Kluge Fellowship

Kluge Fellowship is sponsored by John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress. The Kluge Fellowship encourages humanistic and social science research that makes use of the Library's large and varied collections.

Interdisciplinary and cross-cultural research is particularly welcome. Fellowships are for a period of four to eleven months.

Scholars who have received a terminal advanced degree within the past seven years in the humanities, social sciences, or in a professional field such as architecture or law are eligible. Applicants must have received their terminal degree by the time of application submission. Applicants may be U.S. citizens or foreign nationals.

Upon selection, and in accordance with relevant visa regulations, foreign nationals will be assisted in obtaining the appropriate visa. Fellowships are tenable for periods from four to eleven months at a stipend of $5,000 per month for residential research at the Library of Congress. The Kluge Center reserves the right to offer fewer months than originally requested.

Fellows may be given residence at any time during the 18-month window after the fellowship letter is received. Stipends will be paid monthly by the Library of Congress by means of electronic transfer to a U.S. bank account.

A completed application form, in English A curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages; additional pages will be discarded) An abstract describing your proposed research (maximum 500 words) An explanation of how the Library of Congress and its collections will benefit your work (maximum 1 page, 500 words) A completed project proposal including a work plan that identifies project outcomes (maximum 3 pages; additional pages will be discarded) A bibliography of works you have consulted for your proposal (maximum 3 pages; additional pages will be discarded) Two letters of reference with completed reference forms from people who have read the research proposal Applications will open April 15, 2026 and be accepted up to 11:59pm, September 15, 2026 .

Please click here to visit our application portal to begin your application! For applicants whose native language is not English, there must be evidence that the applicant is fluent in English so as easily to conduct research, discuss work with colleagues, and make a public presentation, although the ultimate product of the research may be written in the applicant’s native language.

For English speakers who seek to do research in the Library's foreign language collections, there must be evidence that they have a command of the relevant language or languages at the level requisite for serious research. Two copies of any books that result from research at the Kluge Center should be sent to the Library of Congress.

It is the responsibility of the fellow to notify Center staff of any other resulting academic publications (articles, films, websites, etc.). Kluge Fellows will also have opportunities to meet with Library specialists and curators, and on occasion with members of Congress and congressional staff. A panel of scholars will review your application materials.

The panel will consider your application in relation to numerous other proposals.

Evaluation criteria will include: The significance of the contribution that the project will make to knowledge in the field The quality of the conception, definition, organization, and description of the project The likelihood that the applicant will complete the project The appropriateness of the research for the Library of Congress collections Up to 12 Kluge Fellowships will be awarded annually by the Library of Congress.

Awards will be announced in the spring of the year following that in which the application is due. For overseas Fellows, award letters will address visa questions and include a form which must be filled out and submitted to the Library of Congress to determine tax residency status and the potential for U.S. federal income tax withholding.

Scholars who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who do not already have a U.S. Social Security number will be required to obtain either a Social Security or tax identification number, as appropriate, at the start of their fellowship at the Library, regardless of the taxability of their income under this program or exemption under a treaty with the United States.

Transportation arrangements are the responsibility of each Fellow. Housing is not provided by the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress does not supply health insurance coverage but can provide contacts with commercial providers.

Because the United States does not have a national health plan, if a selectee becomes ill or injured during the term of appointment, there is no provision for care. Completed application packets should be submitted via the Kluge Center’s online application system: Access our online application portal here . Applications submitted via email, fax, or regular mail will not be considered.

For questions about application procedures, eligibility, stipend, or deadlines, please email scholarly@loc. gov .