The Met History of Art Fellowship 2027–2028 | Up to $69,000

Funding and benefits

• US$53,000 stipend for junior fellows who are PhD candidates on the application deadline.
• US$63,000 stipend for senior fellows who hold a PhD on the deadline and/or are established scholars.
• US$6,000 additional research-travel allowance for up to six weeks of travel.
• An additional monthly payment to help offset health-insurance costs; the official fellowship page does not list the exact amount.
• Access to The Met collection, libraries, staff expertise, research programs, weekly workshops and professional-development activities.

Eligibility

• PhD candidates who have defended their dissertation proposal through senior postdoctoral or established scholars may apply.
• MA students and PhD students who have not defended their dissertation proposal are not eligible.
• Applicants from outside the United States are eligible, subject to valid US work authorization.
• The Met may sponsor eligible successful applicants for J-1 Research Scholar status; sponsorship is not guaranteed and visa costs are not reimbursed.
• Projects must make substantive use of The Met collection or Museum research resources.
• Relevant areas include art and architectural history, critical theory, media studies, anthropology, archaeology and related collection-based fields.

Required documents

• Project proposal of no more than 1,000 words explaining why The Met is uniquely suited to the project, planned outcomes and required collections/resources.
• Separate brief schedule of work for the fellowship year.
• Separate research-travel schedule covering no more than six weeks.
• Curriculum vitae covering education, experience, honors, awards and publications.
• Three recommendation letters, including at least one academic and one professional reference, uploaded directly by recommenders.
• Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts for junior/predoctoral applicants only.

Applications must be submitted online and in English. The official sources do not list IELTS, TOEFL or another standardized English test.

How to apply

1. Review the official fellowship page and identify the specific Met collections or resources essential to your project.
2. Open the official WizeHive/Webportal application system and create or access an account.
3. Select the History of Art and Visual Culture Fellowship application.
4. Complete the online form and upload the proposal, work schedule, travel schedule and CV.
5. Add three recommenders early; each must upload the letter directly.
6. If applying as a junior fellow, upload the required official undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
7. Submit all components by 15 October 2026 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

The official fellowship and FAQ pages do not list an application fee.

Important dates

Time remaining

Selection process

Relevant Met departments first assess proposal quality and feasibility. Suitable applications advance to the Museum’s Grants Committee, which reviews the full application and submits recommendations to the Director and CEO for final approval.

Reviewers consider the need for Met resources, the project’s relationship to the collection, clear and achievable outcomes, the applicant’s preparation and the strength of all supporting materials. The rubric guides assessment but does not impose a published cutoff score.