Social Science Research Council SSRC Fellowships
The Social Science Research Council offers numerous fellowships and grants supporting researchers worldwide in social and behavioral sciences. Programs span specific initiatives such as African peacebuilding, criminal justice innovation, data fluencies, and technology research.
Quick Facts
Status
Funding
Full / PartialDeadline
Varies by specific fellowship program
Country
United StatesAbout the Social Science Research Council SSRC Fellowships
Since 1923, the Social Science Research Council has awarded more than twenty thousand fellowships and grants to researchers around the globe. Council fellowship and grants programs target specific problems, promote individual and institutional change, and expand professional networks.
The council works with funding partners to design and administer fellowship and research grant programs that foster the production of new and relevant knowledge. The SSRC crafts fellowship goals, selection criteria, and calls for proposals, designs publicity materials, and recruits applications from large domestic and international talent pools.
The organization secures leading experts to serve on peer review panels, convenes grantees to share findings and implementation insights, engages fellow cohorts in mentoring and community building, and provides application processing and award administration.
Multiple specific programs operate under the SSRC umbrella, including African Peacebuilding Network Fellowships, Arnold Ventures Criminal Justice Innovation Fellowships, Arts Research in Communities Fellowships, Data Fluencies, Inter-American Foundation Research Fellowships, Just Tech Fellowships, The Mercury Project, Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Fellowships, Religion, Spirituality, and Democratic Renewal Program, Sloan Scholars Mentoring Network Grants, and Women in Economics and Mathematics Research Consortium.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
Administered by an organization with a history of awarding fellowships since 1923
Engages fellow cohorts in structured mentoring, learning, and community building
Provides opportunities to connect with leading experts on peer review panels
Supports diverse cohorts of researchers and practitioners addressing global challenges
What the Scholarship Covers
Studying in United States
Programs often support research conducted in the United States, Canada, Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean depending on the specific fellowship track.
Eligibility Requirements
5 requirements
Documents Checklist
3 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Review the specific fellowship program guidelines on the SSRC website
Prepare the research proposal and required application materials according to the chosen program call for proposals
Submit the application through the designated SSRC application portal before the stated deadline
Undergo peer review evaluation by leading experts selected by the SSRC
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Identify the specific SSRC program that aligns with your academic level and research focus, as eligibility requirements differ significantly across tracks
Carefully review the distinct call for proposals for the particular grant or fellowship you are targeting
Ensure your research addresses the specific problem or theme outlined by the individual fellowship guidelines
Check whether your geographic location or institutional enrollment meets the criteria for programs such as Data Fluencies or Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa
Important Links & Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questions - click any to expand
The Social Science Research Council is an independent, international nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing social science for the public good through fellowships, grants, and research programs.
Eligibility depends entirely on the specific fellowship program. Programs target Ph.D. students, post-doctoral researchers, faculty members, and institutions across the United States, Canada, Africa, and other global regions.
Funding types vary by program, ranging from Ph.D. research grants to post-doctoral salaries such as the $120,000 annual salary provided by the Arnold Ventures Criminal Justice Innovation Fellowships.
Check the Official Website
This scholarship typically opens around Varies. Confirm the current cycle and deadline on the official portal.
More Scholarships to Explore
Other opportunities you may qualify for
US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor PhD Program
United States · Higher Education Commission
HEC Pakistan's flagship channel for sending Pakistani PhD scholars to top-ranked US universities. Funding tier depends on the university's QS ranking - full funding at QS Top-50 institutions, partial tuition support at QS 51-100. You secure your own admission first; HEC funds the placement.
📅Deadline: Typically around April 30 (varies by annua…
Knight-Hennessy Scholars (Stanford University)
United States · Stanford University
One of the most competitive graduate scholarships in the world, fully funding any Stanford graduate degree (master's, PhD, JD, MD, or MBA) for up to three years, alongside a dedicated leadership development program. Open to applicants of any nationality.
📅Deadline: Early October (annual, e.g. around October…
Harvard College Financial Aid (International Students)
United States · Harvard College
Harvard has no separate named scholarship for international undergraduates. Instead, it admits all applicants need-blind regardless of citizenship and commits to meeting 100 percent of demonstrated financial need through grants, not loans, for every admitted student.
📅Deadline: CSS Profile due around February 1 (Regular…
Reopens: Varies