The Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation is accepting 2027 fellowship applications from eligible graduate students whose work addresses environmental problems. The award combines US$18,000 with leadership development. This is a restricted graduate fellowship, not an international scholarship open to every nationality.
What the fellowship provides
Fellows receive an unrestricted US$18,000 award in June and January installments. The programme includes two multi-day retreats, career guidance and participation in an environmental leadership network. Attendance and active engagement are part of the commitment.
Check eligibility before preparing an application
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, refugees or asylees. They must attend an accredited graduate institution in the United States or its territories throughout 2027–28. International students and online-programme students are ineligible.
Terminal master’s and JD applicants normally need at least one semester or quarter completed by the end of 2026. The foundation provides a separate exception for one-year master’s programmes. PhD applicants must have advanced to candidacy by the deadline. Environmental improvement and social equity should be central to the applicant’s work.
Application preparation checklist
- Prepare three short responses, each limited to 1,000 characters.
- Draft a leadership essay within the two-page/7,000-character limit.
- Arrange two professional recommendations, submitted directly by the recommenders.
- Compile the requested résumé highlights and graduate transcripts.
Use concrete examples of your leadership and community engagement rather than treating this as a research-proposal-only application. Ask recommenders early and check their submission status: an otherwise strong application is not complete without the required letters.
Deadline and application steps
The deadline is 14 December 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST, including recommendations. First read the official eligibility rules and fellowship conditions. Then follow the official application instructions and online application link. Check the portal’s document requirements before uploading.
Frequently asked questions
Is this limited to California and New England? No. Eligible applicants can now study across the United States and its territories.
Does applying guarantee funding? No. This is a competitive selection process; eligibility is only the first step.
Can an international student apply? No, unless they fall within one of the eligible immigration categories specified above.
Opportunities Feed is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with the foundation. Official instructions govern eligibility and selection.
