The Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–28 at Princeton University is now accepting applications from early-career scholars from around the world for a year of research, writing, intellectual exchange, and collaboration at Princeton University in the United States.
Administered by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS), the Fung Global Fellows Program brings together a small group of exceptional international scholars to spend an academic year in residence at Princeton and pursue research connected to a common intellectual theme. For the 2027–28 academic year, the program will focus on “Democracy in Crisis?”, a research theme examining contemporary challenges to democratic governance as well as the factors that allow democratic institutions and practices to remain resilient.
The program is designed for scholars who are already demonstrating strong academic achievement and significant intellectual promise but are still relatively early in their careers. Successful fellows will join Princeton’s academic community, participate in intellectual discussions and seminars, and develop their research while engaging with other scholars working across different disciplines and regions.
Application deadline: November 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
About the Fung Global Fellows Program
The Fung Global Fellows Program was established during the 2013–14 academic year and is administered by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies. Its purpose is to strengthen Princeton University’s engagement with scholars from around the world and encourage research and intellectual exchange that crosses national, disciplinary, and regional boundaries.
Each year, the program selects six scholars from around the world to become Fung Global Fellows. These scholars spend one academic year in residence at Princeton University, where they conduct research and participate in discussions centered on a shared research topic.
The program particularly emphasizes international scholarly exchange. Fellows are not simply brought to Princeton to work individually on their own projects. They are expected to participate in the intellectual life of the program and contribute to conversations with other fellows, Princeton faculty, students, and members of the wider University community.
The program also includes a public seminar series through which fellows present aspects of their research to the Princeton community.
The Fung Global Fellows Program describes its fellows as exceptional international early-career scholars whose work demonstrates outstanding scholarly achievement and unusual intellectual promise.
What Is the 2027–28 Research Theme?
The research theme for the 2027–28 academic year is:
“Democracy in Crisis?”
Princeton’s current call for applications describes democratic governance as facing significant pressures in different parts of the world. These include the rise of populist movements, declining trust in institutions, political polarization, disinformation, and democratic backsliding.
At the same time, the program recognizes that democratic systems can demonstrate resilience. Grassroots mobilization, institutional safeguards, judicial independence, and civic renewal can contribute to the ability of democratic systems to withstand political and social pressures.
The central intellectual question is therefore not simply whether democracy is declining. Rather, the program seeks research that examines the conditions under which democratic systems become vulnerable, as well as the mechanisms through which democratic institutions and societies resist erosion and renew democratic practices.
Research Areas for the Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–28
Applicants are invited to develop research projects that engage meaningfully with the theme of democracy, democratic vulnerability, democratic resilience, or the conceptual foundations of democratic governance.
Princeton identifies several possible areas of research, including:
1. Populism and Democratic Politics
Applicants may examine the drivers, development, and consequences of populist movements and how populist politics interact with democratic institutions and political systems.
Research may consider questions surrounding political representation, popular sovereignty, institutional legitimacy, political movements, or changes in relationships between citizens and political elites.
2. Democratic Norms and Institutions
Another potential area concerns the erosion or transformation of democratic norms and institutions.
Projects could investigate how institutions such as legislatures, courts, electoral systems, political parties, public administrations, or other democratic structures respond to political pressures.
3. Media, Technology and Disinformation
The program also welcomes research examining the relationship between media, technology, information environments, and democratic politics.
This could include research into disinformation, changing media ecosystems, digital political communication, technology and political participation, or the ways information influences political life.
4. Economic Inequality and Democratic Legitimacy
Applicants may also explore the relationship between economic inequality and democratic legitimacy.
This theme opens possibilities for research examining whether and how economic disparities influence political participation, political trust, perceptions of legitimacy, representation, or citizens’ relationships with democratic institutions.
5. Citizens, Civil Society and Democratic Renewal
The program is interested in the strategies through which citizens, civil society organizations, and institutions defend or renew democratic practices.
