General FAQ
The Online Application Process
Reference Letters
The Review Process
Successful Proposals
Additional FAQ for:
ACLS Fellowships
Ryskamp Fellowships
Burkhardt Fellowships
Digital Innovation Fellowships
ACLS Collaborative Research Awards
Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
Mellon/ACLS Recent Doctoral Recipients Fellowships
Postdoctoral Fellowships in East European Studies
General FAQ
Q: Do all ACLS fellowship and grant programs use the Online Fellowship Application (OFA) system?
A: No. The following programs do not use the OFA system: Henry Luce Foundation/ACLS Grants to Individuals in East and Southeast Asian Archaeology and Early History; New Perspectives on Chinese Culture and Society; travel grants, conference grants, and language grants in the East European Studies Program; and the ACLS Humanities Program in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Information about these programs is available on the ACLS website through the individual program links.
Q: What kind of work gets funded? Are there some types of projects ACLS does not fund?
A: ACLS supports academic research in the humanities and humanities-related social sciences. The ultimate goal of the project should be a major piece of scholarly work by the applicant that will take the form of a monograph or another equally substantial form of scholarship. ACLS does not fund creative work (e.g., novels or films), textbooks, work that deals purely with translation (with the exception of the Luce/ACLS Translation Grants in East and Southeast Asian Archaeology and Early History), or pedagogical projects.
Q: I work in the creative arts and would use a fellowship to do research for a novel/artwork/film/musical composition/etc. May I apply?
A: No, ACLS fellowship programs do not support individuals who work in the creative or performing arts. Fellowship research designed for an end-product that is a creative work is not appropriate for ACLS.
Q: I have not finished my Ph.D. Am I eligible for any ACLS fellowships?
A: If you are a doctoral student, you may be eligible for one of the ACLS dissertation fellowships: The Mellon /ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship, Henry Luce Foundation/ACLS Dissertation Fellowship in American Art, the Dissertation Fellowship in East European Studies, or the Henry Luce Foundation/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in East and Southeast Asian Archaeology and Early History.
Q. What are the differences between fellowships and grants?
A. Fellowships are awards applied for, won by, and made to, individual scholars. They are paid to those individual scholars, either directly or through the scholar’s institution (in accordance with the desires and preferences of the awardee and his or her institution, and as arranged with the ACLS Office of Fellowships). Research grants, by contrast, are most commonly awarded to institutions—typically, the colleges or universities employing the individual scholars. Although in some cases grants are awarded to individuals, most ACLS awards are fellowships. For more information on specific programs, please consult individual program descriptions. For more information on the distinction between fellowships and grants, please consult the Institutional Administrators page.
Q. Does ACLS provide guidelines for writing proposals?
A. ACLS does not provide guidelines. However, the resource "Writing Proposals for ACLS Fellowship Competitions" by Christina M. Gillis may be useful to scholars applying to the ACLS fellowship programs that are interdisciplinary in character. The document should be read as one experienced individual's thoughts on the writing process, and not as official guidelines or instructions.
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The Online Application Process
Q: I applied last year. Can I edit my old application and resubmit it?
A: No, you will need to start over with a new online application. It is possible to resubmit the proposal portion of your application from previous years, but you will need to upload again any such proposal document.
Q: How long does it take to fill out the application?
A: This will vary, depending on how much work you have prepared before you begin the application process. Simply filling in the form will probably take at least an hour if not two, plus you will need to submit your proposal and supporting documents. You will also need to secure referees to write letters in support of your application. You should start the process several weeks before the deadline to get a sense of what is required and start preparing your materials.
Q: Do I have to complete the application all at once?
A: No, you may work on it in multiple sessions, though you will need to save your work after you finish each section of the application. Once you have submitted the application, you cannot work on it again.
Q: Can I revise my application after I have submitted it?
A: No. Our system does not allow for this. Make absolutely sure you are finished before you submit the application.
Q: If I have applied to an earlier ACLS competition, can I apply again this year with the same proposal?
