Linguistic Institute Fellowship FAQs
Do I have to be attending a US Institution to apply?
The Terms and Conditions on the attendance of a US institution vary between the Fellowships. Some require specific institutions, whilst some allow applicants from overseas. Please check the Terms and Conditions carefully to find out what Fellowship you are eligible for.Do I have to be a US Citizen to apply?
No, applicants from all backgrounds and citizenships are encouraged and accepted. Please check the Terms and Conditions carefully, as some named Fellowships require specific citizenships.What will a Fellowship cover in terms of costs to attend the Institute?
Each Fellowship should cover a part of, or full, registration fee to attend the Linguistic Institute. Additional inclusions of each Fellowship are specified in the Terms and Conditions. Please check them carefully before applying.How many fellowships are available?
The following Fellowships will be offered this year. Please check the Terms and Conditions carefully to find out which Fellowship you are eligible for.- General Institute Fellowship – 12 awards
- Charles Fillmore Student Fellowship – one award
- Yuki Kuroda Fellowship – one award
- Bernard and Julia Bloch Fellowship – one award
- Ivan Sag Linguistic Institute Fellowship – one award
- James McCawley Fellowship – one award
- Ken Hale Student Fellowship – one award
- Warren Cowgill Fellowship – one award
I checked the Terms and Conditions carefully and realized that I am eligible for more than one Fellowship. Can I apply for more than one Fellowship?
In order to determine whether you may be eligible for any of the Named Fellowships:
- Answer the following questions.
- You can skip the specific questions if you don't want to be considered for that Named Fellowships.
- There is no restriction on how many Fellowships you can apply for, as long as you are eligible. However, successful applicants will only be awarded one Fellowship.
Who will review and score my application?
Members of the Committee of Linguistic Institute and Fellowships (the Committee) will be responsible for evaluating all applications and preparing rank-ordered lists of Fellowship applicants. A list of current Committee Members is available on the LSA website.I would love to submit an application. However, I need more time to prepare my responses. Can I have an extension to complete my application?
Please follow the application due date. No extension will be provided, regardless of the reason.Can I start the application and return to complete it later?
While SurveyMonkey can support returned applicants, this system might not recognize you if you use a different device to continue the application. It’s best if you prepare your responses in a word document and paste them to the online form once you are ready to submit it.What is required for references?
Two letters of recommendation supporting your application will be required by the due date. As you complete the application, you will be asked to provide details of two recommenders. The LSA will send these individuals a link to submit their recommendation, which should be no more than 500 words and should detail how attending the Institute with a Fellowship will enhance your career in linguistics.Please ensure that your recommenders are aware of the letters' due date. Late submissions of letters of recommendation will not be considered. Application without two letters of recommendation will be considered 'incomplete' and might not be reviewed.
What format should support documents be?
Please ensure that all relevant support documents are provided in pdf, doc, docx, png, jpg, jpeg, or gif formats. The size of these files should be less than 16MB.For your convenience, below is the list of supporting documents:
- Copies of transcripts of your Associate Degree, BA/BS, MA/MS, Ph.D. and other relevant degrees
- Evidence of English proficiency if English is not your first language, including but not limited to TOEFL or IELTS scores
Is my submission confidential?
All Fellowship submissions are treated as highly confidential. Only members of the LSA Secretariat and the Committee will have access to submissions to review and score them.What happens after I apply for a Fellowship?
As soon as you click the ‘Done’ button at the end of your application, a message will display on the screen letting you know that your application has been successfully submitted. Please let your recommenders know so that they can have your letter of recommendation ready. Application without two letters of recommendation will be considered 'incomplete' and might not be reviewed.In the meantime, we will contact your recommenders, review all submissions with the Committee, finalize the scores and announce the results by the end of February.
My application is successful, but I am no longer able to attend the whole Linguistic Institute. What happens to my Fellowship?
Fellowship recipients must enroll in four or more courses and attend the entire Institute. If you are unable to attend the full program, the LSA Secretariat reserves the right to grant the Fellowship to another applicant.I am hoping to apply for a Fellowship, but I am only interested in one of the courses offered. Can I still apply?
Successful recipients must enroll in four or more courses and attend the entire Linguistic Institute.I am hoping to apply for a Fellowship, but I am not a current student at the time of application. Can I still apply?
Applicants must be LSA Student Members at the time of applying. If you are not currently enrolled in a college or university, but anticipate being enrolled in the near future, you can apply for a Fellowship. For example, people who have graduated with an undergraduate degree and are considering applying to graduate school in linguistics are welcome to apply. Graduate students should not have received their Ph.D. before the end of the Linguistic Institute.