The American Philosophical Society, through its Franklin Research Grants, funds a fellowship each year at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), University of Edinburgh.
Fellows spend two to four months in residence in Edinburgh on research in any area of the humanities or social sciences, joining the Institute’s community of visiting scholars.
Benefits & funding
- A bursary of up to US$6,500 toward travel and a monthly subsistence payment, paid to the fellow and classed as taxable income.
- IASH helps find housing but does not pay for it.
- Fellows live in Edinburgh for the whole tenure, give at least one IASH seminar, and file project and financial reports one month after the funded work ends.
Eligibility
- U.S. residents (U.S. citizens, or foreign nationals and permanent residents affiliated with a U.S. institution), or U.S. citizens living abroad.
- A doctorate by the application date, or published work of doctoral character and quality; PhD candidates cannot apply.
- Independent scholars and faculty at two- and four-year institutions are welcome.
- Past Franklin grant holders may reapply only after two years.
- Stays shorter than two months are not considered.
- A current or emeritus University of Edinburgh staff mentor, agreed in advance and named: required by the IASH application form and FAQ (none means rejection); the APS page calls prior contact only an advantage.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Applicants are expected to have a doctorate by the date of application, or to have published work of doctoral character and quality. … Applicants must be either residents of the United States (either American citizens or foreign nationals or permanent residents affiliated with a U.S. institution) or American citizens resident abroad.” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
USA
Residents of USA can also apply.
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Application process
- 1Submit the IASH online form with a one-page CV, a proposal of at most two pages, and a one-page budget with its rationale.
- 2Arrange two confidential references from outside your institution (at most one from a mentor), emailed by the referees to iash@ed.ac.uk by the closing date.
Program timeline
27 February 2026
Last round closed (visits August 2026 – July 2027).
26 February 2027
Next deadline, per the APS page (research in calendar year 2027).