ACLS Fellowships 2026–27: Up to $60,000 for Humanities and Interpretive Social Sciences Research.

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Fellowships 2026–27 are now accepting applications from eligible scholars seeking dedicated time and financial support to pursue significant research and writing projects in the humanities and interpretive social sciences.

The fellowship provides up to $60,000 for a 12-month award period, with shorter awards of six to eleven months receiving a prorated stipend. The programme is designed to support scholars at different stages of their postdoctoral careers, including early-career and established researchers.

Applications are open for projects addressing a broad range of historical periods, geographical regions, disciplines and humanistic methodologies.

ACLS Fellowships 2026–27

The ACLS Fellowship programme supports outstanding scholarship that can make an original and significant contribution to knowledge in the humanities and interpretive social sciences.

For the 2026–27 competition cycle, ACLS plans to award at least 60 fellowships, with approximately half expected to support early-career scholars.

The fellowship is intended to provide scholars with dedicated time for full-time research and/or writing. During the fellowship period, fellows are not permitted to undertake teaching, administrative duties or other major activities.

The fellowship is portable, meaning it may be held at an appropriate location that supports the scholar’s research or writing.

Fellowship Award

Successful applicants can receive a maximum award of $60,000.

The funding structure is:

• 12-month fellowship: $60,000
• Six-month fellowship: $30,000
• Fellowships lasting between six and twelve months are calculated at $5,000 per month.
• The award period must be dedicated to full-time research and/or writing.

The fellowship must begin no earlier than July 1, 2027, and no later than July 1, 2028.

The fellowship must be completed by December 31, 2028.

At least six months of the fellowship must be completed consecutively. Any remaining months may be completed separately, subject to ACLS requirements.

Additional Financial Support

ACLS also provides award supplements of approximately $3,000 to $6,000 for eligible independent scholars, adjunct faculty and faculty with teaching-intensive roles.

These supplements may help cover expenses incurred during the fellowship period, including:

• Research support
• Access to manuscript development workshops
• Attendance at learned-society conferences
• Health insurance
• Dependent care

Who Can Apply for the ACLS Fellowship?

The fellowship is intended for scholars working in the humanities and interpretive social sciences.

Eligible applicants must generally meet the following requirements:

1. Citizenship or residency requirement

Applicants must fall into one of the following categories:

• US citizens
• US permanent residents
• Indigenous individuals residing in the United States through rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794
• DACA recipients
• Asylees
• Refugees
• Individuals granted Temporary Protected Status in the United States
• Foreign nationals who have lived in the United States or US territories for the three years immediately preceding the application deadline, provided they do not establish permanent residence outside the United States during the fellowship period

Therefore, this is not an open worldwide fellowship. Being a scholar from Africa, Asia, Europe or another region does not by itself make someone eligible. Applicants must satisfy ACLS’s specific US citizenship or residency requirements.

2. Academic qualification

Applicants must have:

• A PhD in the humanities or social sciences, conferred before the application deadline; or
• Equivalent qualifications demonstrated through publications and professional experience, for established scholars who do not hold a PhD.

A PhD in Education may qualify, but a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree does not qualify under the stated requirements.

APPLY HERE.

What Research Areas Are Eligible?

ACLS invites proposals across disciplines within the humanities and interpretive social sciences.

Projects may focus on:

• History
• Literature
• Languages
• Philosophy
• Cultural studies
• Religious studies
• Art history
• Musicology
• Anthropology where appropriate to humanistic inquiry
• Interpretive social sciences
• Other humanistic fields

Research may address any time period or world region.

This means a scholar could propose research relating to Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America or another part of the world, provided the project falls within the humanities or interpretive social sciences and the applicant meets the eligibility requirements.

What Types of Projects Does ACLS Support?

The ultimate objective of the research should be a substantial scholarly contribution.

Examples of eligible outcomes include:

• A scholarly monograph
• Academic journal articles
• A publicly engaged humanities project
• A digital research project
• A critical edition
• Scholarly research resources
• Other substantial forms of scholarly work

Projects can be at different stages of development.

ACLS accepts projects at:

1. Early stages
2. Middle stages
3. Later stages of development

The important consideration is that the fellowship should enable the scholar to make meaningful progress toward a significant scholarly outcome.

Additional Fellowships for Scholars Facing Research Constraints

For the 2026–27 competition, ACLS is offering 10 additional fellowships through anonymous funding.

These fellowships are intended for scholars confronting official constraints on their research and writing because of the contested nature of their fields.

Applicants who believe they qualify should explain in their personal statement the barriers to research and access to knowledge created by forces beyond their campus.

These applicants will be evaluated through the regular ACLS Fellowship competition. Awardees will be selected by expert reviewers from the finalist pool and announced alongside the regular fellowship recipients.

What Projects Are Not Eligible?

ACLS does not support several categories of projects through this fellowship.

