The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) has opened its competitive fellowship programme for 2026–2027, offering substantial funding for postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and interpretive social sciences to pursue independent research. With at least 60 fellowships awarded annually, this is one of the premier humanities fellowship programmes in the United States. This guide covers ACLS Fellowship in full — funding, eligibility, deadlines and how to apply.
Key Details
- Stipend: Up to $60,000 for a full 12-month fellowship; shorter fellowships prorated at $5,000/month (minimum award: $30,000)
- Fellowship Duration: Minimum 6 months, maximum 12 months; must begin between 1 July 2027 and 1 July 2028
- Eligible Disciplines: All fields of the humanities and interpretive social sciences
- Eligibility: Postdoctoral scholars at all career stages (tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure-track) with a PhD earned by the application deadline; tenure-track applicants must have had a gap of at least 2 years since their last supported research leave
- Open To: US citizens and those residing in the US (check specific eligibility on the ACLS website)
- Application Deadline: 17 September 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time
- Results Announced: April 2027
- How to Apply: Submit through the ACLS online fellowship system at ofa.acls.org
ACLS Fellowships are among the most competitive and prestigious awards available to humanities scholars. Recipients gain protected research time, financial stability, and recognition that significantly advances their scholarly careers. Applicants are encouraged to start their proposals early, as competition is intense across all disciplines.
Always verify deadlines and details on the official ACLS website before applying.
ACLS Fellowship: key details
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