FAQ
What fields of study are eligible?
Please note: Our eligibility criteria have changed. Please review the updated criteria before applying.
We welcome work in the following fields: African American and Africana Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Economics, English and Comparative Literature, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, Geography, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Sociology and Urban Studies.
Our focus is on engaged scholarship: research that addresses pressing social problems and injustices and contributes to building a more just, equitable, and environmentally sustainable society. We support scholarship that combines rigorous academic inquiry with meaningful engagement beyond the university—work that meets the highest standards of research while speaking to and serving broader publics.
CES generally does not support doctoral students whose degrees are housed in professional schools. However, we will consider applicants whose dissertations constitute substantive scholarship in the humanities or social sciences and are comparable in intellectual scope, rigor, and audience to work produced in a School of Arts and Sciences. Applicants should contact CES before applying if they are uncertain whether their work meets this standard.
If you are uncertain about your eligibility, please inquire at info@cescholar.org before filling out an application.
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.
How will you assess whether I am close to completing the dissertation or not?
We assess your progress based on the timeline narrative you provide in your application, which should clearly outline your progress to date and your plans for completing the dissertation. We also ask your recommenders to specifically comment on your writing and completion plans for the upcoming academic year. In addition, your dissertation chair should address your current progress and anticipated timeline for completion in their recommendation letter.
Can I apply for the CES fellowship even though I received another dissertation-year fellowship?
Applicants may apply for CES funding only if they are receiving $15,000 or less from another fellowship during the same academic year. This policy helps ensure that CES fellowship funds are directed to students who have greater financial need and fewer sources of dissertation support.
Can you provide examples of some of the interdisciplinary programs whose enrollees might be eligible for the CES Fellowship?
Examples include Africana Studies, Ethnic Studies, Gender or Women’s Studies, Environmental Studies, Urban Studies, Religious Studies, and American Studies.
I am getting my Ph.D. through a professional school, but my dissertation project is based in the social sciences. Can I apply?
Yes, but not automatically. CES generally does not support doctoral students whose degrees are housed in professional schools. However, we will consider applicants from professional schools whose dissertations constitute substantive scholarship in the humanities or social sciences and are comparable in intellectual scope, rigor, and audience to scholarship produced in a School of Arts and Sciences.
If you are unsure whether your dissertation meets this standard, please contact CES before applying so that we can advise you on your eligibility.
Can I apply if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Yes, the award is not dependent on citizenship.
Will you consider an application that is broadly theoretical in content?
Yes. However, applicants must make a clear and compelling case for how their theoretical work can contribute to progressive social change or advance social justice goals. The application should articulate the potential significance of the theoretical contribution beyond its immediate academic context.
Am I eligible if I finish my dissertation by December, at the same time the application is due?
No. CES fellowships are not postdoctoral fellowships. They are intended for scholars who have completed the majority of their research or data collection and will be in the early stages of dissertation writing when the fellowship begins in September. Applicants should not apply if they have already completed a substantial portion of their dissertation writing or expect to complete the dissertation by December.
Does my dissertation require an explicit political conclusion or can the political implications remain implicit?
The political implications of your dissertation do not need to be stated as an explicit political conclusion. We recognize that some dissertation committees may discourage work that is framed too explicitly as “political.” What matters is that you make a clear and compelling case to our reviewers that your research and findings have the potential to contribute to progressive social change or have significant political or social consequences.
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. CES welcomes applications for research that examines global dynamics, transnational processes, or developments in countries outside the United States. However, applicants must make a clear and compelling case for how their research findings could contribute to struggles for social, racial, or environmental justice in the United States.
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.
Am I eligible if I am close to completing my doctoral dissertation?
However, you are eligible to apply if you have advanced to candidacy, completed your research, and plan to be writing your dissertation during the fellowship period: September – May.
Can I apply if I plan to reach ABD status after the due date of the application?
Yes, but only if you will have reached ABD (All But Dissertation) status by February of the academic year in which you apply. Because requirements for reaching ABD status vary by institution, CES uses your institution’s definition of ABD.
The CES fellowship is intended for graduate students who will have completed the majority of their research or data collection by June and will be in the process of writing their dissertations during the fellowship period (September–May).
