The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars has opened applications for its prestigious Research Fellowship 2027–2028. This 12-month program is tailored for scholars, policy analysts, journalists, public servants, NGO leaders, and public intellectuals. Citizens of Kazakhstan are fully eligible to apply on equal footing with international peers.
Applications are accepted through September 30, 2026, at 23:59 U.S. Eastern Time (corresponding to October 1 at 08:59 Astana time).
Fellowship Awards and Financial Terms
The Wilson Center intends to appoint between 10 and 20 residential/hybrid fellows. Each awardee receives a stipend of $10,000 per month across 12 months, representing total fellowship funding of up to $120,000.
The fellowship spans from June 1, 2027, through May 30, 2028. While a significant portion of project work may be conducted flexibly, the Center covers two fully funded working residencies in Washington, D.C.: at the program’s commencement and conclusion.
Funding is provided as a non-repayable academic research stipend, not a commercial loan or venture investment. No mandatory institutional cost-sharing or co-financing is required.
Candidate Eligibility Profile
The fellowship welcomes professionals across academia, state governance, leading think tanks, investigative journalism, and civil society organizations. There is no upper age threshold, nor is an ongoing university faculty appointment strictly required.
For academic applicants, a PhD degree is mandatory, alongside a published peer-reviewed scholarly monograph completed post-dissertation, or an equivalent record of at least five major peer-reviewed journal publications.
Practitioners from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and policy spheres must demonstrate an equivalent standard of professional distinction. This typically entails a minimum of ten years of substantive leadership experience, policy publications, measurable legislative/policy impact, or demonstrated thought leadership in their field.
Eligible Research Priorities
Project proposals must be strictly non-partisan, carry tangible public policy relevance, and align with at least one core thematic pillar of the Wilson Center:
- Strategic competition and geopolitical realignment;
- International trade and economic statecraft;
- Emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and technological innovation;
- Regional studies (including Central Asia and Eurasia).
Anticipated project outputs typically include a major book manuscript, a series of policy white papers, a comprehensive research monograph, or executive seminars for international policymakers. The fellowship is not intended for the completion of doctoral dissertations, textbook drafting, translation work, memoirs, or purely creative writing endeavors.
Required Application Components
- Online application form;
- Curriculum Vitae (strictly capped at three pages);
- Detailed research proposal (maximum five single-spaced pages);
- Two confidential letters of recommendation from recognized experts.
All application documents and letters of recommendation must be submitted in English. Page limitations are strictly enforced; content exceeding page caps is removed prior to committee review.
How to Submit Your Application
Applications must be submitted via the online Interfolio portal. Candidates should solicit their two reference letters well in advance, as referee submissions must also be finalized prior to the universal deadline.
Submit Application via Interfolio
Review Official Wilson Center Guidelines
Program terms verified as of September 14, 2026.
In the RAEM Grants Directory: Wilson Center Fellowship 2027–2028 — program terms, evaluation criteria, deadline tracking, and official application links.
