Society of Fellows
Society of Fellows

Dissertation Completion Fellowship

SOCIETY OF FELLOWS
2025–26 DISSERTATION COMPLETION FELLOWSHIP 

Applications are once again invited for the Society of Fellows Dissertation Completion Fellowship. 

We expect to offer one fellowship for the 2025–2026 academic year, with stipends beginning in Summer 2024. Research during the SoF Fellowship may be carried out at the University or elsewhere. Applicants must be prepared to complete their dissertations within the period of their fellowship tenure and aim for conferral of the degree no later than August 2025. 

The award consists of $35,000 plus health insurance and UVA fees.

Eligibility: The competition is open to all present and past SoF Junior Fellows pursuing the Ph.D. who will have completed all degree requirements except the dissertation by the application deadline.

Deadline: Friday, February 14, 2025

Applicants should submit by the deadline of February 16th:

1. A single Word file titled ‘SoF Diss Proposal YOUR NAME,’ which includes:

a) a proposal of no more than three double-spaced pages that speaks to a learned non-specialist

b) a one-page timeline for the completion of the dissertation and the defense

c) [optional] up to three additional pages of images, musical scores, or other similar supporting non-text materials 

d) a bibliography of no more than two pages

e) a curriculum vitae 

2. A single word file titled ‘SoF Diss Sample YOUR NAME,’ which includes:

A completed chapter of the dissertation (that is neither the introduction, nor the conclusion, nor the literature review) or a published paper.

3. A transcript labeled ‘SoF Diss Transcript YOUR NAME.’ 

In addition, the following supporting materials should be submitted by individual faculty no later than the deadline of February 16:

4. Two letters of recommendation

5. A statement from the Director of Graduate Studies or the Department Chair attesting to the viability of the proposed timeline for completion and defense.

Applications and recommendation letters should be sent electronically to Charles T. Mathewes, Secretary of the Society of Fellows at ctm9d@virginia.edu no later than February 16.

A committee of SoF Senior Fellows will review applications following these criteria:

  • The potential of the project to advance the field and to make an original and significant contribution to knowledge.
  • The quality of the proposal with regard to its methodology, scope, theoretical framework, and grounding in the relevant scholarly literature.
  • The feasibility of the project and the likelihood that the applicant will execute the work within the proposed timeframe.
  • The scholarly record and career trajectory of the applicant.