Columbia World Project Fellowship
Columbia World Projects (CWP) is Columbia University's flagship initiative connecting academic research to real-world policy. Affiliated fellowships fund Master's and doctoral students whose research aligns with one of CWP's active themes — currently including climate adaptation, governance, public health, refugees and migration, and AI policy. Awards typically cover full tuition, a 12-month stipend, plus a dedicated field research budget. Sri Lankan applicants whose work connects to South Asian policy issues are strongly encouraged.
Columbia University
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Coverage
Full Tuition + Stipend + Field Budget
Duration
1-2 Years (Master's) or 5+ Years (PhD)
Themes
Climate / Health / Governance / Migration / AI
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Admitted to a Columbia Programme
You must be admitted to (or hold an offer for) an eligible Columbia Master's or PhD programme — typically at SIPA, Mailman School of Public Health, Earth Institute, GSAS, or the Climate School.
Research Aligned with a CWP Theme
Your research proposal should clearly engage with one of the active Columbia World Projects themes. Sri Lankan applicants tend to find natural fits in climate-adaptation (coastal), migration, governance, or public-health research streams.
Open to International Applicants
Sri Lankan and other international applicants are fully eligible. CWP actively values regional expertise — being from the country or region your research addresses is a strength, not a constraint.
Faculty Sponsor
Identify and engage a Columbia faculty member working in your area before applying. CWP fellowships generally require a faculty sponsor or PI to confirm fit and support your candidacy.
account_tree Application Process
Identify your CWP theme + faculty sponsor
Browse worldprojects.columbia.edu to identify active projects matching your interests. Email 2-3 affiliated faculty members in October-November with your CV and a 1-2 page research outline.
Apply to your Columbia graduate programme
Submit the standard Columbia Master's or PhD application via the relevant school portal (SIPA, GSAS, Mailman, etc.). In your statement, explicitly reference the CWP theme and faculty sponsor.
Submit fellowship materials
CWP fellowships are administered through the host school. Most require a supplementary research statement (1,000-2,000 words) and a letter of support from the faculty sponsor in addition to standard application materials.
Joint review + outcome
Admission and fellowship decisions are typically issued together in March. Successful candidates are matched with their faculty sponsor and project team for the duration of the award.
Why Columbia?
Columbia is an Ivy League university in New York City, consistently ranked in the world top 20. Columbia World Projects sits at the intersection of academic research and policy impact — recent partner organisations include the UN, the World Bank, USAID, and major philanthropic foundations.
#20
QS World Ranking 2026
5+
Active Global Themes
NYC
Located in the Heart of New York City
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