Carleton-funded fellowship application deadlines fall every term.

Fall Term stipulations and deadlines

IMPORTANT NOTE: Beginning with Fall Term 2025, only the Senior Year Comps Fellowship (for Comps work by seniors over Winter Break) will have a Fall Term deadline.

***PLAN AHEAD!! You may apply to pursue Winter Break projects at the Winter (highly recommended) or Spring Term deadline.***

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 11, 2025, 11:59pm Central Time

WINTER TERM RECOMMENDATIONS DEADLINE: February 18, 2025, 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.

Spring Term stipulations and deadlines

The Spring Term deadline is for proposed fellowship activities over summer (Comps-related only) or over the next academic year’s Winter Break.

SPRING TERM APPLICATION DEADLINE (see notes below): April 15, 2025, 11:59pm Central Time

SPRING TERM RECOMMENDATIONS DEADLINE: April 22, 2025, 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.

Information for Recommenders

Please visit our Information for Recommenders page.

Common application form to be used for all fellowships EXCEPT the David C. Donelson, Hanson Ethics, Nancy Wilkie, and and Technos International Week Fellowships.

In the common form, you may check the names of all fellowships appropriate for your project.

Introduction

Some fellowships offer financial support to students pursuing independent research activities or creative projects.  Generally speaking, only projects that are really independent receive funding, but there are some exceptions (for example, we know it is difficult for archaeology students to pursue research independently because access to sites is tightly controlled).  If you are applying for research support in such a supervised activity, be sure to explain to the best of your ability how your work qualifies as ‘independent’ research. 

Applications and Deadlines

The Allen and Irene Salisbury, Chang-Lan, Class of 1963, Independent Research, Kelley International, Larson International, Professor Roy F. Grow, and Richard Salisbury Fellowships use a common application form and recommendations. You can apply for these at the Fall Term, Winter Term, or Spring Term deadline. The important thing is to describe well what you want to do – if your proposal is selected for funding, the committee will determine the source.

Quick overview of the application and recommendation deadline and submission process

Recommendations: All these fellowship applications require recommendations. As part of the process, you will enter the names of your recommenders; please be sure they have agreed to provide a recommendation (you may direct them to the information for recommenders, should they require further detail about what is expected before agreeing to support your application). Following the due date, we will send a copy of your finalized application for their review and direct them to the form to complete the appropriate recommendation for you.

The Hanson Ethics Fellowship uses an individual application form and can be applied for only during Winter Term. Verified consultation with an appropriate faculty member is required but no recommendation is requested.

Support for Travel

All of these fellowships may be used to support travel and some of them have stipulations: 

The Chang-Lan Fellowship award must be used for research or experiences in China (or in other Asian countries with specific reference to China)

The Kelley International Fellowship award supports research abroad by students with demonstrated financial need.

The Larson International Fellowship (open only to US Citizens) must be used to support international travel outside of the US and Canada.

The Professor Roy F. Grow Fellowship award must be used for research or experiences in Asia.

Guidance

  • Consult the FAQs for answers to common questions about fellowships and applications
  • Consult our general guidelines for writing a successful proposal.
  • View some successful applications here.
  • The Writing Center can also be a useful resource!
  • Read Creating a Budget for Carleton-Funded Fellowships for helpful tips on budget preparation. 
  • Planning on doing research outside of the US?  Consult the Gould library’s information on Doing Research Abroad. 
  • Planning on doing research that involves human subjects? Be sure to consult the IRB Quiz to determine whether your research will require Institutional Review Board approval.
  • All fellowships require a “Bring-Back” in order to share experiences and cultivate interest in Carleton fellowships. You will describe your planned bring-back as part of your application; get some ideas on the After Your Fellowship page.

Expectations

All fellowship applicants must be in good academic standing. In addition, fellowships may not be awarded to students who are on probation or suspension for conduct violations. 

When deciding among equally strong proposals for the same category/categories or fellowship funds, juniors/rising seniors (especially those proposing Comps work) are prioritized for fellowship funding; followed by sophomores/rising juniors; and the lowest priority group for funding will be first-year students/rising sophomores.

With the exception of support for Comps work, applications from students who have not already received fellowship funding will have priority over applications from students who have received such funding.

All fellowship recipients pursuing Summer Break projects are expected to spend at least 20 hours per week on fellowship activities during the proposed fellowship period. All fellowship recipients pursuing Winter Break projects are expected to spend 30-40 hours per week on fellowship activities during the proposed fellowship period.

You may accept other Carleton funding to support your project (from the Career Center; the Center for Global and Regional Studies; the Jonathan Paradise Israel Experience Fund; Kolenkow-Reitz Fellowship Program; an individual discipline or program; and/or the Office of Student Fellowships) only up to the amount of your proposed budget.

Fellowships for Research and Artistic Projects open to First-Year Students

Fellowships for Research and Artistic Projects open to Sophomores

Fellowships for Research and Artistic Projects open to Juniors

Fellowships for Research and Artistic Projects open to Seniors