MLA Alumni Opportunity
Continue Your Journey as a Liberal Arts Fellow
Expand upon your MLA experience through advanced scholarship and research, while earning your Advanced Graduate Certificate in the Liberal Arts.
ELIGIBILITY
UChicago MLA Graduate
FORMAT
Online or in person
APPLICATION DEADLINE
September 2, 2026
START DATE
Autumn 2026
Turn Your Curiosity into a Contribution
As a graduate of the University of Chicago Master of Liberal Arts program, you are committed to lifelong learning. You still feel the same curiosity and drive for intellectual challenge that initially drew you the MLA program. In the MLA, you developed the tools for deep, interdisciplinary inquiry. This fellowship will provide the structure and support to help you apply those tools toward a substantial and meaningful scholarly project.
This Liberal Arts fellowship is designed for MLA alumni ready to take the next step: engaging in focused, independent research with intellectual rigor and purpose. Whether you seek to expand your thesis, explore an idea that emerged during your studies, or pursue a new topic that has captured your interest since graduation, this fellowship provides a clear, supportive pathway to turn your interest into a contribution to the scholarly world.
Fellowship Benefits
- Develop a research plan focused on your passions, with personalized guidance from a faculty advisor.
- Take graduate level courses across the University to support your work.
- Complete a capstone project that meaningfully contributes to scholarship in your field of interest.
- Collaborate with a cohort of fellow MLA alumni to workshop and refine your ideas.
- Access UChicago resources, including our world-class library and a dedicated writing advisor.
- Earn an Advanced Graduate Certificate in the Liberal Arts from the University of Chicago Graham School.
Learning Experience
As a Liberal Arts Fellow, you will complete three classes and a capstone project, over a two-year period. For the capstone, you will develop a substantial research project with the goal of sharing your findings through scholarly publication or presentation.
This fellowship offers flexible modalities: You can either complete all requirements online, take in-person courses from across the university, or pursue a combination of in-person and online courses. You also have the option to visit campus for a week-long Residential Seminar, hosted twice a year during the spring and autumn quarters.
You will receive comprehensive, personalized support from a faculty advisor with expertise in your chosen capstone topic. Your advisor will help you plan your academic journey, from selecting courses to conducting research to evaluating your capstone project.
You will complete this program as a member of an intimate cohort, forming lasting bonds with other UChicago MLA alumni. You will meet with your peers and the dedicated writing advisor to exchange valuable feedback on one another’s ideas. You can also take advantage of access to UChicago’s vast resources, including University libraries and special events.
If you successfully complete all coursework and the capstone, you will receive an Advanced Graduate Certificate in the Liberal Arts from the University of Chicago Graham School.
view the info session
Watch our information session to explore this advanced academic opportunity specifically designed for MLA alumni.
Learning Plan and Supporting Coursework
In the MLA, you completed a thesis at the end of the program. In this fellowship, your capstone project will shape your entire learning experience from the moment you’re admitted. As part of your application, you’ll submit a statement of purpose that outlines your specific research interests and goals. From your very first quarter, you’ll begin executing your research plan in the Introduction to Advanced Graduate Research course.
In addition, at the start of the fellowship, you will be paired with a faculty advisor who is an expert in your area of interest. Together, you will craft a personalized learning plan that leads toward your research objectives for the capstone project.
The fellowship curriculum includes:
- Intro to Advanced Graduate Research: Your first class is a deep dive into academic writing, research methodology, and scholarly engagement. This course will help you refine your research proposal and begin your project in earnest alongside your cohort.
- Two elective courses: Your choice of two courses that align with your research goal. Courses may be selected from the existing Master of Liberal Arts course offerings, other units across the University, or faculty-supervised independent study courses.
- Optional Independent Study Course: Fellows have the option to select an Independent Study Course as one of the two elective courses. With faculty supervision, Fellows pursue a deep dive into research on their topic of choice and start the literature review for their capstone project.
Liberal Arts Fellowship Capstone
Your learning plan as a Liberal Arts Fellow culminates in a unique capstone project. Over a minimum of two quarters, you will develop a research project that makes an original and meaningful intervention in a field of inquiry that interests you.
Starting from the point of admission, your faculty advisor, an expert in your area of interest, will support you by helping you choose existing courses or independent study opportunities that are relevant to your planned research and ensuring you stay on track to completion. In workshop sessions, you will also receive feedback on your learning plan from fellow members of your cohort and from the fellowship’s dedicated writing advisor.
