Stanford JSK Journalism Fellowship 2027-28: $135,000 Stipend and December 2 Deadline
- Study in
- United States
- Levels
- Fellowship
- Funding
- $135,000 stipend
- Covers
- $135,000 stipend, Stanford tuition, health insurance, housing help, coaching
- Who can apply
- Journalists with at least five years' experience, U.S. and international; not open to citizens of countries under a U.S. J visa suspension, including Nigeria
- Run by
- JSK Journalism Fellowships, Stanford University
The John S. Knight (JSK) Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University give experienced journalists and journalism professionals nine months at Stanford to work on a problem facing the news industry. Both U.S. and international applicants can apply. Fellows receive a $135,000 stipend, Stanford tuition and health insurance, and coaching from the JSK team.
Status: Open. The deadline is December 2, 2026, at 1 p.m. Pacific time. Applications for the 2027 to 2028 fellowships opened on October 14, 2026. JSK does not accept late applications or give extensions (checked October 19, 2026).
What it covers
- A stipend of $135,000 for the nine months.
- Stanford tuition.
- Stanford health insurance, plus a health supplement for spouses and children on Stanford coverage.
- Help finding rental housing and settling in near Stanford.
- Individual coaching, custom workshops and access to the JSK alumni network.
- Access to Stanford classes and campus resources.
Your spouse, partner and family are welcome to come with you. Note that the fellowship does not fund book or reporting projects, and it is not a startup accelerator.
Who can apply
- You need at least five years of professional experience. Student work and internships do not count.
- You produce journalism, work in operations or strategy at a news organisation, or work at an organisation that supports journalists.
- Employees and independent contractors both qualify. Freelancers must do most of their work in journalism.
- You must be proficient in written and spoken English. No TOEFL score is needed.
- You do not need a college degree or newsroom experience.
The fellowship is not for degree seekers, PR or communications staff, government employees or full-time academics. JSK does not consider people working for media that is not editorially independent, such as government-run outlets.
Important for Nigerian applicants: JSK says it cannot offer a fellowship to citizens of countries where the U.S. has suspended J visa issuance. The U.S. State Department lists Nigeria under a partial suspension that covers J visas from January 1, 2026. If you also hold citizenship and a passport from a country without a restriction, you can apply with that citizenship. Ghana, Kenya and India are not on that list as of October 19, 2026.
Key details
| Run by | JSK Journalism Fellowships, Stanford University |
|---|---|
| Location | Stanford, California, United States |
| Length | Nine months, September to May, full time in residence |
| Stipend | $135,000 |
| Also covered | Stanford tuition and health insurance |
| Experience | At least five years |
| Visa | J-1 for fellows, J-2 for eligible dependants |
| Deadline | December 2, 2026, 1 p.m. Pacific time |
How to apply
- Read the JSK become a fellow page and the JSK FAQ.
- Create an account in JSK’s online application system.
- Answer the profile questions. They decide whether you apply for the U.S. or the international fellowship, based on where the community you serve is.
- Complete the online form and upload your resume and a work example.
- Give contact details for three professional references. Reference letters are not needed.
- Submit before 1 p.m. Pacific time on December 2, 2026.
Selection takes a few months. A small group is invited to Zoom interviews in March. International offers go out in April, and fellows move to Stanford in August.
Tips before you apply
- Join one of the JSK information webinars on October 21, November 5, November 6 or November 12, 2026.
- Focus your application on a clear problem in journalism you want to explore, not a book or a single story.
- A work sample in another language is fine if you add a short English summary.
- Show that you can work well with people from different backgrounds and views. JSK looks for this.
- Convert the deadline to your time zone. On December 2, 1 p.m. Pacific is 9 p.m. in Accra, 10 p.m. in Lagos and midnight in Nairobi.
- Check your visa position early, especially if you hold a Nigerian passport only.
Related guides
- AIxBio Fellowship UK 2027: £10,000 Fully Funded Research Programme in Cambridge
- Rotary Peace Fellowship: Fully Funded Master’s and Certificate Program for India and Nigeria
- Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027: How Nigerian Leaders Apply for the YALI Program
Details are taken from the official Stanford JSK Journalism Fellowships website, checked on October 19, 2026. Confirm the current rules there before you apply.
