KNIGHT SCIENCE JOURNALISM PROGRAM AT MIT
MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellowship
full · masters
- USD 85,000Stipend (over 9.5 months)
- ~9.5 monthsFellowship length
- Travel + housing + insuranceExtra support
- 3+ yearsExperience required
- ~EUR 80,000 (est.)Stipend in euros
- Cambridge, USAWhere you are based
At a glance
full
Funding
€82k
Max amount
Jan 15, 2027
Deadline
Open to all nationalities
Country
Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT
Provider
The MIT Knight Science Journalism (KSJ) Fellowship is a fully funded residential fellowship for working science journalists, run by the Knight Science Journalism Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is not a degree programme; instead it gives experienced journalists about 9 to 9.5 months in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to deepen their knowledge of science, technology, health and the environment, refine their craft and build professional networks. Each fellow receives a stipend of USD 85,000 paid over 9.5 months, plus travel and housing allowances and health insurance for the fellow and their family. During the year fellows audit courses at MIT, Harvard and other nearby institutions, take part in seminars and workshops on skills such as data journalism, podcasting and mobile video, and join field trips to research centres including the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Jackson Laboratory. Applicants must be full-time journalists, staff or freelance, with at least 3 years of experience in science, health, technology or environmental reporting, and submit 5 work samples plus a 500-word project proposal. The fellowship is open to journalists worldwide, and international fellows receive full visa support. For the 2027-2028 cohort, applications typically open in mid-November and close in mid-January, with finalists announced in spring. Stipend amounts, allowances and exact dates change from year to year, so confirm the current-cycle figures on the official KSJ fellowship page before you apply.
What's covered
- Fellowship stipend — A stipend of USD 85,000 (about ~EUR 80,000 (est.)) paid across the 9.5-month fellowship to cover living costs while in residence.
- Housing allowance — A housing allowance to help fellows relocate to and live in the Cambridge / Boston area for the duration of the fellowship.
- Travel allowance — A travel allowance toward relocation and fellowship-related travel for the fellow (and family where applicable).
- Health insurance — Health insurance coverage for the fellow and their immediate family during the fellowship year.
- Academic access — Free auditing of courses at MIT, Harvard and other nearby institutions, plus seminars, workshops and field trips - access worth several thousand dollars (~USD 5,000 (est.)).
How to apply
Apply online through the KSJ application system within the published window, attaching your work samples, proposal and professional autobiography.
- Confirm your eligibility — Check that you are a full-time journalist with at least three years of experience in science, health, technology or environmental reporting.
- Write your autobiography and proposal — Prepare a professional autobiography of your career achievements and a focused 500-word research project proposal aligned with your goals.
- Gather five work samples — Select five published or broadcast work samples that best showcase your reporting expertise and range.
- Submit the online application — Complete and submit the KSJ online application before the mid-January deadline, attaching all required materials.
- Interview and selection — Semi-finalists take part in video interviews in spring, after which finalists are notified and confirm their place in the cohort.
Eligibility
ProfessionMust be a full-time journalist, either staff or freelance, working in science, health, technology or environmental reporting.
ExperienceMust have a minimum of three years of professional experience in those reporting areas.
Work samplesMust submit five work samples that demonstrate the quality and range of your journalism.
Project proposalMust submit a 500-word proposal for a journalism-related research project to pursue during the fellowship.
NationalityOpen to journalists of all nationalities, domestic and international; international fellows receive full visa support.
The fellowship is a residential programme based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, so fellows must relocate for the 9-to-9.5-month period. It is not tied to any academic degree.
Eligible countries
Open to all nationalities
Deadlines
Fellowship 2027/2028~15 January 2027 (est.)
Selection
Applications are reviewed by the Knight Science Journalism Program on the strength of the candidate's journalism (assessed through the five work samples), the quality and feasibility of the 500-word research project proposal, and the professional autobiography. Semi-finalists are interviewed by video before finalists are selected for the cohort.
Verified sources
- Knight Science Journalism Fellowships - MITksj.mit.eduofficial
- KSJ Fellowship - How to Applyksj.mit.eduofficial
About the provider
The Knight Science Journalism (KSJ) Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology supports science journalism through fellowships, training and resources. Established in 1983 and now endowed by the Knight Foundation, it has hosted hundreds of journalists from around the world in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who can apply for the MIT KSJ Fellowship?
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Full-time professional journalists - staff or freelance - of any nationality with at least three years of experience covering science, health, technology or the environment.
Is this a degree programme?
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No. The KSJ Fellowship is a residential professional fellowship, not a degree. Fellows audit courses and pursue their own projects rather than earning a qualification.
How much is the stipend?
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Fellows receive USD 85,000 (about ~EUR 80,000 (est.)) paid over the 9.5-month fellowship, plus travel and housing allowances and health insurance.
How long is the fellowship?
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It runs for about 9 to 9.5 months, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, typically across an academic year.
Where is the fellowship based?
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At the Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with access to MIT, Harvard and other nearby institutions.
Are international journalists eligible?
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Yes. The fellowship is open to journalists worldwide, and international fellows receive full visa support to relocate to the United States.
What do I need to submit?
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A professional autobiography, a 500-word research project proposal, and five work samples that demonstrate your journalism.
When is the deadline?
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Applications usually open in mid-November and close around mid-January; for the 2027-2028 cohort the deadline is expected near ~15 January 2027 (est.).
Does the fellowship cover health insurance?
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Yes. Health insurance is provided for the fellow and their immediate family for the duration of the fellowship year.
Can my family come with me?
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Yes. The travel and housing allowances and health insurance are designed to support fellows relocating with their families.
What activities are part of the fellowship?
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Seminars and workshops on skills such as data journalism and podcasting, field trips to research centres like Woods Hole and the Jackson Laboratory, and the freedom to audit courses at MIT and Harvard.
Where can I confirm the current figures and dates?
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On the official KSJ fellowship page at ksj.mit.edu. The stipend, allowances and deadlines can change each cycle, so verify the current cohort details before applying.