Thank you for your interest in the National Academy of Education and Spencer Dissertation Fellowship.

Please read each question carefully. If you have a specific question that is not answered below, please contact Philip Perrin, by telephone at 202-334-2093 or by email at pperrin@naeducation.org.

What is the deadline?

The deadline is Monday, October 3, 2011.

The two letters of recommendation as well as your graduate transcript must be received by the National Academy of Education no later than 5 pm Eastern Time (ET) on Monday, October 3, 2011. We encourage applicants to request letters from the recommenders and request transcripts early since late materials will not be accepted.

When is the notification of awards?

All applicants will be notified of their status in May 2012.

What if there are difficulties in obtaining my letters of recommendation?

Occasionally applicants face difficulties obtaining a faculty letter in time due to circumstances such as faculty sabbatical leaves or illness. Please contact your faculty referees early to avoid the problem of a late letter. However, in the event that you anticipate this kind of circumstance, please contact the NAEd as early as possible.

The references will be processed via e-mail. You will input the names and e-mail addresses of your Dissertation Advisor and another faculty member into the application system. An automated e-mail will then be sent to these individuals with instructions on submitting the letter of recommendation to the online form. The applicant is strongly advised to follow-up with their faculty to ensure the letters are submitted properly.

Because our process moves forward quite quickly, we can make no guarantee that late letters will be included in the early stages of the review process.

Is there an example of a successful application from previous years?

We are unable to make previous applications publicly available. However, we do highly recommend reading "The Art of Writing Proposals" an article published by the Social Science Research Council about crafting a competitive research proposal. Please visit www.ssrc.org for more information.

We also stress to all candidates that fellowship applications are read by a multidisciplinary selection committee. Applications should, therefore, be written for a generalist audience. NAEd strongly encourages applicants to have colleagues from other departments and fields read their applications to provide general feedback and ensure that the application can be understood by readers from different disciplinary backgrounds.

Can I get feedback on my turned down application?

Regretfully, no. Due to the quantity of applications received, it is our policy not to give feedback on dissertation applications.

Can I apply if I am not in a department or school of education?

Yes. You can be a doctoral candidate in any field, as long as your dissertation topic centrally relates to education and shows promise of contributing to the understanding of the history, theory, or practice of education.

What if I'm not sure whether my topic relates to education?

The NAEd and Spencer Foundation have a long history of supporting projects related to education. You might look at the listing of grants awarded during past years in order to assess the range of topics supported. Lists of previous grantees are available on the Spencer Foundation website. Because topics are a reflection of what grantees chose to study, do not assume that past grants are an indication of the only substantive topics of interest. It is incumbent upon the applicant to state clearly and explicitly the connection between the proposed research and the improvement of education. In addition, all applications should demonstrate that educational research will continue to be a high priority for the researcher subsequent to doctoral completion.

If you can make a case that your research is relevant to education and if your own research interests, both short and long term, are with educational issues, you should certainly consider applying. If you feel education is a stretch, you will probably have difficulty writing a competitive application.

How broadly does the NAEd/Spencer Foundation define education?

NAEd and Spencer’s definition of education is quite broad and encompasses education in its many forms: formal and non-formal, US and non-US, early childhood through adult, school settings and non-school settings, and so forth.

I am not a US citizen. Am I eligible?

Non-US citizens are eligible so long as they are a candidate for a doctoral degree at a graduate school in the United States. Foreign universities with charters in the United States do not meet eligibility qualifications.

I applied last year and was turned down. Can I apply again this year?

Yes. You may reapply for the dissertation fellowship award if you are (and will still be) in the dissertation writing phase of your work during the term of the fellowship.

What are the specifications for finishing candidacy requirements in accordance with the NAEd timeline?

Applicants must have completed all pre-dissertation requirements by June 1, 2012. These pre-dissertation requirements include: course requirements, qualifying paper or comprehensive exams, official approval of the dissertation proposal, and any other program-specific requirements. The NAEd and Spencer Foundation’s intent is that the fellowship funds the final stage of doctoral work - the writing of the dissertation. It is our expectation that fellows will complete their doctoral studies by the end of the fellowship period, or soon thereafter.

How long is the tenure of the NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship?

The tenure of the fellowship is not less than one academic year (9 months) and not more than two calendar years (24 months). In applying for the fellowship, you are asked to designate in a work plan the amount of time you anticipate needing to finish your dissertation. The fellowship cannot start any earlier than June 1, 2012 and must be completed by May 31, 2014.

Can I work during the Fellowship year?

The NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship is designed to provide you with support for the write-up phase of your dissertation and to alleviate the need for significant other employment. However, we recognize that individuals have unique needs and circumstances. A general rule of thumb is that fellows may have "reasonable" outside employment during the fellowship year. The Selection Committee must have ample evidence to demonstrate that a candidate will be able to finish the dissertation within the timeframe specified.

Can I accept other awards?

Applying for other funding will not, in any way, hinder your eligibility for a NAEd/Spencer award. You must, however, notify NAEd if you are offered another fellowship and discuss the nature and terms of the award.

Are there rules for how funding is spent?

The only stipulation is that the fellowship be used to support a student while writing his or her thesis. Exactly how that money is spent is up to each fellow's own discretion and individual need. For example, expenditures that the fellowship might cover include (but are not limited to): living expenses, medical/dental insurance, research equipment and/or expenses, books, workshops or conferences, and university tuition or fees.