Jefferson Scholars Foundation 2025 National Fellowship Program

The National Fellowship Program supports outstanding scholars at leading institutions of higher education who are completing dissertations in United States politics, with an emphasis on historical and institutional analyses of politics, public policy, and foreign relations. 

National Fellows have the opportunity to connect with and be a part of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation’s interdisciplinary community of world-class Scholars, Fellows, and Professors at the University of Virginia.

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University of Virginia Information

University of Virginia Grants

Jefferson Scholars Foundation 2025 National Fellowship Program Established in 1819, University of Virginia is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the medium-sized town of Charlottesville (population range of 10,000-49,999 inhabitants), Virginia. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Wise. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, University of Virginia (Uva) is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 25,000-29,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. University of Virginia (Uva) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 200 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 20-30% making this US higher education organization a very selective institution. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Must be a PhD candidate either expecting to complete their dissertation by the end of the Fellowship year or having a detailed two-year plan for completing their dissertation.
  • Not a post-doctoral fellowship; applicants who have completed their Ph.D. are not eligible.
  • Open to both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens.
  • Fellows must work with a Mentor to create a network of scholars focused on their research area, which addresses important policy-related questions.
  • Fellows are required to participate in on-campus residential visits of up to two weeks at the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, except for Galambos Fellows, who hold residencies at the Hagley Library.
  • All Fellows must attend a fall conference to discuss dissertation drafts, build scholarly networks, and set professional development goals.
  • Participation in a spring conference is required, where Fellows will workshop their research with junior and senior scholars and prepare for potential publication.
  • Fellows are expected to be actively involved in the interdisciplinary community of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation.
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Offered Benefits

Under the leadership of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, the National Fellowship Program:

  • Funds up to four National Fellows per year to support dissertation research and writing
  • Awards each Fellow a stipend of $30,000 in their first year; $30,000 should they qualify for a second year
  • Pairs each Fellow with a renowned senior scholar in his or her field. These senior scholars serve as Mentors, suggesting relevant literature to frame the Fellows’ work, offering a critique of the Fellows’ writings, and providing general advice on research.
  • Supports Fellows in assembling collaborative research networks focused on their area of expertise as it concerns broader policy-facing publics. In addition to the Fellow, who is responsible for leading and maintaining the network, and the Mentor, who will assist in recruiting collaborators, networks may include former Fellows, Mentors, and faculty as well as graduate students of the University of Virginia.
  • Provides Fellows with training in skills relevant to leadership in academic research and institutions of higher education and policy-making more generally. Skills may include grant writing, data analytics, budgetary and statistical analysis, and public engagement (including social media curation, crafting op-eds and blogs, as well as expressing ideas through techniques employed by the digital humanities).
  • Provides up to $5,000 in research funds.

Application Process

Go to Jefferson Scholars Foundation on jeffersonscholars.virginia.edu to apply

Letters can be submitted through the application process or sent directly to the Selection Committee at  .

Required Documents:

  • Curriculum Vitae/CV (2 pages)
  • Research Plan (500 words maximum)
  • Bibliography (3 pages)
  • Network Proposal (1200 words maximum)
  • Op-ed or Blog post (750 words maximum)
  • Project Description (1200 words)
  • Writing Sample (40 pages maximum)
  • Statement of Interest in Professional Development (500 words maximum)
  • Letters of Recommendation (2):  One letter must be from your advisor.
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