NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship
NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship supports doctoral students’ dissertation writing on formal and informal education to build foundational knowledge and improve education policy and practice.
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Funder: Spencer Foundation
Due Dates: August 1, 2026 (Application opens) | October 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $30,000 per fellow; 35 awards annually; one academic year full-time or up to two years part-time
Summary: Supports doctoral dissertation writing on formal or informal education to develop foundational knowledge and improve education policy and practice.
Key Information: Applicants must be doctoral candidates at U.S. graduate schools and complete all pre-dissertation requirements by June 1, 2027.
Description
Funded by the Spencer Foundation and administered by the National Academy of Education (NAEd), this fellowship supports promising doctoral students whose dissertations offer fresh perspectives on the history, theory, analysis, or practice of education. It welcomes research from any academic discipline or professional field, provided education is the dissertation’s primary focus. Its scope includes formal and informal education worldwide, from early childhood through adulthood and in school and non-school settings.
The fellowship supports the dissertation writing phase, alleviating the need for significant employment while developing scholars’ research capabilities. Alongside financial support, fellows receive mentorship and participate in professional development retreats. The program seeks foundational knowledge that can inform better education policy and practice, deepen public engagement, and support fellows’ continued involvement in education research.