These include:

• Fiction, including novels and films
• Creative writing
• Autobiographies and memoirs
• Creative nonfiction
• Graphic novels
• Graphic histories
• Graphic nonfiction
• Historical fiction
• Documentary film production
• Performing arts works such as plays and musical compositions
• Textbook preparation or revision
• Projects primarily focused on pedagogy
• Educational or technical impact assessments
• Translation without substantial scholarly interpretation and apparatus
• Dissertation research
• Research by students currently enrolled in doctoral programmes
• Books intended for children or young adults
• Collection inventories
• Guidebooks
• How-to books
• Self-help books
• Projects outside the humanities or interpretive social sciences
• Social science research that does not address humanistic questions or use humanistic methodologies
• Policy studies

Applicants should therefore ensure that their proposed project clearly fits ACLS’s definition of humanities or interpretive social science research.

Additional Opportunities Connected to the ACLS Fellowship

Applicants may also have access to other opportunities connected to the ACLS Fellowship programme.

ACLS/New York Public Library Fellowships

ACLS Fellowship applicants can separately apply for the ACLS/New York Public Library Fellowships, which are offered in partnership with The New York Public Library’s Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers.

The ACLS/NYPL fellowships have the same basic eligibility requirements, application form and schedule as the ACLS Fellowship.

However, applicants must also submit a separate application to the New York Public Library.

The separate NYPL application and three recommendation letters are due by:

September 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

The ACLS/NYPL fellowship provides a $90,000 stipend.

Up to 15 fellows may receive the residential fellowship and access to the NYPL’s research collections and facilities.

Fellows are required to be in residence from September 2027 through the end of May 2028 and participate in relevant centre activities.

ACLS Project Development Grants

ACLS Fellowship finalists may also be considered for ACLS Project Development Grants.

These grants are intended to support promising projects from faculty at teaching-intensive institutions, including:

• Minority-serving institutions
• Regional comprehensive institutions
• Community colleges

Eligible finalists do not need to submit a separate application for the Project Development Grant.

Selected applicants may receive a $5,000 grant to help advance their research projects.

Named ACLS Fellowships

Some applicants selected through the ACLS Fellowship pool may also receive named fellowships.

These do not require separate applications.

Named opportunities include:

• ACLS Frederic E. Wakeman, Jr. Fellowships in Chinese History
• ACLS H. and T. King Fellowships in Ancient American Art and Culture
• ACLS/Marwan M. and Ute Kraidy Centennial Fellowship in the Study of the Arab World and Latin America
• ACLS Morton N. Cohen and Richard N. Swift Fellowship
• ACLS Oscar Handlin Fellowships in American History
• ACLS Pauline Yu Fellowships in Chinese or Comparative Literature
• ACLS Susan McClary and Robert Walser Fellowships in Music Studies

These named fellowships target specific areas of scholarship.

CHCI Opportunity for ACLS Fellows

Through a partnership with the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes (CHCI), ACLS fellows may have the opportunity to spend all or part of their fellowship term in residence at selected CHCI member organisations.

This is an optional enhancement to the ACLS Fellowship.

It does not require a separate application.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the 2026–27 ACLS Fellowship is:

September 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Applications must be submitted through the ACLS online fellowship and grant administration system.

Results are expected to be communicated by email by April 2027.

For applicants pursuing the separate ACLS/NYPL opportunity, the NYPL application deadline is September 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit their applications online and provide the required materials.

1. Application Form

Applicants must complete the official ACLS Fellowship application form.

2. Research Proposal

The proposal must be no more than three pages, single-spaced.

It must use:

• Arial or Helvetica
• 11-point font

Footnotes and endnotes are included in the page limit and may use 10-point font.

The proposal should communicate effectively with both specialists and general readers.

For specialists, applicants should explain:

• The research question or problem
• The project’s contribution to the discipline
• The intellectual significance of the research

For readers outside the applicant’s field, the proposal should:

• Explain unfamiliar terminology
• Provide sufficient context
• Explain potential implications for other scholars or the wider public

3. Supporting Non-Text Materials

Applicants may submit up to two additional pages containing supporting non-text material.

Examples may include:

• Images
• Musical scores
• Similar supporting materials

These materials are optional.

Captions should be brief and descriptive. Any interpretation or argument relating to the material must appear in the main proposal rather than on the additional pages.

4. Work Plan

Applicants must submit a work plan of no more than one page.

It may be presented as:

• Single-spaced text
• A timeline
• A chart

The work plan should clearly explain:

• What work will be undertaken
• When the work will take place
• Where the work will take place
• How the planned activities fit into the overall research project

5. Bibliography

A bibliography of no more than two pages is required.

It should demonstrate the relevant primary and secondary sources that will be used for the proposed research.

The bibliography should be unannotated.

6. Publications List

Applicants must provide a list of their publications.

The publications list may not exceed two pages.

7. Personal Statement

Applicants must submit a personal statement of up to one page.

