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The Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship

The Ford Dissertation Fellowship provides one year of support for graduate students working to complete their PhD or Sc.D dissertations. The Fellowship is intended to support the final year of writing and defense of the dissertation. Awards are made to students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise for future achievement, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

The Academic Fellowships Team is here to support you through all steps of the application process. If you are interested in connecting with us to learn more, please contact us at fellowships@brandeis.edu.

Eligibility

US citizens, US national, and US permanent resident, or DACA students
Evidence of superior academic achievement
Must be committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level in the US
Enrolled in a dissertation-required PhD program
Will complete dissertation in a period of 9-12 months during the 2024-2025 academic year, but no later than Fall 2025
Individuals who, by Dec. 13, 2023, have completed all departmental and institutional requirements for their degree, except for writing and defense of the dissertation
Individuals who have not earned a doctoral degree at any time, in any field

Application Timeline

National Deadline: Dec. 12, 2023

Award

Ford Dissertation Fellows receive a $28,000 stipend for 1 year.
An invitation to attend the Conference of Ford Fellows.
Access to Ford Fellow Regional Liaisons — a network of former Ford Fellows who have volunteered to provide mentoring and support to current Fellows — and access to other networking resources.

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How to Apply

Contact Academic Fellowships to set up a meeting to discuss the application process and strategy.
Write a personal statement (up to 2 pages).
Write a Statement of Previous Research and Scholarly Productivity (up to 3 pages)
Write an Abstract of your dissertation (up to 1 page)
Write a Proposed Plan for Completion of Dissertation and timeline describing your long-range career goals (up to 3 pages)
Request 3-5 Letters of Reference from professors that can attest to your academic and personal character.
Upload unofficial transcripts to the application portal.
Request a Verification of Doctoral Degree Status Form signed by your graduate advisor or department chair.

What Makes a Ford Dissertation Fellow?

The Ford Foundation is seeking scholars who demonstrate the following qualities:

Evidence of superior academic achievement.
Degree of promise of continuing achievement as scholars and teachers.
Capacity to respond in pedagogically productive ways to the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds.
Sustained personal engagement with communities that are underrepresented in the academy and an ability to bring this asset to learning, teaching, and scholarship at the college and university level.
Member of an underrepresented group.

Applicant Resources

Your Academic Fellowships Team: Meredith and Elizabeth are here to help you through each step of the process, from exploring the different application components, to choosing your recommendation letter writers, to providing feedback on your essays. Email fellowships@brandeis.edu to schedule a meeting with us!
Ford Fellowship FAQs: The Ford Foundation has compiled a list of frequently asked questions and their answers. This is a great place to further explore the eligibility requirements, application advice, and more.