Dissertation Fellows Program
Available to Graduate Students
Deadline: September 18, 2026
Funding Amount: $1,000 stipend
Restrictions
A limited number of fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis to currently enrolled doctoral students.Purpose
The Franco Institute invites applications for the 2026-27 Dissertation Fellows Program. Through this program, Franco aims to help determined graduate students make significant progress on their dissertations. A limited number of fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis.
Fellows will meet 4 times in late fall and 4 times in early spring semester from 11:30 - 3:00 p.m. on the Fridays, listed below:
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Fall 2026: November (6th, 13th, 20th) and on December 4th
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Spring 2027: February (5th, 12th, 19th, 26th)
At each meeting, after a catered lunch and a brief goal-setting check-in, fellows will work on their dissertations. Each meeting will also include one fifteen-minute break and a final goal-setting check-in at the end of the session.
The Franco Institute will provide the following to each dissertation fellow:
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A $1,000 stipend. Half of the stipend will be awarded at the midterm and half will be awarded at the end of the fellowship.
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Lunch, coffee, and tea at each meeting.
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Structured writing time in a quiet, dedicated space.
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Goal setting check-ins at the beginning and end of each writing session.
Dissertation fellows must agree to punctually attend all scheduled meetings throughout the semester. (Exceptions can be made for 1 academic event with prior approval), remain focused on writing during designated times, support and encourage other participants, and submit a final report upon the completion of their fellowship period.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to doctoral candidates currently enrolled in a graduate program in the College of Arts & Letters. Applicants must have passed candidacy examinations (both oral and written) by the application deadline. J-1 visa holders must obtain authorization to work in the United States. Previous Dissertation Fellows are not eligible.
Application Instructions
Proposal Application Materials
Every application must have the following elements with the correct formatting to be considered.
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A completed online application form.
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A 250-word dissertation abstract.
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A 500-word plan for the fellowship period. This plan should outline in detail what you plan to achieve during the fellowship period and how you hope to benefit from the fellowship program.
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A two-page CV.
Proposal Preparation and Submission
All proposals should be double-spaced, with one-inch margins and 12-point Times New Roman font. Footnotes, endnotes, in-text citations, and the bibliography should use a discipline-appropriate citation style.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the scholarly promise of the dissertation project, the feasibility of the work plan, and the academic record of the applicant. Depending on the numbers of applications received, applicants with greater seniority in their respective doctoral programs may be preferred.
Questions and Additional Information
For additional information and best practices, see the Before You Apply page for graduate students.
Timing: Academic Year