Fellowships

ISI’s Graduate Fellowship Program is characterized by the observation of Richard M. Weaver that “a liberal education specifically prepares for the achievement of freedom.” After more than fifty years, the ISI graduate fellows program boasts some of the most distinguished figures in the academy and public life. Each year ISI grants Richard M. Weaver Fellowships to students who intend to use their advanced degree to teach, and Henry Salvatori Fellowships to students doing graduate work related to the American Founding. Each of these fellowships seeks to uphold the idea of academic excellence and the role of education in producing persons capable of making reasoned choices in favor of liberty.

THE GRANTS

For the 2016-17 academic year, ISI will grant the following awards:

• Richard M. Weaver Fellowship
  5 awards of $15,000 each
  3 awards of $10,000 each
  7 awards of $5,000 each
• Henry Salvatori Fellowship
  2 awards of $10,000 each

ISI Graduate Fellowships can be used for living or tuition at the awardee’s discretion.

ELIGIBILITY

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens who will be enrolled in a full-time graduate program for academic year 2016–17
• Applicants must be members of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute
• Those attending pre-professional (medical, law, divinity, business, etc.) programs are ineligible

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

• An original, 1,250-2,500 word essay responding to one of the following questions:
  
  • “What is the relationship between liberal education and a free society?”
  • “What is the significance of the American Founding in the evolution of the free society?”
• Headshot (color photo)
• One-page outline of prior education, awards, fellowships, and internships
• Three-to-five-page personal, philosophical, and professional autobiography
• Five-to-ten-page academic writing sample
• Three academic letters of recommendation (must be sent by the recommender and include the Graduate Fellowships Program Letter of Recommendation Form)
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work (may be mailed by the issuing institution or the applicant)
• Brief responses to the following:
  
  • Why the applicant has chosen teaching as a profession
  • Why the applicant desires a fellowship
  • How the applicant learned of the ISI Graduate Fellowship Program
  • Signed declaration of intent to teach

(Personal philosophical statement and academic writing samples must be 12-point standard font and double spaced.)

APPLICATION DEADLINE

January 23, 2016

The 2016–17 ISI Graduate Fellows will be announced in April 2016. Applicants will be notified by e-mail.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on the Graduate Fellowships, please e-mail awards@isi.org

Apply Now

Each year ISI’s Collegiate Network journalism program offers paid summer internships and postgraduate, yearlong fellowships at prominent media outlets to promising student journalists. For students seriously considering a journalism career, these positions offer writing opportunities at some of the nation’s leading publications.

This highly competitive program offers a varying number of internships and fellowships from year to year. Learn more and apply for these opportunities at the link!

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