The Fung Global Fellows Program at Princeton University offers an exciting opportunity for scholars to conduct research and engage with an international academic community. This guide explains how to apply, key application steps, and strategies for developing a strong, competitive proposal.
The Fung Global Fellows Program is a competitive residential fellowship that brings outstanding early-career scholars from outside the United States to Princeton University for one full academic year. Each year, a small cohort of researchers in the humanities and social sciences is selected to pursue independent research while engaging in collective discussion around a shared annual theme.
This fellowship is arranged by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS), the programme offers fellows the time, resources, and intellectual community needed to advance significant scholarly projects. Fellows are appointed as Visiting Research Scholars, receive a competitive salary, and participate actively in seminars and collaborative activities. The fellowship is designed for scholars who have already demonstrated strong academic achievement and who are expected to return to their home institutions after the year at Princeton.
Applications for the 2027–2028 academic year will open in early September 2026, with a deadline of 16 November 2026. The specific research theme for that year will be announced in mid-summer 2026.
Fung Global Fellows Program Facts & Quick Verification Tracker
- Host Institution: Princeton University (Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies – PIIRS)
- Location: Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Duration: One academic year (approximately 10 months)
- Appointment: Visiting Research Scholar
- Number of Fellows: Typically 6
- Applications open: Early September 2026
- Deadline: 16 November 2026
- Official website: funggfp.princeton.edu
Fung Global Fellows Program Coverage & Requirements Matrix
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Appointment | Visiting Research Scholar |
| Salary | Competitive (previous cycles: approx. $100,000–$135,000) |
| Duration | One academic year (≈10 months) |
| Research Focus | Annual thematic research (theme for 2027–28 to be announced) |
| Eligibility | Early-career scholars with PhD, employed outside the US |
| Return Requirement | Expected to return to home institution after the fellowship |
| Disciplines | Humanities and Social Sciences |
Official Source & Portal Verification for Fung Global Fellows Program
Official information is available on the Fung Global Fellows Program website:
- Main site: https://funggfp.princeton.edu/
- Applications page: https://funggfp.princeton.edu/applications
- Application link: https://puwebp.princeton.edu/AcadHire/apply/index.xhtml?
The research theme for 2027–28 will be announced in mid-summer 2026. Check the official site in late August or early September 2026 for the full call.
The Step-by-Step Roadmap to Apply for Fung Global Fellows Program
- Monitor the official website for the 2027–28 theme announcement (mid-summer 2026).
- Confirm eligibility (early-career status, employment outside the US, relevant research).
- Prepare required materials: cover letter, CV, research proposal, writing sample, and referee details.
- Submit the online application via Princeton’s portal when it opens in early September 2026.
- Ensure referees submit letters of recommendation by the deadline.
- Await notification (typically early to mid-February).
- If selected, arrange visa, travel, and relocation to Princeton for the academic year.
Supporting Academic Collaboration
Fellows join a small, interdisciplinary cohort and engage closely with Princeton faculty and the broader university community. The programme includes a public seminar series and fosters intellectual exchange across regions and disciplines.
Duration and Funding Opportunities
The fellowship lasts one academic year (approximately 10 months). Fellows receive a competitive salary as Visiting Research Scholars, access to Princeton’s libraries and research facilities, and support for participation in the intellectual life of the university. Visa fees for the fellow and dependents are typically covered.
Focus on Development Through Scientific Research
Each year centres on a common research theme of global significance. Fellows pursue independent research projects that engage with the theme while contributing to collective discussions and seminars.
Growing Importance of International Research Partnerships
The programme is designed to increase Princeton’s engagement with scholars worldwide and to generate ideas that transcend national and disciplinary borders. It builds lasting academic networks between Princeton and institutions across the globe.
Broader Fellowship Mission
Founded with support from Princeton alumnus William Fung, the programme reflects the university’s commitment to international scholarly exchange. It brings outstanding early-career researchers from outside the United States to Princeton for a year of intensive research and collaboration.
Research Expectations and Academic Responsibilities
Fellows are expected to be in full-time residence at Princeton, pursue their research projects, participate actively in the programme’s seminars and events, and contribute to the intellectual life of the cohort and the wider university community.
Fung Global Fellows Program Overview and Academic Purpose
The Fung Global Fellows Program is a residential fellowship for early-career scholars in the humanities and social sciences. It provides time, space, and an intellectually stimulating environment for research and writing around a shared annual theme, while fostering international academic exchange.
