FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for the CES fellowship application?
The application portal will open on Sunday, October 15, 2023 and will remain open until Saturday, December 16, 2023.
Our application portal requires you to register (if you do not already have an account). Once you are registered, you can begin the application process.
When is the deadline for the 2024-2025 CES fellowship application?
The final deadline is Saturday, December 16, 2023.
What are the requirements for the fellowship application?
To download the list of items required for our fellowship application, click here.
Please Note: Be sure to check the exact requirements when you apply for the 2024-2025 CES fellowship through our online portal.
What fields of study are eligible for the CES fellowship?
Applicants must be enrolled in either a social science or history Ph.D. program or in an interdisciplinary program with a substantial social science component. We do not support work in such humanities fields as English, Foreign Languages, Classics, Art History, and Philosophy.
We also do not consider applicants in professional degree programs such as Education, Social Work, Public Health, Law, and Public Policy. We recognize that important work is being done in all of these fields, but with limited resources, we have to focus our efforts.
Can you provide examples of some of the interdisciplinary programs whose enrollees might be eligible for the CES Fellowship?
However, applicants in these fields should not apply unless their dissertation projects have a substantial social science component.
How can I download recommender forms?
You will receive an email confirmation when your recommender accepts the request as well as when the recommendation has been submitted.
Make sure your settings to receive notifications are turned on. To learn more, click here.
Do you have anything I can give to recommenders who may not be familiar with the Center for Engaged Scholarship?
Yes. If your faculty recommenders are not familiar with the Center for Engaged Scholarship, we have prepared a letter for you to give them that explains what we are doing. The explanation is intended to clarify that we are interested in supporting high quality scholarly work.
To download the letter, click here. We also include a link in the form that the recommender has to fill out.
How long is the fellowship for? When does the fellowship begin?
The fellowship is for 9 months.
The first fellowship payment will be made on September 1st, 2024. The last payment will be on May 1st, 2025.
Can I apply if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Can I apply if I am a student at a university outside the U.S.?
I am in an English Department, but I believe that my research represents engaged scholarship. Can I apply?
I am getting my Ph.D. through a professional school, but my dissertation project is based in the social sciences. Can I apply?
The answer is no unless you are in a joint program with a social science department. CES is focused on encouraging people who are on a traditional academic track to do work that is engaged with real world problems such as racism, gender oppression, economic exploitation, and environmental degradation. We acknowledge that people on professional school tracks, including law, planning, social work, public health, and education routinely do research work that is engaged with real world problems. We commend them for doing this work, but since our resources are limited, we cannot provide funding.
There is a good chance that I will finish my dissertation by December of 2024. Am I eligible?
I am a politically engaged conservative. Can I apply?
Yes, but your application will be judged as to whether or not it contributes to achieving social, racial, gender, or environmental justice.
Will you be willing to consider an application that is broadly theoretical in content?
Does my dissertation have to have an explicit political conclusion or could the political implications remain implicit?
Is CES looking for a particular methodological approach?
Does CES fellowship have a thematic emphasis for this year’s applications?
Since the CES fellowship is intended for graduate students in U.S. universities does CES expect to support only research on US specific topics?
Can I apply for the CES fellowship although I received another dissertation-year fellowship?
How will my application be evaluated?
Can I submit an application by fax or via email attachment if the online submission system fails?
Only online applications submitted through our online portal will be accepted. Please submit your application in advance of the deadline to accommodate any technical problems.
Can I apply if I plan to reach ABD status after the due date of the application?
You may apply only in the event that you will be ABD by February 29, 2024. We recognize that requirements to be ABD vary by institution, so we are using the definition of your particular institution. The CES fellowship is intended for graduate students who will have finished the majority of their research or data collection by June of the current academic year and will be writing their dissertations during the fellowship period: September 2024 – May 2025.
Are only full-time students eligible?
Can you tell us what the reviewers will expect to see in our application?
In addition to an applicant’s academic background, reviewers will expect to see a strong explanation of how the research could contribute to struggles for justice in the United States. Reviewers will also consider the applicant’s engagement with the community.
Can recommendations be submitted through Interfolio?
Are we expected to abide by the restrictions on word limit and general formatting requirements?
Can I submit two applications for the fellowship competition?
What will happen if I cannot submit my application through the online portal to meet the deadline?
We recommend you plan to submit well ahead of the deadline to avoid any technical glitches at the last minute. Applications are due Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 11:59 pm PDT. No exceptions.
Can I submit drafts and make changes to the application?
NOTE: Once the application has been submitted, you will no longer be able to go back to make any changes. We strongly suggest you go over your application carefully as well as download it and review it before hitting “Submit”.
Do you have examples of proposals that have been awarded fellowships?
You may find the ‘Exemplary Research’ section on this website helpful to provide you with ideas on how social science research can inform progressive change and social justice.
Is there a template or writing guide available to write a proposal for the CES fellowship?
Although we do not have any kind of template, we highly recommend that applicants use The Art of Writing Proposals to develop these proposals.
How should I format the bibliography?
Can I submit my application although my letters of recommendation have not been submitted?
Your application is complete only AFTER all three of your recommendations and other supporting documents have been submitted. However, we urge you to provide your recommenders ample time to write their recommendation letters.
Will I be notified when all of my letters of recommendation have been submitted?
Please remember that you will receive individual notifications after each recommendation is filed.
Am I eligible if I am close to completing my doctoral dissertation?
No, you are not eligible to apply for the fellowship if you are close to completing your dissertation.
You are however eligible to apply if you have advanced to candidacy, completed your research, and plan to be writing your dissertation during the fellowship period: September 2024 - May 2025.
How will you assess whether I am close to completing the dissertation or not?
We gather information about that from the timeline narrative you provide in your application. We also ask your recommenders to specifically comment on your writing plans for the 2023-2024 academic year. Your dissertation chair will have to also report on your progress in their recommendation letter.
I received a dissertation fellowship from a different organization for a previous round. Am I still eligible to apply?
However, you may not apply if you have previously received a CES fellowship.
Although I am enrolled in a U.S. university my dissertation research focuses on another country. Am I still eligible for the CES dissertation fellowship competition?
You are eligible for the fellowship competition but you must explain how your findings could contribute to struggles for justice in the U.S.
I am planning to be advanced to candidacy in early spring of 2024. Am I still eligible to apply for the CES fellowship?
You may still apply as long as you complete your requirements to be advanced to candidacy on or before February 29th, 2024. Our fellowship is for students who have finished the majority of their research or data collection and will be in the early stages of writing when the fellowship begins in September 2024. Do not apply if you have already completed much of the writing.
This is a hard deadline and you must provide documentation from your dissertation chair/graduate division that you have advanced to candidacy.
If you do not provide documented proof, you will be deemed ineligible for the fellowship.
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