PhDFully Funded

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers

Heads up — this listing may be outdated. The dates and details below reference a year that has already passed and our editorial team has not re-verified this scholarship is still open. Always confirm the current intake on the sponsor's official website via the button below before you invest time in an application.

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers - Fellowship, Post a Comment

Provider: Various
Host country: United States
Deadline: November–December (varies by fellowship)
Region: Americas

Official source

Topics

Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers is open to African students applying to study in United States at the PhD level, with fully funded funding. Below is a quick summary of who can apply, what's covered, and the key dates — full details are further down the page.

Who can apply: PhD · applicants for United States
Funding: Fully Funded
Study level: PhD
Deadline: November–December (varies by fellowship)

Key eligibility criteria

Graduate students and postdocs in fields aligned with Smithsonian research
international applicants welcome including from Africa.

What the fully funded award covers

Monthly stipend
Return airfare
Research/thesis support

About the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers (2026)

##### With 21 museums and a National Zoo, the Smithsonian Institution is the world’s biggest museum, education, and research complex. It has created the future by preserving heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world. ##### One of the ways by which the Smithsonian Institution propels historical education is through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program. The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) is given to graduate and postgraduate researchers or scholars who seek to do independent study or research at one of the Smithsonian’s 19 units and research centers on a yearly basis. Furthermore, it provides opportunities for independent research or study in areas relevant to the institution’s materials, facilities, and/or research interests. Graduate students, predoctoral students, postdoctoral and senior investigators can apply for fellowships to do independent study and use the Institution’s resources, with members of the Smithsonian professional research staff serving as advisors and hosts. The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program provides funding for research and study in the following fields, as well as interdisciplinary applications: - Animal behavior, ecology, and environmental science, including an emphasis on the tropics - Anthropology, including archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, and physical anthropology - Astrophysics and astronomy - Earth sciences and paleobiology - Evolutionary & systematic biology - Folklife - History of science and technology - History of art, especially American, contemporary, African, and Asian art, twentieth-century American crafts, and decorative arts - Materials research - Molecular biology - Social and cultural history of the United States **Application deadline:** November 1, 2021 SAAM Fellowships: Celebrating Fifty Years - YouTube Tap to unmute 1x [SAAM Fellowships: Celebrating Fifty Years](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYB4tVVMSVI) [Smithsonian American Art Museum](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZW0jH_nivSuvSmFHppURyg) Smithsonian American Art Museum25.1K subscribers [Watch on](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYB4tVVMSVI) ## Benefits of the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program The following information details the value of an SIFP award at any available level of undertaking: **SENIOR FELLOWSHIPS** – for scholars at least seven years beyond the Ph.D. Term: 3 to 12 months Stipend: $55,000 per year Research Allowance: up to $4,000 per year **POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS** – for scholars up to seven years beyond the Ph.D. Term: 3 to 12 months** Stipend: $55,000 per year Research Allowance: up to $4,000 per year ###### _\*\* Postdoctoral applicants in Science may apply for up to 24 months._ **PREDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS** – for doctoral candidates to conduct dissertation research. Term: 3 to 12 months Stipend: $40,000 per year Research Allowance: up to $4,000 per year **TEN-WEEK GRADUATE STUDENT FELLOWSHIPS –** for graduate students to conduct independent research usually before having been advanced to candidacy if in a Ph.D. program. Term: 10 weeks Stipend: $8,000 ###### _*Please offer a reason in the extra information area of your application’s footer if you have taken a “leave of absence” from research and desire to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship rather than a senior fellowship since you are 7 or more years distant from getting your Ph.D._ Fellowship tenures must begin between June 1, 2021 and March 1, 2022. It is important that applicants (graduate and postgraduate researchers) consider the following factors carefully when choosing the dates for the proposed fellowship: their academic schedule; completion dates of their preliminary exams, course work, or dissertation (if applicable); the schedule of their proposed advisor/host, and the availability of required resources. ![](https://i0.wp.com/scholarshipsforafricans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/smithsonian-orig-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C686&ssl=1)Washington DC ## Eligibility Criteria for Interested Fellows Both US citizens and non-US citizens are eligible to participate in the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program. Applicants whose first language is not English must be able to write and talk fluently in the English language. All application materials must be written in the English language (foreign transcripts may be translated, see below). Additionally, recipients of previous or existing fellowships are able to apply for additional awards. Graduate and postgraduate researchers aiming to apply for the opportunity have different sets of eligibility criteria. Please note the different categorical instructions stated below: **Graduate Student Fellowships:** When they apply, students must be formally enrolled in a graduate program of study at a degree-granting institution. Before the appointment begins fellows must still be enrolled and must have completed at least one full-time semester or its equivalent, or have completed the graduate program within the past four months. Graduate Student Fellowships are usually intended for students who have not yet been advanced to candidacy if in a doctoral program. **Predoctoral Fellowships:** Students enrolled in a university as candidates for the Ph.D. or equivalent are eligible for predoctoral fellowships. By the time the appointment begins, the university must approve the undertaking of dissertation research at the Smithsonian Institution and certify that requirements for the doctorate, other than the dissertation, have been met. **Postdoctoral Fellowships:** The doctorate degree must be completed by the time the fellowship begins. **Senior Fellowships:** Applicants must have held a Ph.D. or equivalent for at least 7 years. Applicants who have