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Graduate Funding

The CSGS currently offers the following graduate funding opportunities:

PhD Fellowship Opportunities

Applications are currently closed. Check back in December for the 2026-27 application.
University of Chicago PhD students from all disciplines who are working in the areas of gender and/or sexuality studies are encouraged to apply for a Residential or Dissertation fellowship. You can apply for multiple fellowships through the application but you will only be eligible to receive one in a single academic year. Students can receive a maximum of three fellowships (two residential and one DCF) in their time at UChicago. Please contact Bonnie Kanter, Assistant Director for Student Affairs and Curriculum, at bonniek@uchicago.edu with any questions.

Dissertation Completion Fellowships

Deadline: March 15, 2026

The Center offers one or two fellowships for PhD students focusing on gender and/or sexuality within any discipline.

Eligibility: University of Chicago PhD students from all disciplines working in the areas of gender and/or sexuality are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have matriculated after Summer 2016 and have been admitted to candidacy by April 1st, 2026. Applicants must be willing to be “in residence” at CSGS for the main three academic quarters, defined as participating in lectures and workshops on a bi-weekly basis and utilizing the provided office space at the Center for a minimum of 2 days a week. Some travel for research for brief periods is allowed, but this must be discussed with the CSGS Faculty Director in advance.

Award: The successful candidates will be given the Dissertation Completion Fellowship bonus of $5000 above and beyond their stipend. The recipients of this fellowship will also be given a shared office at the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality from September 8, 2026 through August 27, 2027. Recipients of the fellowship are expected to participate in and present at the Gender and Sexuality Studies Workshop and to attend CSGS events as well as participate in the intellectual life of the center as a whole.

Please note: Other University of Chicago funding may restrict eligibility. Because the intent behind these fellowships is to allow the awardee to devote her/his full attention and effort to the dissertation, the terms of this award do not allow one to engage in any remunerative activity or to hold any other award during the period. Under some circumstances, an exception may be made for teaching one course if approved by the Division. Because this is a Completion Fellowship, if the degree is not completed by Summer 2027, the awardee would be administratively withdrawn from their program.

The following required materials will be requested with your application:

  • Two-page curriculum vitae
  • Two-page statement of purpose/cover letter describing your work in relation to your general intellectual preparation, commitments, etc.
  • One- to five-page prospectus (description of your dissertation)
  • One chapter of your dissertation
  • Timeline for completion of dissertation
  • The email address of your dissertation chair who will serve as your recommender for this award

Joint Dissertation Completion Fellowship (CSGS/CSRPC)

Deadline: March 15, 2026

The Center offers one joint dissertation completion fellowship with the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture for a PhD student working in the intersection of the topics of race and ethnicity and gender and/or sexuality within any discipline.

Eligibility: University of Chicago PhD students from all disciplines working in the areas of gender and/or sexuality are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have matriculated after Autumn 2016. Applicants must have been admitted to candidacy by April 1st, 2026 and should be at an advanced stage of writing their dissertation. Applicants must be willing to be “in residence” at CSGS or CSRPC for the main three academic quarters, defined as participating in lectures and workshops on a bi-weekly basis and utilizing the provided office space at the Center for a minimum of 2 days a week. Some travel for research for brief periods is allowed, but this must be discussed with the Faculty Directors in advance.

Award: The successful candidates will be given a Dissertation Completion Fellowship bonus of $5000 above and beyond their stipend. The recipients of this fellowship will also be given a shared office at the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality or Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture from September 8, 2026 through August 27, 2027. Recipients of the fellowship are expected to participate in and present at the Gender and Sexuality Studies Workshop and to attend CSGS and CSRPC events as well as participate in the intellectual life of the centers as a whole.

Please note: Other University of Chicago funding may restrict eligibility. Because the intent behind these fellowships is to allow the awardee to devote her/his full attention and effort to the dissertation, the terms of this award do not allow one to engage in any remunerative activity or to hold any other award during the period. Under some circumstances, an exception may be made for teaching one course if approved by the Division. Because this is a Completion Fellowship, if the degree is not completed by Summer 2027, the awardee would be administratively withdrawn from their program.

The following required materials will be requested with your application:

  • Two-page curriculum vitae
  • Two-page statement of purpose/cover letter describing your work in relation to your general intellectual preparation, commitments, etc.
  • One- to five-page prospectus (description of your dissertation)
  • One chapter of your dissertation
  • Timeline for completion of dissertation
  • The email addresses of two faculty recommenders – one must be your dissertation chair

Residential Fellowships

Deadline: March 15, 2026

In 2026-27, the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality will offer up to seven Residential Fellowships in gender and/or sexuality studies.

Eligibility: University of Chicago PhD students from all disciplines working in the areas of gender and/or sexuality are encouraged to apply.

Award: This fellowship provides shared office space at the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality from September 8, 2026 through August 27, 2027. Recipients of the fellowship are expected to participate in and present at the Gender and Sexuality Studies Workshop and to attend CSGS events as well as participate in the intellectual life of the center as a whole. Recipients will be given priority in applications for CSGS Travel/Research grants.

The following required materials will be requested with your application:

  • Two-page curriculum vitae
  • Two-page statement of purpose/cover letter describing your work in relation to your general intellectual preparation, commitments, etc.
  • One- to five-page prospectus (description of your dissertation)

Joint Residential Fellowship (CSGS/CSRPC)

Deadline: March 15, 2026

The Center offers one joint fellowship with the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture for a PhD student working in the intersection of the topics of race and ethnicity and gender and/or sexuality within any discipline.

