Applications for the 2027 Switzer Fellowship will open in September 2026, giving eligible graduate students in the United States and U.S. territories a chance to receive an $18,000 unrestricted award plus leadership training, career coaching and access to a professional network of more than 800 environmental leaders. The fellowship is aimed at students whose academic and career goals focus on environmental improvement and who can show leadership, applied problem-solving, collaboration and a commitment to social equity.
Key facts
- The 2027 Switzer Fellowship opens in September 2026.
- The award is $18,000 and is paid in two installments in June and January.
- Applicants must be graduate students enrolled in accredited institutions in the United States or U.S. territories.
- The fellowship is no longer limited to New England or California applicants.
- About 20 fellows are selected each year from hundreds of applicants.
What does this mean for graduate students?
For graduate students working on environmental problems, the fellowship combines cash support with professional development. The money can be used for tuition, university fees, living costs and education- or research-related expenses, and the fellowship also includes two multi-day retreats, career coaching and lifelong network membership.
Applicants need to be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, refugees or asylees, and they must remain enrolled for the full 2027–2028 academic year. Master’s students, including J.D. students, must have completed at least one semester or quarter of coursework and must be pursuing the master’s degree as their terminal degree. Ph.D. applicants must have completed their qualifying examinations by the time they apply.
- Eligible students can prepare materials before the September 2026 opening.
- Applications are reviewed in three rounds after an initial eligibility check.
- Interviews are expected in early May, with award notifications in June.
Who is the fellowship designed for?
The fellowship is built for graduate students whose work connects environmental improvement with practical impact. Fields represented among fellows include environmental science, public policy, environmental justice, public health, economics, advocacy, planning, business, law, research and academia.
The Switzer Foundation especially encourages applications from Black students, Indigenous students, students of color, first-generation college students and others from groups traditionally underrepresented in environmental graduate programmes. It also says students from a wide range of universities, including state universities, are encouraged to apply.
How is the fellowship selected?
Selection is based on more than grades. Reviewers assess environmental commitment, applied focus, innovative problem-solving, leadership potential, collaboration, social equity awareness and communication skills. After eligibility screening, applications go through three rounds of review by Switzer Fellowship alumni, followed by a virtual panel interview.
Successful applicants are expected to show how their work addresses real environmental problems and affects human communities. The foundation says fellows should also remain active in the Switzer Network, including attending events, coaching earlier-career fellows and participating in future fellowship activities.
How can the award be used?
The $18,000 grant is unrestricted, but the foundation says it may be used for tuition, matriculation and university fees, living expenses and education-related or research-related costs. If the money is used outside those purposes, it may be treated as taxable income.
Fellows also attend two in-person retreats during the fellowship year, one in September and one in April, focused on cohort building, networking, equity-centered leadership and skills development.
When do applications open?
Applications are scheduled to open in September 2026. The source provides an opening window, but not a closing date, so prospective applicants will need to wait for the official application page when the cycle begins.
