Eligibility and Guidelines

School of Historical Studies

• Award Period: 2024–2025
• Application Deadline: October 15, 2023 11:59 PM Eastern Time
• Reference Letter Deadline: October 15, 2023 11:59 PM Eastern Time

The School of Historical Studies supports scholarship in all fields of historical research but is concerned principally with the history of western, near eastern and Asian civilizations, with particular emphasis upon the Greek and Roman world, the history of Europe (medieval, early modern, and modern), the Islamic world, East Asian studies, art history, history of science, and late modern history. The School also offers the Edward T. Cone Membership in Music Studies. The School welcomes approximately forty Members working on topics in the above-mentioned fields, but each year the School also selects scholars working in other areas of historical research. All selections are based on both external and internal reviews. Members in the School are appointed for either term (first term September 25 to December 22, second term January 15 to April 12) or two terms, amounting to a full academic year.

Institute stipends will normally be offered up to a maximum of $78,000 for the full academic year or $39,000 for one term. Other grants, including sabbatical salaries, may supplement stipends, but if the total exceeds the salary at the time of application, the Institute stipend will be reduced accordingly. Scholars with full sabbatical funding, other grants, retirement funding, or other means may apply for a non-stipendiary membership. Institute stipends are intended to replace lost salaries to fund Members; they are not intended to pay for teaching replacements in Members’ home institutions. A few Assistant Professors who meet additional eligibility requirements will be selected for Mellon Fellowships that will provide full-year support matching their salaries and benefits at the time of application. (Detailed information about this program is on the website: https://www.ias.edu/hs/mellon.) Some short-term visitorships (for less than a full term and without a stipend) are also available on an ad-hoc basis. (To inquire about visitorship opportunities, contact the Administrative Officer at HSao@ias.edu.)

Eligibility requirements include a substantial record of publication and a Ph.D. awarded no later than December 31, 2022. (Scholars with a Ph.D. awarded in 2023 are expected to wait at least one year before applying.) The School takes into account the stage of the scholar’s academic career when evaluating the list of publications, but applicants should have at least several articles already in print in scholarly publications to be considered eligible for membership. Scholars are not required to have a current institutional affiliation.

Members must remain in Princeton residence during term time. The only obligation is to pursue their research. If they wish, they may also participate in seminars and meetings within the Institute, and there are ample opportunities for contact with scholars at nearby universities. Qualified candidates of any nationality are invited to apply.

View the Frequently Asked Questions page.