Doctoral Fellowship

For under-resourced and underrepresented Ph.D. and Th.D. students

APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED

Equipping Scholars to Lead

Since 1968, FTE has been committed to increasing diversity in religion and theological faculty in North America. For more than half a century, FTE has invested in supporting under-resourced and underrepresented scholars of religion and theological education.

With a historical commitment to supporting African American doctoral students and increasingly other historically underrepresented groups of students, FTE helps theological schools and religion departments identify and hire faculty needed to prepare a new generation of pastors, scholars, and leaders serving diverse faith communities and populations.

FTE offers a dissertation fellowship of up to $35,000 each to under-resourced and underrepresented Ph.D. and Th.D. students pursuing a vocation in teaching and scholarship. In doing so, FTE’s efforts help improve the quality of theological education and scholarship by assisting in diversifying faculties of theological schools with individuals who represent the changing demographics, perspectives, and experiences of students pursuing theological education.

Financial support is available for doctoral students who have completed the coursework stage of their Ph.D. or Th.D. program in religion, theological studies, or biblical studies. For more information or questions, please email Marissa Akery (makery@fteleaders.org), our Community Engagement Manager.

“ Thank you to FTE for everything. The financial resources were much needed for my family and me...and the FTE team has poured so much more into me than I could ever repay. This support is the difference between people making it out and not. ” Kamilah Hall Sharp, 2021-2022 FTE Doctoral Fellow
Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a Ph.D. or Th.D. program in religious, theological, or biblical studies.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, Canadian citizens, or permanent residents. International students with citizenship and/or residency outside the U.S. or Canada are not eligible for a fellowship.

Applicants must finish coursework by the beginning of the fellowship year (September 1).

Applicants at the dissertation stage must be in a position to write full-time during the fellowship year.

All pre-dissertation applicants must be past the coursework stage but have not yet reached candidacy [ABD].

To be classified at the dissertation stage [ABD], the applicant’s dissertation committee must have approved the dissertation research proposal and writing plan and given the student full approval to proceed before the application is submitted.

Students enrolled in Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) programs are ineligible for this opportunity.

Applicants must be studying at a U.S. or Canadian-accredited institution. Please note that students in doctoral programs who receive accreditation from bodies beyond the U.S. and Canada, even if their institution is in the U.S. or Canada, are not eligible for this opportunity.

Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a Ph.D. or Th.D. program in religious, theological, or biblical studies.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, Canadian citizens, or permanent residents. International students with citizenship and/or residency outside the U.S. or Canada are not eligible for a fellowship.

Applicants must finish coursework by the beginning of the fellowship year (September 1).

Applicants at the dissertation stage must be in a position to write full-time during the fellowship year.

All pre-dissertation applicants must be past the coursework stage but have not yet reached candidacy [ABD].

To be classified at the dissertation stage [ABD], the applicant’s dissertation committee must have approved the dissertation research proposal and writing plan and given the student full approval to proceed before the application is submitted.

Students enrolled in Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) programs are ineligible for this opportunity.

Applicants must be studying at a U.S. or Canadian-accredited institution. Please note that students in doctoral programs who receive accreditation from bodies beyond the U.S. and Canada, even if their institution is in the U.S. or Canada, are not eligible for this opportunity.