:

• Topic description and importance
• Originality of the study
• Basic ideas and hypotheses
• Methodology
• Current research status
• Use of Washington-area resources
• Relevance to contemporary policy issues and the Center’s goals

Letters of Recommendation

Two letters of reference must be submitted online by October 18 or postmarked by October 17. Letters should comment on the applicant’s proposed study, qualifications, and potential contribution to the Center.

Application Checklist

• Fellowship Application Form
• Current CV (max. three pages)
• List of publications (max. three pages)
• Project Proposal (max. five single-spaced pages)
• Project bibliography (max. three pages)
• Two reference letters

Other Program-Specific Grant Opportunities

The Center’s regional programs also offer grants to eligible scholars.

Contact Us

Scholars and Academic Relations Office
Woodrow Wilson Center
One Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20004-3027
Email: fellowships@wilsoncenter.org
Phone: 202-691-4000

Visit the Wilson Center
Phone: (202) 691-4000
Contact Us

Applicants who would like suggestions on preparing the proposal can read our “Frequently Asked Questions“ and/or “The Art of Writing Proposals,” published by the Social Science Research Council.

Other Program-Specific Grant Opportunities at the Center

Apart from the Wilson Center Fellowships competition, a number of the Center’s regional programs offer grants to eligible scholars. Read about those programs.