Princeton University Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–28 USA

The Princeton University Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–28 is a paid international research fellowship for early-career scholars who want to spend an academic year at Princeton University in the United States. The Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS) administers the program, which brings scholars from around the world together for research, writing, collaboration, and intellectual exchange.

For the 2027–28 academic year, the program will select early-career scholars to be in residence at Princeton for 10 months. The annual research theme is “Democracy in Crisis?” and applicants are invited to propose research related to challenges facing democratic governance and the factors that contribute to democratic resilience.

The program welcomes scholars from different regions and disciplinary backgrounds within the humanities and social sciences. Selected fellows will be appointed as Visiting Research Scholars and are expected to participate in the intellectual life of Princeton University throughout their fellowship.

Fellowship Duration

The Fung Global Fellows Program is a 10-month, in-residence research fellowship at Princeton University.

For the 2027–28 academic year, fellows will spend the academic year at Princeton University and participate in research, writing, discussions, and academic activities connected with the annual theme.

The position is in person and based on Princeton’s campus in New Jersey.

Degree Level

The Princeton University Fung Global Fellows Program is a postdoctoral-level research fellowship for early-career scholars who have already completed a PhD or equivalent degree.

PhD / Equivalent
Visiting Research Scholar
Early-career research fellowship
Humanities and Social Sciences

Applicants currently enrolled in a PhD program or working as postdoctoral researchers are not eligible. Princeton requires applicants to have received their PhD or equivalent generally after September 1, 2017.

Available Subjects

The Fung Global Fellows Program welcomes scholars working in the humanities and social sciences.

Potential areas may include:

Political science
International relations
History
Sociology
Anthropology
Law
Philosophy
Media and communication
Economics
Cultural studies
Area studies
Political theory
Social and political history
Related humanities and social science disciplines

Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed research connects meaningfully with the 2027–28 theme.

Princeton specifically states that applicants from any disciplinary background in the humanities and social sciences can be considered.

Benefits

The Princeton Fung Global Fellows Program is a paid fellowship, and fellows are appointed as Visiting Research Scholars.

Benefits and opportunities associated with the program include:

Salary rather than a traditional fellowship stipend
University employee benefits for eligible fellows
Opportunity to spend 10 months in residence at Princeton University
Time and academic environment to conduct independent research
Opportunities for research, writing, and scholarly collaboration
Interaction with Princeton faculty and researchers
Participation in the Fung Global Fellows public seminar series
Opportunities to present research to the Princeton University community
Access to Princeton’s international and interdisciplinary academic environment
Professional and intellectual networking opportunities
Visa support for international fellows
Princeton states that visa fees for fellows and their dependents are covered, subject to the program’s applicable arrangements
Access to university health insurance options and benefits available to eligible employees

Princeton’s information for current fellows confirms that Fung Fellows receive a salary rather than a fellowship stipend and may be eligible for university benefits. The program’s current information does not publish a fixed 2027–28 salary amount on the application page, so applicants should not rely on salary figures published by third-party websites.

Is the Fung Global Fellows Program Fully Funded?

The Fung Global Fellows Program is a paid research fellowship rather than a conventional scholarship.

Princeton’s official information confirms that fellows receive a salary and may be eligible for university benefits. The university also provides visa-related support for international fellows, including coverage of visa fees for fellows and dependents, according to its current fellow information.

However, Princeton does not describe the 2027–28 program on its official application page as a “fully funded fellowship,” nor does the current application page publish a fixed salary amount or promise that every personal expense will be covered.

Therefore, it is more accurate to describe the opportunity as a paid research fellowship with salary and applicable university benefits rather than automatically calling it fully funded.

The research theme for the 2027–28 Fung Global Fellows Program is:

“Democracy in Crisis?”

The theme examines challenges confronting democratic governance as well as the factors that may contribute to democratic resilience.

Princeton’s call highlights areas such as:

Populism and its drivers
Erosion of democratic norms and institutions
Media, technology, and disinformation
Economic inequality and democratic legitimacy
Civil society and citizen mobilization
Institutional responses to democratic challenges
Democratic resilience and renewal
Conceptual and normative foundations of democracy
Different historical and cultural understandings of democracy

Applicants may approach the theme from contemporary or historical perspectives and may focus on any region of the world.

Eligible Nationalities

The Fung Global Fellows Program is an international fellowship and welcomes scholars from around the world.

There is no specific nationality list published for the 2027–28 call. Applicants may come from any region, provided they meet the program’s employment, academic, research, and other eligibility requirements.

One important requirement is that fellows must be employed outside the United States at the time of application and have either a faculty appointment or a professional research appointment.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Princeton University Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–28, applicants must meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

Applicants must:

Be early-career scholars.
Have received a PhD or equivalent degree generally after September 1, 2017.
Be employed outside the United States.
Hold a faculty appointment or professional research appointment.
Have demonstrated outstanding scholarly achievement.
Demonstrate unusual intellectual promise.
Be at an early stage of their academic career.
Propose a research project connected to the 2027–28 theme.
Have a research background in the humanities or social sciences.
Be available to spend the academic year in residence at Princeton University.
Be prepared to return to their current professional position after the fellowship.