A: Yes, but you must go through the entire application process for this year's competition.
Q: I think I will get sabbatical funding during the year I would be taking the postdoctoral fellowship, but I do not know for certain or exactly how much it will be. What should I fill in on the application form?
A: You may estimate the amount you expect to receive, or fill in nothing. You can enter this amount in the section asking you to list other major funding sources to which you ARE APPLYING for your present research proposal. Should you be offered a postdoctoral fellowship, you will need to provide a specific amount and tell us about any other funding you will receive.
Q: After submitting my proposal, I found out that I had an article (or book) accepted for publication (or to a conference). May I send the information to ACLS to have it added to my publications page?
A: No. Your application will be judged as it is at the time of submission.
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Reference Letters
Q: Whom should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?
A: Your main priority should be to secure letters from referees who can write strong, specific letters on your behalf, preferably those who can comment on the proposed project. For ACLS postdoctoral programs reviewers sometimes have concerns about letters from colleagues in your department or from dissertation advisors, and often prefer “arm’s length” letters from scholars who can attest to the significance of your work in the field and have less personal interest vested in your success. It’s good to be able to show that you have placed yourself in the field, not merely in the department or institution where you are employed or did your graduate work. Think carefully about who can write the best letters and weigh that against personal connections. Applicants at early career stages may need to rely more on dissertation advisors as advocates. In any case, you will want your referees to be tenured scholars. (Exceptions and specifics for the Burkhardt and Ryskamp fellowships as well as for dissertation fellowships are described in the Reference Letters section of those applications.)
Q: What should I do if one of my referees does not send in the letter s/he agreed to?
A: You can check online to see if your references have been submitted. If one or more of your letters has not been submitted by the deadline, you may wish to contact the letter writers. (Note that our system will continue to accept letters after the deadline.) If one of your designated referees cannot write the letter, you can ask someone else to write for you and submit the appropriate information on your reference form. However, please note that once the required number of letters has been submitted for your application (regardless of which of your referees submits them), no more will be accepted. Think carefully, then, before requesting replacement letters. You would not want to put a referee in the position of writing a letter for you and then not being able to submit it.
Q: My referee cannot (or refuses to) use an online system to submit the recommendation letter. What should I do?
A: Please follow the instructions on the reference letter page to enter information about your referee; ACLS needs this information. Your referee will receive an email from us with an address the referee should use to contact us to say that he or she cannot use the online system. We will then work with your referee to get the letter in some other way. (This should be used as a method of last resort.)
Q: My referee does not use email or have an email address. What should I do?
A: Contact us at references@acls.org for further instructions.
Q: Do all my reference letters have to be in the system before I submit my application?
A: No, the deadline for reference letters is later than the application deadline. In addition, the system will continue to accept letters after the deadline and will add them to your application at the earliest possible time, though we cannot guarantee that they will accompany your application in the first stage of review.
Q. What are the deadlines and submission procedures for specific ACLS fellowship programs?
A. Visit the References page for program-specific deadlines, instructions, and contact information.
The Review Process
Q: Who is reading my proposal?
A: Proposals to the central ACLS Fellowship Program, the Burkhardt Fellowship Program, The Ryskamp Fellowship Program, the Digital Innovation Fellowship Program, the ACLS Collaborative Research Awards, and the Mellon/ACLS Early Career Fellowship Program are read by both experts in the discipline of the proposal and by scholars from a variety of disciplines, in fields other than your own.
Q: Since my application will be read by both experts in my area and a range of humanistic scholars, how should I pitch my proposal?
A: To address experts in your field, explain why this project offers insight into the issues of your discipline, and make clear what question or problem is being addressed. In addition, though, be sure to explain any terms that might not be familiar to those outside your field or subfield, and discuss the significance of your project within your field. In a section of the application separate from the body of the proposal, you are also asked to address the significance of your proposed project for the humanities.
Q: Will I get comments back from the reviewers?
