Apply for an Institute Fellowship
For 2026-2027 Faculty Fellowships
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Monday, January 12, 2026*
*With two external (non-Northwestern) reference letters due two days later
NOTE: Information on this page may be updated throughout Fall quarter. Please check back before preparing and submitting your application materials. Please read all fellowship details on the Faculty Fellowship Program page.
Online application instructions
- The list of application materials is below.
- The submission portal is at the bottom of this page. It includes an application form and a field to upload your documents.
- Please complete all fields in the application form, including the field for the title of your research project.
- Please prepare your documents as PDFs and upload them to the appropriate field of the submission link.
Letters of reference
- In the application portal, you will list two (2) external referees (outside of Northwestern), along with their email addresses. After you submit your complete online application, your references will be emailed instructions for uploading a letter of recommendation.
Important: To give your recommenders advance notice to prepare their letters, please note that Letters of Reference are due no later than two days after the application submission date.
Application documents
Please prepare the following documents as PDFs for upload to the appropriate field of the application link. NOTE: At the top of each document page, please include your last name and the document name, e.g., "Johnson - Research Statement."
- Cover letter that specifies whether you seek a full-year fellowship or a teaching reduction and that lists other fellowships for which you will be applying (along with approximate dates for when the awards will be announced).
- Research Statement: One-paragraph abstract of your research project.
- Research Proposal: A five-page double-spaced (maximum) description of your project, which will be considered by scholars from a range of humanities disciplines (proposal should be written with non-specialists in mind).
- Curriculum vitae of no more than four pages.
- Written approval from Chair (and Dean, if applicable) — see instructions below.
Submitting your application
Please click the link below to submit your application materials;
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019a928edc41710083b82a05e9ee7ce5
Chair/Dean approval
- (Updated 11/20/25) Written approval from your Department Chair (and Dean, when applicable) is required, and must be submitted with your application. Your chair must confirm that the unit can absorb the teaching and service loss from your fellowship leave with minimal disruption and that this fellowship, if awarded, will result in minimal teaching replacement. Sample language:
I, Jane Doe, confirm that John Doe has my support for a 2026-2027 Kaplan Faculty Fellowship. I have considered the overall needs of the unit in endorsing this application and, if awarded, I confirm that the department can absorb the loss of John’s teaching and service with minimal disruption to our curriculum and the student experience.
Questions?
Please contact Tom Burke at thomas.burke@northwestern.edu.
Fellowship award decisions will be made in April 2026.