What is the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship?

Watson awards $40,000 to cover living and project expenses for grantees to pursue a year-long project reflecting their passion for and commitment to a concern born of academic and personal interests. While the project must be feasible and well-designed, the year is more about the person's transformation than the project itself. The project should not be dominated by formal research; rather, a Watson year is about personal transformation through international travel and interaction with the world’s people. A true “Watson” project will relish the chance to pursue a deeply personal interest without the constraints of institutional structure, research process, or professional expectations.

A project must take awardees to countries where they have no or little experience (less than four weeks). One awardee might spend six months each in two countries, and another may plan to stay for one month each in twelve. While fellows should establish contacts ahead of time with local culture hosts, they must strive to maintain independence throughout the year. All Watsons participate in a conference at the end of the travel year, where they present on their journeys.