[American Philosophical Society](https://www.amphilsoc.org)

November 2026 (Application deadline, forecasted)

$28,000–$75,000 per award; one-year support for dissertation completion.

Supports outstanding doctoral students at U.S. universities (or exceptional U.S. doctoral students abroad) completing their dissertations in any field.

--- ## Description The fellowship honors the legacy of John Hope Franklin and is awarded annually by the American Philosophical Society to an exceptional doctoral student who is completing their dissertation. The program recognizes scholarly excellence and promise across a wide range of disciplines, with past recipients representing fields from the humanities and social sciences to the sciences. The fellowship is intended to provide financial support for the final year of dissertation writing and research, with an expectation of residency and active participation in the scholarly community at the American Philosophical Society's Library & Museum in Philadelphia. --- ## Due Dates - Anticipated application deadline: November 2026 *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Awards typically range from $28,000 to $75,000 for a one-year period. - Funding is intended to support living expenses while completing dissertation research and writing. - The fellowship is highly selective and provides more substantial support than short-term research grants. --- ## Eligibility - Open to doctoral students at American universities or exceptional American doctoral students studying abroad. - Applicants must be in the final stages of dissertation research and writing. - Scholars from all fields and disciplines are eligible, provided their project demonstrates excellence and promise. - Both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals affiliated with a U.S. institution are eligible. - Grants are made to individuals only; institutions are not eligible. - The fellowship cannot be held remotely; recipients are expected to engage with the APS scholarly community in Philadelphia. --- ## Application Process - Applications must be submitted online, typically via Interfolio or the APS application portal. - Required materials usually include: - Cover letter detailing interest and fit for the fellowship. - Research proposal (max 4 pages) describing the dissertation, its scholarly contribution, and collections to be used. - Curriculum Vitae (CV). - Letters of reference (usually from advisors or committee members). - Writing sample (up to 25 pages). - Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate a clear need to use APS collections or Philadelphia-area resources. - Each fellowship application must be submitted separately if applying for more than one APS fellowship. - Selection is made by a committee of leading scholars, including APS members and past fellows. --- ## Additional Information - The APS does not pay overhead or indirect costs to institutions. - Fellowship funds cannot be used to pay income tax; recipients should consult a tax advisor regarding reporting obligations. - Past recipients and their dissertation topics are listed on the [program page](https://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/john-hope-franklin-dissertation-fellowship). - The fellowship is highly competitive and aims to support projects that will make a strong contribution to scholarship. --- ## External Links - [Program Details & Application Instructions](https://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/john-hope-franklin-dissertation-fellowship) - [APS Grants & Fellowships Overview](https://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/research) - [How to Apply for APS Fellowships (Blog)](https://www.amphilsoc.org/blog/how-apply-library-museum-fellowships-american-philosophical-society-0) - [APS Library & Museum Fellowships](https://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/fellowships) - [Search APS Collections](https://www.amphilsoc.org/library/search-collections) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | |--------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------| | Linda Musumeci, Director of Grants and Fellowships | [lmusumeci@amphilsoc.org](mailto:lmusumeci@amphilsoc.org) | 215-440-3429 | | General Fellowship Inquiries | [bholland@amphilsoc.org](mailto:bholland@amphilsoc.org) | 215-440-3405 | | APS Contact Page | [Contact APS](https://www.amphilsoc.org/contact) | |

John Hope Franklin Dissertation Fellowship

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