February is a firm deadline. You must provide documentation from your dissertation chair, graduate division, or other appropriate institutional authority confirming that you have advanced to candidacy. Applicants who cannot provide documented proof of ABD status by the February deadline will be deemed ineligible for the fellowship.
I received a dissertation fellowship from a different organization for a previous round. Am I still eligible to apply?
Yes. CES does not take into account fellowships received in prior years when determining eligibility. If you are still writing your dissertation and meet the other eligibility requirements, you are 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.
How do I apply for the CES fellowship?
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. To access the application portal, click here.
Can I submit two applications for the fellowship competition?
No, you may only submit ONE application per year.
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.
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 December 1st at 11:59 pm PDT. No exceptions.
How will my application be evaluated?
Your application will go through a multi-step review process and will be read by scholars from across the humanities and social sciences who work in areas related to your research. Because your application may be reviewed by scholars outside your specific discipline, we encourage you to write for an interdisciplinary, generalist audience and avoid excessive use of specialized disciplinary terminology. Your application should make the significance of your project clear to scholars working across fields.
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”.
When is the deadline for the CES fellowship application?
The application deadline is December 1st. All letters of recommendation must also be submitted by December 1st.
Will I be notified when all of my letters of recommendation have been submitted?
Yes. You will receive an automated email notification each time a recommender submits their letter. To ensure you receive these notifications, please keep email notifications from the application system enabled.
Please note that notifications are sent individually after each letter is submitted, rather than once all of your letters have been received. All letters of recommendation must be submitted by the December 1st application deadline. We encourage you to request your letters well in advance of the deadline and monitor your notifications to ensure that all required letters have been received.
Is there a template or writing guide available to write a proposal for the CES fellowship?
CES does not provide a proposal template. However, we strongly recommend that applicants consult The Art of Writing Proposals from the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) as they develop their proposals.
How should I format the bibliography?
Please use a citation style appropriate to your discipline, such as the conventions commonly used in History, Sociology, Economics, or your field of study. CES does not require a specific citation style, but your bibliography should be consistent and complete.
Do you have examples of proposals that have been awarded fellowships?
CES does not provide sample fellowship proposals. Each project is unique, and we believe applicants should develop proposals that clearly articulate the strengths, significance, and potential impact of their own research. Applicants should also carefully consider and clearly articulate how their research in the humanities and social sciences can contribute to progressive social change and advance social justice.
Can you tell us what the reviewers will expect to see in our application?
In addition to considering your academic background and preparation, reviewers will look for a clear and compelling explanation of how your research could contribute to struggles for social, racial, or environmental justice in the United States. Reviewers will also consider your engagement with communities and the broader public, including how your research connects to or has the potential to inform work beyond the academy.
Can I submit my application even though my letters of recommendation have not been submitted?
Yes. You may submit your application before your recommenders have submitted their letters. CES will add the letters to your application as they are received.
However, your application will be considered complete only after all three letters of recommendation and all other required supporting documents have been submitted. We strongly encourage you to give your recommenders ample time to prepare and submit their letters. All letters of recommendation must be received by December 1st.
What are the requirements for the fellowship?
To download the list of items required for our fellowship application, click here.
Is CES looking for a particular methodological approach?
No. CES does not require or privilege a particular methodological approach. We welcome a range of methodological approaches in the humanities and social sciences. Applicants should clearly explain how their chosen methods enable them to address their research questions and how the resulting scholarship could contribute to progressive social change or struggles for social, racial, or environmental justice.
Does CES fellowship have a thematic emphasis for this year’s applications?
CES has not selected a specific thematic emphasis for this year’s fellowship competition. We welcome applications addressing a wide range of pressing social problems and injustices. Applicants should focus on clearly explaining the significance of their research and its potential to contribute to progressive social change, social justice, or a more just, equal, and environmentally sustainable United States.
How long does the fellowship last?
The CES fellowship runs for one academic year, from September through May. Fellows are expected to devote the fellowship period primarily to completing their dissertations.
When does the fellowship begin?
The first fellowship payment will be made on September 1st. The last payment will be on May 1st.
If I am awarded a CES fellowship, can I defer it for a year?
No. CES does not permit fellowship recipients to defer an award. If you are unable to accept the fellowship for the academic year for which it is awarded, you are welcome to reapply in a future fellowship competition.