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The AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship in Education Research is a one-year dissertation write-up award from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) for advanced doctoral students from racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in higher education. Fellows receive a stipend of up to $27,500, present in an invited poster session at the AERA Annual Meeting, and take part in a mentoring and career development workshop. Within the wider field of education research, the award supports scholars during the final stretch of the dissertation.
This guide summarizes eligibility, funding terms, application materials and timing as described on the official AERA program page on 2026-11-07. Programs change, so confirm current details with AERA before applying.
What it is and who runs it
The AERA Council created the fellowship in 1991. AERA is the national scientific society for education researchers, and it runs the program and the AERA Apply submission portal. The award is a non-renewable, one-year fellowship aimed at students who have reached the writing stage of the dissertation.
Eligibility (summary, with the official source)
As described on the AERA program page on 2026-11-07:
- Citizenship: U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
- Groups: Members of racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in higher education, such as African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanics or Latinos.
- Fields: Education research, the humanities, or social or behavioral science disciplines and interdisciplinary fields, such as economics, history, psychology, and sociology.
- Stage: Eligible students are at the writing stage of the dissertation by the beginning of the fellowship, and must provide proof of advancement to candidacy.
What it funds or requires
- Stipend: AERA awards each fellow up to $27,500 for the one-year award.
- No indirect costs: Institutions cannot charge overhead or indirect costs to administer the fellowship funds.
- Poster session: Fellows present their research in an invited poster session at the AERA Annual Meeting.
- Mentoring workshop: Fellows take part in a mentoring and career development workshop at the same meeting.
Because institutions cannot charge overhead, the award works as individual student support rather than a sponsored project award. This differs from funding managed through an institutional principal investigator.
Application or compliance steps
Applications go through the AERA Apply portal, using an existing AERA Re:Members profile or a new one. The application includes:
- Dissertation research prospectus: Text limited to eight single-spaced pages in 12-point font. References and appendices do not count toward the limit.
- Dissertation project timeline: Target dates for candidacy, data collection, manuscript development and defense, finishing by the end of the award period.
- Curriculum vitae: No longer than two pages.
- Budget: Up to $27,500, with no required template. It must include travel costs to the AERA Annual Meeting.
- Transcript: One unofficial graduate transcript.
- Letters: Two letters of recommendation from the dissertation advisor and/or other major professors. The advisor’s letter must confirm that the proposal is doctoral dissertation research.
Typical timeline phases
As described on the official page on 2026-11-07 for the current cycle:
- Informational webinar: September 23, 1:00 to 2:00 pm ET.
- Application deadline: November 16, 2026, at 11:59 pm PT. Late applications and materials are not accepted.
- Award start: July 2027 or later.
- Annual Meeting: Fellows present at the 2028 AERA Annual Meeting poster session and join the mentoring workshop.
Common mistakes
- Missing proof of candidacy: The program requires proof of advancement to candidacy, and applicants must be at the writing stage by the start of the fellowship.
- Exceeding the prospectus limit: The prospectus text is capped at eight single-spaced pages.
- Leaving out Annual Meeting travel: The budget must include travel and lodging for the AERA Annual Meeting.
- Advisor letter without the required confirmation: The advisor’s letter must confirm that the proposal is doctoral dissertation research.
- Submitting late: Late applications and materials are not accepted.
Related programs
Applicants comparing doctoral support can look at education research funding more broadly, including the Spencer Foundation grant portfolio:
| Program | Sponsor | Where to check terms |
|---|---|---|
| AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship | American Educational Research Association | AERA program page (see Sources) |
| NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship | National Academy of Education and Spencer Foundation | NAEd program page (see Sources) |
FAQ
Who is eligible for the AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship?
U.S. citizens and permanent residents from racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in higher education who are at the writing stage of a dissertation in education research, the humanities, or the social or behavioral sciences.
How much is the AERA dissertation grant stipend?
Up to $27,500 for a one-year award. The budget must include travel to the AERA Annual Meeting.
Can host universities charge indirect costs?
No. Institutions cannot charge overhead or indirect costs to administer the fellowship funds.
Are students outside education departments eligible?
The program is open to humanities and social or behavioral science fields such as economics, history, psychology, and sociology, as well as education research.
When is the application deadline?
November 16, 2026, at 11:59 pm PT, as listed on the program page on 2026-11-07. Late applications are not accepted.
Sources
- American Educational Research Association. “Minority Dissertation Fellowship Program in Education Research.” https://www.aera.net/Professional-Opportunities-Funding/AERA-Funding-Opportunities/Minority-Dissertation-Fellowship-Program (checked 2026-11-07).
- American Educational Research Association. “AERA Funding Opportunities.” https://www.aera.net/Professional-Opportunities-Funding/AERA-Funding-Opportunities (checked 2026-11-07).
- National Academy of Education. “NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program.” https://naed.org/naed-spencer-dissertation-fellowship-program/ (checked 2026-11-07).