Research could therefore investigate grassroots movements, civic organizations, social mobilization, institutional reform, civic participation, or other mechanisms through which democratic practices are sustained.
6. The Conceptual and Normative Foundations of Democracy
The program also encourages scholars to examine democracy itself as a concept.
Applicants may investigate questions such as what democracy means, who democracy serves, and how democratic ideas have been imagined, contested, interpreted, or transformed across different political and cultural traditions.
This means that applicants do not necessarily have to focus exclusively on contemporary democratic crises. The program explicitly welcomes both contemporary and historical perspectives.
A Global and Interdisciplinary Research Opportunity
One of the defining features of the Fung Global Fellows Program is its international and interdisciplinary character.
Applicants may address any region of the world, and Princeton welcomes scholars working in different areas of the humanities and social sciences.
This creates room for research that examines democracy from different geographical and disciplinary perspectives.
For example, a scholar could potentially approach the theme through political science, history, sociology, anthropology, law, area studies, international affairs, or another relevant humanities or social science discipline, provided the proposed research has a strong relationship to the annual theme.
The program aims to build a cohort in which scholars can learn from one another and develop comparative and interdisciplinary conversations about democracy, its vulnerabilities, and its capacity for renewal.
What Does the Fellowship Involve?
Successful applicants will spend the 2027–28 academic year at Princeton University as early-career scholars.
According to Princeton’s application information, the academic-year appointment is for approximately 10 months and fellows will be in residence at Princeton for the period of the fellowship.
The fellowship therefore provides more than an opportunity to visit Princeton briefly for a conference or short research project. It is structured around sustained research, writing, discussion, collaboration, and participation in Princeton’s academic environment.
Fellows will be appointed at the rank of Visiting Research Scholar.
Academic and Intellectual Activities
The Fung Global Fellows Program creates an environment in which fellows can develop their individual research while contributing to a broader intellectual community.
Key elements include:
- A full academic year of research at Princeton University.
- Research and writing around the annual common theme.
- Intellectual exchange with other Fung Global Fellows.
- Engagement with Princeton faculty and researchers.
- Participation in the intellectual life of the Fung Global Fellows Program.
- A public seminar series in which fellows present their work to the University community.
- Opportunities for interdisciplinary and comparative scholarly discussion.
- Exposure to Princeton’s international and area studies community.
The program’s structure is intended to encourage scholars to think beyond their individual research projects and engage with broader intellectual questions raised by the shared theme.
Who Can Apply for the Fung Global Fellows Program?
The 2027–28 call is specifically aimed at early-career scholars who are already employed outside the United States.
Applicants must have a faculty appointment or professional research appointment outside the United States and must normally return to their existing position at the end of the fellowship.
This is an important requirement because the program is not intended primarily for people who are still completing their doctoral studies or who are currently working as postdoctoral researchers.
PhD Requirement
Applicants must have received their PhD or equivalent qualification generally after September 1, 2017.
The program therefore targets scholars who have completed their doctoral training but remain at an early stage of their academic or research careers.
Current PhD Students Are Not Eligible
Candidates who are currently enrolled in a PhD program are not eligible for the 2027–28 Fung Global Fellows Program.
This means that applicants should already have completed their doctoral degree or equivalent qualification by the time they apply.
Current Postdoctoral Researchers Are Not Eligible
Princeton also states that candidates who are currently employed as postdocs are not eligible to apply.
Applicants should therefore carefully distinguish the Fung Global Fellows Program from fellowship opportunities specifically designed for current postdoctoral researchers.
Faculty or Professional Research Appointment
Eligible candidates must be employed outside the United States in a faculty or professional research position.
If an applicant receives an offer, Princeton requires an official letter from the applicant’s current employer confirming that the scholar will be permitted to accept the offer and spend the academic year at Princeton University.
What Does Princeton Look for in Applicants?
The selection process considers several dimensions of a candidate’s academic profile.