What This Fellowship Offers (The Advantage)
- Full academic year in residence at Princeton University
- Competitive salary and formal appointment as Visiting Research Scholar
- Access to world-class libraries, resources, and faculty
- Membership in a small, high-calibre international cohort
- Opportunity to present work in a public seminar series
- Strong professional network and career development
Key Features of the Fellowship
- Competitive selection of approximately six early-career scholars
- Annual thematic focus
- Full residency requirement
- Strong emphasis on interdisciplinary and international exchange
- Supported by a major gift from William Fung
Eligible courses at Fung Global Fellows Program
This is not a taught degree programme. Fellows pursue independent research projects aligned with the annual theme. They participate in seminars and collaborative activities organised by the programme.
Open Faculty & Academic Professional Positions and Courses
For the Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–2028 at Princeton University, the relevant academic opportunity is the Early-Career Scholar / Visiting Research Scholar position. Applicants must generally hold a faculty or professional research appointment outside the United States and have earned their PhD or equivalent after September 1, 2016.
Academic Positions
- Visiting Research Scholar – Fung Global Fellows Program
- Early-Career Faculty Scholars
- Professional Research Scholars
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Paper Conservator
- Lecturer
- Ludwig Princeton Fellow
- Microsoft Visiting Research Scholar/Visiting Professor
- Research Program in Development Economics (RPDE)
- Researcher in dual-frequency comb spectroscopy at the nanoscale
- Postdoctoral Research in Astrophysical Sciences
- Researcher in Space Physics
The program is open to scholars from any disciplinary background in the humanities and social sciences and from any region of the world.
Eligible Academic Fields / Courses at Princeton University
Applicants may come from fields including:
- History
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Law
- Economics
- Education
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Cultural Studies
- Gender Studies
- International Relations
- Area Studies
- Migration Studies
- Information and Communication Studies
- Other related humanities and social science disciplines
The fellowship is research-focused rather than a conventional degree course. Fellows spend an academic year at Princeton conducting research, writing, participating in seminars, and collaborating with other scholars around the program’s annual research theme.
Important: Princeton says the 2027–28 application will open in early September 2026, with the deadline currently listed as November 16, 2026. The 2027–28 research theme is expected to be announced before applications open.
Who can Apply for the Fung Global Fellows Program
Early-career scholars who hold a faculty appointment or professional research position outside the United States and who will return to their home institutions after the fellowship.
Key Eligibility Requirements
- Received a Ph.D. (or equivalent) generally after September 1, 2016 (or the equivalent date updated for the new cycle)
- Currently employed outside the United States in a faculty or professional research position
- Not currently enrolled in a Ph.D. programme or employed as a postdoctoral researcher
- Demonstrated outstanding scholarly achievement and intellectual promise
- Research project that engages with the annual programme theme
- Ability to contribute to the intellectual life of the programme
Fung Global Fellows Study Period and Funding
- Period: Academic year 2027–2028 (approximately September/October 2027 to June/July 2028).
- Funding: Competitive salary (previous cycles in the range of $100,000–$135,000), office space, research access, and related support. Visa fees are typically covered.
How to Make Your Fung Global Fellows Program Application Stand Out
The Fung Global Fellows Program is highly selective. Successful applicants consistently demonstrate three things: a clear intellectual fit with the annual theme, evidence of genuine scholarly promise, and the ability to contribute actively to a small, international research community. Below are specific strategies drawn from the profiles and approaches of past successful fellows.
1. Craft a Sharp, Theme-Focused Research Proposal
- Open with a concise statement that immediately links your project to the year’s theme (once announced). Avoid generic language such as “I am interested in global issues.” Instead, show precise engagement with the intellectual questions the theme raises.
- Clearly state the original contribution of your research. Selection committees look for projects that are already well developed and feasible within one academic year.
- Explicitly explain how Princeton’s resources (libraries, faculty, PIIRS community) will advance your work. Name specific collections, centres, or potential collaborators where relevant.
- Keep the proposal tightly structured (maximum 3 pages, single-spaced). Use clear section headings if helpful: Research Question, Significance, Methodology, Contribution to the Theme, and Work Plan.
2. Write a Purpose-Driven Cover Letter
- Address it formally to the “Search Committee.”
- In the opening paragraph, state who you are, your current position, and why the Fung Global Fellows Program is the right next step at this stage of your career.
- Dedicate one focused paragraph to your intellectual trajectory and how it connects to the theme.
- Highlight your capacity to contribute to collective discussion. Past successful applicants emphasised their experience working across disciplines or regions and their readiness to engage actively in seminars.
- End by confirming that you hold (and will return to) a position outside the United States. This is a formal eligibility requirement and should not be left ambiguous.