Eligibility: University of Chicago PhD students from all disciplines working in the areas of gender and/or sexuality are encouraged to apply.

Award: This fellowship provides shared office space at one of the two centers from September 8, 2026 through August 27, 2027. Applicants must be willing to be “in residence” at CSGS or CSRPC for the main three academic quarters, defined as participating in lectures and workshops on a bi-weekly basis and utilizing the provided office space at the Center for a minimum of 2 days a week. Some travel for research for brief periods is allowed, but this must be discussed with the Faculty Directors in advance. Recipients of the fellowship are expected to participate in and present at the Gender and Sexuality Studies Workshop and to attend CSGS and CSRPC events as well as participate in the intellectual life of the centers as a whole. Recipients will be given priority in applications for CSGS Travel/Research grants.

The following required materials will be requested with your application:

  • Two-page curriculum vitae
  • Two-page statement of purpose/cover letter describing your work in relation to your general intellectual preparation, commitments, etc.
  • One- to five-page prospectus (description of your dissertation)

Please contact Bonnie Kanter, Assistant Director for Student Affairs and Curriculum, at bonniek@uchicago.edu with any questions.

 

The UChicago LGBTQ+ Community Engagement Award

Nomination Deadline: March 1, 2026

Applications are currently closed. Applications will be available in January 2026.

The LGBTQ+ Community Engagement Award, sponsored by UChicago Alumni Pride and the CSGS, is given annually to honor exceptional contributions that advance and support the interests of the LGBTQ+ community and is open to current UChicago undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing. The awardee will receive a prize of $500. The awardee will also be honored with the opportunity to speak publicly about the significance of their work and introduce the invited distinguished speaker at the coming year’s OUTstanding Speaker Series lecture. 

Nominations (including self-nominations) are due March 1. Eligible nominees will be notified in early March with a request to submit materials by April 1.

 

Research/Travel Grants for Graduate Students

Deadlines for 2025-26: October 27, 2025; February 2, 2026; and April 20, 2026 | Apply Now
The CSGS supports research on gender and sexuality across all disciplines at the University of Chicago. In order to support this work we are providing research grant opportunities for students at all levels. Grants will be decided upon quarterly during Autumn/Winter/Spring, with deadlines Monday of 5th week each quarter. Grants can be used to travel for research or to attend conferences (preference given to those presenting at the conference) or for other research expenses. This could include costs of transcriptions, purchasing texts or software, interview incentives, or other costs. (Computer and hardware purchases excluded.) To be eligible, the research or travel must be related to the study of gender and/or sexuality. MA students can apply for a maximum of $500 per year. PhD students can apply for a maximum of $1,000 in the Autumn/Winter/Spring cycles. In addition, during the Spring application cycle PhD students will be eligible to apply the Unfundable Fund below. Preference for all awards will be given to those who have not previously received funding from the Center.The application requires a CV or resume, budget, description of the project and the email address of a recommender. If you are applying to conference travel you will also need to include documentation that you have been accepted as a presenter. Awarded funds can only be used toward expenses and travel as outlined in your submitted proposal. Modifications to travel plans, conference attendance, or expenses NOT included in your submitted proposal will not be reimbursed unless the changes are submitted and approved by the CSGS. If you have any questions, please contact Bonnie Kanter (bonniek@uchicago.edu). 

 

Unfundable Fund for Gender & Sexuality Research, Theory, and Practice

Applications will be available in 2026. | Deadline: April 20, 2026
The Unfundable Fund prioritizes humanistic areas of inquiry that are centered in gender and/or sexuality studies and are not easily fundable through existing grant mechanisms. Today, this might be critical sexuality research, affect theory and aesthetics, hybrid artistic practice, or community-based research and engagement. Tomorrow this might be a form or genre for which we do not currently have a vocabulary. The name of this fund comes from Center co-founder Prof. Lauren Berlant (1957-2021), who was a tireless advocate for keeping space open for student research that presents “forms of queer we might not yet recognize.” In 2026, one $2,500 research grant will be given in Spring to a University of Chicago PhD student. The funds will be designated for use in 2026-27. Applicants will submit the regular research/travel grant application (above) but will be expected to answer additional questions related to the mission of the Unfundable Fund.

 

CSGS Course Design Prize for Graduate Instructors

Applications will be available in December, 2025. | Deadline: February 28, 2026
The Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality is pleased to announce our new CSGS Course Design Prize for Graduate Instructors. This $1000 prize will be given to a PhD student who has designed an undergraduate course for which they will serve as instructor of record in AY 2026--27. This course can be used to fulfill PTP/MTE requirements, or as a prize lectureship above and beyond the PTP/MTE requirements, in which case the student will be compensated. The course should demonstrate a robust and sustained engagement with questions of gender and sexuality. Priority will be given to students who have already had classroom experience as a Teaching Assistant or other. The application will require the following: 

  • a current CV
  • a complete, self-designed course syllabus for a class engaging with gender and/or sexuality, including a course title, course description, objectives, readings, assignments, assessment criteria
  • Email address for one recommender who can attest to your ability to design and teach a course
  • contact information for someone in your home department who is authorized to confirm that, if selected, you will be eligible to accept this prize and teach the proposed course in 2026-27