Apply for a Fellowship
The Berlin Prize Application
We are now accepting applications for the 2027-28 Berlin Prize competition. The deadline is Friday, September 25, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (6:00 p.m. Central European Time). To apply, please click the button below.
The American Academy in Berlin is a private, independent, nonprofit institute for advanced study in the arts, humanities, social sciences, law, journalism, and public policy. Its primary mission is to strengthen the cultural and intellectual ties between the United States and Germany. Each year, following a rigorous selection process, the Academy awards roughly two dozen semester-long fellowships to individuals who demonstrate excellence in their respective fields. The Berlin Prize is a residential fellowship and recipients are expected to be in residence at the American Academy for the semester.
The Academy welcomes applications from a broad range of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, law, journalism, and various areas of public policy. We also generally encourage projects that address pressing issues of the day, such as democracy, security, technology and society (especially AI), energy (including climate), and global order. Dedicated fellowships are also available to support projects in Jewish studies, German studies, and public health and biotechnology. While project proposals need not focus on topics related to Germany, candidates should explain how a residency in Berlin would enhance their work.
The Academy invites visual artists and composers via separate, nomination-based competitions. We do not accept project proposals in mathematics or the natural sciences.
Berlin Prize Fellows receive monthly stipends of $5000, roundtrip airfare, accommodation at or near the Hans Arnhold Center, partial board, and access to in-house library services and professional networking opportunities. Fellows present their work to audiences in and around Berlin via lectures, readings, public discussions, performances, and film screenings. They should also be willing to engage with relevant German institutions, organizations, and the media. These activities are integral to the Academy’s mission of fostering transatlantic dialogue.
All candidates will receive notification of the competition outcome via email in late March 2027. The Academy will announce the 2027-28 Berlin Prize recipients in May 2027.
General Fellowship FAQs
What is the American Academy in Berlin?
Founded in 1994, the American Academy in Berlin is a private, independent, nonprofit institute for advanced study in the arts, humanities, social sciences, law, journalism, and public policy. The Academy seeks to strengthen the cultural and intellectual ties between the United States and Germany.
Each year, the Academy welcomes roughly two dozen fellows to the Hans Arnhold Center, a historic lakeside villa located in the Wannsee district of Berlin. We also invite a small number of Distinguished Visitors and guest speakers for shorter stays of one to four weeks. The Academy’s diverse public programming includes lectures, readings, and presentations by fellows-in-residence, Distinguished Visitors, and guest speakers. For a complete roster of past fellows and Distinguished Visitors, please visit the alumni section of our website.
The Academy is in a unique position to support fellows in establishing or expanding existing professional networks in and beyond Berlin. Each semester, fellows interact with local peers and partner institutions within the Academy’s well-established network, forging meaningful transatlantic connections. Fellows engage German audiences through lectures, readings, and performances, which form the core of the Academy’s public program.
What is a Berlin Prize?
Berlin Prize Fellows receive monthly stipends of $5000, roundtrip airfare, accommodation at or near the Hans Arnhold Center, partial board, access to in-house library services, and professional networking opportunities. Fellows present their work to audiences in and around Berlin via lectures, readings, public discussions, performances, and film screenings. They should also be willing to engage with relevant German institutions, organizations, and the media. These activities are integral to the Academy’s mission of fostering transatlantic dialogue.
Fellows may choose to receive their stipends directly or via their home institutions. The Academy does not withhold for taxes, but stipends are taxable income. Fellows will receive IRS Form 1099. If the stipend is paid to the fellow’s home institution, institutional overhead/indirect costs may not be charged or deducted from the stipend.
Who is eligible for a fellowship?
The Academy welcomes applications from a broad range of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, law, journalism, and various areas of public policy. Berlin Prize recipients include both established and emerging scholars, writers, artists, journalists, and policy experts who wish to engage in independent study within an interdisciplinary residential community. Emerging scholars should hold a PhD and a strong record of peer-reviewed work beyond the dissertation. The Academy will not consider projects that have not advanced significantly beyond the candidate’s dissertation project. Independent scholars who satisfy the general eligibility requirements are welcome to apply.
Applicants working in most other fields—such as journalism, filmmaking, or public policy—must have a significant record of publication or production. Writers of fiction and nonfiction must have published at least one book with a reputable press at the time of application.