A: Comments will be available from reviewers in the following programs: ACLS Fellowship Program, Burkhardt Fellowship Program, Ryskamp Fellowship Program, Digital Innovation Fellowship Program, ACLS Collaborative Research Awards, Mellon/ACLS Early Career Fellowship Program, and Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art. As with journal review, our process allows reviewers, at their discretion, to release comments to applicants. Accordingly, comments may be available from some, though not necessarily all, of our reviewers.
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Successful Proposals
Q: What kinds of projects are usually successful in ACLS fellowship competitions?
A: The proposals that are ultimately selected vary widely. Lists of awardees and brief project descriptions from the last three competition cycles are available in the Fellows & Research section.
Q: I applied for an ACLS Fellowship but did not receive one. I've had several talented, credentialed academics look at my proposal, and they all say it is good. Why was I not awarded a fellowship?
A: Unfortunately, we receive far more excellent proposals than we have money to fund. Our selection panels must make very difficult decisions from among exceptional applications. Not receiving a fellowship should not be interpreted to mean that your work is not good.
Q: Do you have examples of winning proposals?
A: We do not provide examples of winning proposals, and there is no one model to follow for a successful application. However, you may view abstracts of winning proposals on the Recent Awardees page. (These are updated each summer.) You may also benefit from asking an ACLS Fellow that you know to show you her or his proposal.
Q: If I have unsuccessfully applied to an earlier ACLS competition, is it a good idea to apply again this year with the same proposal?
A: It is fine to apply again with the same proposal, and since reviewers change from year to year, your project may get a different reception this time around. However, because reviewers often serve ACLS for up to three years, your application may be reviewed again by one or more of the same people who saw it last year. For this reason, it is often better to have made demonstrable progress on your project in the meantime, so that the proposal would reflect that progress.
Q: How much of my proposal should be devoted to explaining my methodology? The project's significance? Theoretical framework? Work plan? etc.
A: The portion of the proposal that should be devoted to its constituent parts varies according to the proposed project. An important part of the application process is gauging the most central elements of your project and presenting those elements to your best advantage within the specified word/page limit.
Q: If I win a fellowship from ACLS, can the fellowship monies be paid through my institution instead of my receiving the funds directly?
A: You may receive the funds through your institution if you need to in order to retain benefits, etc. However, the stipend itself must go to an individual scholar. Institutions may not deduct funds for overhead or indirect costs from the individual's fellowship.
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Additional FAQ for ACLS Fellowships
Q: I have not finished my Ph.D. Am I eligible for an ACLS Fellowship? What if I will have finished my Ph.D. by the time I would start the fellowship period?
A: Sorry, your Ph.D. degree must have been officially conferred at least two years before the application deadline.
Q: I feel that I have the equivalent of a Ph.D. degree. May I apply?
A: If you have published scholarly work on a par with the academic work required by the Ph.D. degree, you may apply. You need to have completed a substantial academic project that required a sustained period of research, similar to a dissertation, in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I hold a J.D. degree. Would I be eligible?
A: A J.D. in itself would not satisfy the Ph.D. equivalency unless it was accompanied by a list of substantial scholarly publications that are humanistic in nature (as opposed to case studies or technical legal issues). A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: I do not have an advanced degree, but I have published. Would I qualify?
A: Yes, as long as your publications are scholarly, at least equivalent to a dissertation, and in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I do not hold a Ph.D., but I do have a master's degree or the terminal degree in my field. Would I be eligible for a program that requires the "Ph.D. or equivalent"?
A: A master's degree of any kind will not in itself be considered equivalent. Equivalency must be established by a list of substantial scholarly publications based on humanities or humanities-related research. A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for an ACLS Fellowship?
A: You must be either a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident. You need not, however, be employed at an academic institution located in the United States.
Q: In the ACLS Fellowship Program description, what is meant by a "supported research leave"? Am I eligible for an ACLS Fellowship if I have had a supported research leave in recent years? What if it was a postdoctoral appointment?
