Michael I. Sovern/Columbia Affiliated Fellowship at the American Academy in Rome

The application period for the 2026-2027 Michael I Sovern/Columbia Affiliate Fellowship has closed. The below information pertains to this year's completed application cycle and is subject to change. Please check the website next Winter for updated information about the fellowship.

Applying for the 2026-27 Sovern/Columbia Affiliated Fellowship at the American Academy in Rome

Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026


The American Academy in Rome [www.aarome.org] is a distinguished interdisciplinary center for advanced study that regularly houses about 75 scholars, many of them – like the Sovern Fellows – for periods of one to two months.  Each year a Columbia scholar is selected as the Sovern/Columbia Affiliated Fellow. The Fellow receives a 4 or 8 week residency at the Academy that provides housing and meals; the opportunity to participate in trips and tours organized for and by Academy Fellows; invitations to all Academy conferences and events; and access to all Academy scholarly resources, including the Library, Photographic Archive and the Archaeological Study Collection. 

The Sovern Fellowship is a non-stipendiary award, and the Fellow is responsible for all other costs associated with the fellowship, including travel and other living expenses. 

The 4 or 8 week residency must be scheduled between September 7, 2026 and July 2, 2027.

The Sovern Fellow must be employed full-time at Columbia and can be a scholar, artist, curator, librarian or administrator in any of the following fields: Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Early Modern, and Modern Italian Studies, and Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Design, Historic Preservation and Conservation, Literature, Musical Composition, and Visual Art.

 Individuals wishing to be considered for the 2025-26 fellowship should submit:

  1. a CV
  2. a proposal of no more than two pages in length that: outlines what the applicant proposes to do in Rome; describes how the fellowship and the resources of the Academy will facilitate those endeavors;
  3. three ranked sets of arrival dates of the proposed residency (top choice, 2nd and 3rd):
    • Fall Session: Sep 7, 2026 - Jan 29, 2027 (arrival dates: Sep 7, Oct 5, Nov 2, Nov 30, Jan 4)
    • Spring Session: Feb 1 - July 2, 2027 (arrival dates: Feb 1, Mar 1, Mar 30, Apr 26, May 24, Jun 7)
  4. a brief letter of support from the chair/Dean of the applicant’s Columbia department/school endorsing the project and proposed residency.

The deadline for submitting applications for the Michael I Sovern/Columbia Affiliate Fellowship is Friday, May 1, 2026. Applications should be submitted to the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Programs via e-mail at [email protected].