APSA Diversity Fellowship Program 2027–2028: $5,000 Fellowship for Aspiring Political Science PhD Students

The American Political Science Association (APSA) Diversity Fellowship Program (DFP) 2027–2028 Fall Cycle is now accepting applications from emerging scholars who are preparing to pursue doctoral study in political science and whose academic interests engage with important questions concerning race, ethnicity, gender, systemic racism, LGBTQ politics, disability politics, Indigenous politics, or tribal sovereignty and governance.

The fellowship is designed to support prospective political scientists as they move toward doctoral-level study and develop careers involving political science research, scholarship, and teaching.

For the 2027–2028 fellowship cycle, successful fellows will receive $5,000, disbursed over two years. The Fall Cycle application deadline is October 25, 2026.

About the APSA Diversity Fellowship Program

The American Political Science Association (APSA) established its Diversity Fellowship Program as part of its broader diversity and inclusion efforts within the political science profession.

The program is particularly relevant to students and emerging scholars who are preparing to enter PhD programs in political science and whose prospective research connects with areas that have historically been important to scholarship on inequality, representation, identity, governance, political participation, discrimination, and the experiences of historically underrepresented communities.

The 2027–2028 Fall Cycle is specifically open to individuals who are undergraduate seniors, recent graduates, students in terminal MA programs, or other individuals currently in the process of applying to PhD programs in political science.

The fellowship provides financial support while also recognizing applicants’ potential to contribute to political science through future research and teaching.

Fellowship Award: $5,000

One of the key features of the 2027–2028 APSA Diversity Fellowship is the financial award.

Selected fellows will receive $5,000, distributed over two years.

For prospective doctoral students, financial support at the pre-PhD or PhD-application stage can help reduce some of the financial pressures associated with preparing for graduate study and developing an academic career.

Applicants should, however, carefully review the official APSA application information for the full terms and conditions associated with the fellowship.

Who Should Consider Applying?

The fellowship is particularly relevant to students and emerging scholars who are preparing for doctoral study in political science and whose research interests fall within the program’s specified areas.

Eligible applicants may include:

1. Undergraduate seniors preparing to apply for political science PhD programs.
2. Recent graduates who are preparing for doctoral study.
3. Students enrolled in terminal MA programs who are applying to PhD programs in political science.
4. Other prospective PhD applicants who satisfy the program’s eligibility requirements.

The important distinction is that the Fall Cycle is aimed at individuals who are in the process of applying for PhD programs in political science, rather than applicants who are simply seeking general graduate funding.

Research Areas Covered by the Fellowship

A central requirement of the APSA Diversity Fellowship Program is the applicant’s research or intended scholarship.

Fall Cycle applicants must be engaged in, or planning to pursue, political science research and scholarship primarily focused on one or more of the following areas:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Systemic racism
• LGBTQ politics
• Disability politics
• Indigenous politics
• Tribal sovereignty and governance

These areas encompass a wide range of political science research questions.

For example, prospective applicants may investigate questions concerning political representation, political institutions, public policy, governance, political participation, social movements, discrimination, identity, state–community relationships, Indigenous governance, or the political experiences of marginalized populations, provided that the proposed research fits the program’s stated focus.

Applicants should ensure that their proposed research is genuinely situated within political science and aligns substantially with the fellowship’s specified areas of interest.

Teaching and Research Potential

The APSA Diversity Fellowship is not solely concerned with an applicant’s research topic.

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate an interest in teaching and potential for research in political science.

This means that prospective applicants should be prepared to communicate how their academic trajectory could contribute to political science as a discipline.

When preparing an application, applicants may therefore wish to clearly articulate:

• Their academic background
• Their research interests
• Their proposed area of doctoral study
• Their interest in political science
• Their long-term research objectives
• Their interest in teaching
• How their academic experiences have prepared them for doctoral study
• How their proposed scholarship connects to the fellowship’s research areas

A strong application should present a coherent connection between the applicant’s previous academic preparation, proposed doctoral research, and future contribution to political science.

First-Generation and Historically Underrepresented Scholars

APSA states that first-generation students and scholars are strongly encouraged to apply.

The organization also specifically encourages 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
• Scholars of MENA descent

These groups are identified by APSA as communities that have historically been underrepresented in the political science profession.

It is important to distinguish between being strongly encouraged to apply and satisfying the program’s formal eligibility requirements. Applicants must still meet the fellowship’s applicable citizenship or immigration-status and academic requirements.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Requirements

A particularly important part of the Fall Cycle eligibility criteria concerns citizenship and immigration status.

At the time of application, an applicant must be:

• A U.S. citizen;
• A U.S. national;
• A U.S. permanent resident, meaning a holder of a Permanent Resident Card; or
• An individual who has been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.

This requirement means that the fellowship is not a general international fellowship open to prospective political science PhD students worldwide.

For example, simply being an international student interested in pursuing a PhD in political science in the United States does not, by itself, satisfy the stated citizenship or immigration requirement.

