Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans 2027

Overview

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is a merit-based graduate school program for immigrants and children of immigrants in the United States. Founded in 1997 by Paul and Daisy Soros, both Hungarian immigrants themselves, the fellowship invests in the graduate education of New Americans who are poised to make significant contributions to American society. Thirty fellows are selected each year from a large and competitive applicant pool.

Each fellow receives up to $90,000 in financial support over two years. The money can go toward tuition, fees, and living expenses at any accredited graduate or professional program in the United States. The fellowship supports study in any field, from law and medicine to engineering, the arts, and the sciences, making it one of the most flexible graduate fellowships available. Beyond the money, fellows join a lifelong community of over 800 New American Fellows.

The fellowship targets individuals who are 30 years old or younger and who meet the program's definition of a 'New American': naturalized citizens, green card holders, DACA recipients who graduated from U.S. high schools and colleges, or children of two immigrant parents. The 2027 application opens in spring 2026 with a deadline of October 29, 2026.

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Information
Funding Body	Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Host Country	United States
Degree Levels	Master's, PhD, MBA, JD, MD
Value	Up to USD 90,000 over two years (applied to tuition and living expenses)
Deadline	October 2026
Duration	2 years of graduate study
Eligible Nationalities	Immigrants and children of immigrants in the United States (naturalized citizens, green card holders, DACA recipients, asylees, refugees)
Official Website	https://pdsoros.org

Eligibility Criteria

Academic Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree by the fall semester of the fellowship year. They must be planning to enroll full-time in an accredited graduate or professional degree program in the United States. Applicants cannot have started or passed the third year of the graduate program they are seeking funding for by the application deadline. Previous graduate degrees are permitted.

Nationality Requirements

Applicants must qualify as a 'New American' under the program's definition: (1) a naturalized U.S. citizen, (2) a green card holder, (3) an asylee or refugee with granted status, or (4) someone born abroad who graduated from both a U.S. high school and a U.S. college (including DACA recipients). Both biological parents must have been born outside the United States as non-citizens.

Language Requirements

No specific language test scores are required. The application and all fellowship activities are conducted in English.

Work Experience

No specific work experience is required. The fellowship evaluates applicants based on their achievements, creativity, and potential for future contribution to American society. Work experience may strengthen the application but is not a prerequisite.

Other Requirements

Applicants must be 30 years old or younger as of the application deadline. Executive programs, simultaneous dual bachelor's/master's degrees, certificates, post-baccalaureate programs, non-U.S. programs, and unaccredited programs are not eligible. Fellows cannot work full-time during the fellowship year and must attend the mandatory Fall Conference in New York City.

Scholarship Benefits

• Up to USD 90,000 in financial support over two years of graduate study
• Funding applicable to tuition, required fees, and living expenses
• Support for any accredited graduate or professional degree program in the United States
• No restriction on field of study: law, medicine, science, engineering, arts, humanities, and social sciences are all eligible
• Membership in a lifelong community of over 800 New American Fellows
• Networking opportunities through the annual Fall Conference in New York City
• Campus visits and engagement activities during the first fellowship year
• Recognition as a Soros Fellow, one of the top graduate fellowships in the United States

How to Apply

1. Verify your eligibility: Confirm that you meet the New American definition (immigrant or child of two immigrant parents), are 30 or younger by the deadline, and are planning to enroll full-time in an accredited U.S. graduate or professional program. Check that you will not have passed your third year in the program by the deadline.
2. Create an account on the application portal: Register on the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships SMApply portal when the application opens in spring 2026. Complete your profile with eligibility confirmation, demographic information, and education history.
3. Write your two essays: Prepare two essays of up to 1,000 words each. The first asks you to describe your experiences as a New American and how your immigrant background has shaped your identity and accomplishments. The second asks about your career goals and why you chose your particular graduate program.
4. Register your recommenders: Enter the email addresses of 3 to 5 recommenders through the application system. Recommenders will receive separate registration emails and submit their letters through the portal. There are no page or word limits for recommendation letters.
5. Upload supporting documents: Upload your resume or CV (no page limit), college and graduate transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the initial application), and any standardized test scores required by your target program.
6. Submit by the deadline: Review your complete application and submit through the portal by October 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. No exceptions are made for late submissions. Monitor your application to ensure all recommender letters have been received.
7. Interview if selected as a finalist: Finalists are notified in mid-January and invited to interviews in February. Winners are notified in March and publicly announced in mid-April. The fellowship begins in the fall semester.