3. Strengthen the Overall Narrative of Scholarly Promise
- Your CV and writing sample should reinforce the proposal. Choose a writing sample (article or book chapter, max. 50 pages) that best demonstrates analytical depth and clarity rather than simply your longest piece.
- Show a trajectory of increasing scholarly independence. Successful early-career applicants typically already have peer-reviewed publications or a strong publication pipeline.
- Demonstrate international experience and intellectual range. The committee values scholars who bring perspectives from outside the United States and who can enrich the cohort’s discussions.
4. Prepare for the Possibility of Further Evaluation
Although the primary selection is based on written materials, shortlisted candidates may be asked for additional information or interviewed. If contacted:
- Be ready to discuss how your project has evolved since submission.
- Prepare concise answers about how you would contribute to the intellectual life of the programme (seminars, informal exchange, collaboration).
- Show genuine curiosity about the work of other potential fellows and Princeton faculty rather than focusing only on your own project.
Key Principles from Successful Applicants
- Specificity over generality: Vague statements about “global impact” or “interdisciplinarity” are less effective than concrete intellectual claims.
- Feasibility: Committees favour projects that can realistically advance during a single academic year in residence.
- Collegiality: The programme is built around a small cohort. Applications that signal openness to intellectual exchange tend to stand out.
- Clarity and precision: Excellent writing is non-negotiable. Every document should be carefully edited, free of jargon where possible, and easy for a multidisciplinary committee to follow.
Start preparing early. Once the 2027–28 theme is announced (expected mid-summer 2026), refine your research proposal to engage it directly. Strong applications combine intellectual ambition with clear evidence that the candidate will both benefit from, and contribute to, the Fung Global Fellows community at Princeton.
What Past Winners & Student Forums Say
Past fellows frequently praise the intellectual community, the quality of peer feedback, the time and space for deep research, and the lasting professional connections formed at Princeton. Many describe the year as transformative for their scholarly development and international networks.
About the Princeton University
Princeton University is one of the world’s leading research universities, consistently ranked among the top institutions globally. The Fung Global Fellows Program is administered by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS), which serves as a hub for international and area studies across the university.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When does the application open for 2027–28?
Early September 2026. - What is the deadline?
16 November 2026. - Is the theme already known?
No. The 2027–28 research theme will be announced in mid-summer 2026. - Can postdocs apply?
No. Candidates currently employed as postdocs or enrolled in Ph.D. programmes are not eligible. - Is the fellowship fully funded?
Fellows receive a competitive salary and associated support as Visiting Research Scholars. - Must I submit my application online? Only applications submitted through Princeton University’s online portal will be considered. The Fung Global Fellows Program cannot accept mailed, faxed, or emailed applications.
- May I submit parts of my application after the deadline? It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that all requested materials are submitted with the online application by the stated deadline. The online application portal will not be accessible after the deadline. Incomplete applications cannot be considered.
- When will I be notified? Candidates will be contacted by approximately early-to-mid February 2026.
- Who will evaluate my application? Applications will be reviewed by the director of the Fung Global Fellows Program and a search committee.
- Who should I address the cover letter to? Please address your cover letter to: “Dear Search Committee”
- Will I receive a copy of my evaluation? All application materials and the selection committee’s evaluations remain confidential. The committee will not provide feedback on individual applications.
Current Application Deadlines
- Applications open: Early September 2026
- Application deadline: 16 November 2026
Contact Information for Applicants
Official website: https://funggfp.princeton.edu/
Applications and programme details are managed through the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS).
Office of the Dean of Faculty
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544-5264
Phone: (609) 258-8989
Email: dofjobs@princeton.edu
How To Apply for Fung Global Fellows Program
1. Monitor the official Fung Global Fellows Program website for the 2027–28 call (expected early September 2026).
2. Prepare the required documents in English:
- Cover letter (maximum 1.5 pages)
- Curriculum Vitae (including publications)
- Research proposal (maximum 3 pages, single-spaced)
- Writing sample
- Contact details of three referees
3. Submit the complete application online through Princeton’s portal by the deadline.
4. Ensure referees submit their letters on time.
There is no application fee. Late or incomplete applications are not accepted. You can take a look at How to Verify Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and Financial Aid Funding. You can also learn How to Avoid Scholarship Scams. Finally, you can Apply for Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–2028.
Concluding Remarks
The Fung Global Fellows Program 2027–2028 offers an outstanding opportunity for early-career scholars from outside the United States to spend a full academic year at Princeton University engaged in research and collaboration around a shared global theme. With applications opening in early September 2026 and a deadline of 16 November 2026, interested candidates should prepare well in advance and watch for the official theme announcement.