A: "Supported research leave" is defined as the equivalent of one semester or more of time free from teaching or other employment to pursue scholarly research or writing, supported by sabbatical pay or other institutional funding, major fellowships and grants, or a combination of these.
- To be eligible for an ACLS Fellowship, an applicant must not have held a "supported research leave" during the two years ending July 1, 2009. This means that your most recent leave before starting an ACLS Fellowship must have concluded prior to July 1, 2007. Do not take or initiate a leave in the 2008-09 academic year if you wish to remain eligible for an ACLS Fellowship in the current competition.
- If your institution uses quarters rather than semesters, a "supported research leave" is defined as two consecutive quarters free from teaching.
- A postdoctoral appointment counts as a supported research leave if you are fully released from teaching responsibilities.
- The requirement that you have not had a supported research leave during the two years ending July 1, 2009 pertains only to the central ACLS Fellowship Program and its subfellowships, not to other ACLS fellowship competitions.
Q: I had a fellowship for a semester/year less than two years ago, but I did not have a job at the time, so does that count as supported leave?
A: Yes, the ACLS Fellowship policy regarding "supported research leave" applies equally to individuals regardless of whether or not they were employed at the time.
Q: Am I eligible for an ACLS Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary.
Q: I'm not sure right now whether I should apply for a six-month or a 9-12 month ACLS Fellowship. What should I do?
A: We are flexible on this issue. We suggest you indicate the longer period. Should a fellowship be awarded, the tenure period can be adjusted at that time.
Q: Who will review my application?
A: Your application will be reviewed in two stages. At the first stage, three established scholars in your discipline (and/or regional area of study) will judge your proposal. These reviewers may or may not be specialized in the particular sub-field(s) covered in your proposal. The first stage of review determines which applications will go on to the final stage. At that point, applications are reviewed by a panel of scholars whose collective expertise covers a range of disciplines in the humanities and humanities-related social sciences.
Q: What other proposals will my application be judged against?
A: At the first stage, your application will be reviewed in the context of others at your rank in the profession (assistant, associate, or full professor or equivalents) in your discipline. In the second stage, your application will be judged against others at your rank, but in various disciplines.
Q: How many fellowships are given each year? How many applications are received? What is the success ratio?
A: About 1,000 eligible applications for the central ACLS Fellowship Program are received each year, covering the ranks of assistant, associate, and full professor or equivalents. The success ratio varies across ranks and from year to year, but for the past few ACLS Fellowship Program competitions has been 1:14 to 1:16 overall. Up to 70 fellowships will be awarded this year: up to 25 at the assistant professor rank, up to 20 at the associate professor rank, and up to 25 at the full professor rank.
Q: How soon will I find out if I have won a fellowship?
A: When all stages of the competition are complete, you will be sent a letter notifying you of whether or not you have won a fellowship. You can expect that letter by early March.
Q: Can an ACLS Fellowship be deferred to the following year? Can an ACLS Fellowship be postponed if I find out I have to teach in the fall semester? What if I find out I have to teach in the spring semester?
A: An ACLS Fellowship cannot be deferred to the following academic year. However, a Fellow may postpone initiation of the fellowship to the spring semester beginning January 1 or February 1. If a Fellow must teach in the spring semester of the fellowship year, s/he may take a six-month fellowship prior to the spring semester. The fellowship may not be postponed to begin later than February 1 except in the case of unforeseen medical emergency.
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Additional FAQ for Ryskamp Fellowships
Q: I feel that I have the equivalent of a Ph.D. degree. May I apply?
A: If you have published scholarly work on a par with the academic work required by the Ph.D. degree, you may apply. You need to have completed a substantial academic project that required a sustained period of research, similar to a dissertation, in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I hold a J.D. degree. Would I be eligible?
