The Graduate Office at Montana State University offers a wide range of internal funding opportunities to graduate students within any department or program. Such resources are organized and presented on the Graduate Office’s Funding and Fellowship Opportunities for Graduate Students webpage .

External Funding Opportunities for Research in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences fall under two general categories: there are opportunities that students can pursue independently, and there are opportunities students can only pursue in partnership with Montana State University faculty and administrative support.

Funding Program or Agency
Eligibility
Research Area(s)
Funding Overview
Application Timeline
Other Information

The Huntington Library Research Fellows Program

Varies. See website for detailed eligibility information. Fellowships are awarded to humanities, arts, and social science scholars at various stages of their careers.

American History, Architecture, British History, Early Print Cultures, Hispanic History and Culture, History of Science, Medicine, and Technology, English Literature, Early Maps and Atlases, Medieval Manuscripts, Prints, Posters, and Popular Culture Ephemera, History of Photography, Cultures of the Pacific Rim, Western American History, California history

Amount varies depending on the length and purpose of the research fellowship. 1-year residency fellowships are $50,000. Short-Term Awards are $3,500/month for 1-5 months of on-site archival research. Many smaller, ad hoc research travel grants and exchange fellowships are also available. See website for details.

Typically, the application period begins in late August and closes mid-November. The fellowship period occurs during the following calendar year. See website for exact yearly dates.  

The duration, physical location, and eligibility requirements for Huntington Library fellowships vary. The library provides more than 150 distinct fellowship opportunities to graduate students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral scholars, university faculty, and non-traditional and unaffiliated researchers.   

National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipends Program

US citizens, early and late-stage graduate students conducting research and/or writing in the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

This program supports numerous research areas and projects that fall beneath the general rubric of the humanities, arts, and social sciences. 

~$6,000

Application period usually begins in mid-summer and closes mid-September. See website for exact yearly dates.

Website contains numerous resources to support application development.

National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships

US citizens, graduate students and faculty working at any professional or pre-professional level conducting research and/or writing in the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

This program supports numerous research areas and kinds of projects falling beneath the general rubric of the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

Varies by project and project duration. Maximum award is $60,000/year or $5,000/month. 

Application period usually begins in early January with an application deadline occurring sometime in early April. See website for exact yearly dates.

Website contains numerous resources to support application development.

Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Emerging Scholars Fellowship

PhD Candidates working toward dissertation completion in the humanities and social sciences. See website for additional application requirements.

Religious and/or ethical values in society.  

~$30,000 to complete dissertation writing at applicant’s home institution. 

Application period generally opens in early spring and closes in mid-November. See website for exact details. 

none

National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships at the New York Historical Society:

  • Multiple fellowship opportunities and programs.

US citizens and foreign nationals with three or more years of US residency; see website for program-specific eligibility guidelines.

Women’s history; history of technology, general humanities research, public history, regional history, and more. 

$42,000 plus additional benefits for a 10-month residency at the New York Historical Society.

Application period for the following year usually begins in early February and closes at the end of January. See website for exact dates.

10-month fellowship period to be spent on site.  

American Sociological Association (ASA) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP)

PhD students and candidates pursuing a degree in sociology. Black/African American; Latino/a/x, American Indian or Alaskan Native; or Asian or Pacific Islander.

Social psychology, gender and sexuality studies, education, medicine and health, social inequality and social stratification, race and ethnicity

~$20,000 plus university fees for the academic year following the award. Travel support to research conferences. 

Typically, the application period opens in early November and closes at the end of January. See website for exact yearly dates.

none

Guggenheim Foundation Dissertation Fellowship; Emerging Scholars Award

PhD candidacy; post-dissertation writing phase. See website for additional details.

Humanities and Social Sciences

$25,000

Applications typically open in mid-fall and close mid-winter. See website for exact yearly dates.

none

Harvard Academy for International & Area Studies Program

Doctoral candidates and recent PhD recipients. See website for additional eligibility information.  

Social Sciences

Annual stipend of $75,000 for 2-3 years.

Applications open on or near July 1st. The application deadline is on or near September 22nd. See website for exact yearly dates.

2-year residency required in Cambridge, MA. See website for duration of residency requirements.

US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs:

  • Council of American Overseas Research Centers-National Endowment for the Humanities (CAORC-NEH) fellowship
  • Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) Fellowships

US citizen or foreign national scholars with three years of residency in the US; doctoral candidacy, recent PhD recipients, and other terminal degree holders. Eligibility varies by program.

Humanities, Social Sciences, allied Natural Sciences

Varies by program. See website for funding details.

CAORCE-NEH Timeline:

  • Applications typically open in mid-September
  • Applications typically close during mid-January.

CAORC Timeline

  • Applications typically open in m-August
  • Applications typically close in early December.

none

Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO)

  • International Peace Scholarships
  • Program for Continuing Education
  • Scholar Awards

Women; eligibility details vary by  program

All Fields

Varies by program. See website for program-specific funding details.

Rolling applications; see other information.

 

PEO applications require nomination from the Montana Chapter of the PEO. See PEO website for nomination protocols.

The Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University

  • Humane Studies Fellowship
  • Graduate Sabbatical Grant

Full-time PhD students and postdoctoral fellows; both US-citizens and international students welcome to apply. See website for additional eligibility information.

