Deadline: March 19, 2026
Applications are open for the Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program 2026-2027. The Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program provides opportunities for early-career scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who hold refugee status or have been forcibly displaced.
Through the program, year-long fellowships are awarded to support emerging displaced scholars through a Columbia Global Center, where they receive ongoing support to enhance their research capabilities, broaden their professional networks, and advance toward a successful career in academia.
Benefits
Scholars receive the following:
- Hosting and work space at one of the Columbia Global Centers (Amman, Nairobi, or Santiago).
- A stipend.
- Dedicated mentorship from esteemed Columbia faculty.
- A small research/travel fund to support their scholarly endeavors.
- Training that meets their academic needs in areas such as academic writing.
- Access to a broad selection of online courses.
- Full integration into the vibrant life of one of the Columbia Global Centers.
- Inclusion in an alumni network.
Eligibility
Eligible candidates are scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who have been forcibly uprooted from their home countries and respective academic institutions. They could be postdoctoral scholars in the early stages of their careers or Ph.D. candidates who have had their education disrupted. Creative writers, artists, curators, and scholars working on interdisciplinary projects are encouraged to apply.
Requirements
- Must be displaced.
- Must have a Ph.D. in the humanities (with rare exceptions, candidates with a non-terminal M.A. or who were on track to get a PhD may be considered).
- Must be based in the region of the Global Center to which they wish to apply (Sub-Saharan Africa for Nairobi; Middle East or North Africa for Amman; Latin America or the Caribbean for Santiago).
- Must demonstrate at least an intermediate level of English language proficiency.
- Must have received their highest academic degree within the last 12 years. Exceptions to this timeline will be considered to accommodate career-specific trajectories or other circumstances.
- While it is preferred that fellows remain in person at the relevant Columbia Global Center for the duration of the fellowship, there is a minimum in-person requirement of six months if it is not feasible for the fellow to remain in person due to immigration, family-related, or other circumstances.
- Researchers working on interdisciplinary research projects are welcome to apply.
- Fellows are expected to participate in scholarly presentations, workshops, and roundtable discussions. Through the Global Center, they will be connected to a global network of academics and scholars from Columbia University and beyond.
Application
Applicants for the fellowship program starting in September 2026 must submit the following via Submittable by March 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT:
- A curriculum vitae that includes academic credentials and professional experience
- A personal statement (500 words maximum) that describes the applicant’s motivation for applying to this program, intellectual trajectory and career goals, and the reason for and impact of displacement on the applicant’s career
- A proposal (600 words maximum) describing the applicant’s field of interest; a detailed plan that describes the academic work (by month or quarter) that will be undertaken during the 12-month fellowship; and the broader potential significance of the applicant’s work
- One writing sample/publication
- Letter of recommendation from an academic colleague who is familiar with the applicant’s previous work
- Note that this letter must be submitted by the recommender via the Submittable platform.
- Copies of academic transcripts
To corroborate your displaced status, applicants are encouraged to provide one of these documents:
- Asylees: Applicant’s Asylum Approval Letter or Asylum Application Receipt
- Refugee Status: Applicants with refugee status may corroborate their status by providing a copy of their UNHCR ID card.
- Temporary Protection Status (TPS): Applicants with TPS status may submit their Application for Temporary Protected Status.
For more information, visit Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship.
