2026 GFA Application Information

The Theta Alpha Kappa Graduate Fellowship Awards program supports students in the academic study of religion and theology who are pursuing graduate programs (master’s level or PhD) in religious studies and theology. The awards support Theta Alpha Kappa’s mission “to encourage, recognize, and maintain excellence” in “academic studies in Religion and Theology.” Applicants must be entering the first year of their graduate program. Applicants must have obtained their undergraduate degree within the past three years from an institution with a TAK chapter in which they were inducted as a member. Students may be awarded the TAK Graduate Fellowship only once. Fellowship award amounts are $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. 

The following application materials must be submitted in one PDF by 11:59 pm Eastern time on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at this Google Form.

1.  A one-page Information Sheet (found here) with the following information:

– the student’s legal name (to which the award check should be payable) and a physical mailing address that will be valid in Summer and Fall 2026 (for example, the student’s permanent address);

– a statement from the student verifying that the copy of the transcript is of an unaltered, official transcript that accurately reflects their work;

– the names and email addresses of the two faculty members who are submitting letters of recommendation on behalf of the applicant;

– the name and email address of the TAK chapter representative who will confirm the student’s membership in TAK and that the chapter supports their application.

2. A formal letter of application from the applicant, detailing their academic achievements to date, and their long-term academic goals and intentions. The letter should explain how these goals align with Theta Alpha Kappa’s mission of supporting excellence in academic studies in religious studies and theology.   

3. Proof of acceptance into the first year of a relevant graduate program in the academic study of religion or theology.

4. Intent to matriculate into the first year of a relevant graduate program in the academic study of religion or theology.

5. Scans of the official transcript from their undergraduate institution.

In addition to this single PDF, student applicants need to arrange to have the following items submitted by faculty members at the same link used for the application.

1. A separate letter from the TAK chapter representative of the applicant’s undergraduate institution. The letter should confirm the student’s membership in TAK and that the chapter supports the student’s application. It should be written on institutional letterhead and submitted directly by the representative. (If the student will be inducted after the deadline, the faculty representative should indicate the planned date of induction.)

2. Two letters of recommendation (in PDF format, on institutional letterhead) from faculty members who are familiar with the applicant and will speak in detail to the applicant’s academic work (not co-curricular or service work) in religion or theology. 

Applicants: it is your responsibility to ask faculty for letters of recommendation for the Graduate Fellowship Award.

Fellowship checks will be mailed upon evidence of actual matriculation in the fall. If you have any questions, please contact the selection committee member Elizabeth Coody at coodye@morningside.edu.