Princeton states that fellowships will be awarded based on:
- The strength of the proposed research project
- The relationship between the proposed project and the annual research theme
- The candidate’s scholarly record
- Demonstrated outstanding scholarly achievement
- Unusual intellectual promise
- The candidate’s ability to contribute to the intellectual life of the program
- The candidate’s work experience outside the United States
The program is therefore not simply looking for applicants with impressive academic credentials. The proposed research must also have a clear and substantive relationship to “Democracy in Crisis?” and the applicant should be able to contribute meaningfully to the intellectual exchange among fellows.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit their applications online and in English.
The required application materials include:
1. Cover Letter
Applicants must submit a cover letter of no more than 1.5 pages.
The application instructions state that the cover letter should be addressed to:
“Dear Search Committee”
2. Curriculum Vitae
Applicants must submit a CV that includes their publications.
The CV should therefore provide a clear account of the applicant’s academic career, research experience, scholarly publications, education, appointments, and other relevant academic achievements.
3. Research Proposal
Applicants must submit a research proposal of no more than three pages, single-spaced.
This is one of the most important components of the application because the strength of the proposed research project and its relationship to the annual theme are central considerations in the selection process.
Applicants should therefore make the connection between their research and “Democracy in Crisis?” clear.
4. Writing Sample
Applicants must provide one writing sample, either an academic article or a book chapter.
The maximum length is 50 pages.
5. Three Referees
Applicants must provide the names and email addresses of three referees.
After the applicant submits the application, the online system will automatically contact the referees and invite them to upload their recommendation letters.
Applicants should not wait until the final hours before the deadline to submit their application because the referees must also submit their letters before the deadline.
Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–28 Application Deadline
The application deadline is:
November 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Princeton states that the online Interfolio application portal will close after the deadline and that late submissions will not be accepted.
The application system will therefore become inaccessible after the stated deadline, making early preparation particularly important.
Applicants should also ensure that all three recommendation letters have been submitted before the deadline.
Important Application Timeline
According to Princeton’s application information:
- Application deadline: November 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST
- Finalist notifications for virtual interviews: Expected between mid-December 2026 and early January 2027
- Successful candidate notifications: Expected by early February 2027
- Fellowship period: 2027–28 academic year
The selection process is handled by the director of the Fung Global Fellows Program and a search committee.
Where Will Fung Global Fellows Be Based?
The fellowship is an in-person, on-campus opportunity at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, United States.
The program’s current application page explicitly identifies the work location as Princeton University’s campus.
Fellows are expected to be in residence at Princeton or in the local area throughout the academic year, or otherwise demonstrate that they can be on campus on a daily basis and at short notice when necessary to fulfil the program’s in-person responsibilities.
This means the Fung Global Fellows Program should not be viewed as a fully remote international fellowship. Successful international applicants should be prepared for relocation and sustained physical residence in Princeton for the fellowship period.
Visa and International Scholar Considerations
Because the fellowship takes place in the United States, international scholars should consider immigration and visa requirements as part of their planning.
Princeton’s information for current fellows states that many visiting scholars use the J-1 visa category and that Princeton’s Davis International Center provides support for international scholars and their families.
The program also states that visa fees for fellows and their dependents are covered, with fellows advised to retain receipts for reimbursement.
The current application page, however, notes that these positions are not eligible for sponsorship of an H-1B visa requiring consular processing, while other visa sponsorship arrangements may be available as appropriate. Applicants should therefore review Princeton’s current immigration guidance if selected.
Salary and Benefits
The Fung Global Fellows Program should not be understood simply as a conventional scholarship that pays a fixed fellowship stipend.
Princeton’s information for current fellows states that Fung Global Fellows serving as Visiting Research Scholars receive a salary rather than a fellowship stipend as part of their formal appointment.
The university also provides information concerning benefits and health insurance for visiting scholars.
