Below you will find information on eligibility, info sessions, and the link to our application hosted on Slideroom. Be sure to read our guidelines and suggestions for how to prepare a competitive application. If you wish to receive more information about the fellowship, please fill out our interest form.
MMUF Eligibility Requirements
The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellowship is part of the Higher Learning program of the Mellon Foundation and reflects two of its three grantmaking priorities:
- Broadening access to humanities higher learning opportunities, and
- Promoting fuller narratives.
The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship is open to applicants of all demographic backgrounds and does not use preferences or criteria based on any trait protected under applicable law. Applicants will be evaluated based on their prior coursework, their plans for a major, and their potential to bring underrepresented perspectives to the academy.
Should your research focus deviate from the outlined guidelines yet you remain interested in the fellowship, kindly arrange a meeting with Elise LaRose via mmufatuchicago@gmail.com to discuss your topic further.
Applicants Must:
- Be a sophomore at the time of application
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident
- Intend to pursue a research-based degree (Ph.D.) in one or more of these eligible fields of study:
- Anthropology and archaeology
- Area/cultural/ethnic/gender studies
- Art history
- Classics
- Geography and population studies
- English
- Film, cinema, and media studies
- Musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory
- Foreign languages and literatures
- History
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Performance studies
- Philosophy and Political Theory
- Religion and theology
- Sociology
- Theater
- Interdisciplinary studies: Interdisciplinary areas of study may be eligible in they have one or more eligible fields at their core, but must be approved by the MMUF director, Elise LaRose. Please note that interdisciplinary education graduate programs, even those that incorporate one or more eligible fields, are not eligible for MMUF graduate benefits.
For more information on MMUF Eligibility, consult https://www.mellon.org/article/mmuf-eligibility-requirements
Selection Criteria
- Interest in pursuing graduate education, especially a Ph.D., in an eligible discipline of the humanities or humanistic social sciences
- Activities and leadership that reflect a commitment to understudied and/or underrepresented topics within humanities disciplines
- Availability for full and enthusiastic participation in all aspects of the MMUF program, including attendance at conferences and regular meetings
- Response to a short essay prompt about the applicant’s life experiences and academic goals.
Potential for serving as a mentor and teacher for a wide variety of students
2025 Information Sessions
*** To attend the following sessions, please register here the day before the info session you will attend to receive the Zoom link.*** If you do not see a time that fits your schedule needs, write to Elise LaRose at mmufatuchicago@gmail.com to set up a meeting.
- Wednesday, January 22 at 4:30pm CT
- Wednesday, February 5 at 4:30pm CT
- Wednesday, February 19 at 4:30pm CT
- Monday, March 10 at 4:30pm CT
Deadline and Application
The deadline to apply is April 15th. Please ensure you have read all the information on this page before applying below. A PDF version of the application is also available below for viewing and download.
Additional Information
- Concerning the MMUF Summer Research Training Program: If you are a UChicago student admitted to the MMUF, you are automatically admitted to the MMUF Summer Research Training Program (SRTP). You do not need to complete the application for the SRTP, so make sure you are completing the correct application. Completing the SRTP is an expectation for all UChicago students admitted to the MMUF.
- Interest: If you are a UChicago undergraduate interested in applying to be a Mellon Mays Fellow, please fill out the interest form and email Elise LaRose here.
- View the printable application brochure here.
- Again, please address any questions that you may have about the application to Elise LaRose. You are encouraged to make an appointment by emailing mmufatuchicago@gmail.com.