American Council of Learned Societies ACLS Fellowships
Fellowship and grant programs administered by the American Council of Learned Societies to support research and community engaged projects in the humanities and interpretive social sciences. Over USD 25 million is awarded annually to support more than 300 scholars across multiple programs.
Quick Facts
Status
Funding
Fully FundedDeadline
Varies - confirm on official site
Country
United StatesAll United States guidesEvery United States scholarship in one place→About the American Council of Learned Societies ACLS Fellowships
Formed in 1919, the American Council of Learned Societies is a nonprofit federation of 86 scholarly organizations and the preeminent representative of American scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. ACLS holds a core belief that knowledge is a public good, supporting individual scholars and scholarly teams around the world in their pursuit of research that advances humanistic knowledge.
ACLS administers a diverse suite of fellowship and grant programs to meet the needs of an ever changing academy and address challenges faced by early career, independent, and established educators, administrative staff, and public facing researchers. Current programs include the ACLS Fellowship Program, ACLS Digital Justice Grants, ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellowships and Grants, ACLS Leading Edge Fellowships, Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art, Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies, Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowships, Open Access Book Prizes, and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies.
Eligible fields for competitions include American studies, anthropology, archaeology, art history and architectural history, classics, economics, ethnic studies, film and media studies, gender studies, geography, history, languages and literatures, legal studies, linguistics, musicology, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies, rhetoric and communication, science and technology studies, sociology, and theater, dance, and performance studies. Social science proposals are eligible only if they employ predominantly humanistic approaches and qualitative or interpretive methodologies.
Fellows and grantees in all programs are selected through a peer review process by committees of scholars appointed for this purpose. ACLS embeds its commitment to inclusive excellence in all programs, from the recruitment of peer reviewers to the evaluation of proposals and the administration of awards.
Beyond financial support exceeding USD 25 million across programs, ACLS provides professional development resources for applicants and awardees. ACLS regularly hosts office hours sessions and webinars during application periods to answer questions and provide technical assistance, while current and past awardees participate in professional development workshops and convenings.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
Administered by the preeminent representative of American scholarship in the humanities and social sciences
Peer review process conducted by expert committees of scholars
Multiple specialized funding streams for early career, established, and independent scholars
Commitment to inclusive excellence across all review and selection procedures
Ongoing professional development and networking opportunities for awardees
What the Scholarship Covers
Studying in United States
Competitions are administered primarily through the American Council of Learned Societies based in New York, NY, supporting scholars globally depending on the specific program.
Eligibility Requirements
4 requirements
Documents Checklist
2 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Review eligibility requirements and FAQs for individual fellowship or grant competitions
Access the Online Fellowship and Grant Administration portal during an active competition cycle
Submit the online fellowship application by the stated deadline
Ensure reference letter writers submit letters through the online reference portal
Await peer review evaluation by appointed committees of scholars
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Review individual competition guidelines carefully because eligibility requirements and deadlines vary by program
Confirm that your social science research employs qualitative and interpretive methodologies if applying outside traditional humanities fields
Attend ACLS hosted office hours and webinars during the application period for technical assistance
Contact your reference letter writers early to ensure they submit their letters through the online portal on time
Utilize the Online Fellowship and Grant Administration portal for all application submissions and reporting
Important Links & Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questions - click any to expand
ACLS supports the humanities and interpretive social sciences, including history, philosophy, languages and literatures, art history, and interpretive approaches in sociology, anthropology, and political science.
Fellows and grantees in all programs are selected through a peer review process by committees of scholars appointed by ACLS.
Applicants use the Online Fellowship and Grant Administration portals provided on the official ACLS website.
Check the Official Website
This scholarship typically opens around Varies - confirm on official site. Confirm the current cycle and deadline on the official portal.
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