Because the official application page does not state a specific salary amount for the 2027–28 call, applicants should not assume a particular dollar figure. Compensation and benefits should be confirmed through the official Princeton appointment information if an offer is made.
International and Global Scope
The Fung Global Fellows Program is explicitly international in scope.
Princeton states that the selection committee seeks a cohort whose work represents any region of the world. Applicants may therefore address research questions relating to different geographical contexts rather than being limited to a particular country or continent.
The program also welcomes scholars from across the humanities and social sciences.
The opportunity is particularly relevant to scholars whose work can bring international, comparative, historical, or interdisciplinary perspectives to questions surrounding democratic governance.
Why the “Democracy in Crisis?” Theme Matters for Applicants
The annual theme should be central to an applicant’s research proposal.
A strong application should not simply mention democracy in passing. The proposed project should demonstrate a substantive intellectual relationship to one or more of the questions raised by the program.
For example, an applicant might examine:
- The relationship between populism and democratic institutions.
- Democratic backsliding and institutional change.
- Political polarization and democratic legitimacy.
- The effects of disinformation on political participation.
- Digital technologies and democratic governance.
- Economic inequality and political legitimacy.
- Civil society responses to democratic crisis.
- Grassroots mobilization and democratic renewal.
- Judicial independence and institutional resilience.
- Historical understandings of democracy.
- Different cultural and political traditions of democratic thought.
- The ways citizens contest or redefine democratic institutions.
These are examples of areas identified by Princeton’s call; applicants remain responsible for developing their own research questions and demonstrating their relationship to the program’s theme.
How to Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants interested in the Fung Global Fellows Program should begin preparing well before the November deadline.
Step 1: Study the Research Theme
Read Princeton’s description of “Democracy in Crisis?” carefully and determine exactly where your research intersects with the theme.
The relationship should be intellectually substantive rather than simply based on the use of words such as “democracy” or “governance.”
Step 2: Develop a Focused Research Proposal
The research proposal is limited to three single-spaced pages.
Applicants therefore need to communicate their research question, intellectual problem, contribution, approach, and relationship to the Fung theme efficiently.
A proposal that attempts to cover too many unrelated questions may be difficult to communicate within the three-page limit.
Step 3: Demonstrate Scholarly Achievement
The selection committee considers the applicant’s scholarly record.
Your CV should therefore clearly present relevant publications, academic appointments, research experience, and other evidence of scholarly achievement.
Step 4: Select an Appropriate Writing Sample
The writing sample should provide clear evidence of your scholarly ability.
Since Princeton permits an academic article or book chapter of up to 50 pages, applicants should select a piece that demonstrates the quality, originality, analytical strength, and writing ability relevant to their academic profile.
Step 5: Contact Referees Early
Three referees are required.
Because the referees receive an automated invitation after the applicant submits the application, applicants should approach their referees early and explain the fellowship, the research theme, and the application deadline.
This is especially important because recommendation letters must be uploaded before the November 16 deadline.
Step 6: Confirm Your Institutional Permission
Applicants employed at universities or research institutions outside the United States should be prepared to obtain formal confirmation from their employer if they receive an offer.
Princeton requires successful candidates to submit an official letter confirming that their current employer permits them to accept the fellowship and spend the academic year at Princeton.
What Happens After Applying?
Princeton states that finalists invited for virtual interviews can expect to be contacted between mid-December and early January.
Successful candidates are expected to be notified by early February 2027.
Applications are reviewed by the director of the Fung Global Fellows Program and a search committee.
Princeton also states that application materials and selection committee evaluations remain confidential and that the committee does not provide individual application feedback.
Important Difference Between the 2026–27 and 2027–28 Themes
Applicants searching online for the Fung Global Fellows Program may encounter information about “The Politics of the Archive.”
That was the research theme for the 2026–27 academic year.
For the current application cycle, the theme has changed to:
“Democracy in Crisis?”
Princeton’s annual research page lists “The Politics of the Archive” under 2026–27 and “Democracy in Crisis?” as the future 2027–28 theme.
