Predoctoral Fellowship Application

The Institute for Security and Conflict Studies (ISCS) at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, is pleased to offer residential pre-doctoral fellowships for the 2025-26 academic year. These fellowships will provide funding to outstanding doctoral students whose dissertations are likely to make significant contributions in the field of international security studies.

Appointments fund one academic year of full-time dissertation research and writing. While in residence, fellows are expected to actively contribute to the intellectual life of the Institute.

Eligibility

Applicants must be pursuing a Ph.D. in political science, public policy, history or a related discipline, and should have made substantial progress toward completion of a dissertation relevant to international security studies. Additionally, applicants must pass all qualifying exams and advance to the level of Ph.D. candidacy prior to the start of their appointment.

Award Information

Funded fellows receive a stipend of $35,000 over the course of their appointment, which will run from August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026. Fellows also are assigned a computer and shared office space at the Institute, which is located in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C.

Application Requirements

Applicants should complete the online application form below with the following materials included in a single PDF file:

A curriculum vitae
A 5 page double-spaced dissertation prospectus that outlines the question and argument, explains the project’s contribution to the field of international security studies, and describes the research and writing to be undertaken during the fellowship year
A short writing sample (no longer than 40 pages)

Three confidential letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s scholarly promise and progress toward completion are required. Letter writers should email their recommendations directly to iscs@gwu.edu.

We have a limited number of funded fellowships available. Please let us know if you wish to be considered for an unfunded Visiting Scholar position in the event that you are not selected for a funded fellowship.

Application deadline has been extended to January 31, 2025, 11:59 pm EST.

Applicants will be notified of the Institute’s decision in February, 2025.

Please email the Institute for Security and Conflict Studies at iscs@gwu.edu with any questions regarding your application.

2025-26 ISCS Predoctoral Fellow Application

First name *

Last name *

Home institution *

Email *

Cell phone number *

Work phone number *

Mailing address *

Mailing address

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal

Country

Dissertation title *

Dissertation committee *

Create a numbered list please.
Example: 1. Dr. Charles Glaser, George Washington University, 212-999-9999, cglaser1@gwu.edu

If not chosen for a funded fellowship, would you like to be considered for an unfunded Visiting Scholar position? *

Yes

Please provide a numbered list of your THREE recommendations: *

Please use the following format:
Dr. Charles Glaser, George Washington University, 212-999-9999, cglaser1@gwu.edu

Please upload in ONE complete PDF document, i.e. combine all documents into a single file containing the following: *

A curriculum vitae;
A 4 to 5 page double-spaced dissertation prospectus that outlines the question and argument, explains the project’s contribution to the field of international security studies, and describes the research and writing to be undertaken during the fellowship year;
A short writing sample (no longer than 40 pages).

Please label as Lastname_PreDoc_2025 example: Farrell_PreDoc_2025

Maximum file size: 52.22MB

Have all three of your recommenders submitted letters DIRECTLY via email to iscs@gwu.edu? *

Recommenders must send letters directly to us.
Please ask their subject line read: “last name ISCS PreDoc LoR 2025 last name of recommender” Example: Farrell ISCS PreDoc LoR 2025 Mearsheimer.
Also ask that the attached file name read: lastname_LoR_recommender_25 Example: Farrell_LoR_Mearsheimer_25

Yes

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