There are two main reasons to carefully choose the topic for your doctoral dissertation. The first one is that a good and relevant topic is your guarantee to find a decent job and continue your research. It’s very noble of course to be involved in scientific affairs just for the sake of science but it’s better to get paid for it. Some of the multinational corporations are interested in finding young and bright scholars to join their team.
The second reason is that you can apply for dissertation fellowships and get one. Education has never been cheap (a worthy one at least). Sometimes you might have a brilliant idea for research but no funding for it. It’s a pity to lose an opportunity to contribute to the common knowledge and bring some new ideas to the table.
Luckily, there are multiple options to get a fellowship. You can search for the ones offered for Social Science, Humanities, and any other discipline you are interested in. The important part is to follow the requirements and make sure your dissertation fits the fundamental specifications. Here’s a quick overview of the fellowships you may come across.
Spencer Foundation
They are searching for talented people with innovative ideas to influence our future scientific trends. The competition is high. This year, there were six hundred applicants and only 25 of them received their fellowships. The fellowship amount is $25,000.
AAUW’s American Fellowships
The program’s records go back to 1888 and is focused on the graduate funding for women. The outcome of your application depends on scholarly excellence, originality of your suggested project, etc. The stipend amount is $20, 000.
Joseph L. Fisher Fellowships
If the topic of your dissertation is related to the environment, natural resources or energy, you can apply. The US and non-US citizens are welcome to join the competition. The fellowship offers a $18, 000 award.
Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship
An applicant can choose from a variety of disciplines to do the research – from anthropology and archaeology to philosophy and physics. Only 36 lucky ones will win the competition. You count on a one-year stipend of $25,000.
International Dissertation Research Fellowship
This is a great chance for students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences to apply. Depending on your discipline, you can count on up to twelve months of funding. The average amount of stipend is $21, 000.
GSAS Dissertation Fellowships
You can apply to one of the possible two options: writing or global research fellowships. The first one is perfect for scholars who have already started writing their dissertations. Another one is aimed at those who would like to conduct the research and write in NYU Abu Dhabi or NYU Shanghai. Last year the minimum stipend was $26, 855.
Your University
Don’t forget that your own university might offer a fellowship to its students. Check this information if you haven’t already. For example, the University of Minnesota has this information on the official website. The competition can be less fierce and you won’t have to leave your regular environment.