The National Humanities Center invites applications for academic-year or semester-long residential fellowships for 2027-28. Fellows have private studies, in-house dining, and the service of NHC librarians to access and acquire all types of research materials while in residence, and the Center's independent endowment is described as ensuring that Fellows have the time and freedom to work on what they choose. Mid-career, senior, and emerging scholars with a strong record of peer-reviewed work from all areas of the humanities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must hold a PhD or relevant terminal degree for their primary discipline, received at least five years prior to October 1, 2026; must have published at least one scholarly monograph, for book-focused fields, or the equivalent in peer-reviewed scholarship; must be working on a project beyond the dissertation that is at an advanced stage with most of the research done; and must plan to spend the full term of one or two semesters in residence. Projects must be grounded in one or more humanities disciplines, or grounded in other fields such as the natural and social sciences, the arts, the professions and public life while substantially employing humanistic approaches and methodologies. Two named exceptions to the five-year rule are the Geiss-Hsu Fellowship, for a project substantially addressing Ming-era China, and the Philip L. Quinn Fellowship, for a female-identified early-career philosopher. There are no citizenship requirements and international applicants are invited; stipends and travel expenses are provided. The Center began accepting applications for the 2027-28 academic year on July 1, 2026. Applications require a 1,000-word project proposal, a bibliography of at most two pages, a curriculum vitae of at most four pages, a one-page tentative outline of the project structure, and the names and contact information for three references. All materials are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 1, 2026, except letters of recommendation, which are due October 8, 2026.
- Career stageMid-career, Senior scholar, Early career
- DegreePhD
- Degree requirementapplicants must have received a PhD or equivalent scholarly credentials five years prior to applying.
- Career stage requirementMid-career, senior, and emerging scholars with a strong record of peer- reviewed work from all areas of the humanities are encouraged to apply.
- Language requirementThe applicant speaks and reads English fluently.
- OtherThe applicant has published at least one scholarly monograph, for book-focused fields, or the equivalent in peer-reviewed scholarship for article-focused fields.
- OtherThe applicant is working on a project beyond the dissertation.
- OtherThe applicant is engaged in humanities research that will result in publication.
- OtherThe applicant’s project is grounded in one or more humanities disciplines, or it is grounded in other fields (the natural and social sciences, the arts, the professions, and public life) but substantially employs humanistic approaches and methodologies.
- OtherThe proposed project is at an advanced stage, meaning that most of the research is done, and the applicant is already writing.
- OtherThe applicant plans to spend the full term (one or two semesters) in residence at the Center. Extended time away, including trips for field research, is not permitted.
- StatusOpen
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