Therefore, applicants applying for the current 2027–28 fellowship should prepare their proposals around “Democracy in Crisis?”, not the previous year’s “Politics of the Archive” theme.
About the Fung Global Fellows Community
The program has developed an international community of scholars since its establishment in 2013.
Princeton describes the program as a platform for international early-career faculty members working in the humanities and social sciences to spend a year conducting research and collaborating around a common topic.
Each cohort consists of six scholars. The program’s history includes themes such as languages and authority, ethnic politics and identities, global diffusion, interdependence, thinking globally, sustainable futures, colonial residues, and the politics of the archive.
This history demonstrates how the program’s annual theme changes while maintaining its broader objective of creating international scholarly communities and encouraging research that crosses borders and disciplines.
Visit HERE and HERE to learn more about the Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–28 at Princeton University.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Fung Global Fellows Program?
The Fung Global Fellows Program is an international academic fellowship administered by Princeton University’s Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies. It brings early-career scholars from around the world to Princeton for an academic year of research, writing, collaboration, and intellectual exchange.
What is the 2027–28 theme?
The 2027–28 research theme is “Democracy in Crisis?”
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is November 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
How long is the fellowship?
The program is structured around an academic year, approximately 10 months.
Can current PhD students apply?
No. Candidates currently enrolled in a PhD program are not eligible.
Can current postdoctoral researchers apply?
No. Princeton states that candidates currently employed as postdocs are not eligible.
What PhD completion date is required?
Applicants must generally have received their PhD or equivalent qualification after September 1, 2017.
Can scholars from outside the United States apply?
Yes. The program is specifically aimed at scholars employed outside the United States and seeks an international cohort representing different regions of the world.
Can applicants from any region apply?
Princeton states that applicants may address any region of the world and that the selection committee seeks a cohort representing any region of the world.
What disciplines are eligible?
The program welcomes scholars from across the humanities and social sciences, provided their research relates meaningfully to the annual theme.
Where is the fellowship based?
The fellowship is based in person at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, United States.
What documents are required?
Applicants must submit a cover letter, CV including publications, a research proposal of no more than three single-spaced pages, one writing sample of no more than 50 pages, and contact information for three referees.
Can I submit my application by email?
No. Applications must be submitted through Princeton University’s online application portal.
Are late applications accepted?
No. The application portal will close after the November 16, 2026 deadline, and late submissions will not be accepted.
How to Apply for the Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–28
Interested scholars should review the official Princeton application instructions carefully before beginning the application.
Applications must be submitted online through Princeton’s designated application system:
Official application portal:
https://apply.interfolio.com/191685
Fung Global Fellows Program application information:
https://funggfp.princeton.edu/applications
Applicants should make sure that all required documents are uploaded and that their three referees have sufficient time to submit their recommendation letters before the deadline.
Conclusion
The Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–28 at Princeton University provides an opportunity for early-career international scholars to spend an academic year at Princeton conducting research, writing, and engaging in interdisciplinary intellectual exchange with scholars from around the world.
The 2027–28 theme, “Democracy in Crisis?”, provides a broad intellectual framework for examining the pressures facing democratic governance as well as the institutional, social, and civic forces that can contribute to democratic resilience. The program welcomes research addressing different regions of the world and encourages perspectives from across the humanities and social sciences.
The opportunity is particularly structured for scholars who have already completed their PhD or equivalent qualification, hold faculty or professional research appointments outside the United States, have demonstrated strong scholarly achievement, and are still at an early stage of their academic careers.
Applicants should pay close attention to the eligibility requirements, particularly the restrictions concerning current PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, the requirement for employment outside the United States, and the need for a research proposal that clearly engages with the 2027–28 theme.
The application deadline is November 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST, and Princeton does not accept late submissions. Prospective applicants should therefore begin preparing their research proposal, CV, writing sample, cover letter, and recommendation arrangements well before the deadline.
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