Louisville Institute Dissertation Fellowship
Offered by Louisville Institute
About This Scholarship
The Louisville Institute, funded by the Religion Division of Lilly Endowment and housed at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, awards Dissertation Fellowships of $35,000 to doctoral candidates writing about Christian faith and life in North America. It is one of the largest single-year awards available to religion scholars, designed to buy a candidate a full year of focused writing time.
Applicants must be Ph.D. or Th.D. candidates at accredited North American institutions who have reached "all but dissertation" status by the February deadline. Dissertations should engage Christian faith, ministry practice, religious movements, faith-based institutions, or religion and social issues in North America. The Institute typically selects about 10 fellows from a pool of more than 100 applications.
Beyond the money, fellows join the Institute's network of scholars and pastoral leaders and attend a required Winter Seminar, with travel expenses covered. For doctoral students working at the intersection of church and academy, this fellowship is both funding and a professional launching pad.
Eligibility
- Ph.D. or Th.D. candidate at an accredited North American institution (D.Min. students are not eligible)
- All-but-dissertation status by the application deadline
- U.S. or Canadian resident with appropriate citizenship or student visa status
- Dissertation focused on Christian faith, ministry practice, religious movements, faith-based institutions, or religion and social issues in North America
How To Apply
- Create an account in the Louisville Institute's online application portal
- Submit your dissertation prospectus, selective bibliography, transcript, and CV
- Arrange two letters of recommendation, due from recommenders by February 8, 2027
- Submit the full application by February 1, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET; awards are announced publicly in spring 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be studying at a seminary to apply?
No. Candidates at any accredited North American university qualify, as long as the dissertation itself engages Christian faith, religious institutions, or religion and social issues in North America.
Are there obligations beyond writing the dissertation?
Yes. Fellows attend a mandatory Winter Seminar in January 2028, with all travel expenses covered by the Institute.
How competitive is the fellowship?
The Institute typically awards about 10 fellowships from a pool of more than 100 applications, so roughly one in ten applicants receives funding.