Knight-Wallace Fellowship 2027–2028 in USA (Fully Funded)

The Knight-Wallace Fellowship is a fully funded research program designed for journalists passionate about their professional growth. Hosted at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, USA, this eight-month program runs from late August through April. It selects up to 19 fellows from various aspects of journalism to spend an academic year under expert supervision. Participants will work on individual journalism projects, gain new skills, address newsroom challenges, or develop journalism ventures. The fellowship also includes private seminars with newsroom leaders and world-renowned experts, along with workshops to enhance professional and leadership abilities.

This is a fully funded fellowship. It provides a stipend of $85,000 for the eight-month duration. Fellows will also receive an additional $5,000 for relocation expenses, which can be used for auditing courses, workshops, and other fellowship activities. The program offers relocation support to assist fellows in finding and securing housing in Michigan. A unique aspect is that spouses and partners are invited to participate in fellowship activities and audit university courses.

Applicants must possess at least five years of experience in journalism. They should be currently working in some aspect of journalism for a news organization or as an independent journalist. This includes a wide range of roles such as reporters, editors, data experts, visual journalists, audio producers, engagement specialists, designers, developers, entrepreneurs, and organizational change agents. If an applicant is not a full-time journalist, the majority of their work must be in journalism; public relations writers, internal trade writers, lobbyists, or public advocates are not considered. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens should apply as international applicants, regardless of their current work location. Ethiopian students are eligible to apply as international applicants.

Required application documents include a Resume, a Journalism project proposal, a Personal statement, and Work samples.

To apply, candidates must first create an account for login. They will then need to provide their contact and demographic information, answer questions about their journalism background, upload all required samples and documentation, fill out any other information requested in the form, and finally review and submit their complete application.

The application deadline for international journalists is December 1, 2026. For U.S. journalists, the deadline is February 1, 2027. Prospective applicants can join a conversational webinar with Knight-Wallace alumni to gain insights into the fellowship and the application process.