Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program 2026–2027

Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program, a prestigious year-long fellowship designed to support early-career scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who have been forcibly displaced or hold refugee status.

Led by Columbia University’s Global Centers, the fellowship provides displaced scholars with the resources, mentorship, and academic community needed to strengthen their research, expand professional networks, and advance toward sustainable academic careers—while remaining rooted in their regions of residence.

About the Fellowship

The Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship awards year-long, non-residential fellowships hosted through one of three Columbia Global Centers:

• Amman (Middle East & North Africa)

• Nairobi (Sub-Saharan Africa)

• Santiago (Latin America & the Caribbean)

Fellows benefit from Columbia University’s global academic ecosystem while continuing to contribute to and engage with their local scholarly communities.

What Fellows Receive

Selected scholars will receive:

• Hosting and dedicated workspace at a Columbia Global Center

• A stipend to support living and research expenses

• One-on-one mentorship from distinguished Columbia faculty

• A small research and travel fund

• Tailored academic training (e.g., academic writing and publishing)

• Access to Columbia’s online courses and scholarly resources

• Full integration into Global Center programming and activities

• Membership in a growing alumni network of displaced scholars

Why This Fellowship Is Unique

Unlike traditional relocation-based programs, this fellowship emphasizes regional embeddedness. Fellows remain within their host regions, strengthening local academic, professional, and personal networks while benefiting from Columbia University’s global expertise and institutional support.

Who Is Eligible

Applicants must:

• Be forcibly displaced from their home country and academic institution

• Work in the humanities or humanistic social sciences

• Hold a Ph.D. (with rare exceptions for candidates with disrupted doctoral trajectories)

• Be based in the region of the Global Center they are applying to

• Demonstrate at least intermediate English proficiency

• Have earned their highest academic degree within the last 12 years (flexibility applied where appropriate)

Creative writers, artists, curators, and scholars engaged in interdisciplinary research are strongly encouraged to apply.

Fellows are expected to participate in scholarly presentations, workshops, and roundtables, with a minimum in-person residency of six months at the host Global Center.

Commitment to Displaced Scholars

Building on a successful four-year pilot in Amman (2020–2023), Columbia University has expanded the program to offer up to 10 fellowships annually through 2026, supported by the Mellon Foundation. This initiative forms part of Columbia’s broader commitment to scholars affected by forced migration, alongside related programs and institutional partnerships.

Application Deadline

March 19, 2026

👉 Learn more and apply here.

For details about the fellowship program, click here.

Discover more other fellowship opportunities here.

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