[Spencer Foundation](https://www.spencer.org)

October 2026 (application deadline, projected)

$27,500 per fellow for one academic year; ~35 awards annually

Supports doctoral candidates at U.S. institutions conducting innovative dissertation research to advance understanding and improvement of education.

Open to all disciplines; U.S. institutional enrollment required but no citizenship restriction.

--- ## Description The NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship, funded by the Spencer Foundation and administered by the National Academy of Education, is designed to support promising doctoral students from any discipline whose dissertation research contributes to the improvement of education. The fellowship aims to foster the development of new foundational knowledge and innovative perspectives on education, broadly defined to include both formal and informal settings, in the U.S. and globally. Fellows receive funding, participate in professional development retreats, and benefit from mentorship by senior scholars. --- ## Due Dates - October 2026: Application deadline (anticipated/projected) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Each fellow receives $27,500 for one academic year, distributed in two installments. - Approximately 35 fellowships are awarded annually. - Funds are flexible and may be used for living expenses, research costs, insurance, tuition, books, conferences, or other dissertation-related needs. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be candidates for a doctoral degree at a graduate school within the United States (U.S. citizenship is not required). - All pre-dissertation requirements (e.g., coursework, qualifying exams, dissertation proposal approval) must be completed by June 1 of the award year. - The dissertation topic must focus centrally on education, but applicants from any academic discipline or professional field are welcome. - Both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens are eligible, provided enrollment is at a U.S. institution. - Applicants must submit individually (no group submissions). - The fellowship supports the dissertation writing phase, not data collection or coursework. - Re-applicants are allowed if still eligible. --- ## Application Process - Applications are submitted via the online portal hosted by the National Academy of Education. - Required components include: - Background information (education, employment, honors, publications, completion of pre-dissertation requirements) - Personal statement outlining research preparation and career plans - Detailed work plan and timeline for dissertation completion - Abstract and narrative discussion of the dissertation (max 10 pages narrative + 2 pages bibliography) - Graduate transcript (unofficial accepted) - Two letters of recommendation (one from dissertation chair, one from another faculty member) - The review process includes initial screening, review by senior scholars, selection of semifinalists and finalists, and multiple rounds of evaluation. --- ## Additional Information - The fellowship encourages applications from a broad range of disciplines, provided the dissertation advances educational knowledge. - Fellows are expected to work full-time on their dissertation but may work part-time (up to 10 hours/week) with approval. - Concurrent external fellowships (e.g., Ford Foundation) are not allowed, but internal institutional awards may be held with approval. - The program includes professional development retreats and mentorship opportunities. - The earliest fellowship start date is September 1; tenure is typically one academic year, but part-time or two-year plans are possible. - For guidance on proposal writing, see resources provided by the National Academy of Education and the Spencer Foundation. --- ## External Links - [Program Page (Spencer Foundation)](https://www.spencer.org/grant_types/dissertation-fellowship) - [Application Guidelines & Portal (National Academy of Education)](https://naeducation.org/naed-spencer-dissertation-fellowship/) - [How-to Guides for Applicants](https://naeducation.org/naed-spencer-dissertation-fellowship/) (see "Resources" section) - [Current and Past Fellows](https://naeducation.org/current-naed-spencer-dissertation-fellows/) --- ## Contact Information | Organization | Email | Phone | Contact Page | |-------------------------------|------------------------|-----------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | Spencer Foundation | info@spencer.org | +1 312-337-7000 | [Contact Spencer Foundation](https://www.spencer.org/contact) | | National Academy of Education | info@naeducation.org | — | [Contact NAEd](https://naeducation.org/contact-us/) |

NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship

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