The Jefferson Scholarship Foundation is a prestigious organization that supports world-class graduate students through two fellowship programs: the Jefferson Fellowship Program and the National Fellowship Program. These fellowships offer generous financial support, academic enrichment, and professional development opportunities for outstanding scholars who are pursuing their doctoral or postdoctoral studies in various disciplines.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Jefferson Fellowship Program, an applicant must be a Ph.D. candidate in a Graduate School of Arts & Sciences department at the University of Virginia who has made substantial progress on their dissertation and can commit to completing the Ph.D. by the August graduation deadline at the conclusion of the initial fellowship year. Students are eligible to apply through the final year of the financial support from the Graduate School that was offered to them upon admission.
To be eligible for the National Fellowship Program, an applicant must be a Ph.D. candidate or a postdoctoral scholar in any discipline who is working on a dissertation or a book project that relates to the themes of American politics, foreign policy, and America and the World. Applicants will be judged on the quality of their scholarship, their promise for intellectual and professional leadership as a rising junior scholar, and their potential to shed new light upon contemporary developments in these fields.
Financial Coverage
The Jefferson Fellowship Program provides a stipend of $35,000 for the initial fellowship year, which covers tuition, fees, health insurance, and living expenses. In addition, the fellowship provides a research fund of $7,500 for the initial fellowship year and $5,000 for the postdoctoral year. The fellowship also covers travel expenses for attending conferences, workshops, and other academic events. The fellowship duration is two years: one year as a dissertation completion fellow and one year as a postdoctoral fellow in the College of Arts & Sciences.
The National Fellowship Program provides a stipend of $25,000 for the fellowship year, which covers tuition, fees, health insurance, and living expenses. In addition, the fellowship provides a research fund of $3,000 for the fellowship year. The fellowship also covers travel expenses for attending conferences, workshops, and other academic events. The fellowship duration is one year, which can be taken at any stage of the doctoral or postdoctoral career.
Requirements
The Jefferson Fellowship Program requires the applicants to have a strong academic record, a well-developed dissertation project, and a demonstrated commitment to teaching and academic outreach. The applicants are expected to complete their dissertation by the end of the initial fellowship year and defend it by the following May. The applicants are also expected to design and teach two courses in the Engagements Curriculum of the College of Arts & Sciences in the postdoctoral year. The Engagements Curriculum is a set of interdisciplinary courses that aim to foster critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and global citizenship among undergraduate students.
The National Fellowship Program requires the applicants to have a high level of scholarly achievement, a promising research agenda, and a potential for intellectual and professional leadership. The applicants are expected to work on their dissertation or book project during the fellowship year and participate in the academic activities of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, such as seminars, lectures, and workshops. The applicants are also expected to contribute to the intellectual community of the Foundation and the University of Virginia.
Document Requirements
The Jefferson Fellowship Program requires the applicants to submit the following documents:
- Statement from the department chair or director of graduate studies confirming that the applicant will be able to receive their Ph.D. by August of the initial fellowship year.
- Academic plan and timeline towards completion of the dissertation.
- Abstract from dissertation (one page single-spaced).
- Transcript (which may be unofficial) of all graduate course work.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Description for two proposed courses using the parameters listed on the application website: a departmental course that would be offered in the Spring term of the first fellowship year and an Engagements course that would be offered in the second year of the program as a Post-Doctoral Fellow.
- One letter of recommendation from a faculty member familiar with the applicant’s experience and potential as a teacher, and the strength of the dissertation research.
- Sample chapter from the proposed dissertation is strongly recommended, but not required.
The National Fellowship Program requires the applicants to submit the following documents:
- Online application form.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Dissertation or book project abstract (one page single-spaced).
- Dissertation or book project proposal (five pages double-spaced).
- Writing sample (no more than 25 pages double-spaced).
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty members familiar with the applicant’s scholarship and potential as a junior scholar.
Application Procedure
The Jefferson Fellowship Program has an online application system that can be accessed through the Jefferson Scholars Foundation website. The applicants need to create an account and fill out the application form. The applicants also need to upload their documents and request their letter of recommendation through the online system. The letter of recommendation should be submitted by the recommender directly to the online system.
The National Fellowship Program also has an online application system that can be accessed through the Jefferson Scholars Foundation website. The applicants need to create an account and fill out the application form. The applicants also need to upload their documents and request their letters of recommendation through the online system. The letters of recommendation should be submitted by the recommenders directly to the online system.
Deadline
The deadline for the Jefferson Fellowship Program for the 2024-2025 academic year is December 19, 2023. No application will be read until all materials have been received, including letters of recommendation.
The deadline for the National Fellowship Program for the 2024-2025 academic year is February 1, 2024. No application will be read until all materials have been received, including letters of recommendation.
How to Apply
To apply for the Jefferson Fellowship Program, please visit the application website and follow the instructions.
To apply for the National Fellowship Program, please visit the application website and follow the instructions.