Short Description
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans provide merit-based funding for New Americans, immigrants and children of immigrants, who are poised to make significant contributions to US culture, society and academia.
Eligibility
- You must be 30 or younger as of the application deadline. There is no minimum age requirement.
- You are an immigrant or the child of immigrants. If you are an immigrant, you should be a naturalized US citizen, a green card holder, an asylee or refugee, or someone who graduated from both high school and college in the United States.
- You must be planning to be enrolled in a full-time degree-granting graduate or professional program in the United States in the 2026-2027 academic year. The Fellowship is open to all fields of study and you can apply when you’re applying to graduate school or while you’re in the early years of graduate school.
Requirements During the Fellowship Year
Fall Conference
Over the two years of the Fellowship, Fellows are required to attend the annual Fall Conference in New York City, which is paid for by the program. The Fall Conference takes place over a weekend in late October and is an opportunity for the new Fellows to get to know one another and the Fellowship staff, alumni, and community, celebrate, and examine the New American experience.
Campus Visits
The director or deputy director of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships will visit each Fellow on their respective campus during the first fall semester of their Fellowship.
Work & Standing
The Fellowship funding should allow Fellows to focus on their studies full-time, which is why Fellows are not able to work full-time during their graduate program. Fellows are required to remain in good standing in their graduate program while receiving funding. At the close of their two years as an active fellow, Fellows must submit an exit report. More details on the visit and the requirements of the Fellowship are provided when selected applicants sign a contract with the Fellowship.
Submission Requirements
1. Online Form
- Personal and demographic info
- Educational history and grad school plans
2. Résumé / CV
3. Two essays (max 1,000 words each)
- Essay 1: Your experience as a New American and its impact on your development
- Essay 2: Description of current/near-term career goals and how your chosen graduate program supports that
4. Academic transcripts (college and graduate, if applicable) – unofficial fine at submission; official later if selected
5. Standardized test scores, only if required by your graduate programs
6. Letters of recommendation – a minimum of 3, up to 5; must be submitted directly through the application system
7. Optional exhibits – e.g., publications, portfolios, press clippings; up to 5 items
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
Each year, we invest in the graduate education of 30 New Americans—immigrants and children of immigrants—who are poised to make significant contributions to US society, culture or their academic field. Each Fellow receives up to $90,000 in financial support over two years, and they join a lifelong community of New American Fellows.
Entry Fee
None
Location
United States
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 30 October 2025
Website Link: https://pdsoros.org/
