Journalism fellowships, traineeships and awards open for 2027

Journalism fellowships, traineeships, scholarships and media awards open now for 2027, each checked against the official page, with deadlines and who can apply.

16 open now, 7 fully funded. Updated 13 November 2026.

This page lists journalism opportunities that are open now: fellowships for working reporters and editors, paid traineeships, scholarships for journalism students, and competitions and awards for published work. Each listing is taken from the official page and shows the deadline, what is paid for and who can apply. The list updates as deadlines pass and new calls are checked.

Journalism fellowships come in a few kinds. University-based fellowships give mid-career journalists a funded year or term to study and work on a project. Reporting fellowships pay for a specific investigation or beat, such as education, health or climate. Short programmes and exchanges bring journalists from one region to work in another newsroom. Traineeships are paid entry routes into a broadcaster or agency. Awards recognise stories already published.

Who qualifies: most mid-career fellowships ask for several years of full-time journalism experience and are open to staff and freelance journalists. Some are limited to journalists from particular countries or regions, and many expect you to keep working in journalism afterwards. Student awards and traineeships are aimed at early-career applicants. Each listing states the rules from the official page.

Timing: many of the main residential fellowships for the 2027-28 academic year close between November 2026 and February 2027, and awards for published work usually close a few months after the end of the year they cover.

How to make a strong application: describe one clear project or question you want to pursue and why it matters to your audience; include clips that show the skills the fellowship builds on; explain what you will do differently afterwards; and ask an editor who knows your work to be a referee.

How to use this list: listings are sorted by deadline. Open each one for the full eligibility rules and the official link. A free OpenDoors profile shows which ones fit your background and reminds you before each deadline.

See which of these you qualify for, and why.Get my matches, free

Internship · Fully fundedDW Traineeship 2028-2029 (International Bilingual Journalism Traineeship)Deutsche Welle (DW)

2196-2473 Euros per month (paid traineeship)Open worldwide17 Nov

Grant · Fully fundedDavos Frontiers Science House 2027 Travel GrantsInternational Journalists' Programmes (IJP) with Frontiers Science House

Full funding for travel and accommodation during Davos Week 2027Open worldwide20 Nov

Fellowship · Fully fundedDPoA MTR Journalism Fellowship 2027United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS)

Round-trip economy-class travel to Doha; daily subsistence allowance for accommodation and meals per UN rules; pre-conference orientation where applicable; access to briefings and networking. No application fee.Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Oceania30 Nov

Fellowship · Fully fundedJohn S. Knight Journalism Fellowships 2027-28Stanford University (John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships)

$135,000 stipend for nine months, plus Stanford tuition, health insurance, health supplement for dependents on Stanford coverage, and rental housing adviceOpen worldwide2 Dec

Scholarship · Fully fundedErasmus Mundus Master's Scholarship in Journalism, Media and Globalisation (Mundus Journalism, 2027-2029)Mundus Journalism Consortium (coordinated by Aarhus University)

Full tuition waiver for both years, €1,400 per month for up to 24 months, free health and liability insuranceOpen worldwide10 Jan

Fellowship · Fully fundedSouthern Africa Federal President Horst Köhler Fellowship 2027International Journalists' Programmes (IJP)

Fixed payment of 3,500 Euro, expected to cover most travel, accommodation and living expenses; no further payments made.Africa20 Jan

Fellowship · Fully fundedSpencer Fellowship for Education Reporting (2027-28)Columbia Journalism School / SpencerFellows.org

Residential: $85,000 living scholarship plus $7,500 project expenses, with tuition, student fees and basic health insurance covered. Non-residential: $43,000 stipend plus $7,500 project expenses; no health insurance.North America4 Feb

Scholarship · Partly fundedOverseas Press Club Foundation Scholar Awards 2027Overseas Press Club Foundation

$3,000 scholarship or $4,000 fellowshipOpen worldwide15 Nov

Programme · Partly fundedDW International Journalism Traineeship 2028Deutsche Welle (DW) Akademie

Not statedOpen worldwide17 Nov

Fellowship · Partly fundedInvestment Summit Journalism 2027East-West Center

Travel grant including airfare, four nights of lodging, airport transfers and per diem.Oceania20 Nov

Competition · Partly fundedJournalism and Storytelling Competition on Safe, Regular, and Orderly Labour MigrationInternational Labour Organization (ILO) – Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme

Travel and accommodation covered for first-place winners (no cash prize stated)Africa25 Nov

Programme · UnfundedJournalismAI Strategy Lab 2026 (Africa)JournalismAI at the London School of Economics and Political Science (Polis), supported by Google

No cost for selected participants (supported by Google); no monetary stipend statedAfrica29 Nov

Grant · Partly fundedKim Wall Memorial Fund 2027International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF)

$5,000 USD grantOpen worldwide6 Dec

FellowshipFASPE Fellowship 2027 (Business, Law, Design & Technology, Medical, Clergy & Religious Leaders, Journalism)Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE)

Not statedOpen worldwide3 Jan

CompetitionPan-African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards 2027Continental Reinsurance Plc

Not statedAfrica31 Jan

Competition · Partly fundedSADC Media Awards Competition 2027SADC Secretariat

USD 14,000 in total prizes (US$2,500 first prize and US$1,000 runner-up in each of four categories)Africa28 Feb

Common questions

What journalism fellowships are open for 2027?

The list above shows journalism fellowships, traineeships, scholarships and awards that are open now, each checked against the official page with its deadline. It includes university fellowships, reporting fellowships, regional programmes and media awards.

When do journalism fellowships for 2027-28 close?

Many residential fellowships for the 2027-28 academic year close between November 2026 and February 2027. Check each listing, because deadlines differ by programme.

Can freelance journalists apply for fellowships?

Yes, many fellowships accept freelance as well as staff journalists, usually with a minimum number of years of experience. Each listing states the experience rule from the official page.

Are there journalism fellowships for journalists from Africa?

Yes. Some programmes on this list are limited to journalists from African countries and others are open worldwide; the eligible regions are shown on each listing.