IRCPL Dissertation Fellowships

IRCPL Dissertation Fellowships provide students with $5,000 towards the completion of their dissertation over the course of an academic semester, typically the fall semester. Fellowship recipients must be registered full-time at Columbia University for the duration of the award period and are expected to contribute to the intellectual life of the Institute. Fellows are expected to attend a seminar/roundtable series with the Director of IRCPL, where each fellow will have the opportunity to present a chapter on which they are working and receive feedback. The fellowship supports doctoral students enrolled in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) who will have completed the 5th year of the PhD program by the beginning of the Fall 2026 semester. The dissertation must focus in a significant way on the study of religion, secularism, or closely related topics. Required fellowship activities take place in person, and fellows must confirm that they are in residence during the fall semester of 2026.