Adam Smith Fellowship
Scholarship Sponsored by Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Overview
The Adam Smith Fellowship is a one-year program designed for doctoral students from any institution and across all academic fields who want to deepen their engagement with political economy.
Eligibility
Applicants must be currently enrolled in a PhD program at any university; students in any discipline (for example, economics, philosophy, political science, sociology, and others) are encouraged to apply.
Program description
Fellows participate in three weekend workshops during the academic year focused on the Austrian, Virginia, and Bloomington traditions in political economy. The program is intended to expose participants to influential thinkers and debates they may not encounter in their regular graduate coursework and to promote critical engagement with these ideas. Fellows also become part of a network of Mercatus Center students, alumni, and scholars working on contemporary research in political economy.
Financial support
The fellowship provides up to $7,000 in total support. This amount covers:
- A stipend
- Required course and seminar readings
- Travel and lodging for attendance at Mercatus Center–hosted colloquia
Application timeline
Applications for the 2026–2027 academic year must be submitted by March 15, 2026. Review of applications will begin after the submission deadline. Decisions will begin to be communicated starting twelve or more weeks after the deadline.