What is a Carleton-funded Fellowship?

Carleton-funded fellowships offer funding to pursue self-directed research or a creative/artistic project, engage in self-directed experiential learning, or explore something in-depth beyond the classroom. Learn how some Carls have used fellowships!

Fellowship support can be used during Winter Break or over the summer, and there is no minimum amount of time you must spend on a fellowship activity — you can use just a part of your summer or Winter Break, or you can use the whole time, depending on your budget.

While it is technically possible to receive more than one fellowship per academic year, it is extremely rare – consult with the Director of Student Fellowships if you are interested in more than one project, and be prepared to identify and apply to support the one that interests you most.

How do Carleton-funded Fellowships differ from other Carleton funding for research or experiential learning?

The most important thing to know about nearly all Carleton-funded fellowships is that they are intended to fund self-directed projects.

Carleton offers several different types of funding for research and experiential learning that are not self-directed. For example:

  • You may work with a faculty member on their research as a Student Research Partner (the faculty member, in that case, applies for the funding) during the year or over breaks
  • You may work with a faculty member outside of Carleton on a STEM research project (for which you can be funded through the Kolenkow-Reitz fellowship or Career Center internship funding)
  • You may engage in experiential learning through an internship funded by the Career Center or through many of the programs supported by the CCCE

… or take part in another type of opportunity that is led or structured for you, rather than self-directed.

Self-directed, for the purposes of Carleton-funded fellowships, means that you develop the project idea yourself and pursue it without supervision (even if you have guidance or advising from faculty members, staff, or others).

Some Carleton-funded fellowships that are designated for experiential learning may involve working within an organization or setting where you have some supervision, but you create your own learning objectives and select the organization or setting to meet your individual goals.

Why should I apply for a Carleton-funded fellowship?

You might get funding to complete a project!

The application process is a chance to build helpful and important skills like articulating a goal and identifying how to get there; writing concisely and persuasively for an audience; planning a budget; and working with mentors and others to create a polished and effective application.

Working independently on research or another project might contribute to your comps or other academic goals, but it is also a way to prepare for life after Carleton.  Planning and completing your own project is something you are likely to be asked to do frequently during your career!

Working with a fellow student on a fellowship (it is generally best to apply separately, using the same project statement – consult with the Director of Student Fellowships if this is of interest to you) can teach you skills related to collaboration and interdisciplinary work!

Finally, being selected for a fellowship is a mark of distinction for your résumé/CV and your Carleton record!

How should I get started?

Check out our post called “Seven Steps to a Carleton-funded Fellowship Application,” and use these pre-application questions to help you develop an idea into a project proposal, and prepare to complete a Carleton-funded fellowship application.

Carleton-funded fellowship application deadlines fall every term.

Fall Term stipulations and deadlines

The Fall Term deadline is ONLY for projects planned to take place over Winter Break 2025. Two options exist at this deadline:

FOR COMPS PROJECTS:

The Senior Year Comps Fellowship is available to seniors wishing to complete Comps work over Winter Break. Applications and recommendations are due on the same date: October 14, 2025, by 11:59pm Central Time.

FOR NON-COMPS PROJECTS:

A very limited number of fellowships for non-Comps projects may be funded for Winter Break. Use the Common Application to apply for a non-Comps, Winter Break fellowship. The budget limit for non-Comps, Winter Break fellowships is the cost of transportation to your fellowship site plus up to $2000 for other fellowship expenses.

FALL TERM APPLICATION DEADLINE for non-Comps projects: October 14, 2025, 11:59pm Central Time.

FALL TERM RECOMMENDATIONS DEADLINE for non-Comps projects: October 21, 2025, 11:59pm Central Time.

Winter Term stipulations and deadlines

The Winter Term deadline is for proposed fellowship activities over summer** or over the next academic year’s Winter Break.

WINTER TERM APPLICATION DEADLINE (see notes below): February 17, 2026, 11:59pm Central Time

WINTER TERM RECOMMENDATIONS DEADLINE: February 24, 2026, 11:59pm Central Time

Please note that the Winter Term deadline is the main fellowships deadline of the academic year. First-year, Sophomore, and Junior students may apply for any fellowships with Winter Term deadlines for projects taking place over summer or Winter Break. Seniors are not eligible to apply at the Winter Term deadline.

While First-year, Sophomore, and Junior students MAY also submit non-Comps proposals for Winter Break at the Spring Term deadline, such proposals are unlikely to receive funding — applying at the Winter Term deadline is strongly encouraged.

Finally, please note that select fellowships can be applied for ONLY during Winter Term:  Donelson, Hanson Ethics, and the Nancy Wilkie Fellowship for Archaeological Field Experience.

The budget limit for Winter Break fellowships is the cost of transportation to your fellowship site plus up to $2000 for other fellowship expenses.

**Applicants for summer funding should be advised of the Career Center’s new policy on summer internship funding: “To ensure that financial support for high-impact experiences such as summer internships and research roles is available to as many students as possible, summer funding grants are only available to students who have not/will not accepted another substantial source of Carleton Funding, such as a Summer Research Partnership, department fellowship, or similar, for the same summer or academic term. Case-by-case exceptions will be considered for short-term funded research related to Comps projects.” The Office of Student Fellowships offers flexibility to move projects proposed/funded for summer to Winter Break, as necessary.

Spring Term stipulations and deadlines

TWO SPECIAL UPDATES FOR 2026:

The Spring Term deadline (with the exception listed above for the Hanson Ethics Fellowship) is for Comps-related summer projects** or fellowship activities (of any type) over the next academic year’s Winter Break.

SPRING TERM APPLICATION DEADLINE (see notes below): April 14, 2026, 11:59pm Central Time

SPRING TERM RECOMMENDATIONS DEADLINE: April 21, 2026, 11:59pm Central Time

The Spring Term deadline is intended primarily for juniors seeking funding for summer or Winter Break projects related to Comps. Non-Comps proposals for summer fellowships will not be considered at the Spring Term deadline.

While First-year, Sophomore, and Junior students MAY submit non-Comps proposals for Winter Break at the Spring Term deadline, such proposals will only receive support if sufficient funding remains — applying at the Winter Term deadline is strongly encouraged. The budget limit for Winter Break fellowships is the cost of round-trip transportation to your fellowship site plus up to $2000 for other fellowship expenses.

**Applicants for summer funding should be advised of the Career Center’s new policy on summer internship funding: “To ensure that financial support for high impact experiences such as summer internships and research roles are available to as many students as possible, summer funding grants are only available to students who have not/will not accepted another substantial source of Carleton Funding, such as a Summer Research Partnership, department fellowship, or similar, for the same summer or academic term. Case by case exceptions will be considered for short-term funded research related to Comps projects.” The Office of Student Fellowships offers flexibility to move projects proposed/funded for summer to Winter Break, as necessary.

Information for Recommenders

Please visit our Information for Recommenders page.

Special Note

Students may not use Carleton-funded fellowships, scholarships, or internships to study or travel to countries with Level 4 travel restriction or countries where the US has a treasury embargo. Travel to countries with Level 3 travel restrictions must be discussed with the Office of Student Fellowships. Recipients who learn after an award is made that they are affected by travel advisories or restricted travel should contact the Office of Student Fellowships, x4300. See the U.S. State Department travel advisories website for current information.