This guided reading and research course can serve as the beginning of the literature review for your capstone project. The capstone will take a rigorous approach to research, presenting a thorough summary of the current state of scholarship before making your own contribution.
The final capstone project may take a variety of forms, such as a scholarly article to be submitted for journal publication, a presentation at an academic conference, or a standard research paper. The capstone will be reviewed and evaluated by a UChicago scholar whose research aligns with your topic.
Liberal Arts Fellow Admissions
To be eligible, you must have:
- Completed the UChicago Master of Liberal Arts with a grade point average of 3.5 or above. If you have questions about eligibility, contact Tim Murphy.
- Distinguished yourself in the MLA program with a compelling thesis and a strong letter of recommendation from a member of the MLA faculty. If it has been an extended time since graduation and a faculty member is not identified, contact Tim Murphy.
- Show your dedication to continued research and contributions in the liberal arts through your personal statement and interview with the program director.
Before starting the application process, you should have a clear sense of the research area you intend to focus on and how the fellowship will help to achieve your objectives.
Application Checklist
To apply for the Advanced Certificate in Liberal Arts program, you must submit the following:
- Completed application
- Submit an online application for the Advanced Graduate Certificate in the Liberal Arts
- Statement of purpose
- Approximately five pages describing your research goals and proposed capstone project. It will be similar in structure to the thesis proposal you completed in the MLA.
- One letter of recommendation from a UChicago MLA faculty member
- Interview with program director
- Transcripts
- For any degrees completed since the MLA, upload one unofficial transcript for each university attended within the application. Please do not mail transcripts as part of your admission application; we accept unofficial uploads only for application evaluation.
- Applicants should check with program staff to confirm that their prior transcripts are still on file. Transcripts are generally retained on file for up to 10 years.
To apply, complete the online application form for the Advanced Graduate Certificate in the Liberal Arts:
Tuition
The program consists of three courses plus a capstone project over two years.
Per Course Tuition: $4,325 (2025-2026 academic year)
Annual Fee: $2,000
Tuition is subject to change.
The cost of books varies by course. Enrolling in a program of study includes additional costs beyond the tuition listed here. For a full list of direct and indirect expenses associated with the cost of attendance, please visit the Cost of Attendance page of the Graduate Financial Aid Office website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies to be a Liberal Arts Fellow?
This offering is only open to graduates from UChicago’s Master of Liberal Arts who completed their degree with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. You must have a clearly defined plan for continued research and contributions in the liberal arts, which you will explain through your statement of purpose and interview with the program director.
If you wish to take additional courses without the commitment to an in-depth research project, explore the Graduate Student at Large program.
Is this fellowship offered online or on campus?
The fellowship has a highly flexible modality. Fellows have the option to complete the fellowship entirely online, attend one or more classes in person, and to participate in an on-campus Residential Seminar.
How is this program different than the MLA experience?
While the MLA touches on a broad range of topics, as a Liberal Arts Fellow you will focus on a single area of research with support from a faculty advisor who has relevant expertise. You will take a smaller number of courses from across the University, each building toward your research objectives.
Your capstone project as a Liberal Arts Fellow must include a thorough literature review and make a meaningful contribution to your area of study with the potential for publication in a journal or presentation at a conference, symposium, or equivalently significant academic or professional gathering.
What courses can I take as a Liberal Arts Fellow?
Along with the Intro to Advanced Graduate Research, you will select two elective courses that align with your area of interest from across the University. Your faculty advisor will help you design a learning plan with electives that further your research objectives. That plan may include an optional independent study.
What opportunities do Liberal Arts Fellows have to interact and network with peers?
This is a cohort-driven program that emphasizes collaboration and forming meaningful connections. During workshops facilitated by a dedicated writing advisor, you will exchange feedback and refine your learning plan. You have the option to interact with peers in person by attending courses on campus. You may also choose to participate in a Residential Seminar and in-person or online events across the University such as the Graham School Second Half of Life Seminar.
Can I apply if I have a Master in Liberal Arts from another university?
This program is currently only open to graduates from the UChicago MLA program.
It has been several years since I graduated, and I no longer have a relationship with a faculty member. What is the best way to proceed in securing a letter of recommendation?
Please contact Tim Murphy for additional options.
Which program do I apply to in the application system?
When you apply online, select the Advanced Graduate Certificate in the Liberal Arts.
If you have questions about becoming a Liberal Arts Fellow, please contact us.