A: A J.D. in itself would not satisfy the Ph.D. equivalency unless it was accompanied by a list of substantial scholarly publications that are humanistic in nature, as opposed to case studies or technical legal issues. A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: I do not have an advanced degree, but I have published. Would I qualify?
A: Yes, as long as your publications are scholarly, at least equivalent to a dissertation, and in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I do not hold a Ph.D., but I do have a master's degree or the terminal degree in my field. Would I be eligible for a program that requires the "Ph.D. or equivalent"?
A: A master's degree of any kind will not in itself be considered equivalent. Equivalency must be established by a list of substantial scholarly publications based on humanities or humanities-related research. A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: I will be reviewed for tenure during the current ACLS competition year, so I may know if I am successful by spring, and I may be tenured as early as the start of the summer. May I still apply?
A: Yes, you may apply—as long as your tenure review will not be complete before February 1, 2009.
Q: I am an untenured associate professor. Am I eligible?
A: Yes. You are eligible so long as your tenure review will not be complete before February 1, 2009.
Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for a Ryskamp Fellowship?
A: No, but you must be employed at a degree-granting academic institution in the U.S. for the duration of the fellowship.
Q: Am I eligible for a Ryskamp Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary or the Ryskamp award, whichever is higher.
Q: I have had a supported research leave in the last two years. Does this affect my eligibility for the Ryskamp Fellowship?
A: No. Previous supported research leaves do not affect eligibility for the Ryskamp Fellowship.
Q: How many Ryskamp fellowships are given each year? How many applications are received? What is the success ratio?
A: The number of applications for the Ryskamp Fellowship has ranged from 152 to 193 per year during the first seven years of the program. Up to 12 fellowships will be awarded this year. The success ratio has varied over the seven years from 1:10 to 1:15.
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Additional FAQ for Burkhardt Fellowships
Q: I feel that I have the equivalent of a Ph.D. degree. May I apply?
A: If you have published scholarly work on a par with the academic work required by the Ph.D. degree, you may apply. You need to have completed a substantial academic project that required a sustained period of research, similar to a dissertation, in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I hold a J.D. degree. Would I be eligible?
A: A J.D. in itself would not satisfy the Ph.D. equivalency unless it was accompanied by a list of substantial scholarly publications that are humanistic in nature, as opposed to case studies or technical legal issues. A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: I do not have an advanced degree, but I have published. Would I qualify?
A: Yes, as long as your publications are scholarly, at least equivalent to a dissertation, and in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I received tenure in the spring of 2003. Am I eligible to apply for a Burkhardt Fellowship?
A: No, to be eligible for a Burkhardt Fellowship this year, you must have started your first tenured contract no earlier than the fall 2004 semester or quarter.
Q: I do not hold a Ph.D., but I do have a master's degree or the terminal degree in my field. Would I be eligible for a program that requires the "Ph.D. or equivalent"?
A: A master's degree of any kind will not in itself be considered equivalent. Equivalency must be established by a list of substantial scholarly publications based on humanities or humanities-related research. A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for a Burkhardt Fellowship?
A: No, but you must be employed at an academic institution in the US for the duration of the fellowship.
Q: I have had a supported research leave in the last two years. Does this affect my eligibility for the Burkardt Fellowship?
A: No. Previous supported research leaves do not affect eligibility for the Burkhardt Fellowship.
Q: Am I eligible for a Burkhardt Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary or the Burkhardt award, whichever is higher.
Q: If the $75,000 Burkhardt award exceeds my normal academic-year salary, will the stipend amount be reduced?
A: No, if the Burkhardt stipend exceeds your normal academic-year salary and you have no other sources of support, the exceess will be available for research and relocation expenses.
Q: How many Burkhardt fellowships are given each year? How many applications are received? What is the success ratio?
A: The number of applications for the Burkhardt Fellowship has ranged from 95 to 122 per year during the first nine years of the program. Up to 9 fellowships will be awarded this year. The success ratio varies from year to year, ranging from 1:8.5 to 1:12.
Q: I expect to receive tenure during the current ACLS competition year. May I apply for a Burkhardt Fellowship?
