The American Political Science Association (APSA) is accepting applications for the 2027–2028 Diversity Fellowship Program (DFP) – Fall Cycle, which provides financial support to students and recent graduates preparing to pursue doctoral study in political science.
The fellowship is intended for undergraduate seniors, recent graduates and other eligible individuals, including students in terminal master’s programmes, who are currently applying or planning to apply to political science PhD programmes for Fall 2027 admission.
Selected fellows receive a US$5,000 award distributed over two years. The application deadline is 25 October 2026.
About the APSA Diversity Fellowship
The APSA Diversity Fellowship Program supports individuals entering doctoral study who demonstrate potential for research and teaching in political science.
The programme is particularly focused on applicants whose proposed political science research and scholarship primarily addresses areas including:
- Race and ethnicity
- Gender
- Systemic racism
- LGBTQ politics
- Disability politics
- Indigenous politics
- Tribal sovereignty and governance
APSA states that the Fall DFP normally awards between 12 and 14 funded fellowships, with each award valued at $5,000 over two years.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants for the 2027–2028 Fall cycle should be undergraduate seniors, recent graduates or students in eligible master’s programmes who are applying or preparing to apply for a political science PhD.
Applicants must also be:
- A US citizen
- A US national
- A US permanent resident holding a Permanent Resident Card, or
- An individual granted deferred action status under DACA
In addition, candidates must be engaged in or planning to pursue political science research primarily focused on one or more of the programme’s specified areas and must demonstrate an interest in teaching and potential for research in political science.
APSA strongly encourages applications from first-generation students and scholars and individuals from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, including African Americans, Asian and Asian Pacific Americans, Latinos/as, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and scholars of MENA descent.
Fellowship Benefits
Successful fellows will receive US$5,000, disbursed over a two-year period.
Beyond the financial award, participation in the APSA Diversity Fellowship Program can provide recognition within the political science profession and support for candidates preparing for doctoral study.
APSA also notes that some political science departments offer application fee waivers to students participating in APSA Diversity and Inclusion Programs. Applicants should contact individual graduate programmes to determine whether a fee waiver is available.
Application Requirements
Applicants must complete the online APSA application and provide the required supporting materials.
The application includes:
- A personal statement
- A resume
- Academic transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- A list of recommenders submitted through the online application system
Applicants must provide transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended. APSA states that official transcripts, unofficial transcripts or degree audits may be uploaded for application review.
The three recommendation letters must be submitted directly by the recommenders through the application system. Applicants should contact their recommenders in advance and allow sufficient time for the letters to be completed before the deadline.
How to Apply
Applicants should create or use an APSA profile and complete the online Diversity Fellowship Program application.
All application materials, including transcripts and recommendation letters, must be submitted through the designated online application system for consideration by the selection committee.
Candidates should ensure that their application clearly demonstrates their preparation for doctoral-level political science research and explains their intended research interests.
How to Strengthen the Application
Applicants should use the personal statement to establish a clear connection between their academic background, research interests and plans for doctoral study.
The proposed research direction should demonstrate a strong connection to the areas covered by the Fall Diversity Fellowship. Candidates should explain the questions they hope to investigate and why those questions are relevant to political science.
The resume should highlight research experience, academic achievements, relevant internships, publications, conference presentations, teaching experience and other evidence of preparation for graduate-level research where applicable.
Applicants should also select recommenders who can provide detailed evidence of their academic ability, research potential and preparation for doctoral study.
Important Deadline
The application deadline for the 2027–2028 APSA Diversity Fellowship Program – Fall Cycle is 25 October 2026.
Applicants should submit all required materials through the APSA application system before the deadline. They should also verify that their recommenders have submitted their letters and that all required transcripts have been uploaded.
Official Source
The fellowship is administered by the American Political Science Association (APSA). Applicants should review the official application page for the latest eligibility criteria, required materials and submission instructions before applying.