Prospective international applicants should therefore verify their status against APSA’s official criteria before investing significant time in preparing an application.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the 2027–2028 APSA Diversity Fellowship Program Fall Cycle is October 25, 2026.

Important Deadline

October 25, 2026

Applicants should not wait until the final day to begin preparing their application because the program requires multiple components, including transcripts and three recommendation letters.

In particular, applicants should allow sufficient time for their recommenders to prepare and submit their letters directly through the application system.

To apply, create an APSA profile here  and submit your online application here

Application Requirements

The Fall Cycle application consists of several important components.

1. Online Application

Applicants must complete the APSA online application.

The application includes fields for:

• Personal statement
• Resume
• List of recommenders

The application is submitted through the APSA application system.

Applicants should ensure that the information presented across the application is consistent and clearly communicates their academic background, research interests, doctoral ambitions, and suitability for the fellowship.

2. Academic Transcripts

Applicants must upload academic records from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended.

APSA states that applicants may submit:

• Official transcripts
• Unofficial transcripts
• Degree audits

for application review.

Applicants should therefore gather records from all relevant institutions well before the application deadline.

3. Three Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must obtain three letters of recommendation.

Importantly, the letters are not simply uploaded by the applicant. Recommenders must submit their letters directly to the application system.

Applicants will be prompted to send recommendation requests through the application.

Because recommendation letters require action from third parties, prospective applicants should contact their recommenders well ahead of the October 25, 2026 deadline.

Recommended Application Preparation

Although applicants should follow APSA’s official requirements rather than relying on informal application advice, prospective candidates can organize their preparation around several practical steps.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Before preparing the full application, verify that you satisfy the fellowship’s requirements concerning:

• Academic stage
• PhD application status
• Political science research interests
• Citizenship or immigration status
• Interest in teaching and political science research

This is particularly important because the program has specific eligibility requirements rather than being an unrestricted graduate scholarship.

Step 2: Clarify Your Research Direction

Your research interests should be clearly connected to the fellowship’s stated areas.

Consider how your proposed doctoral research relates to questions involving:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Systemic racism
• LGBTQ politics
• Disability politics
• Indigenous politics
• Tribal sovereignty and governance

The connection should be substantive rather than simply mentioning one of these subjects in passing.

Step 3: Prepare Your Personal Statement

The personal statement provides an opportunity to explain your academic trajectory and future goals.

Applicants should aim to present a coherent narrative covering their:

• Academic preparation
• Research interests
• Motivation for pursuing political science
• Proposed doctoral direction
• Interest in teaching
• Long-term scholarly objectives

The statement should also make the relationship between the applicant’s research interests and the Diversity Fellowship Program clear.

Step 4: Update Your Resume

The application requires a resume.

Applicants should ensure that their resume accurately presents relevant:

• Educational qualifications
• Research experience
• Publications, where applicable
• Conference participation
• Teaching experience
• Academic projects
• Research skills
• Awards and distinctions
• Professional or service experience relevant to political science

The resume should complement rather than simply repeat the personal statement.

Step 5: Contact Three Recommenders

Applicants should identify three individuals who can provide substantive recommendations and contact them early.

Since recommenders submit their letters directly through the application system, applicants should not assume that completing their own application automatically completes the recommendation requirement.

Step 6: Gather Transcripts

Collect transcripts or degree audits from every undergraduate and graduate institution attended.

Having these documents ready before beginning the final submission process can reduce delays.

Key Facts at a Glance

The details above reflect APSA’s published information for the 2027–2028 Fall Cycle.

Why Prospective PhD Applicants Should Pay Attention to the Deadline

The October 25, 2026 deadline is especially important because this application involves materials that cannot necessarily be completed at the last minute.

In addition to the applicant’s own personal statement and resume, the application requires academic records and three recommendation letters. Since recommenders must submit their letters directly through the application system, applicants should begin the process sufficiently early to allow their recommenders to complete their submissions.

Applicants should also take time to ensure that their proposed research is genuinely aligned with the fellowship’s areas of focus and that their application presents a clear trajectory toward doctoral study and a career involving political science research and teaching.

Click here for frequently asked questions 

Conclusion

The 2027–2028 APSA Diversity Fellowship Program Fall Cycle provides a $5,000 fellowship distributed over two years for eligible emerging scholars preparing to pursue PhD study in political science. The program is particularly focused on applicants whose prospective research engages with race, ethnicity, gender, systemic racism, LGBTQ politics, disability politics, Indigenous politics, or tribal sovereignty and governance.

Prospective applicants should pay particular attention to the program’s U.S. citizenship and immigration-status requirements, its requirement that applicants be pursuing or preparing for a PhD in political science, and its expectation that applicants demonstrate an interest in both teaching and political science research.

The application requires a personal statement, resume, transcripts or degree audits from all relevant institutions, and three recommendation letters submitted directly by recommenders.

Most importantly, the application deadline is October 25, 2026. Prospective applicants should therefore begin preparing their materials and contacting recommenders well before the deadline.

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