Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program
Applications for the 2025-26 cohort of fellows are open until March 19
The Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program provides opportunities for early-career scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who hold refugee status or have been forcibly displaced. Through the program, year-long fellowships are awarded to support emerging displaced scholars through a Columbia Global Center, where they receive ongoing support to enhance their research capabilities, broaden their professional networks, and advance toward a successful career in academia.
Scholars receive the following:
- Hosting and work space at one of the Columbia Global Centers (Amman, Nairobi, or Santiago).
- A stipend.
- Dedicated mentorship from esteemed Columbia faculty.
- A small research/travel fund to support their scholarly endeavors.
- Training that meets their academic needs in areas such as academic writing.
- Access to a broad selection of online courses.
- Full integration into the vibrant life of one of the Columbia Global Centers.
- Inclusion in an alumni network.
Unique value of the fellowship
What makes this fellowship stand out? It keeps scholars rooted in their host regions, strengthening their local academic, professional, and personal networks while benefiting from Columbia University’s global expertise. Scholars can remain embedded in their communities, continuing their academic journeys while receiving support from the university’s Global Centers.
Who is eligible?
Eligible candidates are scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who have been forcibly uprooted from their home countries and respective academic institutions. They could be postdoctoral scholars in the early stages of their careers or Ph.D. candidates who have had their education disrupted. Creative writers, artists, curators, and scholars working on interdisciplinary projects are encouraged to apply.
Requirements
- Must be displaced.
- Must have a Ph.D. in the humanities (with rare exceptions, candidates with a non-terminal M.A. or who were on track to get a PhD may be considered).
- Must be based in the region of the Global Center to which they wish to apply (Sub-Saharan Africa for Nairobi; Middle East or North Africa for Amman; Latin America or the Caribbean for Santiago).
- Must demonstrate at least an intermediate level of English language proficiency.
- Must have received their highest academic degree within the last 12 years. Exceptions to this timeline will be considered to accommodate career-specific trajectories or other circumstances.
- While it is preferred that fellows remain in person at the relevant Columbia Global Center for the duration of the fellowship, there is a minimum in-person requirement of six months if it is not feasible for the fellow to remain in person due to immigration, family-related, or other circumstances.
- Researchers working on interdisciplinary research projects are welcome to apply.
- Fellows are expected to participate in scholarly presentations, workshops, and roundtable discussions. Through the Global Center, they will be connected to a global network of academics and scholars from Columbia University and beyond.
Our ongoing commitment to displacement issues
What started in Amman is now transforming lives across three continents. Thanks to the Mellon Foundation’s vision and support, we are expanding from our successful four-year pilot program (2020-2023) to offer up to 10 annual fellowships through 2026 across our centers in Amman, Nairobi, and Santiago.
This fellowship is one piece of Columbia’s larger commitment to supporting displaced scholars. Together with he Columbia University Scholarship for Displaced Students and the Committee on Forced Migration, we are building a comprehensive support system for scholars affected by displacement.
Please find the call for applications here.
