Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

Website Eligibility Deadline
pdsoros.org Seniors/Graduate Students Oct. 28, 2022

About

The purpose of the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is to provide opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields. The Program is established in recognition of the contributions New Americans have made to American life and in gratitude for the opportunities the United States has afforded the donors and their family.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the 2023 Fellowship, you must meet the following requirements as of the above application deadline:

1. NEW AMERICAN STATUS​​

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is a fellowship program intended for United States immigrants and children of immigrants. To be eligible, an applicant’s birth parents must have both been born outside of the U.S. as non-U.S. citizens, and both parents must not have been eligible for U.S. citizenship at the time of their births. In addition, one of the following must be true of the applicant as of the above application deadline:

  • Born in the U.S.: You are a U.S. citizen by birth and both of your parents were born abroad as non-U.S. citizens.
  • Naturalized Citizen: You have been naturalized as a U.S. citizen either on your own or as a minor child under the application of one of your parents.
  • Green Card: You are in possession of a valid green card.
  • Adopted: You were born outside of the U.S. or one of its territories and were subsequently adopted by American parents, and were awarded U.S. citizenship as a result of your adoption.
  • DACA: You have been granted deferred action under the government’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and your status is currently active.

2. ACADEMIC STANDING

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is a fellowship program intended for immigrants and children of immigrants who are pursuing full time graduate degrees at United States institutions. Eligible applicants will have a bachelor’s degree as of the application deadline and may be applying to graduate school as they are applying to the fellowship, or they may already be enrolled in the graduate program that they are seeking funding for as of the application deadline. The fellowship program is open to all fields of study and fully accredited full-time graduate degree programs. In order to be eligible for the 2021 fellowship, an applicant should be planning to be enrolled full time in an eligible graduate degree program at a US university for the full 2021-2022 academic year. Eligible applicants must not have begun the third year of the program that they are seeking funding for as of the above deadline. Applicants who have a previous graduate degree or who are in a joint-degree program are eligible.

Ineligible programs: Online programs, executive graduate programs, joint bachelors/master's programs, certificate programs, post-baccalaureate programs, graduate programs that are not in the United States, and graduate programs that are not fully accredited.

3. AGE

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is a fellowship program intended for students who are early in their careers. All students must be 30 or younger as of the application deadline. In order to be eligible for the 2023 fellowship an applicant must not have reached or passed their 31st birthday as of the application deadline. There is no minimum age requirement.

The competition is merit-based. Selection criteria emphasize creativity, originality, initiative, and sustained accomplishment. The program values a commitment to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The program does not have any quotas for types of degrees, universities or programs, countries of origin, or gender, etc. Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply in subsequent years if they are still eligible.

Application Procedure

The application includes the following sections:

  • A confirmation of your eligibility
  • Your personal and contact information
  • Your higher-education history
  • The graduate program(s) for which you seek support
  • Required submissions:
    • Resume
    • Two essays
    • Transcripts
    • Scores of standardized tests already taken
    • Recommendations (three required, up to five accepted)
  • Optional exhibits

To access the application, click here.

Value of the Award

Each Fellowship supports one to two years of graduate study in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program in the United States. Each award is for up to a total of $90,000. Here is the break down: Each Fellow receives $25,000 in stipend support a year (all stipend awards are capped at $50,000 per year), as well as 50 percent of required tuition and fees, up to $20,000 per year, for one to two years. The first year of Fellowship funding cannot be deferred.

Contact

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
224 W. 57th St.
New York, NY 10019
212-547-6926
PDSoros@pdsoros.org

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