A: No. You must have tenure by the beginning of fall semester or quarter, 2008.
Q: I received tenure within the time-frame specified, but am a full professor rather than an associate professor. Am I eligible?
A: Yes. The salient point is time from tenure, not academic rank.
Q: Which residential center should I select?
A: It is up to you, as part of the application process, to determine which of the centers would be the best fit for you and your research.
Q: If I am awarded a Burkhardt Fellowship to support a year of residence at a national residential research center, is it possible to spend only part of the year in residency, or to remain at my home institution?
A: No. You must be in residence at your chosen national residential research center for the full academic year. Part-time and temporary residencies are also not possible.
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Additional FAQ for Digital Innovation Fellowships
Q: I have not finished my Ph.D. Am I eligible for an ACLS Digital Innovation Fellowship? What if I will have finished my Ph.D. by the time I would start the fellowship period?
A: Your Ph.D. must have been officially conferred by the application deadline.
Q: I feel that I have the equivalent of a Ph.D. degree. May I apply?
A: If you have published scholarly work on a par with the academic work required by the Ph.D. degree, you may apply. You need to have completed a substantial academic project that required a sustained period of research, similar to a dissertation, in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I hold a J.D. degree. Would I be eligible?
A: A J.D. in itself would not satisfy the Ph.D. equivalency unless it was accompanied by a list of substantial scholarly publications that are humanistic in nature, as opposed to case studies or technical legal issues. A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: I do not have an advanced degree, but I have published. Would I qualify?
A: Yes, as long as your publications are scholarly, at least equivalent to a dissertation, and in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I do not hold a Ph.D., but I do have a master's degree or the terminal degree in my field. Would I be eligible for a program that requires the "Ph.D. or equivalent"?
A: A master's degree of any kind will not in itself be considered equivalent. Equivalency must be established by a list of substantial scholarly publications based on humanities or humanities-related research. A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for an ACLS Digital Innovation Fellowship?
A: You must be either a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident. You need not, however, be employed at an academic institution located in the United States.
Q: Am I eligible for a Digital Innovation Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary.
Q: How many fellowships are given each year? How many applications are received? What is the success ratio?
A: The number of applications for the Digital Innovation Fellowships has ranged from 41 to 113 during the first three years of the program. Five fellowships were awarded each year.
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Additional FAQ for ACLS Collaborative Research Awards
Q: How does ACLS define “appointment at an institution of higher education?”
A: For the Collaborative Research Awards program, eligible appointments are all professorial ranks, including research professorships and adjunct professorships; lectureships, and instructorships. “Visiting” ranks are eligible only if the institution being visited will agree to administer project funds.
Q: Who will review our application?
A: Your application will be reviewed by humanities scholars from a number of different fields who have had experience with collaborative research.
Q: Can the budget for the costs of collaboration include indirect costs?
A: No.
Q: Does the site of the collaborative work need to be the institution administering costs of collaboration?
A: No. The site of the collaborative work can be wherever the project participants feel is appropriate?
Q: I feel that I have the equivalent of a Ph.D. degree. May I apply as a participant or project coordinator?
A: If you have published scholarly work on a par with the academic work required by the Ph.D. degree, you may apply. You need to have completed a substantial academic project that required a sustained period of research, similar to a dissertation, in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I hold a J.D. degree. Would I be eligible as a participant or project coordinator?
A: A J.D. in itself would not satisfy the Ph.D. equivalency unless it was accompanied by a list of substantial scholarly publications that are humanistic in nature (as opposed to case studies or technical legal issues). A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: I do not have an advanced degree, but I have published. Would I qualify as a participant or project coordinator?
A: Yes, as long as your publications are scholarly, at least equivalent to a dissertation, and in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I do not hold a Ph.D., but I do have a master's degree or the terminal degree in my field. Would I be eligible for a program that requires the "Ph.D. or equivalent"?
