MMUF Dissertation Grant
The MMUF Dissertation Grants provide doctoral candidates at the critical juncture of completing their graduate degrees with support to spend a year finishing the writing of the dissertation. These grants are open only to alumni of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.
This program is funded by The Mellon Foundation.
INTRODUCTION
About the Program
MMUF Dissertation Grants are part of the MMUF Advancement Program, whose Fellows gather to prepare graduate school applications, receive funding for additional research, and professional support throughout their dissertation research. MMUF Advancement Program Fellows are alumni of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) program and bring diverse perspectives to their graduate studies and careers in the academy, ensuring their perspectives are shared within their disciplines and with their students.
The MMUF Dissertation Grants provide graduate students at the critical juncture of completing their graduate degrees with support to spend a year finishing the writing of the dissertation.
The Challenge
Diverse perspectives have been historically excluded from higher education.
The Fellows
431 grants have been awarded through the MMUF Advancement Program and 80% of scholars have earned their doctorate.
The Impact
Young adults have increased access to a diversity of perspectives and deepen their understanding of people of all backgrounds.
WHY APPLY?
Grant Benefits
The MMUF Dissertation Grant provides doctoral candidates with the financial stability, focus, and professional validation needed to complete their dissertations and take the final steps toward earning their Ph.D. By offering up to a year of dedicated support, the grant reduces financial pressures, creates space for uninterrupted writing, and affirms the scholar’s place in a community committed to advancing diverse perspectives within the academy. This pivotal support allows Fellows to concentrate fully on completing their research and preparing for the next stage of their academic careers.
- Dedicated funding that creates the financial stability for a full year focused on dissertation writing.
- Support for sustained focus on dissertation writing during a crucial 12-month period.
- Recognition and validation from a national program committed to increasing diverse perspectives in higher education.
- A strong foundation for post-Ph.D. success, helping scholars finish their degrees with clarity, momentum, and confidence.
Award & Selection Details
Award Information
The MMUF Dissertation Grants are available to graduate students who participated in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program. The grants provide graduate students at the critical juncture of completing their graduate degrees with support to spend a year finishing the writing of the dissertation.
Who can apply?
- Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Programs alumni
- Candidate for the Ph.D. degree in fields recognized under the terms of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program
- Candidates must have completed all pre-dissertation requirements before the application deadline. Specifically, each applicant must have passed all comprehensive examinations, completed all coursework for the degree, received approval of the dissertation topic, and completed most or all of the fieldwork and/or research necessary to begin writing.
Grant Criteria
- The dissertation grant offers up to $30,000 for a 12-month period. Fellows are encouraged to apply for dissertation grants from their home institutions.
- Winners who do not receive dissertation support from their own institutions are eligible to receive the full amount. The grant will be reduced by funding from other sources to ensure that each awardee receives a maximum award from all sources of $30,000.
- The Institute for Citizens & Scholars will ask graduate schools to waive tuition for winners of the MMUF Dissertation Grant.
- Candidates must arrange for their own health insurance coverage.
Eligible Fields
- Humanities: American and English Literatures, Foreign Languages and Literatures (including Area/Cultural/Ethnic/Gender Studies), Art History, Classics, Film, Cinema and Media Studies (theoretical focus) History, Linguistics, Musicology and Ethnomusicology, Performance Studies (theoretical focus), Philosophy and Political Theory, Religion and Theology, Theater (non-performance focus)
- Social Sciences: Anthropology and Archaeology, Demography, Geography and Population Studies, Sociology
- Physical Sciences: Computer Science, Earth/Environmental/Geological Sciences, Ecology, Geology, Mathematics, Oceanographic/Marine/Atmospheric/Planetary Science, Physics and Astronomy
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Frequently Asked Questions
I am a candidate for a doctoral degree other than a Ph.D. Am I eligible to apply?
You must be a Ph.D. candidate in order to be eligible for this fellowship.
I do not see my field of study in the list of eligible fields. Is my program eligible for support?
Only fields designated by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation are eligible for support. If you question the eligibility of your particular field you may contact us to inquire: mmufdis@citizensandscholars.org.
Eligible Fields:
Humanities: American and English Literatures, Foreign Languages and Literatures (including Area/Cultural/Ethnic/Gender Studies), Art History, Classics, Film, Cinema and Media Studies (theoretical focus) History, Linguistics, Musicology and Ethnomusicology, Performance Studies (theoretical focus), Philosophy and Political Theory, Religion and Theology, Theater (non-performance focus)
Social Sciences: Anthropology and Archaeology, Demography, Geography and Population Studies, Sociology
Physical Sciences: Computer Science, Earth/Environmental/Geological Sciences, Ecology, Geology, Mathematics, Oceanographic/Marine/Atmospheric/Planetary Science, Physics and Astronomy
Are social work and clinical psychology eligible fields of study?
No, only fields designated by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation are eligible. (See listing in question above)
When must the application materials be received on the deadline date?
All application materials must be RECEIVED by December 06, 2025 at 5 pm ET.
How should letters of recommendation be submitted?
Letters of recommendation should be signed, on institutional letterhead, and submitted through the online application.
When are new grant awards announced?
New grant awards are announced in mid to late February.
When will alternates be notified if they were selected for a grant?
Should an alternate be selected, they will be notified by mid-April.
How is the stipend disbursed to MMUF Dissertation Grant recipients?
Stipends are sent to the MMUF Dissertation Grant recipients in two equal payments, in June and the following January.
What reporting is required of MMUF Dissertation Grant recipients?
MMUF Dissertation Grant recipients are required to submit a final progress report at the end of the grant period. They are also required to inform the Foundation when they have been granted the Ph.D. and provide updates to their contact information when necessary. The Foundation will send an occasional survey to monitor progress and provide targeted communications to recipients.
Still have questions or need help deciding where to begin?
Please direct any questions to mmufdis@citizensandscholars.org.
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