The Charlotte W. Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship supports doctoral candidates who are in the final year of writing dissertations that explore religion, ethics, values, or morality. This fellowship is intended primarily for students in the humanities and social sciences, although eligible STEM candidates may apply if these themes are central to their research. Recipients receive funding to focus exclusively on completing their dissertation over a 12-month period.
Scholarship Details
- Award amount of $31,000 for 12 months of full-time dissertation writing
- Supports dissertations focused on religion, ethics, values, or morality
- Selection is based on scholarly excellence, project quality and originality, and commitment to advancing religious understanding, ethics, and values
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be pursuing a Ph.D. at an accredited graduate institution in the United States
- Professional degree candidates, including D.Min., J.D., Psy.D., Ed.D., and similar programs, are not eligible
- Must have completed all pre-dissertation requirements, including dissertation proposal approval, by the application deadline
- Must have achieved ABD status and be actively writing the dissertation
- Research and fieldwork should be completed before the fellowship begins
- Must expect to complete the dissertation between April 1 and August 31 during the fellowship year
- Must not have previously received a comparable national fellowship supporting the final year of dissertation writing
Application Process
- Complete the online application with demographic and contact information
- Describe how the dissertation engages with religion, ethics or values
- Provide a statement outlining your career goals
- Submit a personal statement
- Upload a project abstract, research design and methodology, timeline and short proposal
- Provide the names and contact information for two recommenders
- Submit a current curriculum vitae
- Upload official or unofficial academic transcripts
- If selected as a finalist, submit a full dissertation proposal
- Arrange for two letters of recommendation to be submitted during the finalist review stage
If your dissertation explores meaningful questions related to religion, ethics, or values, this fellowship can provide valuable financial support during your final year of writing. The funding allows recipients to devote their full attention to completing a high-quality dissertation without the distraction of other obligations. Consider applying if your work contributes new perspectives on important ethical, religious, or moral issues.
