Scholars from NHC Institutional Sponsor universities are exclusively eligible to participate in a four-week summer residency program, in June, intended to assist in jump-starting or making substantial progress on a current project.
Scholars are nominated and sponsored by their home institutions and must be humanities scholars or scholars working on a humanities project who have completed a PhD or the equivalent for fields in which a terminal Master’s degree is standard. Through this program, faculty from sponsoring institutions can experience a concentrated period of supported research and intellectual exchange at the Center, a hospitable setting customized for and highly conducive to humanities research and writing.
Select Summer Residents are provided individual studies in our quiet, light-filled, glass building in the woods of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. They have access to their studies 24/7 during the summer residency program. Our renowned library staff assists residents in procuring all books needed for their research by the time they arrive, as well as any library materials requests during their time in residence. Optional professional development sessions are offered weekly on topics such as writing praxis and scholarly publishing. NHC staff, more generally, foster a climate of inclusion, safety, and generosity so that participants can do their best work while enjoying our interdisciplinary scholarly community.
Residents are housed in a hotel located near the Center and provided with continental breakfast and a full lunch from our in-house chef and our pastry chef during regular business hours. Lunch in our Commons is famous for the vibrant exchange of ideas and synergistic discussions that inevitably lead to enhanced scholarly output.
Deans and department chairs might consider this opportunity for faculty to reward stellar mid-career or senior researchers, assist junior faculty members in progress toward tenure, help faculty in need of an opportunity to resurrect a long-term project, assist those in a transition from a service or teaching overload, use this opportunity as a recruitment or retention tool, or provide an opportunity for administrators to focus on their research.
2026 NHC Select Summer Residency Application Process
The NHC Select Summer Residency is a competitive program with a capped enrollment of 40 participants.
The Nomination Process
- The program does not have a direct application. Scholars must be nominated by their home institution, which must be an institutional sponsor.
- Each institutional sponsor can nominate up to two faculty members to apply.
- The faculty nomination and selection is managed internally by each home institution, which will set its own process.
- The institution’s program contact must communicate the name(s) of the selected scholar(s) to the NHC by late November 2025.
- Note for President’s Circle Sponsors: Institutions sponsoring at this level can still nominate up to two scholars, and one nominee is guaranteed a spot in the residency.
The Application Process
- In late November 2025, the NHC will send each nominated scholar a unique link to the application portal.
- Complete applications must be submitted by early January 2026.
- The 40 participants will be competitively selected from this pool of applicants.
Select Summer Residency FAQs
Please read our Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
Dates
June 1–June 26, 2026
Cost
The cost of a summer residency is $8,000 and covers housing and shuttle service, the above-mentioned meals, a private study, and library and administrative support. Transportation between their home and the NHC is the responsibility of the Resident (or their institution).
The cost for scholars from Triangle-area (Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh) institutions is $4,250 and includes a private study, the above-mentioned meals, and library and administrative support. Residents are responsible for their own transportation to and from the NHC.
Contact
Please direct any questions to NHC Scholarly Programs.