A: A master's degree of any kind will not in itself be considered equivalent. Equivalency must be established by a list of substantial scholarly publications based on humanities or humanities-related research. A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for an ACLS Collaborative Research Award?
A: You do not have to be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident. However, an academic institution located in the United States must be willing to administer costs of collaboration on behalf of the project coordinator.
Q: Am I eligible for an ACLS Collaborative Research Award if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary.
Q: I'm not sure right now whether I should apply for a six-month or a 9-12 month ACLS Collaborative Research Award. What should I do?
A: We are flexible on this issue. We suggest you indicate the longer period. Should a fellowship be awarded, the tenure period can be adjusted at that time.
Q: How soon will I find out if I have won a fellowship?
A: When all stages of the competition are complete, you will be sent a letter notifying you of whether or not you have won a fellowship. Notification will be sent in April 2009.
Q: Can an ACLS Collaborative Research Award be deferred?
A: No. The total award is for a period of up to 24 months, to be used during the two academic years following the date of the award and to be initiated no earlier than July 1. The award includes stipends to allow up to an academic year’s leave from teaching for participants. This leave may be for six to 12 consecutive months during the two-year period of the award.
Q: Must all participants in an ACLS Collaborative Research Award be on leave at the same time?
A: There is no requirement that all participants take the research leave at the same time. Scheduling of leaves should be determined based on the needs of the project and the schedules of the individual participants.
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Additional FAQ for Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
Q: Are only U.S. citizens eligible for the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship?
A: All doctoral students who are completing Ph.D.s at universities in the United States are eligible to apply for the Mellon/ACLS Fellowships.
Q: I have a Whiting Fellowship this year, but I do not think I will finish my dissertation by the end of this year. May I apply to the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship, since I hope to finish next year?
A: Unfortunately, as a recipient of a Whiting dissertation completion fellowship, you cannot subsequently apply for a Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship. Both of these fellowships are intended for the final year of dissertation work, with the expectation that recipients will finish the dissertation during tenure of the fellowship. ACLS will not consider applications from doctoral students already holding a dissertation completion award.
Q: I have been offered another fellowship in addition to the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship. May I accept both?
A: ACLS policy prohibits Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellows from holding concurrent fellowships that provide a stipend of any amount. ACLS allows concurrent awards covering specific costs not covered by the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship. Thus, ACLS allows a university to provide support for tuition and fees, health insurance, and other university fees (beyond the up-to-$5,000 provided by the fellowship). ACLS also allows the university to provide a housing subsidy/award, if appropriate. Additional stipends are not allowed. Fellows may not accept an award that requires work of any kind, for example a teaching or research assistantship.
Q: Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am now in the seventh year of my Ph.D. program. May I still apply?
A: Applicants may petition to be considered for an eight-year fellowship. To do so, they must provide a compelling reason for special consideration. This petition should be submitted in the space designated in the application (directly after the question asking for the number of years in the doctoral program). In addition, in his or her letter of recommendation, the applicant’s dissertation advisor must also explain any extenuating circumstances that would merit consideration for an eighth-year fellowship.
Q: I have a completed dissertation chapter, but it is longer than 25 pages. What should I do?
A: Select an excerpt of the chapter to submit, and include an introductory paragraph that will place the material submitted within the context of the longer chapter.
Q: Are fellows required to be in residence at their home institution or are they able to select a different host institution?
A: Residence at your home institution is not required for this fellowship. Fellowship tenure may be carried out in residence at the Fellow's home institution or at another appropriate site either in the United States or abroad.
Q: Are fellowship stipends paid directly to the Fellow or are they paid through the payroll system of their home or host institution?
A: Regarding payment of stipend funds, ACLS is flexible and offers the options of payment directly to the Fellow or payment through the Fellow’s home institution. Note that the fellowships include funds for university fees (up to $5,000), which must be paid directly to the institution.
Q: How many Dissertation Completion Fellowships are given each year? How many applications are received? What is the success ratio?
