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

July 1, 2025 (Application opens) | October 2, 2025 (Application deadline)

$27,500 for one academic year; 35 fellowships awarded annually

Supports doctoral candidates at U.S. institutions conducting innovative dissertation research relevant to the improvement of education.

Open to all disciplines; U.S. citizenship not required; funds the writing phase of the dissertation.

--- ## 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 addresses significant questions in education. The fellowship aims to foster innovative, high-impact research that advances understanding of educational processes, policies, and practices—broadly defined to include both formal and informal education, in the U.S. and internationally. Fellows receive financial support for one academic year, participate in professional development retreats, and are paired with a senior scholar mentor. The program is highly competitive, selecting 35 fellows annually whose work demonstrates potential for substantial contributions to the field. --- ## Due Dates - **Application Opens:** July 1, 2025 - **Application Deadline:** October 2, 2025, 5:00 pm ET - **Earliest Fellowship Start Date:** June 1 of the award year --- ## Funding Amount - **Award:** $27,500 for one academic year (distributed in two installments) - **Number of Awards:** 35 fellowships annually - **Duration:** Typically one year (full-time), with the possibility of up to two years (part-time) if justified in the work plan --- ## Eligibility - **Degree Status:** Doctoral candidates at a graduate school within the United States (U.S. citizenship is not required) - **Dissertation Stage:** All pre-dissertation requirements (e.g., coursework, qualifying exams, proposal approval) must be completed by June 1 of the award year - **Dissertation Focus:** Research must be centrally relevant to education (broadly defined) - **Discipline:** Open to all academic disciplines and professional fields - **Application Type:** Individual applications only (no group submissions) - **International Students:** Eligible if enrolled in a U.S. graduate program --- ## Application Process 1. **Prepare Application Materials:** - Background information (demographics, education/employment history, honors, publications) - Personal statement (preparation for dissertation research and future career plans) - Work plan (timeline for dissertation completion) - Abstract (summary of dissertation focus and methods) - Narrative discussion (up to 10 double-spaced pages, plus bibliography) - Graduate transcript (unofficial copy accepted) - Two letters of recommendation (one from dissertation chair, one from another faculty member) 2. **Submit Online:** - Applications are submitted via the [NAEd/Spencer Fellowship portal](https://naedfellowships.secure-platform.com/a/page/dissertationfellowship) - Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by recommenders by the deadline 3. **Review Process:** - Initial screening for completeness and fit - Discipline-specific review by senior scholars - Selection committee review and semifinalist selection - Finalist selection after additional review and updates 4. **Notification:** - Semifinalists notified in May - Finalists selected in April --- ## Additional Information - **Professional Development:** Fellows attend two retreats and receive mentorship from senior scholars. - **Employment During Fellowship:** Limited employment (up to 10 hours/week) is permitted with approval. - **Concurrent Funding:** Cannot be held concurrently with most external fellowships; internal university awards may be allowed with approval. - **Use of Funds:** Flexible; may cover living expenses, insurance, research costs, books, conferences, and tuition/fees. - **Reapplication:** Previous applicants may reapply if still eligible. - **No feedback:** The program does not provide feedback on applications. --- ## External Links - [Spencer Foundation – Fellowship Overview](https://www.spencer.org/grant_types/dissertation-fellowship) - [National Academy of Education – Fellowship Details & FAQ](https://naeducation.org/naed-spencer-dissertation-fellowship/) - [Application Portal](https://naedfellowships.secure-platform.com/a/page/dissertationfellowship) - [Writing Successful Research Grant Proposals (Spencer Foundation Guide)](https://www.spencer.org/resources/a-guide-to-writing-successful-field-initiated-research-grant-proposals) - [Communicating Your Qualitative Research Design](https://www.spencer.org/resources/communicating-your-qualitative-research-design) - [A Guide to Quantitative Proposals](https://www.spencer.org/resources/a-guide-to-quantitative-research-proposals) - [On the Art of Writing Proposals (SSRC)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/ssrc-cdn1/crmuploads/new_publication_3/%7B7A9CB4F4-815F-DE11-BD80-001CC477EC70%7D.pdf) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Website | |------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| | National Academy of Education | info@naeducation.org | | [Fellowship Details](https://naeducation.org/naed-spencer-dissertation-fellowship/) | | Spencer Foundation | info@spencer.org | +1 312-337-7000 | [Spencer Foundation](https://www.spencer.org/contact) |

NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship

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