About this opportunity
The Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship is given by the International Peace Research Association Foundation, a non profit founded in 1990 to promote peace research and scholarship around the world. Lawrence Senesh, an economics professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, set up the award in memory of his wife Dorothy, a long time activist for international peace and justice. The first award was made at the IPRA 25th anniversary conference in Groningen, Netherlands in July 1990 and it has been offered every other year since.
For the 2027 to 2028 cycle the foundation is again offering two fellowships. Each one pays $5,000 a year for two years, so a fellow receives $10,000 across the award. The money covers school expenses for an in person degree at a university with an accredited programme. Because the awards are considered based on need, students who already hold substantial funding are less likely to be selected, and the foundation notes that funds are only released once the chosen candidate is admitted into an in person graduate programme.
The fellowship is for study rather than research. That means the applicant should already hold a Bachelor's degree and should have been accepted to, or be preparing to join, an in person graduate programme whose work speaks to the goals of the IPRA Foundation, in peace and development studies. A woman from a country in the Global South can apply in English, Spanish or French, and the application is emailed as one copy to the Senesh Fellowship Assistant Administrator along with a letter of acceptance and three recommendation letters.
For a founder or a professional in Nigeria or another African country who wants to move deeper into peacebuilding, conflict resolution or development practice with a formal degree behind it, this is a rare award aimed squarely at that path. A practical detail worth planning around: the foundation screens every application for the use of generative AI, which is forbidden, so the essays and the form should be your own writing from start to finish.
What you receive
- Two biennial fellowships, each paying $5,000 per year for two years, a total of $10,000 per fellow
- School expenses covered for an in person degree at a university with an accredited programme
- Applications accepted in English, Spanish and French
- An award with a history stretching back to 1990 and fellows profiled publicly after selection
- No application fee and no requirement to be enrolled before you apply, as long as funds are only released after admission
Who can apply
- Women from countries in the Global South
- A completed Bachelor's degree before applying
- Acceptance to an in person graduate programme at a university with an accredited programme
- Graduate work focused on issues related to the goals of the IPRA Foundation, in peace and development studies
- Award considered on need, so applicants with substantial other funding sources are less likely to be selected
- Application materials written without generative AI, which the foundation screens for
Who should not apply
- Male applicants
- Undergraduate students
- Applicants whose graduate programme is online rather than in person
- Applicants not from a country in the Global South
- Proposals for research projects rather than graduate study
- Applications written with generative AI tools
Documents to prepare
- Completed Senesh Fellowship application form in English, Spanish or French
- Letter of acceptance to your in person graduate programme, a pdf copy is acceptable
- Three letters of recommendation that state your name and the recommender's relationship to you
- Recommenders must email their letters directly to the Senesh Fellowship Assistant Administrator
How to apply
- Open the 2027 Senesh Fellowship Announcement page on the IPRA Foundation website and download the application form in English, Spanish or French
- Complete the form in your own words, since the foundation screens every application for generative AI
- Collect your letter of acceptance to an in person graduate programme, a pdf copy is fine
- Ask three recommenders to email their letters directly to the Senesh Fellowship Assistant Administrator, each letter naming you and explaining the relationship
- Email one copy of the completed application form to seneshfellowship@iprafoundation.org
- Submit everything by January 15, 2027 and keep a copy of the package for your records
Selection process
- Applications are reviewed by the IPRA Foundation for the Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship
- Awards are decided on need alongside the strength of the applicant's study plans
- The application period closes on January 15, 2027
- Announcement of the awards is made by the first week of April, 2027
- Selected fellows are listed publicly with profiles of their research
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Who can apply for the Senesh Fellowship?
Women from countries in the Global South who have completed a Bachelor's degree and have been accepted to an in person graduate programme whose work relates to the goals of the IPRA Foundation.
Can I apply if my graduate programme is online?
No. The fellowship funds in person study, and funds are only dispersed once the selected candidate is admitted into an in person graduate programme.
How much is the award worth?
Each fellowship pays $5,000 per year for two years, a total of $10,000. Two fellowships are awarded in each biennial cycle.
Which languages can I apply in?
English, Spanish or French. The 2027 announcement page carries a separate application form for each language.
When will I hear the result?
The foundation announces the awards by the first week of April, 2027.
Can I use an AI writing tool on my application?
Generative AI is forbidden and all applications are screened for it. Grammar and spelling tools are acceptable, but the writing itself must be yours.
Who do I contact with questions?
The Senesh Fellowship Assistant Administrator, Liz De Araujo, at seneshfellowship@iprafoundation.org. The foundation does not accept or respond to phone calls.
Important disclaimer
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