Thomas J. Watson Fellowships

National fellowship to engage in one year of self-designed independent study and travel abroad.

The proposed project should involve investigation into an area of demonstrated concern and personal interest. It should be creative, feasible, interactive, and personally significant — critical elements are commitment, quality of project, and match of project to the individual, feasibility, and the ability to work and travel independently. It should not be a repeat of earlier experiences, although it may build upon them. The project may not include formal study in a foreign institution. The student's academic record is considered together with those co-curricular activities that reflect both initiative and a commitment to the stated area of interest.

Deadline

Campus Deadline: October
National Deadline: November

Eligibility

Open to college seniors. US citizenship is not required.

Duration

Twelve months outside the U.S. This is a full 12-month commitment.

Amount

$36,000 to cover expenses for the twelve-month period

Selection Process

Proposals are reviewed by the Hamilton faculty fellowship committee. Students are chosen for on-campus interviews and four nominees are selected. A second interview, with a representative from the Watson Foundation, is conducted between mid-November and late January. Fellowship recipients are announced in mid-March.

Note

Copies of successful past proposals are available for your review on reserve in the library, behind the circulation desk in binders marked Watson Fellowship and Bristol Fellowship, and in the Fellowships Office located in the Career Center. You can also read more about past Watson Fellow recipients below.

The Watson website contains all up-to-date information on the Watson fellowships program.