Graduate Fellowships
Richard M. Weaver Fellowship
Granted to current graduate students or applicants to graduate schools who have an intention to teach at the college level.
Each Weaver Fellow receives a grant of $5,000 and payment of tuition at the school of his choice (either in the U.S. or abroad), as well as $1,000 worth of ISI-published books.
Western Civilization Fellowship
Granted to current graduate students with a research interest in and dedication to the Western tradition.
Each Western Civilization Fellow will receive a $20,000 grant to pursue studies at the school of his choice.
Salvatori Fellowship
Granted to current graduate students or applicants to graduate schools in a field related to the American Founding.
Each Fellow receives a grant of $10,000.
Bache Renshaw Fellowship
Granted to current graduate students or applicants to graduate schools in doctoral study in education.
Each recipient receives a $12,000 grant.
The deadline for all fellowships is January 17, 2012.
Graduate Fellowship Application Details
To apply for a Graduate Fellowship, assemble the following:
- Headshot
- One-page outline of prior education, awards, fellowships, and internships
- Five- to ten-page essay written on the theme of the fellowship for which you are applying
- Three- to five-page personal, philosophical, and professional autobiography
- Five- to ten-page academic writing sample
- Three academic letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
- Brief responses to the following four questions:
- Why the applicant has chosen teaching as a profession
- Why the applicant desires a fellowship
- How the applicant heard about the ISI Fellowship Program
- Signed declaration of intent to teach
Graduate Fellowship Application Guidelines
- Applicants must be members of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.
- The postmark deadline for Graduate Fellowship materials and applications is January 17, 2012. The 2012–2013 ISI Graduate Fellows will be announced in April 2012. ISI will notify each applicant by email.
- Graduate Fellowship applicants must engage in graduate studies for the purpose of teaching at the college level.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens, who will be enrolled in a fulltime graduate program for academic year 2012-2013.
- Those attending pre-professional (medical, law, divinity, business, etc.) schools are ineligible.
- Personal philosophical statement and academic writing samples must be 12 point standard font, and double spaced.
- Academic letters of recommendation must be sent by the recommender and include the Graduate Fellowships Program Letter of Recommendation Form.
- Transcripts may be mailed by the issuing institution or the applicant.
- Applicants may apply for more than one fellowship in any given academic cycle. For each fellowship sought, applicants must submit separate copies of all components of the application.
Note: Applications that do not meet the above criteria will not be considered.
Applying Online (Strongly Preferred)
Follow the steps below to apply via the ISI Fellowships Program online portal:
- Create a MyISI profile. You will be notified within 1–2 business days that your profile has been established.
- After your profile has been established, access the ISI Fellowships Program portal here.
Applying via Mail
If you prefer to use hard materials, include the application requirements with an application form and mail them to the address below:
[Fellowship Title]
[Applicant’s Name]
Graduate Fellowships Program
Intercollegiate Studies Institute
3901 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19807-1938
For more information on the Graduate Fellowships Program, please e-mail awards@isi.org or call (800) 526-7022.
Undergraduate Fellowships
William E. Simon Fellowship for Noble Purpose
The Simon Fellowship is a $40,000 unrestricted grant awarded to those graduating college seniors who have demonstrated passion, dedication, a high capacity for self-direction, and originality in pursuit of a goal that will strengthen civil society. In addition, awards of $20,000 and $10,000 are made to two other outstanding students.
The deadline for this fellowship is January 17, 2012.
Application Evaluation
Applicants are evaluated on the basis of the mature conception of and passion for what they hope to accomplish as well as their academic records, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation.
Application Details
To apply, assemble the following:
- One-page outline of prior education, awards, fellowships, and internships
- Five- to ten-page narrative essays detailing past efforts, future plans, and individual philosophy for living a life of noble purpose
- A letter of recommendation relevant to the applicant's noble purpose
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate course work
Application Guidelines
- The postmark deadline for William E. Simon Fellowship materials and applications is January 17, 2012. The 2012–2013 fellows will be announced in June 2012. ISI will notify each applicant by mail.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens, who graduated in Fall 2011, or who will graduate in Spring 2012.
- Narrative essays must be 12 point standard font, and double spaced.
- Academic letters of recommendation must be sent by the recommender and include the The William E. Simon Fellowships for Noble Purpose Letter of Recommendation Form.
- Transcripts may be mailed by the issuing institution or the applicant.
Note: Applications that do not meet the above criteria will not be considered.
Applying Online (Strongly Preferred)
Follow the steps below to apply via the ISI Fellowship Program online portal:
- Create a MyISI profile. You will be notified within 1–2 business days that your profile has been established.
- After your profile has been established, access the ISI Fellowships Program portal here.
Applying via Mail
If you prefer to use hard materials, include the application requirements with an application form and mail them to the address below:
Simon Fellowship
Intercollegiate Studies Institute
3901 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19807-1938
For more information on the William E. Simon Fellowship for Noble Purpose, please e-mail simon@isi.org or call (800) 526-7022.