2026 Stanford Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program, USA (Fully Funded) Deadline: 15 January, 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 Stanford Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program, formerly known as the Draper Hills Summer Fellows Program. It is a Fully Funded Fellowship in the USA hosted annually by Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL). The Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program aims to enhance the fellows’ leadership skills and provide a deep understanding of the latest research and ideas in the fields of democracy, development, and the rule of law. There are many Fellowships in the United States for students as well. You can check the List of US Exchange Programs. Stanford University will provide accommodations, meals, transportation, and the amount for International Travel expenses to California. More details are below.

Details About 2026 Stanford Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program in the USA

• Host Country: USA
• Program Dates: July 19 – Friday, August 7, 2026
• Number of Fellows: 28 to 30 individuals
• Benefits: Fully Funded
• Deadline: 15th January 2026

Program Location

The 2026 Stanford Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program is taking place at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), Stanford, California.

Theme

Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law.

Financial Benefits

The Program Covers:

• • Accommodations
  • Meals
  • Transportation costs
  • A small travel fund is available for those who can not afford to travel to California.

Highlights of the Program

• Live on the Stanford campus.
• Take classes from leading Stanford faculty.
• Connect to a peer network of democratic leaders.
• Explore cutting-edge research and ideas in the fields of democracy, development, and the rule of law.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must be from and currently reside in a country where democracy is not well entrenched.
• Applicants will not be accepted from highly democratic nations, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, and member states of the European Union.
• There is no application fee to apply for the Summer Fellowship.
• Target: Mid-career professionals in democracy, development, and the rule of law.
• Backgrounds: Government, academia, law, social entrepreneurship, business, civil society organizations (trade unions, NGOs, media, professional associations).
• Participants should have a proven track record of success in a relevant field related to democracy, development, or the rule of law.
• IELTS or TOEFL is not required.
• Applicants must have graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Currently enrolled full-time university students can not apply.

Required Documents

1. Applicant Information
2. Academics & Career Information
3. Resume/CV
4. Essay Questions
5. English Language Proficiency
6. Video Submission
7. Financial Information
8. Personal Certification
9. References/Letters of Recommendation

Note: Sections 3, 4, 6, and 9 require the most attention from applicants.

How to Apply for the 2026 Stanford Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program?

The application process is online. Submit the online application and do not wait for the last date. Submit as soon as possible. The official link is given below.