received the Ph.D. or equivalent before November 1, 2014 are eligible to apply for senior fellowships. If you have taken a “leave of absence” from research and wish to apply under the postdoctoral fellowship application instead of senior fellowship application you will need to provide a justification in the additional information section at the end of the application. ## Selection Criteria Scholars in relevant fields evaluate applications and select fellows based on the merit of the proposal, the applicant’s ability to carry out the proposed research and study, the likelihood of the research being completed in the requested time, and the extent to which the Smithsonian, through its research staff members and resources, could contribute to the proposed research. The number of appointments made each year is determined by the program’s funding availability. There is no discrimination in the Smithsonian Fellowship Program based on race, color, religion, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, or disability. All graduate and postgraduate researchers are given fair and equal treatment. ## How to Apply as Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers Applications for the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for graduate and postgraduate researchers should be done through the [Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System (SOLAA).](http://solaa.si.edu/) ### Application Materials for Uploading The SOLAA application will allow you to upload the following files types (there is a 3MB limit and only the following types of documents are supported: .bmp, .doc, .docx, .gif, .jpeg, .jpg, .pdf, .png, .rtf, .tif, .tiff, .txt, .xls, and .xlsx). **Abstract** - No more than one (1) page, double spaced. **Research Proposal** - The full statement of your research you plan to undertake at the Smithsonian. - **No more than 1500 words**, double spaced (excluding all other parts of the application, such as the abstract and bibliography), Paper size should be 8.5 by 11 inches (210 mm x 297 mm), do not use type smaller than 12 point. **In preparing your proposal, be sure to provide and address the following:** - A description of the research you plan to undertake at the Smithsonian Institution, including the methodology to be utilized. - The importance of the work, both in relation to the broader discipline and to your own scholarly goals. - Justification for conducting your research at the Smithsonian and utilization of research facilities and resources. - Identification of the member of the Smithsonian’s research staff who might serve as your principal advisor/host. Also identify potential co-advisor(s) and/or consultant(s) if applicable. The publication, [Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study](https://fellowships.si.edu/SORS), contains the necessary information on staff research specialties and current departmental interests to help you determine which staff members are best suited to your research needs. Research staff may be named by applicants to serve as principal advisors, co-advisors or consultants. Affiliated research staff may be named as co-advisors or consultants if they will be in residence during at least a portion of the tenure period proposed. You are strongly encouraged to correspond with your proposed advisor(s) as you prepare your proposal. **Timeline** - Estimate of time period for each phase of the research proposed for the full time period (regardless of one or two years). **Diversity Statement** (upload in “Other” material) - Please address – How your perspective, experience, and/or project contribute to a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable discipline. - No more than one (1) page. - This needs to be uploaded for the application material name **“Other” in SOLAA.** **Budget and Justification** - Budget and justification for equipment, supplies, research-related travel costs, and other support required to conduct the research itself (excluding stipend and relocation costs). You may **not** include funding to do any direct hires. You are encouraged to discuss potential research costs with your proposed advisor(s) before submitting your application. - If the funds required to support the research exceed the maximum research allowance of $4,000 per year, please explain the source of additional funds. - Applicants for graduate student fellowships are not eligible for research and research travel allowances, and should not submit budget justifications. **Bibliography** - Bibliography of literature relevant to the applicant’s proposed research. **Curriculum Vitae (CV)** - Please provide a current CV (please limit to 4 pages maximum). - Including previous and current fellowships, grants, and/or awards. - If English is not your native language, describe the level of your proficiency in reading, conversing, and writing in English. **Transcripts (unofficial are acceptable)**(you may upload up to three 3MB files) - Transcripts (or other materials when transcripts are not issued) from all appropriate institutions are required **except for senior fellowship applications.** - Applicants for **graduate student** fellowships must submit undergraduate and graduate transcripts. - Applicants for **predoctoral** and **postdoctoral** fellowships need only submit graduate transcripts. - If transcripts or other materials are not in English the applicant should provide translations. **References –from two appropriate persons selected by you.** - Names and email addresses of two persons familiar with your work. Please, do not use your proposed Smithsonian advisor(s) or consultant(s) as your referees. - All reference letters are considered confidential unless confidentiality has been waived by the referee. - Provide a copy of your proposal and a copy of [Letter to Referee (downloadable pdf)](https://fellowships.si.edu/sites/default/files/images/fellowshipreferenceletter.pdf) to your referees. - Through SOLAA you will send an email from the system to these referees so they can provide references through the SOLAA system. Please note: referees will **not** be able to view your application and you may send the request any time prior to submission. They will still be able to submit their reference before or after you submit your application. - Referees are encouraged to submit references no later than the application due date. However, references can be submitted after the deadline and but there is no guarantee it will be included once the review process begins. - Applicant’s can check their SOLAA application to determine if letters of recommendation have been submitted or not. Applicants are encouraged to follow-up with referees who have not yet submitted. For further details and information, please visit the [official SIFP webpage](https://fellowships.si.edu/SIFP). **E-mail:** [FellowsSI@si.edu](mailto:FellowsSI@si.edu) **Phone: 202-633-7070** * * * _brought to you by Scholarships for Africans_ [**Scholarships for Africans**](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/) is a premier scholarship information blog committed to bringing more opportunities for Africans globally. They are part of the African Scholar Initiative, powered by Scholarship Hippo. 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What the Fully Funded Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers covers

