The Fulbright Scotland Distinguished Scholar Award at Edinburgh

The Fulbright Commission's Senior Scholar Programme and the University of Edinburgh support one Distinguished Scholar Award per year at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities.

The Award is accompanied by a stipend of £27,500, and an accommodation stipend of up to £1,250 per month. The stipends are intended as a contribution towards US-UK travel, institutional fees, and general maintenance costs while in the UK. The Distinguished Scholar also benefits from a private office in the Institute, membership of the Institute’s lively research community and full borrowing rights at Edinburgh University Library. The Fellowship is for a period of 6 months.

The deadline for applications for the 2025-26 awards was 16 September 2024, 17:00 EST.

Full details of the Fellowship and how to apply are published on the website of the Fulbright Commission.

Previous holders of the Award include:

The 2025 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar will be Dr Miriam Boeri (North Jersey Community Research Initiative).

Notes for applicants:

The Commission assess more than the intellectual merit of proposals and applicants' professional and academic record. The best applications are from well-rounded individuals who can demonstrate:

  • Ambassadorial skills
  • Intercultural sensitivity 
  • Genuine desire to learn more about the UK and to share aspects of American culture
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Community involvement
  • Leadership potential
  • Plans to further the Fulbright mission and give back to the US upon returning

Applicants must be US / dual-nationality citizens. Preference is given to proposals that involve community or outreach work. Recipients are also expected to form long-term links between their home and host institutions.

The UK is the most competitive Fulbright programme in the world, so please make sure your prospective proposal is eligible before you apply. Selection committees and interview panels will be looking for clear reasons for selecting your UK university preference. Candidates are expected to have conducted a thorough university search and to provide clear evidence that Edinburgh is a strong fit for their academic, personal and professional goals.

Applicants will require a letter of support from the most appropriate School within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science. As the host, IASH itself does not provide letters of support. Full details of all Schools, research priorities and staff profiles are available here.

Applicants may also be interested in the American Philosophical Association Edinburgh Fellowship and the American Philosophical Society Fellowship.