Dissertation Fieldwork Grant

Doctoral students in anthropology (or equivalent thesis-level programs outside the U.S.) may apply for Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fieldwork Grants to fund dissertation or thesis research that advances anthropological knowledge. Qualified students of any nationality or institutional affiliation may apply if enrolled in a doctoral program and able to designate an on-campus dissertation advisor to supervise the project.

Grants provide up to $25,000 for fieldwork and related research costs. Awards are nonrenewable, but applicants may request funding across distinct research phases (for example, two summers) when that fits the research design. Wenner-Gren does not cover institutional overhead or administrative fees.

Apply online through the Foundation application portal when it opens (two months before each deadline). Submit a research proposal with Plan A and Plan B budgets, a bibliography, and required permits information. Deadlines are May 1 for projects starting January 1 through June 30 of the following year and November 1 for projects starting July 1 through December 31 of the following year. The review process takes about six months.

The Wenner-Gren Foundation supports anthropological research worldwide and particularly welcomes proposals that integrate two or more subfields or pioneer new approaches.