Fellowship FAQ

• How many fellowships do you offer each year?[+]
  The number of fellows in residence fluctuates each year. In general, the Center offers up to 8 fellowships in each category (external, internal, and dissertation) for a total of approximately 24 fellows.
• How do I determine whether my project falls within the scope of the humanities?[+]
  Candidates may find general guidance in determining if a project is suitable from the definition of the Act that set up the National Foundation for the Arts and Humanities:
  
  "The humanities include, but are not limited to, the following fields: history, philosophy, languages, literature, linguistics, archeology, jurisprudence, history and criticism of the arts, ethics, comparative religion, and those aspects of the social sciences employing historical or philosophical approaches. This last category includes social and cultural anthropology, sociology, political theory, international relations, and other subjects concerned with questions of value."
  
  Especially appropriate are candidates whose research is likely to contribute to intellectual exchange among a diverse group of scholars within the disciplines of the humanities.
  
  Applicants in the social sciences should employ a research methodology that focuses on historical, philosophical, and/or literary methods of inquiry and should be concerned with questions of culture or value.
  
  The Center is open to projects employing information technology in humanities research.
• Are you affiliated with the Mellon Fellowship of Scholars in the Humanities?[+]
  The Humanities Center and the Mellon Fellowship are distinct but related programs that work closely together. The Mellon Fellows are part of the community of scholars at the Center. The Humanities Center's fellowships are open to Stanford dissertation students and to Stanford and non-Stanford scholars at least three years beyond the PhD. The Mellon Fellowship is administered separately and offers post-doctoral fellowships to recent PhDs in the humanities. Their website is: https://mellonfellowship.stanford.edu/
• May I propose to turn my dissertation into a book?[+]
  We generally give greater preference to junior faculty projects on second books rather than on projects that grow out of a dissertation. Over the years our selection committees have increasingly felt that there are a far greater variety of postdoctoral fellowships that support the transformation of a dissertation into a book, and far fewer fellowships that are geared towards second book projects at this stage of a professor's career. For that reason we tend to support second book projects when all other factors are equal.
• Do you ever offer collaborative/shared research group fellowships?[+]
  We are not able to accept joint applications per se, but scholars working together may each apply independently for separate fellowships, indicating in their application that you are working collaboratively. It would be up to the selection committee to decide on the merits of each proposal. Given the competitive nature of the competition, it is unlikely that all members of a research group will receive awards; please plan accordingly, and only apply with projects that are viable if not all collaborators are granted fellowships.
• May I apply to less than a full academic year scholarship?[+]
  Our fellowships are for one academic year, and require the fellow to be in residence. We do not consider applications for different amounts of time.
• Are you able to pay stipends directly to another university?[+]
  With the agreement of the other university, the Humanities Center can pay fellowship stipends (but not moving and housing stipends) to them directly via a purchase order and contract; about half of our External Faculty utilize this to maintain their regular benefits during their fellowship year.
• May I defer a fellowship for a year?[+]
  We do not accept deferrals for any Humanities Center fellowships. Should you be unable to accept a fellowship, the award will be offered to an alternate.
• May I submit supplementary materials (i.e. musical scores, articles, photographs)?[+]
  We do not accept supplementary materials with applications; any supplementary materials that are received will not be forwarded on to the selection committee.
• What if my reference letters arrive late?[+]
  We will make every effort to forward late letters on, but cannot guarantee that letters received late will reach selection committee members before the screening of files.

• Are non-Stanford students eligible to apply for these fellowships?[+]
  Only Stanford graduate students are eligible to apply for these fellowships.
• Are students from outside the humanities eligible to apply?[+]
  The Lieberman fellowship is restricted to advanced students in humanities departments.
  
  Applicants from the social sciences may apply for Geballe, Whiting and Mellon fellowships. Applications in the social sciences should employ a research methodology that focuses on historical, philosophical, and/or literary methods of inquiry and should be concerned with questions of culture or value. A project that is largely quantitative or analytical would not be considered "humanistic" enough to receive support from our selection committee.
  
