MMUF Dissertation Grants

The MMUF Advancement Program Fellows initiative fosters diverse perspectives in graduate studies and academia, empowering alumni of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) to contribute their unique viewpoints within their fields and to their students. These Fellows, who are MMUF program alumni, come together to prepare for graduate school, receive additional research funding, and benefit from professional support during their dissertation research journey. Scholarship Details • Fellowships exclusively for Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship alumni • Supports graduate students in completing their dissertations • Dissertation grant offers up to $30,000 for a 12-month period • Encourages fellows to seek dissertation grants from their home institutions Eligibility Criteria • Open to graduate students • Must have participated in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program Application Process 1. Ensure eligibility as a graduate student with a background in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program. 2. Prepare and submit your dissertation grant application, detailing your research and funding needs. 3. Reviewers will evaluate applications and make award decisions. 4. Selected recipients will receive support for a 12-month period to complete their dissertation research. 5. Seek dissertation grants from your home institution, and if not provided, you may be eligible for the full grant amount. 6. The Institute for Citizens & Scholars will advocate for tuition waivers with graduate schools. 7. Ensure you have health insurance coverage arranged independently. By pursuing the MMUF Advancement Program Fellowship, you join a community of scholars dedicated to expanding the diversity of voices in higher education. Your unique perspective and commitment to academia will contribute to a richer and more inclusive academic landscape. Additional details from the program page: All application materials must be received by December 06, 2025 at 5 pm ET. The grant offers up to $30,000 for a 12-month period. Fellows are encouraged to apply for dissertation grants from their home institutions; winners who do not receive dissertation support from their own institutions are eligible to receive the full amount. The grant will be reduced by funding from other sources to ensure that each awardee receives a maximum award from all sources of $30,000. Letters of recommendation should be signed, on institutional letterhead, and submitted through the online application. New grant awards are announced in mid to late February. Stipends are sent to recipients in two equal payments, in June and the following January. Candidates must arrange for their own health insurance coverage. Applicants must be Ph.D. candidates who have completed all pre-dissertation requirements: passed all comprehensive examinations, completed all coursework for the degree, received approval of the dissertation topic, and completed most or all of the fieldwork and/or research necessary to begin writing. Eligible fields include Humanities: American and English Literatures, Foreign Languages and Literatures (including Area/Cultural/Ethnic/Gender Studies), Art History, Classics, Film, Cinema and Media Studies (theoretical focus), History, Linguistics, Musicology and Ethnomusicology, Performance Studies (theoretical focus), Philosophy and Political Theory, Religion and Theology, Theater (non-performance focus); Social Sciences: Anthropology and Archaeology, Demography, Geography and Population Studies, Sociology; Physical Sciences: Computer Science, Earth/Environmental/Geological Sciences, Ecology, Geology, Mathematics, Oceanographic/Marine/Atmospheric/Planetary Science, Physics and Astronomy.