The award components below were extracted from the sponsor's published description. Always cross-check the exact figures, ceiling amounts and conditions on the official site before you budget around them.

Monthly stipend
Return airfare
Research/thesis support

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers eligibility for United States applicants

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

Graduate students and postdocs in fields aligned with Smithsonian research
international applicants welcome including from Africa.

Documents required for the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers application

A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.

Valid international passport (bio page scan)
Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
Research proposal or statement of purpose (500–2,000 words for PhD)
Published or unpublished writing sample (PhD and research-led Masters)
Financial-need declaration or family-income statement (sponsor-specific template)
Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders

How to apply for the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers 2026

A practical, sponsor-agnostic sequence used by >95% of international scholarship applicants. Adapt to the sponsor's specific portal — the order rarely changes.

1
Confirm eligibility on the official site
Open https://fellowships.si.edu/SIFP and verify the sponsor's stated criteria match your profile — currently: "Graduate students and postdocs in fields aligned with Smithsonian research; international applicants welcome including from Africa.". Sponsor rules change between intakes, so always confirm against the live call.
2
Secure a study place or admission offer
Identify a supervisor whose research aligns with yours, exchange emails, and either obtain a conditional offer or confirmation that they will host your project. Many Various awards require this before the funding application opens.
3
Sit required tests and gather documents
Register for IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo (or SAT / GRE where required), request official transcripts, brief two or three referees, and prepare passport and identity documents at high resolution.
4
Draft your essays and statements
Write a focused 1,000–2,000-word research proposal and a separate personal statement. Tailor every paragraph to the sponsor's stated priorities — generic recycled essays are the most common reason strong applicants are rejected.
5
Complete the online application
Create an account on https://fellowships.si.edu/SIFP, fill in every field, and upload the required documents in the formats specified (PDF, max file size, single-file vs multi-file). Save progress frequently — most portals time out after 30–60 minutes.
6
Submit by November–December (varies by fellowship) (aim 7 days early)
Sponsor portals routinely slow or fail in the final 24 hours. Submit early, download the confirmation receipt, and screenshot the submission timestamp. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
7
Prepare for shortlist interviews
If shortlisted, Various will contact you within 4–12 weeks. Re-read your essays, rehearse 3–5 likely questions out loud, and confirm your time zone for any video interview.

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers deadline & application timeline

The sponsor has not published a fixed deadline yet. Use the milestones below as a generic 12-month plan; substitute dates once the intake window opens.

12 months out
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
6 months out
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
3 months out
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
1 month out
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
Application deadline
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.

Ready to apply?

Cross-check the latest eligibility rules and deadline on the sponsor's official portal before you start your application.

Visit official site

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers?+

Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the PhD level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by Various, and be able to relocate to United States for the duration of the programme.

Is the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program for Graduate and Postgraduate Researchers fully funded?+

Funding model: Fully Funded. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.

When is the application deadline?+

The application deadline is November–December (varies by fellowship). Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

What documents do I need to apply?+

At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.

How can I improve my chance of winning?+

Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.

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