All fields, but an applicant’s research area must align with IHS areas of focus.
  • Humane Studies Fellowship: $5,000
  • Graduate Sabbatical Grant: $15,000
  • Rolling Applications for Humane Studies Fellowship
  • Rolling Applications for Graduate Sabbatical Grant, but the recommendation is 3 months prior to the beginning of the semester.

 

Awardee expectations include:

  • Submit papers for publication
  • Present research at virtual IHS conferences
  • Provide updates on work to IHS

Funding Program or Agency
Eligibility
Research Area
Funding Overview
Application Timeline
Other Information

Fulbright Programs

Varies depending on specific Fulbright program, but in general, eligibility criteria relate to applicant’s country of origin. 

Varies depending on specific Fulbright program and location, but overall, most fields of postgraduate study.

Varies depending on specific Fulbright program and location of study.

MSU Internal submission: see other information

External submission: Typically, mid-August. See website for program-specific deadlines.

To initiate interest in a Fulbright program, an internal submission is first required.

  • Contact the Graduate Dean via email with the Honors College Dean cc’d to set up an initial appointment at least 2 months prior to the external submission deadline.

Rhodes Scholarship

For US-based applicants, postgraduates between the ages of 18-23, or, for candidates who completed an undergraduate degree later than usual, under the age of 27 by the 1st of October. Eligibility criteria differ by country of origin. See eligibility checker tool.   
All fields of postgraduate study.

Amount varies; ~$75,000 per year.

MSU Internal submission: see other information

External submission: typically, between mid-August and early October. See website for exact yearly deadlines.

To initiate interest in the Rhodes Scholarship, an internal submission is first required.

  • Contact the Graduate Dean via email with the Honors College Dean cc’d to set up an initial appointment at least 2 months prior to the external submission deadline.
  • Rhodes scholars attend postgraduate studies the UK.

Marshall Scholarship

US citizens holding an undergraduate degree. Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.7. Pursuing graduate study in England and an undergraduate degree earned within ~3 years prior to participation in Marshall program. See website for further information.     
All fields of postgraduate study.

Amount varies. See website for details.

MSU internal submission: see other information

External submission: typically, late September/early October. See website for exact yearly deadlines

To initiate interest in the Marshall program, an internal submission is first required.

  • Contact the Graduate Dean via email with the Honors College Dean cc’d to set up an initial appointment at least 2 months prior to the external submission deadline.
  • Marshall program participants attend their postgraduate studies in the UK.

Gates-Cambridge Scholarship

US citizens residing in the US and pursuing graduate study at Cambridge University.
Many, but not all, fields of postgraduate study. See website for detailed eligibility guidelines.

University fees,  ~£20,000 annual living stipend, discretionary funding, airfare, other costs. Amount varies depending on degree sought and duration of study. Details   

MSU internal submissions: see other information

External submission: typically, application period opens in early September with an application deadline sometime during the first half of October. See website for exact deadlines.

To initiate interest in the Gates-Cambridge program, an internal submission is first required.

  • Contact the Graduate Dean via email with the Honors College Dean cc’d to set up an initial appointment at least 2 months prior to the external submission deadline.
  • Gates-Cambridge scholars attend their postgraduate studies in the UK.

George Mitchell Scholarship

US citizens, postgraduate students between the ages of 18 and 30, pursuing one year of postgraduate study in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
All fields of postgraduate study.

University fees, room and board, monthly living stipend of ~€1,200.

Internal submissions: see other information

External submission: typically, the application period opens 9-10 months prior to the application deadline, with a final deadline occurring during the second half of September. See website for exact deadlines.   

To initiate interest in the George Mitchell program, an internal submission is first required.

  • Contact the Graduate Dean via email with the Honors College Dean cc’d to set up an initial appointment at least 2 months prior to the external submission deadline.
  • George Mitchell scholars attend their postgraduate studies in Ireland/Northern Ireland.

French Embassy Chateaubriand Fellowships in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

US citizen and US-institution-based PhD candidate seeking to conduct research in France. Obtain a letter of invitation from a professor affiliated with a research institution in France plus a letter of support from your academic advisor. See website for exact details. 
All areas in the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

Airfare, health insurance, and ~€1,750/month stipend.

Application period typically opens in early-mid fall and closes at the end of January. See website for exact yearly deadline.

To initiate interest in the Chateaubriand Fellowship, an internal submission is first required.

  • Contact the Graduate Dean via email with the Honors College Dean cc’d to set up an initial appointment at least 2 months prior to the external submission deadline.
  • Fellowship awards are for either 4- or 8-month periods of study at a French research institution. Please review application requirements and instructions carefully.

American Academy in Rome Prize

US citizens; otherwise, eligibility varies. Predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowship prizes are awarded yearly. See website for eligibility details. 
Landscape architecture, ancient studies, medieval studies, literature, modern Italian studies, renaissance and early modern studies, visual arts, and more.

~$16,000 stipend, room and board for individuals and their families, workspace, research project funding available by separate application.

Application period usually opens in late spring and closes November 1st. See website for exact yearly dates.

To initiate interest in the Rome Prize, an internal submission is first required.

  • Contact the Graduate Dean via email with the Honors College Dean cc’d to set up an initial appointment at least 2 months prior to the external submission deadline.
  • ~10-month fellowship residency in Rome.