The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans aim to provide the opportunity for able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen field. Paul and Daisy Soros, Hungarian immigrants and American philanthropists, established the program in 1997. The couple granted the program a trust fund of fifty million dollars in order to give back to the community that had given them, as well as their children, great opportunities in America. They also wanted to meet the needs of young New Americans at critical points in their education as well as provide insight to the contributions of New Americans in diversity and quality of life. In 2010, the Soros family contributed another $25 million to the fund.
The Soros Fellowship supports the education of 30 New Americans at the graduate level each year. The award covers tuition and living expenses up to $90,000 over two academic years at any university in the United States. Fellows are selected on basis of merit, specifically creativity, originality, initiative, and sustained accomplishment regardless of financial need or distributive contributions.
Who should apply
New Americans pursuing a graduate degree are encouraged to apply. New Americans are permanent residents born abroad, naturalized citizens, or the children of naturalized citizen parents. Prospective fellows can pursue a degree in any field they choose. Those interested in applying can find more information and the application online.