Princeton University Hodder Fellowship 2026–2027 (USD 93,000 Stipend)
- Omran Aburayya
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
If you are an emerging artist, writer, composer, choreographer, performance or visual artist, translator, or creative humanist with more than ordinary intellectual or literary gifts—and you're selected more for promise than past performance—the Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University might just be your gateway to a year of “studious leisure,” enabling you to devote yourself fully to independent creative work during the 2026–2027 academic year. Details in this article.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: Princeton University, New Jersey, USA
Host Institution: Lewis Center for the Arts, Princeton University
Appointment Type: Visiting Fellowship; not degree-oriented
Target Group: Composers, choreographers, performance artists, visual artists, writers, translators, and other creative humanists of exceptional promise (selected more for promise than performance)
Fields of Focus: Independent creative projects in arts, writing, humanities
Value & Coverage: USD 93,000 stipend for a 10-month academic-year appointment; designed to cover living expenses and support creative work (some sources note an additional USD 5,000 research allowance)
Duration: One academic year (10 months), 2026–2027
Application Deadline: September 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT
Start Date: Fall 2026 (exact start typically aligned with the academic year at Princeton)
Eligible To: International applicants welcome; no U.S. citizenship required; previous Princeton Arts Fellowship recipients ineligible; prior Princeton Arts Fellowship winners are excluded; occasional prior relationship with Princeton is allowed
📚 Fellowship Overview & Structure
The Hodder Fellowship empowers recipients to pursue their own creative or scholarly projects—with no teaching or administrative obligations. It’s designed for “studious leisure,” allowing Fellows uninterrupted time to produce significant new work .
Fellows enjoy access to Princeton’s artistic and scholarly communities, including shared studios or office spaces as needed—but without the requirement of residency or formal coursework .
Unlike the Princeton Arts Fellowship (which includes teaching over two years), the Hodder is a one-year, non-teaching, independent creative appointment .
🎁 Fellowship Benefits
Financial Freedom: A substantial stipend of USD 93,000 covers living and creative expenses during the 10-month fellowship period. Some sources indicate an additional USD 5,000 may be allocated for research expenses .
Creative Autonomy: With no teaching responsibilities, Fellows can fully focus on their projects.
Prestige & Recognition: As a Hodder Fellow, you join a lineage of distinguished creators and thinkers, enhancing your profile in your field.
Access to Resources: Fellows are integrated into Princeton’s Lewis Center for the Arts ecosystem, with access to spaces and collaborative opportunities—while maintaining independence.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
You must be a creative individual (e.g., composer, writer, visual/performance artist, translator, etc.) of exceptional promise—more than ordinary intellectual or literary gifts; selection emphasizes potential over prior accomplishments .
No advanced degree (e.g., MFA, PhD) is required or supported; the fellowship is intended for independent work, not academic credentials .
U.S. citizenship is not required; international applicants are encouraged .
If you’ve previously received the Princeton Arts Fellowship, you're not eligible. However, individuals with only occasional or sporadic prior interaction with Princeton may apply .
There is no age limit, and you may apply more than once in new cycles — there’s no lifetime cap on Hodder applications .
📝 Application Procedure
Submit your application via Princeton’s online portal (AHIRE). The application cycle opens July 1, 2025, and closes September 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT . Required materials include:
Curriculum Vitae (CV): A full record of your creative and professional achievements.
Project Proposal (500 words max): Describe the independent creative project you plan to pursue during the fellowship.
Work Samples + 150-Word Statement: Samples must directly relate to the project proposal; guidelines vary by discipline:
Creative Writing: Prose—up to 3,000 words; Poetry—up to 20 pages; combos allowed (e.g., 2,000 words prose + 10 pages poetry) .
Dance / Choreography: 1–3 video links totaling at least 15 minutes; continuous footage with cue points; no trailers or promotional clips .
Music: 1–2 music scores and/or recorded performance links (totaling ~10 minutes); video optional .
Theater: Up to 15 pages of writing, up to 10 design images, and/or video/audio reel with cue points .
Visual Arts: Up to 20 still images or 10 minutes of video or combination of up to 10 images + 5 minutes video; include cue points for longer works .
File Submission: Upload a combined PDF (max 10 MB) via AHIRE, which may include links to external content (e.g., Drive, Vimeo), with access instructions if needed .
Additional Notes
Applications must be complete by the September 9, 2025, deadline — late submissions are not accepted .
Decisions are typically communicated by the end of November 2025, with formal announcements in the academic spring semester .
No feedback is provided for declined applications; applicants may apply again in future cycles .
A confirmation email is sent upon submission. Recommenders are not required and may not be contacted .
Fellows do not need to reside on campus or teach, but are expected to be based in the U.S. during the fellowship and may work from off-campus locations .
Final Thoughts
The Princeton University Hodder Fellowship 2026–2027 is a prestigious and liberating opportunity for creatives poised to produce significant work. With substantial financial backing, freedom from teaching, and access to Princeton’s academic and artistic ecosystems, it offers unparalleled conditions for immersive creative development.
Don’t miss the key date—September 9, 2025— and prepare your materials thoughtfully.