A: In the first two years of Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship Program, over 1,000 eligible applications were received each year and 65 fellowships were awarded. The success ratio averaged 1:16.
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Additional FAQ for Mellon/ACLS Recent Doctoral Recipients Fellowships
Q: I defended my dissertation and received my Ph.D. last spring. Am I eligible for a Recent Doctoral Recipients Fellowship?
A: No. Applications for this fellowship must be submitted in the final academic year of dissertation completion. Those who have already received the Ph.D. or who have already defended the dissertation are not eligible to apply for this fellowship.
Q: I held a Whiting Fellowship in 2007-08, and I finished my dissertation during that time. May I apply for the Recent Doctoral Recipient Fellowship in 2008-09?
A: No. The Mellon/ACLS for Recent Doctoral Recipients Fellowships are open to those who currently hold Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships and will complete their dissertations within the period specified for that award. ACLS will also consider applications from scholars who hold other national dissertation fellowships, such as the Whiting Fellowships. However, applications must be submitted during tenure of the dissertation completion fellowship.
Q: Should I receive a Recent Doctoral Recipients Fellowship, I would like to be in residence at the Huntington Library. Will ACLS ensure that I may take my fellowship year at the Huntington?
A: To facilitate the transition to the postdoctoral year for those Recent Doctoral Recipient Fellows without academic appointments, the ACLS will serve as a clearinghouse to help bring together the new Recent Doctoral Recipient Fellows with interested residential humanities centers suitable for their research interests and needs. However, we cannot guarantee that every Fellow will be offered a position at any particular center.
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Additional FAQ for Early-Career Postdoctoral Fellowships in East European Studies
Q: I have not finished my Ph.D. Am I eligible for a Postdoctoral Fellowship? What if I will have finished my Ph.D. by the time I would start the fellowship period?
A: Sorry, we regret that your Ph.D. must have been officially conferred by the application deadline.
Q: I feel that I have the equivalent of a Ph.D. degree. May I apply?
A: If you have published scholarly work on a par with the academic work required by the Ph.D. degree, you may apply. You need to have completed a substantial academic project that required a sustained period of research, similar to a dissertation, in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I hold a J.D. degree. Would I be eligible?
A: A J.D. in itself would not satisfy the Ph.D. equivalency unless it was accompanied by a list of substantial scholarly publications that are humanistic in nature, as opposed to case studies or technical legal issues. A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: I do not have an advanced degree, but I have published. Would I qualify?
A: Yes, as long as your publications are scholarly, at least equivalent to a dissertation, and in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I do not hold a Ph.D., but I do have a master's degree or the terminal degree in my field. Would I be eligible for a program that requires the "Ph.D. or equivalent"?
A: A master's degree of any kind will not in itself be considered equivalent. Equivalency must be established by a list of substantial scholarly publications based on humanities or humanities-related research. A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for an Early-Career Postdoctoral Fellowship in East European Studies?
A: You must be either a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident. You need not, however, be employed at an academic institution located in the United States.
Q. I am a tenured professor. Am I eligible for an Early-Career Postdoctoral Fellowship in East European Studies?
A. No. To be eligible for this fellowship, you must be at an early career stage. Tenured faculty are not eligible.
Q: I'm not sure right now whether I should apply for a six-month or a 9-12 month fellowship. What should I do?
A: We are flexible on this issue. We suggest you indicate the longer period. Should a fellowship be awarded, the tenure period can be adjusted at that time.
Q: Am I eligible for a fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary.
Q: Can an Early-Career Postdoctoral Fellowship in East European Studies be deferred to the following year? Can a Fellowship be postponed if I find out I have to teach in the fall semester? What if I find out I have to teach in the spring semester?
A: An Early-Career Postdoctoral Fellowship in East European Studies cannot be deferred to the following academic year. A Fellow with teaching or other commitments in either the fall or spring semester may choose to take the fellowship for only one semester (minimum six months).
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