Frequently Asked Questions:
What do I need to submit to apply for a Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowship?
In order to complete your application for a Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowship, you will have to submit an online application form, which includes a short statement describing your dissertation, a Dissertation Completion plan, and the identification of three “completion milestones,” or points at which CES will check in with you if you receive a fellowship (happening roughly in September, January, and March/April). Also, you will have to request that your three faculty recommenders submit a copy of their recommendations via our online form. No paper forms or letters will be accepted.
Am I eligible to apply for a Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowship?
To be eligible for our dissertation completion fellowship, applicants must meet six criteria. First, the fellowship is intended for late-stage graduate students, who have completed most or all of their dissertation and have a reasonable expectation of completing the dissertation within the fellowship year. Secondly, they must be enrolled at a higher education institution in the United States that is a member of the CES Academic Consortium. Thirdly, an applicant can have no more than one full year of dissertation work remaining at the start of the fellowship year as certified by his or her dissertation advisor. Fourthly, the applicants must have exhausted all departmental funding normally provided by his or her institution. Fifthly, applicants must be working on a topic in European Studies and from within one of the many disciplines that make up the Humanities. Sixthly, all applicants must be US citizens or green card holders.
If your institution is not currently a member of the CES Academic Consortium, you are encouraged to apply early in the application season so that every effort may be made to enroll your institution in the consortium and thus establish your eligibility by the application deadline.
Is there a particular year in graduate school targeted by this fellowship?
No. But because the Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowship aims to help late-stage graduate students, applications received from graduate students years four and below will be automatically disqualified.
Do I need to be a member of CES to apply for this fellowship? Does my university?
No. Although membership in CES is an eligibility requirement to win this award, if you are not affiliated with a member institution at the time of your application, CES will make every effort to reach out to your institution and encourage them to join CES’ Academic Consortium. If your institution declines membership, your application will be deemed invalid. To see if your institution is already a member, click here. If you have further questions regarding membership, contact us at membership@ces-europe.org.
Is my country or area of interest included in “European Studies”?
Odds are, yes! CES funds projects related to Europe broadly defined, including areas such as Turkey, the UK, Russia and Eastern Europe, and Iceland. In the past, CES has even sponsored research pertaining to colonial topics, as long as Europe is a central component of the project. If you are still unsure if your research is eligible, contact CES directly for clarification.
When is the fellowship year and what is the fellowship schedule?
The Dissertation Completion Fellowship year begins in June following acceptance of the award and ends the following June. The “completion milestone” check-ins will occur at 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months, or roughly in September, January, and March/April of the fellowship year.
When will fellowship applicants be notified of the results of their applications?
CES will notify applicants of the Committee’s decision no later than the end of April. Funding will be made available immediately upon formal acceptance of the award.
What is required of Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowship winners?
First and foremost, fellowship winners must complete the dissertation within one academic year after receiving the grant. Apart from that, all fellowship winners are required to write and publish a feature for CES’ online journal and present a paper at the International Conference of Europeanists during a year in which it is held within the United States.
What is the submission deadline for the Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion fellowship program?
All application materials must be received via the Council’s electronic application form no later than midnight local time on January 15 of the application year. Applications via post or by hand are not accepted.
How can I learn the status of my application?
CES will not field requests for the status of individual applications. All applicants who have submitted complete applications by the January 15 deadline will be notified if their application is incomplete within a few days of receipt. If you have submitted an application and do not receive notification by that date, please assume your application is complete or contact CES at awards@ces-europe.org if you have concerns.
Are Fellowship winners required to attend the CES Conference?
Yes, all CES fellows are required to present their research at a CES conference and to prepare an article suitable for publication. Typically, attendance is required at the next North American conference after the fellowship year.
