The Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination brings a cohort of up to 15 Fellows to Reid Hall in Paris for sustained individual work and exchange. Roughly half the cohort comprises Columbia faculty and postdoctoral scholars, while the other half comprises artists and writers from around the world.
The 2027–28 award runs from September 1, 2027, through May 31, 2028. Fellows work in residence, participate regularly in the community, and may host workshops or conferences.
Benefits & funding
- A $75,000 stipend for the full academic year; the Institute may prorate it for extensive absences.
- A private office at the Institute, plus administrative and research support.
- Access to Columbia libraries and associated research facilities in Paris and elsewhere in Europe.
- Columbia faculty may apply for one semester, although the full academic year is preferred.
Eligibility
- Columbia tenured and tenure-track faculty, including eligible faculty at Barnard and Teachers College, may apply; adjunct professors and lecturers must hold an appointment extending beyond the fellowship year.
- Columbia postdoctoral applicants in any subject must have completed their PhD and defended their Columbia dissertation between September 2024 and December 31, 2026.
- Creative-arts applicants may work in fields including visual or sound art, film, composition, or writing; they must not be affiliated with Columbia and, regardless of nationality, must not reside permanently in the United States.
- Applications are for individuals only, and Fellows must work regularly at the Institute in Paris while keeping other professional obligations to a minimum.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
Appears to have an age limit “up to 15”
confirm in the requirements
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Application process
- 1Create an account in the Institute’s online application portal and choose the applicable faculty, postdoctoral, or creative-arts category.
- 2Provide personal, citizenship, education, and affiliation details, then upload a CV, a 1,500-word project description, and a work sample.
- 3Arrange three new letters of recommendation; dossier letters are not accepted.
- 4Submit the application in English by September 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST. Columbia faculty should also notify their department chair or dean of their intention to apply.
Program timeline
Application deadline
September 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m. EST
Fellowship starts
September 1, 2027
Fellowship ends
May 31, 2028