Required Documents

• Completed online application form with eligibility confirmation
• Essay 1: New American experience (up to 1,000 words)
• Essay 2: Career goals and graduate program rationale (up to 1,000 words)
• Resume or curriculum vitae (no page limit)
• College transcripts (unofficial acceptable for initial application)
• Graduate transcripts if applicable (unofficial acceptable)
• Standardized test scores required by the target graduate program
• Three to five letters of recommendation submitted through the portal
• Official documentation of immigration status (requested at finalist stage)

Important Dates & Deadlines

Milestone	Date
Applications Open	April 2026 (for the 2027 fellowship)
Application Deadline	October 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET (for the 2027 fellowship)
Results Announced	Finalists notified mid-January 2027; winners announced mid-April 2027
Course Start	Fall 2027

Tips for a Strong Application

Personal Statement Tips

• In your New American essay, go beyond a chronological immigration narrative. Zero in on specific moments, decisions, or tensions that reveal how your immigrant experience has shaped your perspective and driven your achievements.
• In your career goals essay, connect your graduate program to a clear professional vision. Explain not just what you plan to study but why this specific program and degree are necessary for what you want to accomplish.
• Be authentic and specific. The selection committee reads thousands of essays and values genuine, detailed storytelling over polished but formulaic narratives about the immigrant experience.
• Show ambition and potential for real contribution to American society. The fellowship invests in future leaders, so lay out a vision that extends beyond personal career advancement.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Misunderstanding the New American definition. Both biological parents must have been born outside the U.S. as non-citizens. Having one American-born parent disqualifies the applicant.
• Exceeding the age limit. Applicants must be 30 or younger on the application deadline date. No exceptions.
• Applying for an ineligible program type. Executive programs, certificates, post-baccalaureate programs, dual bachelor's/master's degrees, and programs outside the U.S. are not funded.
• Submitting recommendation letters late. Recommenders must submit through the portal before the deadline. Register recommenders early and follow up.
• Planning to work full-time during the fellowship. Fellows are expected to be enrolled full-time and cannot hold full-time employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifies as a 'New American' for the Soros Fellowship?

A New American is an immigrant or child of immigrants. Specifically: (1) naturalized U.S. citizens, (2) green card holders, (3) asylees or refugees with granted status, or (4) individuals born abroad who graduated from both a U.S. high school and U.S. college (including DACA recipients). Both biological parents must have been born outside the U.S. as non-citizens.

How much money does the Soros Fellowship provide?

Each fellow receives up to USD 90,000 over two years, applied toward tuition, required fees, and living expenses at any accredited graduate or professional program in the United States.

Can I apply if I am already in graduate school?

You can, as long as you have not started or passed the third year of the graduate program you are seeking funding for by the application deadline. Students in their first or second year are eligible.

Does the fellowship restrict which field I can study?

The Soros Fellowship supports any accredited graduate or professional degree in the United States, including law, medicine, business, engineering, sciences, arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Can DACA recipients apply?

DACA recipients who graduated from both a U.S. high school and a U.S. college qualify as New Americans under the fellowship's eligibility criteria.

How competitive is the Soros Fellowship?

About 30 fellows are selected each year from over 1,800 applications, putting the acceptance rate at roughly 1.5-2%.

Can I defer the fellowship?

The first year of the fellowship cannot be deferred. Fellows must begin using the award in the fall semester immediately following their selection.

Do I need to be admitted to a graduate program before applying?

You can apply while simultaneously applying to graduate programs. You must be enrolled full-time in an accredited U.S. graduate program by the start of the fellowship year.

Is the application free?

There is no application fee for the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship.

Can I reapply if I am not selected?

You may reapply if you still meet all eligibility requirements including the age limit. Previous applications cannot be resubmitted; you must complete a new application.

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