The statement should describe:

• The applicant’s intellectual trajectory
• Their development as a scholar
• How the proposed project connects with their personal experience
• Broader research interests
• Their motivation for pursuing the research topic or methodology
• How teaching or classroom experience may influence their research approach, where relevant

Important Application Restrictions

For the 2026–27 competition, ACLS states that:

• Writing samples will not be accepted.
• Reference letters will not be accepted.

All uploaded documents must follow the specified formatting requirements.

Documents should have one-inch margins on all sides.

Applicants may use any standard citation style, but citations count toward the relevant page limits.

Applications that do not comply with the required formatting guidelines may be excluded from review.

ACLS also recommends that applicants have an ORCID ID.

How Applications Are Evaluated

ACLS uses a rigorous peer-review process to identify outstanding scholarship.

Reviewers assess applications based on four main criteria.

For more information on ACLS Fellowships 2026–27  VISIT HERE.

1. Contribution to Scholarship

Reviewers consider whether the proposed project could advance its field or fields and make an original and significant contribution to scholarship.

2. Quality of the Proposal

The proposal is assessed for:

• Clarity
• Methodology
• Scope
• Theoretical framework
• Engagement with relevant scholarly literature

3. Feasibility

Reviewers consider whether the proposed work can realistically be completed during the fellowship period.

The applicant should demonstrate a clear and achievable plan.

4. Scholarly Record and Career Trajectory

Reviewers consider the applicant’s scholarly achievements and career development.

They also take into account the resources and constraints affecting an applicant’s research career where appropriate.

For the additional fellowships, reviewers may also consider official barriers affecting research and writing because of the contested nature of a scholar’s field.

Commitment to Inclusive Scholarship

ACLS states that it welcomes applications from eligible scholars regardless of:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• National origin
• Disability
• Age
• Other aspects of identity

The programme seeks to support a broad representation of humanistic scholarship and encourages applications from scholars across different types of academic institutions and backgrounds.

However, eligibility is still determined by the programme’s citizenship and residency requirements.

Rules on Other Fellowships and Grants

An ACLS Fellowship may be held concurrently with certain other fellowships, grants and institutional support, including sabbatical support, subject to ACLS’s rules.

For scholars with tenure-track or tenured positions, the combined fellowship stipend and sabbatical salary cannot exceed the scholar’s full academic-year salary.

For scholars without tenure-track academic contracts, combined sources of income cannot exceed 150% of the ACLS award, subject to the programme’s rules.

Applicants should carefully review the official FAQ if they are receiving or expecting other sources of funding.

Resubmissions and Multiple Applications

Applicants may revise and resubmit a previously rejected application if they meet the requirements of the current competition.

Applicants may also apply to multiple ACLS fellowship and grant programmes where appropriate.

However, only one application per competition and deadline may be submitted.

Applicants cannot accept more than one ACLS or ACLS-joint award during the same competition year.

Collaborative Research Projects

ACLS Fellowships are designed for individual researchers, and awards cannot be divided between multiple scholars.

However, researchers working within a collaborative project may apply for individual support.

Each collaborator seeking funding must:

• Submit a separate application
• Independently meet the eligibility requirements
• Clearly explain their individual contribution
• Explain how the research responsibilities will be divided
• Explain the relationship between their work and that of the other collaborators

Each application is evaluated independently.

Artificial Intelligence in Applications

ACLS permits applicants to use AI tools such as ChatGPT or Claude when preparing their applications.

However, applicants remain responsible for ensuring that their submissions are:

• Factually accurate
• Properly referenced
• Free from plagiarism
• An accurate representation of their own work

Applicants are encouraged to disclose where and how AI assistance was used for transparency.

Applicant Support and Resources

ACLS provides resources to help applicants understand the fellowship and prepare competitive applications.

These include an informational webinar covering the fellowship and application process.

ACLS also offers online office hours where applicants can ask questions about the competition and application process.

Applicants can also review guidance on writing proposals for ACLS Fellowship competitions and explore information about previous fellows.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare all required materials carefully and ensure that their research proposal fits the humanities or interpretive social sciences.

The application process involves:

1. Confirming eligibility.
2. Developing a suitable research project.
3. Preparing the research proposal.
4. Creating a detailed work plan.
5. Preparing the bibliography.
6. Preparing the publications list.
7. Writing the personal statement.
8. Checking all formatting and page-limit requirements.
9. Completing the online application form.
10. Submitting the application before the deadline.

Applications must be submitted through the official ACLS online fellowship and grant administration system.

Application deadline: September 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Opportunity category: Fellowship

Eligible applicants: Scholars who meet the ACLS citizenship/residency requirements and have a PhD in the humanities or social sciences, or established scholars who can demonstrate equivalent professional and publication experience.

Geographic eligibility: This is not a worldwide fellowship. Applicants must be US citizens, permanent residents, certain protected/resident categories, or eligible foreign nationals who have lived in the United States or US territories for the required three-year period immediately before the deadline.

Race/ethnicity: ACLS welcomes eligible applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, age or other protected characteristics. Eligibility is based on the programme’s stated academic and residency/citizenship requirements rather than race or ethnicity.

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