Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship

The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowships fund advanced education and graduate study grants, which must be carried out entirely in the United States of America.  The fellowships cover the cost of tuition and will provide a stipend of $18,000 in 2025-2026. Awards are renewable and can fund students for a maximum of three years, although fellows must request renewal funds for each subsequent year.

The University of Chicago most recently had a Liebmann Fellowship recipient in 2015-16. We do not recommend students apply unless they fulfill all requirements of the award, especially:

• demonstrated financial need, and
• program requiring a traditional thesis or dissertation.

Eligibility

Liebmann Fellowships are open to graduate students who have outstanding undergraduate records, can demonstrate financial need, and are U.S. citizens.

The selection committee has a strong preference for supporting scholarly endeavors. Competitive applicants also must demonstrate a strong need for financial assistance; students who are already receiving tuition and stipend support for the 2025-26 academic year must make a compelling case for financial need for the purposes of this fellowship competition.

Application Process

Applicants must submit the following materials to UChicagoGRAD Fellowships via e-mail (grad-fellowships@uchicago.edu) . An internal selection committee will consider applications from across the campus to determine the three campus nominees. The Liebmann Fund will then review the nominations and announce award decisions in late spring.

Applicants must submit:

• A completed and signed application. (Click here for the application form.)
  
• One copy of your personal vitae or résumé.
• Copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts to date.
• Copy of graduate exam test scores (if applicable*).
• A Statement of Purpose up to three pages long (double spaced) which considers the relationship between your graduate level study and your intended personal and/or professional goals. Your Statement of Purpose must include a 10-15 line abstract at the top (included in the three pages) that explains, in LAYMAN’S terms, the essence of your proposed topic of study or dissertation, the methodology of its treatment and its anticipated impact on your field of study.
• Letter of Recommendation from Dean of Graduate School or Department Chair (OPTIONAL)
• Letters of Recommendation from at least two professors who have taught or worked closely with you.

Following the internal selection process, these additional documents will be requested:

1. Copy of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
2. Financial Aid information from the University or other applicable source.
3. Copies of Federal Income Tax Returns for the prior two years (including spouse’s returns, if applicable*).

Click here for a PDF version of this application checklist. If any of the documents above are not applicable, please include a statement in its place in the application packet that explains why the item is not applicable.