Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship 2027: $90,000 for New Americans
Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans |
| Funded by | Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships |
| Host country | United States |
| Level | Full-time graduate and professional degrees |
| Coverage | Up to $90,000 over one to two years |
| 2027 deadline | October 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET |
| Awards | 30 fellows selected from 77 finalists |
| Eligible applicants | Immigrants and children of immigrants, age 30 or younger, pursuing U.S. graduate/professional study |
| Official website | https://pdsoros.org/application-process/ |
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship supports New Americans pursuing graduate or professional degrees in the United States. The 2027 application is open and due October 29, 2026 at 2 PM Eastern Time.
If you are comparing U.S. graduate awards, also review `/hertz-fellowship-2027-guide` for STEM PhD applicants and `/knight-hennessy-scholars-2027-guide` for Stanford graduate programs.
What Does It Cover?
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Total support | Up to $90,000 |
| Tuition support | Up to $40,000 total: $20,000 per year, $10,000 per semester, or $6,667 per quarter |
| Stipend support | Up to $50,000 total: $25,000 per year for up to two years |
| Duration | One to two academic years |
| Fields | All types of full-time graduate and professional degrees at accredited U.S. institutions |
| Community | Fall conference, alumni network, and New American leadership community |
| Application fee | Free |
Eligibility
✅ You Must:
- Be age 30 or younger as of the October 29, 2026 deadline.
- Be a New American: an immigrant or the child of immigrants under the program’s definitions.
- Be planning to enroll full-time in an eligible U.S. graduate or professional degree program in 2027-2028.
- Have a bachelor’s degree by fall 2027.
- Apply while applying to graduate school or while in the early years of the degree you want funded.
- Submit all materials online by 2 PM ET; the program states it makes no deadline exceptions.
❌ Not Eligible If:
- You are older than 30 on the deadline date.
- Your graduate program is outside the United States or is not fully accredited.
- You are in a certificate, post-baccalaureate, executive graduate, or simultaneous bachelor’s/master’s program.
- You have already started the third year of the degree program you want funded by the deadline.
- You cannot meet the New American status requirements.
How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1: Confirm New American status
Review the official eligibility definitions. Applicants may qualify as naturalized citizens, green card holders, refugees/asylees, certain U.S.-educated immigrants, or children of immigrant parents.
Step 2: Confirm age and academic standing
All requirements must be true as of October 29, 2026 at 2 PM ET. If already in graduate school, verify you have not started the third year of the program seeking support.
Step 3: Collect core materials
Prepare transcripts, resume or CV, educational history, graduate program details, and standardized test scores only if they were required for your graduate program.
Step 4: Draft the two essays
Essay One asks about your experiences as a New American and how those experiences shaped you. Essay Two asks about current and near-term career goals and why you chose your graduate program.
Step 5: Register recommendations
Three recommendations are required and up to five are accepted. Choose people who can speak to your accomplishments, values, contribution, and future potential.
Step 6: Submit before 2 PM ET
This is a strict deadline. Do not plan to submit at the final hour; technical issues are not a safe assumption for an extension.
Comparison Table: PD Soros vs Other Graduate Awards
| Fellowship | Who it serves | Level | Funding | 2026 deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul & Daisy Soros | New Americans | U.S. graduate/professional | Up to $90,000 | Oct 29, 2 PM ET |
| Hertz Fellowship | U.S. STEM PhD applicants | PhD | Up to $250,000 | Late Oct |
| Knight-Hennessy | Global Stanford applicants | Graduate | Full funding | Oct 6 |
| Fulbright U.S. Student | U.S. citizens abroad | Study/research/ETA | Varies | Oct 6 |
Insider Tips
1. Make New American identity specific
The first essay should not be generic. Use concrete experiences, family context, migration history, community obligations, language, work, or identity to show how your perspective developed.
2. Link past contribution to future work
The program supports potential contribution to the United States. Explain how your graduate training will build from work you have already done.
3. Choose recommenders who know different sides of you
A strong set may include academic, professional, community, research, or creative recommenders. Avoid five letters that all repeat the same point.
4. Do not over-focus on hardship alone
Hardship can matter, but applications also need agency, accomplishment, insight, and direction.
5. Prepare documents for finalist verification
Finalists may need official documents proving eligibility. Keep immigration, transcript, and enrollment evidence organized.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money does the PD Soros Fellowship provide?
Fellows receive up to $90,000: up to $50,000 in stipend support and up to $40,000 in tuition support over one to two years.
What is the 2027 PD Soros deadline?
The 2027 application is due October 29, 2026 at 2 PM Eastern Time.
Can medical, law, MBA, or PhD students apply?
Yes, the fellowship supports all types of full-time graduate and professional degrees at accredited U.S. institutions, as long as the applicant meets eligibility rules.
Can DACA recipients apply?
The official eligibility page includes applicants born abroad who graduated from both high school and college in the United States if no other New American category applies, including current and past DACA recipients.
Timeline Table
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 2027 application opens |
| October 29, 2026, 2 PM ET | Application deadline |
| Mid-January 2027 | Applicants notified of finalist status |
| February 2027 | Finalist interviews |
| March 2027 | Winners notified |
| Mid-April 2027 | Fellows announced |
| Fall 2027 | Fellowship begins |
Your Action Plan
1. Confirm New American eligibility and age by the deadline.
2. List eligible U.S. graduate or professional programs.
3. Draft Essay One around identity, context, and contribution.
4. Draft Essay Two around program fit and career direction.
5. Secure three to five recommendations.
6. Submit before October 29, 2026 at 2 PM ET.
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Share this with a New American applying to graduate or professional school in the United States.