Approved Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program 2026–2027: Apply Now

Columbia University has long been recognized for its commitment to global engagement, academic excellence, and social responsibility. One of the most compelling expressions of this commitment is the Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program, a unique initiative designed to support early-career scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who have been forcibly displaced or hold refugee status.

Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program 2026–2027: Advancing Academic Futures for Displaced Scholars

Applications for the 2026–2027 cohort are now open until March 19, offering an important opportunity for scholars whose academic journeys have been disrupted by conflict, displacement, or instability.

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A Fellowship Designed for Displaced Scholars

The Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program provides year-long fellowships hosted through Columbia Global Centers in Amman, Nairobi, or Santiago. The program is intentionally structured to support scholars while allowing them to remain rooted in their regions. Rather than requiring relocation to a distant academic environment, fellows continue their work within their local and regional contexts while benefiting from Columbia University’s global academic ecosystem.

Through this fellowship, scholars receive sustained academic, professional, and institutional support aimed at strengthening their research capacity, expanding their professional networks, and positioning them for long-term success in academia and related fields.

What Fellows Receive

Selected fellows benefit from a comprehensive package of academic and professional support, including:

• Hosting and dedicated workspace at one of the Columbia Global Centers in Amman, Nairobi, or Santiago
• A stipend to support living and professional expenses during the fellowship year
• Dedicated mentorship from esteemed Columbia University faculty members
• A small research and travel fund to advance scholarly projects
• Tailored training opportunities, including academic writing and research development
• Access to a broad range of online courses offered through Columbia University
• Full integration into the intellectual life of the host Global Center
• Inclusion in an alumni network that extends beyond the fellowship year

This holistic approach ensures that fellows are not only supported financially but are also embedded in vibrant scholarly communities that encourage collaboration, dialogue, and professional growth.

What Makes This Fellowship Unique

What truly distinguishes the Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program is its regionally grounded model. By keeping scholars based in their host regions, the program strengthens local academic ecosystems while enabling fellows to maintain personal, professional, and community ties. Scholars continue contributing to their regional intellectual landscapes while benefiting from Columbia University’s global expertise, resources, and networks.

This model recognizes that displacement does not diminish scholarly potential. Instead, it acknowledges the importance of stability, community, and continuity in rebuilding academic careers disrupted by forced migration.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

The fellowship is open to displaced scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences whose academic paths have been interrupted. Eligible candidates may include postdoctoral scholars in the early stages of their careers or Ph.D. candidates who were unable to complete their studies due to displacement.

Creative writers, artists, curators, and scholars working on interdisciplinary research projects are also strongly encouraged to apply.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Must be forcibly displaced
• Must hold a Ph.D. in the humanities (with rare exceptions for candidates with a non-terminal M.A. or those previously on track to complete a Ph.D.)
• Must be based in the region of the Global Center they are applying to:
  • Sub-Saharan Africa for Nairobi
  • Middle East or North Africa for Amman
  • Latin America or the Caribbean for Santiago
• Must demonstrate at least intermediate English language proficiency
• Must have received their highest academic degree within the last 12 years, with flexibility for career-specific or exceptional circumstances

While fellows are encouraged to remain in person at their host Global Center for the duration of the fellowship, a minimum in-person requirement of six months applies if full-time presence is not feasible due to immigration, family, or other constraints.

Academic Engagement and Expectations

Fellows are expected to actively participate in the intellectual life of their host center. This includes contributing to scholarly presentations, workshops, and roundtable discussions. Through the Columbia Global Centers, fellows gain access to a wide-ranging international network of academics and scholars from Columbia University and partner institutions around the world.

These engagements foster meaningful academic exchange and help fellows rebuild professional visibility and momentum following displacement.

A Growing Global Commitment

The Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program reflects Columbia University’s broader and sustained commitment to addressing issues of displacement in higher education. What began as a pilot program at the Global Center in Amman has grown into a multi-continental initiative, now spanning Amman, Nairobi, and Santiago.

Building on the success of its four-year pilot phase (2020–2023), the program is expanding to offer up to 10 fellowships annually through 2026, with generous support from the Mellon Foundation. The fellowship complements other Columbia initiatives, including the Columbia University Scholarship for Displaced Students and the work of the Committee on Forced Migration, forming a comprehensive support system for displaced scholars.

Looking Ahead

For scholars whose academic careers have been disrupted by forced displacement, the Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program offers more than funding—it offers continuity, community, and renewed opportunity. By combining regional engagement with global academic support, the program plays a vital role in ensuring that displacement does not mean the end of scholarly contribution.

With applications open until March 19, eligible scholars are encouraged to explore this opportunity and take the next step toward rebuilding and advancing their academic futures.