Stanford Graduate Research and African Language Fellowships 2026–2027: Up to $5,000
Stanford University’s Center for African Studies is offering Graduate Research and African Language Fellowships for graduate and doctoral students whose academic work involves research in Africa or advanced African language study. Eligible applicants can receive up to US$5,000 to support research-related or language-training expenses.
Applicants may apply for both fellowship categories, but they can only receive one award. Separate applications are required for each fellowship.
Stanford Graduate Student Research Fellowship
The Graduate Student Research Fellowship is designed for Stanford doctoral students and graduate students in the Schools of Humanities & Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Law, Sustainability and Medicine.
The fellowship provides up to $5,000 for eligible expenses related to research conducted in Africa. Research proposals must involve research that will be carried out in Africa.
The award can help graduate researchers meet expenses associated with conducting their academic research while developing work relevant to African Studies.
Graduate Student African Language Fellowship
The Graduate Student African Language Fellowship is open to Stanford graduate and doctoral students whose research or academic training depends on advanced language skills.
Priority is given to students in the School of Humanities and Sciences, although students from Business, Education, Engineering, Law, Sustainability and Medicine are also encouraged to apply.
The proposed language study must be integral to the student’s academic development or research. Priority will be given to applicants who require language skills for research, particularly where the relevant language is not offered at Stanford or where the student has exhausted available campus resources.
The language programme must last at least six weeks and provide at least 140 contact hours for beginning and intermediate instruction or 120 contact hours for advanced language instruction.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include Ph.D. candidates enrolled in any academic department at Stanford University and students enrolled in post-baccalaureate degree programmes within Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Law, Sustainability or Medicine.
Applicants should demonstrate a clear connection between the proposed research or language study and their academic development.
Fellowship Award
The fellowship provides up to US$5,000.
Funding requests must cover expenses that are not already covered through other funding sources. Applicants may apply simultaneously for other funding opportunities, but they cannot accept multiple sources of funding for the same expenses.
Applicants must provide an itemised budget identifying the total project cost, the amount requested from the Center for African Studies and any confirmed or pending financial support.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a complete application package for consideration by the selection committee.
Required materials include:
- A 2–3 page project proposal explaining the research or language programme, its relevance to African Studies and its significance to the applicant’s academic development.
- A timetable for completing the research and degree.
- An itemised project budget showing total costs and confirmed or pending funding.
- A curriculum vitae of no more than two pages.
- A current transcript from Axess, with an unofficial transcript accepted.
- One reference letter from the applicant’s primary faculty advisor.
Language fellowship applicants must also provide information about their intended language programme, including a brochure or programme guide and verification that the programme meets the required instructional-hour guidelines.
Application Deadline
Stanford has two application deadlines:
Winter Quarter: 12 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time
Spring Quarter: 5 March 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time
Applicants should ensure that their complete application is submitted before the relevant deadline.
The selection process is expected to be relatively quick, with decisions made within approximately one week of submission.
How to Apply
Applicants should complete the Center for African Studies Graduate Research/Language Fellowship application and submit all required supporting documentation.
A faculty advisor’s reference letter should be emailed directly to the Center for African Studies as a PDF on official letterhead, with the applicant’s name included in the email subject line. Alternatively, the advisor may provide the letter to the applicant in a sealed envelope for submission to the Center.
Why This Fellowship Matters
The Stanford Graduate Research and African Language Fellowships provide targeted financial support for graduate-level academic work connected to Africa. The funding can assist researchers undertaking fieldwork in Africa or students who need advanced African language training to strengthen their research.
For Stanford graduate and doctoral students whose academic work is connected to African Studies, these fellowships offer an opportunity to obtain additional funding while developing research, language and academic expertise.
