21st Century Fellowship
21st Century Fellowship supports Ph.D. students’ dissertation fieldwork in ethnomusicology to advance original scholarship, emphasizing research excellence and addressing limited access to fieldwork funding.
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Funder: Society for Ethnomusicology
Due Dates: April 1, 2027 (Application) | August 1, 2027 (ABD status required)
Funding Amounts: Two annual fellowships of $7,500 each
Summary: Supports doctoral dissertation fieldwork that advances excellence and original scholarship in ethnomusicology.
Key Information: Applicants must be current SEM members and conduct at least six months of full-time dissertation research.
Description
The Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) offers the 21st Century Fellowship to support dissertation fieldwork by two highly qualified Ph.D. students each year. The program includes an Open Fellowship and a Specialized Fellowship, supporting original research relevant to ethnomusicology. Onsite fieldwork is preferred, although virtual fieldwork is also considered.
The fellowship emphasizes clarity of argument, engagement with literature, theoretical sophistication, and decolonizing academia, alongside research feasibility and applicant preparedness. The Specialized Fellowship addresses limited access to dissertation fieldwork funding, with priorities including students at schools that do not fund dissertation research, research in applicants’ countries of origin, multi-sited research, and students from marginalized groups. Fellowships are selected by an SEM committee and announced and awarded at the Society’s fall Annual Meeting.
