USA Scholarships
Guggenheim Fellowships 2027 - US & Canada Grant
This guide stays up for reference. Check the official website for the next round, or see what else closes in September.
Guggenheim Fellowships are mid-career grants from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation that buy artists, writers, scholars and scientists six to twelve months to advance one project across more than fifty fields. You must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada, you cannot be enrolled as a student, and past Guggenheim Fellows cannot reapply. The 2027 United States and Canada competition closed at 11:59 pm Eastern on 15 September 2026. Work examples are due by 29 September 2026 where required, and reference letters by 13 October 2026. The Foundation expects to announce the 2027 class in late April 2027. The next competition is expected to open in mid-August 2027 for the 2028 fellowship year.
What are Guggenheim Fellowships?
Guggenheim Fellowships sit in a rare category: no campus residency, no teaching load, and no fixed checklist beyond doing serious work on one project. The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has run the program since 1925, and the annual United States and Canada competition still draws thousands of artists, writers, scholars and scientists who already have real accomplishments behind them.
Grant sizes are individualized. The Foundation looks at your project and what other income you have, then sets support for six to twelve months. That makes the fellowship different from residential programs with posted stipends, such as the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship. You are free to work where you choose, stack the grant with sabbatical pay or other awards, and focus on a single line of inquiry.
If you applied for the 2027 competition, the portal closed on 15 September 2026. Keep track of work-sample and reference deadlines in late September and October, then expect email results in late April 2027. If you missed the window, start drafting your Statement of Plans now for the next cycle. The Foundation usually reopens in mid-August with a mid-September deadline, and the separate 2028 Guggenheim guide walks through what to expect when that portal goes live again.
Eligibility
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✓US or Canadian citizenship or permanent residencyYou must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada when you apply. U.S. and Canadian citizens may live anywhere in the world. Permanent residents qualify regardless of country of origin. Applicants with no tie to either country are not eligible for this competition.
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✓Mid-career professional recordGuggenheim Fellowships go to people who have already made notable, recognized contributions to their field. The Foundation defines mid-career by output and impact, not age. Recent classes have spanned decades in age and included many applicants without full-time university jobs.
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✓One significant projectYour application must center on a single project you can pursue at a high level during the fellowship period. Interdisciplinary work is welcome, but the Foundation prefers tightly focused proposals over scattered goals.
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✓Not currently enrolled as a studentAnyone enrolled in secondary, undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate study is ineligible. Faculty on sabbatical, independent artists, and researchers at institutes may apply if they are not degree candidates.
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✓Never received a Guggenheim FellowshipPast Fellows cannot apply again, even for a new project. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in a later year when their record has grown.
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✓Individual or equal pair onlyOrganizations cannot apply. Two collaborators may submit matching applications for one shared project and split a single award if selected. Groups of three or more are not eligible.
Benefits
- Grant amount Varies by Fellow and project
- Period of support 6 to 12 months
- Freedom of work location No residency requirement
- Combine with salary or other grants Allowed
- Application fee None
- Published fixed stipend Not published
- Guaranteed full project funding Not guaranteed
Document checklist
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✓Online application on competition.gf.orgNine sections covering contact information, project field, career history, education, references and uploads. You must press Final Submit Application before the deadline; drafts are not reviewed.
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✓Career Narrative (up to 1,000 words)Prose summary of your career in a double-spaced 12-point PDF. List major prizes, honors and grants with dates. Do not substitute a CV for this narrative.
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✓List of most significant worksChronological list of key publications, exhibitions, performances or compositions. The current guide limits entries; include work in progress where relevant.
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✓Statement of Plans (up to 1,000 words)First-person description of the project you will pursue during the fellowship. Referees see only this document, so it must stand alone without your other uploads.
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✓Three or four referencesNames and email addresses for people who know your recent work. The Foundation emails them after you submit. Interfolio letters are not accepted.
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✓Work examples when requiredArtists must submit samples; scholars are asked to; scientists generally do not. Upload or postmark by 29 September 2026 for the 2027 cycle, following field-specific limits on images, links or printed books.
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✓PDF formatting rulesSupporting PDFs must be double-spaced, 12-point standard font, portrait, unsecured, and under 5 MB each or they may fail to upload.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What are Guggenheim Fellowships?
They are competitive grants from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, established in 1925, that support mid-career individuals for six to twelve months of work on one project in the arts, humanities, social sciences or natural sciences. Roughly 200 Fellows are chosen each year from thousands of applicants.
Who is eligible for Guggenheim Fellowships in 2027?
Mid-career U.S. or Canadian citizens or permanent residents with a notable record in an eligible field, a clear project plan, and no current student enrollment. Past Guggenheim Fellows and organizations cannot apply.
When is the Guggenheim Fellowship deadline for 2027?
The 2027 United States and Canada competition closed on 15 September 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern. Work samples were due 29 September 2026 and reference letters 13 October 2026. The next opening is expected in mid-August 2027.
How much money do Guggenheim Fellowships pay?
The Foundation does not publish a fixed amount. Grant sizes vary based on the project and the Fellow's other resources. You do not submit a budget with your application; financial details are requested only if you are nominated.
Can graduate students apply for Guggenheim Fellowships?
No. Anyone enrolled in secondary, undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate programs is ineligible. Finish your degree and build a professional record before applying.
How competitive are Guggenheim Fellowships?
Very competitive. Recent success rates have averaged around 5 percent. The 2026 class included 223 Fellows from nearly 5,000 applicants across 55 fields.
Can I reapply if my Guggenheim Fellowship application is rejected?
Yes. Unsuccessful applicants may submit again in a later year. The Foundation suggests reapplications work best when your record has clearly advanced through new work, recognition or momentum since the prior try.
Are Guggenheim Fellowships only for university professors?
No. About one third of recent Fellows had no full-time university appointment. Independent artists, writers and researchers with strong bodies of work are welcome, provided they meet citizenship and mid-career requirements.
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