Please note that we do not accept project proposals in mathematics or the natural sciences, and that we select visual artists and composers through invitation-only competitions.
Fellowships are restricted to citizens and permanent residents of the United States. Candidates must explain any limited periods spent outside the United States, such as sabbaticals or foreign assignments.
While project proposals need not focus on topics related to Germany, candidates should explain how a residency in Berlin would enhance their work.
The Academy accepts proposals for collaborative projects. Candidates who wish to pursue a joint project must submit separate applications. External reviewers will consider the merits of each candidate alongside their joint project.
Previously unsuccessful candidates are welcome to reapply. We strongly encourage re-applicants to update their application materials and revise their project proposals substantially. A number of Academy fellows have applied more than once before selection.
Individuals who have already received a Berlin Prize are not eligible to apply for another, except under exceptional circumstances.
If you are uncertain about your eligibility, please contact the Academy’s Fellows Selection team at apply@americanacademy.de.
May visual artists and composers apply for a fellowship?
The American Academy invites composers and visual artists via separate, nomination-based competitions. Only nominated candidates are eligible to apply for consideration.
Where is the American Academy in Berlin and what are the accommodations?
Fellows reside in private, furnished apartments, with en suite kitchenettes, at or near the Hans Arnhold Center, a historic villa on the shores of Lake Wannsee. The Wannsee commuter rail station is a short walk away from the Hans Arnhold Center. Trains reach downtown Berlin in ten to twenty minutes.
How long is a Berlin Prize residency?
Berlin Prize recipients must reside at or near the Hans Arnhold Center for an entire academic semester (four months). The fall semester begins in mid-August and ends in mid-December; the spring semester runs from late January through late May. Candidates indicate their semester preferences in the online application.
Are partners/spouses and/or families welcome?
Most of the Academy’s apartments can accommodate couples. The Academy can also accommodate a limited number of families with children at the Hans Arnhold Center or in apartments nearby.
Please note that pets are not permitted at the Hans Arnhold Center.
Fellowship Application FAQs
When are applications due?
The application deadline for the 2027-28 Berlin Prize is Friday, September 25, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CET.
Which application materials are required?
Fellowship candidates must complete the online application form and upload PDFs of the following materials (in English):
- project proposal of 1500 to 1750 words, plus a short bibliography (maximum one page), combined into a single document;
- curriculum vitae (maximum 10 pages);
- two writing samples, with a combined total not exceeding 60 pages.
Applicants must also provide the names and contact information of three referees. Referees will receive an automated email via the application portal SlideRoom with instructions for submitting their letters of recommendation (see below).
How does the online application work?
The online application portal SlideRoom provides resources for applicants here. Google Chrome offers an optimized view of the application interface; we strongly discourage applicants from using Safari to access SlideRoom. The online application consists of three sections: Forms, Attachments, and References. You may save and resume your work progress prior to submitting. Required fields are marked with an asterisk. Please note that we use SlideRoom’s European platform: https://review.slideroom.eu. We recommend bookmarking this URL for easy access.
How do I choose my references, and how do they submit their letters of reference?
We require three letters of recommendation (in English). Referees should be familiar with your recent work, particularly your proposal, and be able to comment on your abilities, career achievements, and if possible, your ability to thrive in an interdisciplinary residential setting. We discourage writers from listing their literary agents as referees.
Using the online application system, you will enter the contact information of your referees and send them official requests to submit letters. Please be sure to secure permission from each referee you list before submitting your request via SlideRoom. They will then receive an email from SlideRoom with instructions for uploading their letters onto the portal.
Applicants may collect letters of recommendation through a dossier service such as Interfolio. Applicants who choose to use a dossier service must still complete the reference invitation section; in lieu of the referee’s email address, please enter the dossier-assigned email that corresponds to each letter of recommendation.
Letters of recommendation are due on Friday, October 2, 2026, 12:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CET. Candidates should ensure that their referees receive the SlideRoom prompt and submit their letters of recommendation on time. The Academy will not contact candidates or referees regarding missing letters of recommendation.
When will I be notified if I am awarded a fellowship?
We will notify all applicants of the competition outcome via email in late March 2027.