FAQ

How do I apply for the CES fellowship application?

The application portal opened on Saturday, October 15, 2022 and will remain open until December 16, 2022.

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 2023-2024 CES fellowship application?

The final deadline is Friday, December 16, 2022.

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 2023-2024 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?

Examples include Ethnic studies, Gender or Women’s studies, Environmental studies, Urban studies, Religious studies, and American studies.

However, applicants in these fields should not apply unless their dissertation projects have a substantial social science component.

How can I download recommender forms?

The entire application process is automated. So once you have entered the email contact information for your recommenders, they will receive a system-generated request for their recommendations to be submitted to the portal.

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, 2023. The last payment will be on May 1st, 2024

Can I apply if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Yes, the award is not dependent on citizenship.

Can I apply if I am a student at a university outside the U.S.?

No. The fellowship is limited to students currently enrolled in U.S. universities.

I am in an English Department, but I believe that my research represents engaged scholarship. Can I apply?

No, the competition is limited to the social sciences or interdisciplinary programs in the social sciences.

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.

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?

Yes, but the applicant must have a convincing argument about how this theoretical contribution could facilitate progressive change or meet social justice goals.

Does my dissertation have to have an explicit political conclusion or could the political implications remain implicit?

They can remain implicit. We recognize that some dissertation committees will frown on work that is too ‘political’. Your task is to simply persuade our reviewers that your findings might have significant political consequences.

Is CES looking for a particular methodological approach?

We do not subscribe to a preferred methodology. All methodological perspectives used in the social sciences are welcomed.

Does CES fellowship have a thematic emphasis for this year’s applications?

At this time, CES has not selected a thematic emphasis. However, that may change in the future and it will be announced in the call for 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?

No, the research might analyze global dynamics or processes in one or more foreign countries, but the researcher must still make a convincing case that the research findings could contribute to struggles for social, racial, or environmental justice in the United States.

Can I apply for the CES fellowship although I received another dissertation-year fellowship?

You can apply only if the other fellowship is $7,500 or less. We want to make sure our funds go to students who need our support.

How will my application be evaluated?

Your application will go through a multi-step review and it will be read by scholars from different disciplines in the social sciences but working in the same area of research. We advise you to write for a generalist audience and avoid excessive use of disciplinary terminology.

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 28, 2023. 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 be writing their dissertations during the fellowship period.

Are only full-time students eligible?

Yes, we want to support students who will be able to make substantial progress on the dissertation in the fellowship year.

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?

No, the system we use does not accept Interfolio recommendations. Each recommender must submit their letters individually through the online portal.

Are we expected to abide by the restrictions on word limit and general formatting requirements?

Yes, you are expected to do so as our system will not allow you to upload your application if you do not conform to the requirements specified.

Can I submit two applications for the fellowship competition?

No, you may submit only one application per year.

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 Friday, December 16, 2022 at 11:59 pm PDT. No exceptions.

Can I submit drafts and make changes to the application?

Once you have created an account on the portal, you will have the ability to work with various drafts and make changes in the application (like updating the list of recommenders, etc.) CES will not be able to view the in-process application until it is complete and submitted. However, we caution you to save any changes you make 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?

We do not have examples of proposals to share with applicants. Each proposal is unique and we believe carries its own strength and limitations.

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?

Please use a format that is appropriate in your discipline such as in history, sociology, or economics, etc.

Can I submit my application although my letters of recommendation have not been submitted?

Yes, you may submit your application and we will add your letters of recommendation to the application after they are filed.

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?

You will receive an automated email notification informing you when each recommender has submitted their letter of recommendation. Keeping your notifications on to receive email from application system will keep you informed when letters of recommendation have been submitted to our portal.

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 begin writing up your chapters.

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 2022-23 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?

If you are still writing up your chapters, you are eligible to apply for the fellowship. We do not take into account any fellowships received in prior years.

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 2023. 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 28th, 2023.

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.

What if I am not receiving email from your site?

Make sure that our system’s email is on your safe list and to check your “Spam” folder.

For more detailed instructions, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions