Humanities And Social Sciences Fellowships For International Scholars In USA, UK, And France – Expressiveinfo
Humanities and social sciences fellowships in the USA, UK, and France provide international scholars with dedicated funding to conduct research in fields including history, philosophy, literature, cultural studies, political science, sociology, anthropology, and international relations. Unlike STEM research funding often tied to specific projects, humanities and social sciences fellowships typically support archival research, ethnographic fieldwork, theoretical work, and manuscript preparation at world-class research libraries and universities. For the 2026/2027 fellowship year, dozens of prestigious humanities and social sciences fellowships remain available at institutions including the Library of Congress, Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, École Normale Supérieure, and Sciences Po. This guide breaks down the major fellowship pathways.
Whether you’re targeting historical archival research, cultural studies at leading universities, or interdisciplinary social sciences programs, this guide covers the fellowship opportunities worth pursuing.
Top Humanities Fellowships In The United States
The United States hosts numerous prestigious humanities fellowship programs:
- ACLS (American Council Of Learned Societies) Fellowships — the primary fellowship funder for humanities research in the USA, providing $50,000+ stipends for research fellowships at various career stages.
- NEH (National Endowment For The Humanities) Fellowships — funds humanities research and public humanities projects across various career stages.
- Mellon Foundation Fellowships — supports humanities research at various career stages through multiple programs including the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship.
- Library Of Congress Kluge Center Fellowships — funds scholars to conduct research using Library of Congress collections, providing stipends up to $12,000 per month for up to 11 months.
- Smithsonian Institution Fellowships — funds humanities and social sciences research using Smithsonian resources across multiple institutions.
- National Humanities Center Fellowships — funds humanities research at the North Carolina-based center.
- Woodrow Wilson International Center For Scholars Fellowships — funds policy-oriented humanities and social sciences research.
Top Humanities Fellowships In The United Kingdom
The UK offers exceptional humanities fellowship opportunities:
- British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships — three-year postdoctoral fellowships supporting humanities and social sciences research at UK institutions.
- British Academy Wolfson Foundation Fellowships — international fellowships supporting humanities and social sciences research.
- Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships — three-year fellowships across humanities and social sciences.
- UK Research And Innovation (UKRI) Doctoral Training Partnerships — provides comprehensive PhD funding across humanities.
- Oxford All Souls College Postdoctoral Fellowships — highly prestigious fellowships for humanities and social sciences research.
- Cambridge University Research Fellowships — college-based research fellowships across disciplines.
- LSE Doctoral Fellowships — funds social sciences doctoral research at London School of Economics.
Top Humanities Fellowships In France
France hosts distinguished humanities and social sciences fellowships:
- French Government Eiffel Scholarships (Humanities/Social Sciences Track) — funds international master’s and doctoral students at French institutions in humanities and social sciences.
- CNRS (Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique) Postdoctoral Fellowships — France’s largest research organization funds humanities and social sciences postdoctoral research.
- École Normale Supérieure Fellowships — funds international scholars at France’s most prestigious humanities institution.
- Sciences Po Research Fellowships — funds political science, sociology, and international relations research.
- EHESS (École Des Hautes Études En Sciences Sociales) Fellowships — funds interdisciplinary social sciences research.
- Institut d’Études Avancées (IEA) Fellowships — network of French Institutes for Advanced Studies in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Nantes.
- Fondation Maison Des Sciences De L’Homme (FMSH) Fellowships — funds international humanities and social sciences research.
Humanities Fellowship Value Comparison
| Fellowship | Country | Annual Value |
|---|---|---|
| ACLS Fellowship | USA | $50,000+ |
| NEH Fellowship | USA | $50,000+ |
| Mellon Postdoctoral | USA | ~$65,000+ |
| Library Of Congress Kluge | USA | Up to $132,000 (11 months) |
| British Academy Postdoc | UK | £30,000+ per year for 3 years |
| Leverhulme Early Career | UK | £30,000+ per year for 3 years |
| Oxford All Souls Postdoc | UK | Full college fellowship |
| French Eiffel Humanities | France | €1,181 monthly + benefits |
| CNRS Postdoctoral | France | €30,000+ annually |
| École Normale Supérieure | France | ~€28,000+ annually |
Eligibility For Humanities Fellowships
Common requirements include:
- Advanced degree (PhD for postdoctoral fellowships)
- Detailed research proposal aligned with fellowship priorities
- Strong publication record (essays, book chapters, or monograph)
- English proficiency for USA/UK; French proficiency for French programs (though many programs now accept English-based work)
- References from senior humanities scholars
- Institutional affiliation or host institution letter
- For US fellowships: some restrict to US-based scholars; others fund international scholars specifically
- For UK fellowships: strong track record of research output
- For French fellowships: often require French institutional affiliation
How To Apply For Humanities Fellowships
- Research Programs Matching Your Discipline — many humanities fellowships have very specific subject foci
- Identify Host Institution — most fellowships require confirmed institutional affiliation
- Draft Research Proposal — the most critical component with clear research questions, methodology, and expected contributions
- Prepare Publications List — documented research output demonstrates capability
- Secure Recommendation Letters from senior scholars in your field
- Submit Applications Through Program-Specific Portals
- Prepare For Interviews — many programs conduct research-focused interviews
- Complete Institutional Affiliation Processes once fellowship confirmed
For related fellowship pathways, see our guides on Top European Fellowship Programs and Top Postdoctoral Fellowships Worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are humanities fellowships harder to win than STEM fellowships?
Humanities fellowships have similar competition to STEM but different challenges. Total funding pools are smaller than STEM, but applicant pools are also smaller. Success requires exceptional research proposals and strong publication records more than in STEM where research potential often matters more than published work.
Do I need French proficiency for French humanities fellowships?
Historically yes, but increasingly no — many French research institutions now accept English-language work and offer support for scholars conducting research in English. However, working knowledge of French significantly enhances research capacity and integration.
Can humanities fellows conduct research abroad?
Yes — many humanities fellowships specifically support archival research, ethnographic fieldwork, and collaborative research at institutions abroad. Fellowship terms typically allow substantial travel for research purposes.
Final Word
Humanities and social sciences fellowships in the USA, UK, and France offer transformative research opportunities at world-class institutions. Success requires exceptional research proposals, strong publications, and strategic institutional affiliations. For related fellowship pathways, explore our guides on Top European Fellowship Programs, Professional Development Fellowships, and Top Postdoctoral Fellowships Worldwide.
For official ACLS Fellowship information, visit the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) website.
