Paul And Daisy Soros Fellowship For New Americans 2027 | Study in United States — Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Most scholarship searches for “international students” quietly exclude people who are already settled in the United States as immigrants, even though that group often faces its own funding gaps. The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans fills that specific space, funding immigrants and the children of immigrants through graduate school with one of the larger award amounts on this list.
About the Scholarship
Established by Hungarian immigrants Paul and Daisy Soros, this fellowship supports “New Americans”, a specific eligibility category covering immigrants and children of immigrants, through full-time graduate or professional degree programs in the United States. It’s one of the most generous fellowships open to this group, both in award size and prestige.
Scholarship Benefits
- Up to $90,000 in total support
- $40,000 paid directly to your university for tuition
- $50,000 paid to you as a stipend over the fellowship period
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be 30 years old or younger as of the application deadline
- You must qualify as a “New American”: either a naturalized U.S. citizen, a green card holder, granted asylum or refugee status, adopted by U.S. citizen parents and granted citizenship through that adoption, or the U.S.-born child of two parents who were both born outside the U.S. as non-citizens and were not eligible for citizenship at birth
- You must be enrolled, or planning to enroll, full-time in a graduate or professional degree program in the United States for the relevant academic year
- You may apply while still applying to graduate programs, or during your first two years in the program
Fields of Study Covered
Open to any field of graduate or professional study, with no restriction by discipline.
Required Documents
- A completed online application
- Academic transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statements addressing your background and goals
- Proof of your New American eligibility status
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Confirm you meet the age and New American eligibility requirements
- Create an account on the Soros Fellowship application platform
- Gather your transcripts, recommendation letters, and personal statements
- Complete and submit your application before the October 29 deadline at 2:00 PM ET, since no extensions are granted
Selection Process
Applications go through a multi-stage review, including an interview round for a shortlist of finalists, with the committee assessing academic achievement, the strength and originality of your personal statement, and your demonstrated potential for future impact.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Make sure your New American eligibility documentation is unambiguous, since this is a hard eligibility line the committee checks closely
- Use your personal statement to tell a genuinely specific story rather than a generic immigrant-experience narrative
- Apply even if you’re still in the process of applying to graduate schools, since the fellowship allows this
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to already be enrolled in graduate school to apply?
No, you can apply while still applying to graduate or professional programs, or during your first two years in your program.
What counts as a “New American”?
It covers naturalized citizens, green card holders, those granted asylum or refugee status, those adopted by U.S. citizens and granted citizenship, and U.S.-born children of two non-citizen immigrant parents.
Is there an age limit?
Yes, you must be 30 years old or younger as of the application deadline.
Can the fellowship be used for any graduate field?
Yes, it’s open to any full-time graduate or professional degree program, with no restriction by field.
Are deadline extensions ever granted?
No, the Soros Fellowship states explicitly that no deadline extensions are granted, so submit well before the cutoff time.