Candidates who are currently enrolled in a PhD program or employed as postdocs are not eligible for the 2027–28 Fung Global Fellows Program.

PhD Requirement

Applicants must have received their PhD or equivalent generally after September 1, 2017.

This requirement is intended to identify scholars who have already established a strong scholarly record but remain in the early stages of their academic careers.

Applicants who are still enrolled in a PhD program are not eligible. Current postdoctoral researchers are also specifically excluded from the 2027–28 call.

Employment Requirement

Applicants must be employed outside the United States.

They must hold either:

A faculty appointment, or
A professional research appointment.

If a candidate receives an offer, Princeton requires an official letter from their current employer confirming that they are permitted to accept the fellowship and spend the academic year at Princeton University.

Fellows are also expected to return to their professional positions after completing the fellowship.

Research Requirements

The proposed research project is an important part of the application.

Applicants should demonstrate:

A strong and clearly defined research project
A meaningful connection between the project and the annual theme
Previous scholarly achievement
Intellectual promise
Potential to contribute to academic discussions at Princeton
Relevant professional and research experience outside the United States

For 2027–28, the proposed research should engage with questions concerning democratic governance, democratic challenges, democratic resilience, or the conceptual and historical foundations of democracy.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit all required materials in English by the application deadline.

The required documents include:

Cover letter of no more than 1.5 pages
Curriculum vitae including publications
Research proposal of no more than 3 pages, single-spaced
One writing sample, such as an article or book chapter, of no more than 50 pages
Names and email addresses of three referees

The three referees will be contacted automatically through the online application system and asked to submit their recommendation letters.

All recommendation letters must be submitted before the application deadline.

Cover Letter

The cover letter must not exceed 1.5 pages.
Princeton instructs applicants to address the cover letter to:
“Dear Search Committee”
The letter should present the applicant’s scholarly background and explain their suitability for the Fung Global Fellows Program.

Research Proposal

The research proposal must be a maximum of three pages and should be single-spaced.
The proposal should clearly explain the research project the applicant intends to pursue during the fellowship and demonstrate its relationship to the 2027–28 research theme.
A strong proposal should make the research question, academic significance, approach, and connection to the annual theme clear.

Writing Sample

Applicants must submit one writing sample.

The sample may be:

An academic article, or
A book chapter.

The maximum length is 50 pages.

Applicants should submit a piece of scholarly writing that provides evidence of their research and analytical abilities.

Recommendation Letters

Applicants must provide the names and email addresses of three referees.
After the application is submitted, the online system will automatically contact the referees and provide instructions for uploading their recommendation letters.
All three letters must be submitted by the November 16, 2026 deadline. Applicants are therefore encouraged to submit their application early enough to allow referees sufficient time to complete their recommendations.

Application Procedure

The application process for the Princeton Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–28 is completely online.

Step 1: Review the Eligibility Requirements

Before starting the application, confirm that you meet the PhD, employment, career-stage, disciplinary, and research requirements.

Step 2: Develop Your Research Proposal

Prepare a research proposal of no more than three single-spaced pages.
Make sure the proposed project has a clear connection with the 2027–28 theme, “Democracy in Crisis?”

Step 3: Prepare the Required Documents

Prepare your:

Cover letter
CV
Research proposal
Writing sample
Three referee details

All application materials must be submitted in English.

Step 4: Add Your Referees

Enter the names and email addresses of three referees in the online application.
They will receive instructions to submit their recommendation letters through the application system.

Step 5: Submit the Online Application

Applications must be submitted through Princeton University’s online application system.
Applications sent by email, fax, or post will not be accepted.

Step 6: Ensure Recommendation Letters Are Submitted

Applicants are responsible for making sure that all three recommendation letters are submitted before the deadline.
The application portal will close after the stated deadline, and late submissions are not accepted.

Step 7: Attend an Interview if Selected

Finalists may be invited for virtual interviews.
For the 2027–28 cycle, Princeton expects to contact finalists between mid-December 2026 and early January 2027.

Step 8: Wait for the Final Decision

Successful candidates are expected to be notified by early February 2027.

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the Princeton University Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–28 is:

November 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST

The online application portal will close after the deadline, and late applications will not be accepted.

All recommendation letters must also be submitted by the same deadline.

Selection Process

The Fung Global Fellows Program uses a competitive selection process.

Applications are reviewed by the director of the Fung Global Fellows Program and a search committee.

Princeton states that selection is based on factors including:

Strength of the proposed research project
Relationship of the project to the annual theme
Previous scholarly work
Intellectual promise
Ability to contribute to the intellectual life of the program
Work experience outside the United States
Potential for meaningful intellectual exchange

The selection committee aims to create a cohort representing different regions and disciplinary perspectives within the humanities and social sciences.

What Happens After Selection?

Successful candidates who hold faculty or professional research appointments must provide an official letter from their current employer confirming permission to accept the fellowship and spend the academic year at Princeton.

The fellowship is conducted in person on Princeton’s campus.

International fellows may receive support related to visa arrangements. Princeton’s current-fellow information states that the program covers visa fees for fellows and their dependents, with applicable reimbursement arrangements.