Ford Foundation Fellowship Program 2026
About this scholarship
The Ford Foundation Fellowship Program supports scholars committed to university teaching and research who can use diversity as a resource for enriching education.
The Ford Foundation Fellowship Program is a long-running U.S. fellowship scheme administered by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on behalf of the Ford Foundation. It is designed to increase diversity among university faculty and to support scholars who are committed to careers in teaching and research at the college or university level.
The programme typically supports predoctoral, dissertation, and postdoctoral fellowships. In study-level terms, this generally aligns most closely with PhD and PostDoc stages. Fellowships are intended for individuals pursuing or completing research-based academic careers in eligible fields and who demonstrate superior academic achievement, promise of future scholarship, and a sustained commitment to diversity in higher education.
Support varies by fellowship category, but the programme is known for providing a stipend and related fellowship benefits rather than functioning as a simple tuition waiver. Awards are generally tenable in the United States at eligible non-profit institutions of higher education. The programme is not tied to one university; instead, applicants apply through the national fellowship competition and hold the award at an approved host institution.
Eligibility normally includes U.S. nationals, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted deferred action under DACA, and certain residents of U.S. territories, subject to the current competition rules. Applicants are usually expected to show a strong academic record, be enrolled in or applying to eligible doctoral study or postdoctoral research, and provide application materials such as academic transcripts, essays, recommendation letters, and a statement addressing their commitment to diversity and higher education.
Applicants should review the official programme website for the current year's fellowship categories, eligible fields, deadlines, and application instructions. Because requirements can differ across predoctoral, dissertation, and postdoctoral competitions, it is important to use the category-specific guidance before applying.
Eligibility
Who can apply for this scholarship
Eligibility varies by fellowship category, but the programme is generally intended for individuals who are committed to careers in teaching and research in higher education and who can contribute to the diversity of the academic community. Applicants are typically required to be United States citizens, nationals, permanent residents, DACA recipients, or eligible residents of certain United States territories, and to be enrolled in or preparing for eligible doctoral or postdoctoral study.
Requirements
Documents typically needed to apply
Where you can use this
Open positions accepting Ford Foundation Fellowship Program.