The ICJS Fellowship Cohorts support independent work on Jefferson Studies, the founding of the United States, and its legacies. The Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello runs the program. Applicants choose either a four-month fall or spring Semester Cohort in Charlottesville or a 12-month Yearlong Hybrid Cohort based primarily offsite.
Semester fellows use Monticello and Jefferson Library resources while joining the onsite scholarly community. Hybrid fellows conduct most research remotely and meet online and during two visits to Monticello.
Benefits & funding
- Semester fellows receive USD 4,500 per month for four months, paid biweekly; housing is not provided.
- Yearlong Hybrid fellows receive USD 5,000 for the 12-month term, plus seven hotel nights, meals, and local transportation during visits.
- Economy travel to and from Monticello at the beginning and end of the fellowship is reimbursed.
- Both routes include access to the Jefferson Library’s physical and digital collections, nearby University of Virginia library resources, and Monticello experts.
Eligibility
- Applications are open to U.S. citizens and international applicants, with no stated nationality restriction.
- Applicants must propose work on Jefferson Studies, the founding of the United States, or their legacies.
- No specific degree or career-stage threshold is stated; named audiences include artists, civic leaders, graduate students, public historians, researchers, early-career scholars, and teachers.
- Semester fellows must live in Central Virginia for the fellowship, arrange their own housing and local transportation, and, if international, secure their own U.S. visa.
- Yearlong Hybrid fellows work primarily offsite and attend two onsite gatherings; the page states no residence requirement for this route.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Select either the Semester Cohort or Yearlong Hybrid Cohort in the application.
- 2Complete the online application form and upload a curriculum vitae.
- 3Submit a project proposal and outcomes plan of no more than 500 words plus a professional bio of no more than 300 words.
- 4Arrange two reference letters; all letters must arrive within seven calendar days after the application portal closes.
Program timeline
Application deadline
October 1, 2026
Yearlong Hybrid Cohort starts
July 1, 2027
Fall Semester Cohort starts
August 25, 2027
Fall Semester Cohort ends
December 17, 2027
Spring Semester Cohort starts
January 24, 2028
Spring Semester Cohort ends
May 19, 2028
Yearlong Hybrid Cohort ends
June 30, 2028