How do I get a Dissertation Fellowship?

A fellowship is a funded term of employment, usually no longer than three years, that can be offered by an educational institution, such as a university. Fellowships are normally offered to postgraduate students and scholars who require funding to complete research and produce studies or papers. Various duties, such as teaching classes and presenting research, are often required of individuals who are awarded fellowships. A dissertation fellowship is funding available for individuals who are completing their doctoral dissertations, though some funding may also extend for a year following completion of the work. To get a dissertation fellowship, it can be helpful to first learn about available funding offered by your school or another organization then to complete the application process.

Dissertation fellowships are often offered by the university programs where graduate students are enrolled. In some cases, an outside organization may offer dissertation fellowship opportunities to students who are working in a certain field. For example, an organization that focuses on heart health may award a fellowship to a doctoral candidate who studies heart disease. Before applying for a fellowship, you should pay close attention to fellowship instructions, guidelines, and deadlines.

Once you have found a dissertation fellowship you feel that you are qualified to apply for, it can be helpful to prepare your application materials. Fellowship applications normally include academic transcripts, letters of reference, and statements of purpose. A proposal for a project and a sample chapter from a dissertation-in-progress may also be required by a fellowship committee.

Before sending in your application materials, it may be a good idea to think about the goals and possible uses of your dissertation. Many dissertation fellowship committees prefer to award funding to individuals who have a fully formed ideas and goals. Reading information about a fellowship and researching past fellows can be a good way to determine how best to phrase and direct your proposal or statement of purpose. If you are applying for several fellowships, you may want to tailor each proposal to meet the preferences of each fellowship.

Guidelines regarding how dissertation fellowship applications should be submitted are incredibly important. Some instructions may require that applicants have a choice to submit online or through conventional mail. Regardless of your preferences, it is best stick to preferences noted in the instructions. If there are reasons why you must deviate from preferred submission guidelines, it might be beneficial to consult the proper authority prior to submitting your information.