  Applicants from outside the School of Humanities and Sciences are eligible to apply only for Geballe Fellowships.
  
• May I apply for more than one dissertation fellowship?[+]
  Applicants are encouraged to apply for any of the dissertation fellowships they would accept and for which they are eligible and competitive. The same selection committee collectively evaluates applicants for all four fellowships. From the applicant pool, a top group of approximately 40 potential awardees is identified for the approximately 30 fellowship spots. Only at the very end of the selection process are specific applicants matched up with specific fellowships. Designating multiple fellowships gives the selection committee more award options, and thus increases your odds of receiving a fellowship.
  
  The exception to this is the Lieberman fellowship, which is decided by a separate ranking, discussion, and vote. Because of the unique selection criteria for the Lieberman, and the significant additional work involved in applying for this award, please do not apply unless you believe you are a strong candidate.
• What are the key differences between these fellowships?[+]
  The Whiting fellowships go to candidates of high intellectual distinction; the fellowship is non-residential, and allows for travel for archival and other research work.
  
  The Lieberman fellowship recognizes excellence in teaching and community service.
  
  Geballe fellowships go to applicants whose work would be of interest to an interdisciplinary group of scholars, and who would benefit from the professional and intellectual resources offered by a year in residence at the Humanities Center.
  
  Mellon fellowships are typically given to 5th year students who have made impressive and timely progress through their early years in graduate school.
• What qualifications make applicants competitive for the Lieberman fellowship?[+]
  Past Lieberman fellowship recipients have exemplary teaching evaluations (with an average rating of near excellent in all categories), strong teaching statements, and reference letters that give examples of excellence in teaching and/or community service. Many Lieberman recipients have also received previous teaching or community service awards.
• May I apply for these fellowships if I need to spend time away from campus?[+]
  Geballe Fellows are strongly encouraged to live within ten miles of Stanford and take part in the life of the Center for the duration of their fellowship; they may not spend more than a week per academic quarter (plus University holidays and breaks) away from campus.
  
  All other Stanford humanities dissertation fellowships (Mellon, Lieberman, and Whiting) do not require residency near campus, and thus are appropriate for students who need to travel during their fellowship year.
• Are re-applicants disadvantaged in the selection process?[+]
  Reapplicants are not at a disadvantage in the selection process. Each year, the selection committee has many more fundable projects than fellowships to grant. Not being awarded a grant in a previous competition will in no way negatively prejudice an application. Additionally, each group of applications is read by a new set of reviewers, as selection committee membership changes each year.
  
• May previous Stanford humanities dissertation fellowship recipients apply for a second fellowship?[+]
  Previous Stanford humanities dissertation fellowship recipients (Geballe, Mellon, Lieberman and Whiting) may reapply for a fellowship they have not previously received, but are at a disadvantage in the competition because we try to make fellowships available to as broad a group of scholars as our resources will allow, and there are so few fellowship spots to go around.
• What if my department doesn't require one of the things listed in the degree milestones section?[+]
  Please write a brief note explaining this in the “notes” field at the bottom of the page; the online application system will still allow you to submit your application.
  
• By what date should incompletes be resolved?[+]
  Incompletes should be resolved by the beginning of your fellowship term. Please write a note explaining any extenuating circumstances for an incomplete in the “notes” field in the degree milestones section.
  
• May recipients teach while on fellowship?[+]
  No other employment, assistantship, or fellowship (unless specifically intended for travel or research expense) may be held concurrently. Exceptions to this restriction must be approved by the Humanities Center Director (for Geballe Fellows) or Ayodele Thomas (for Whiting, Mellon, and Lieberman Fellows).
  
• What should I do if I take another job or fellowship during the competition?[+]
  Please notify the fellowship administrator at the Humanities Center if you decide to accept another fellowship or a job before the competition results are announced. With so few fellowships and so many deserving applicants, we would like to make offers as soon as possible to students in the position to accept them.