Applications are currently being accepted for The Berlin Prize at the American Academy in Berlin 2027-2028. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About The Berlin Prize at the American Academy in Berlin
The American Academy in Berlin is an 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.
Benefits of The Berlin Prize at the American Academy in Berlin
- 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.
The Berlin Prize at the American Academy in Berlin Requirements
- 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.
Application Date and Process
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.
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
Application Deadline
25 September, 2026
Opportunity Application
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The Berlin Prize at the American Academy in Berlin
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