Eligibility

Who is the Horizon Fellows Program intended to support?

The program is intended to support the University's efforts around access, diversity and inclusion.

Members of groups who contribute to the University’s diversity—including members of groups that have been historically and are presently underrepresented in the United States (e.g., racial and ethnic minorities, individuals from first generation/low income backgrounds, etc.) and those who have made active contributions to enhancing access, diversity, and inclusion in the sponsoring departments field—are especially encouraged to apply.

I am an international student at a U.S. institution and currently hold a student visa. Am I eligible to apply for this program?

Yes.

I have a master’s degree or am currently enrolled in a master’s degree program. Am I eligible to apply for this program?

Yes.

I am a DACA student, am I eligible to apply for this program?

Yes. 

If I indicate interest in the Horizon Fellows Program, will I only be considered for this opportunity and not the regular-length graduate program?

Applicants will be considered for both regular admission and the Horizon Fellows Program. Indicating interest in being considered for the program will have no impact on the admission process for the department to which you are applying and does not finalize enrollment in the Horizon Fellows Program.

Where in the application can I address my eligibility and/or interest in the Horizon Fellows Program?

If you answer 'yes' to the "Are you interested in being considered for the Horizon Fellows Program?" You will then be prompted to briefly explain why you are interested in being considered for the Horizon Fellows Program. [500 words max]

Your response can address any of the following questions:

How would you benefit from the program? What would you want to accomplish during the program? What skills would you want to enhance during the program?

How and when will I learn if I have been accepted as a Horizon Fellow?

Determinations on an application for admission to the Graduate School are released between February 1 and March 15. Determinations on the Horizon Fellows Program are included in the Offer of Admission.

General Program

How is this program different from a post-baccalaureate program?

Most post-bac programs require students to apply for graduate school admission to enter the doctoral program after completion of the post-bac program.  It is the expectation that after successful completion of the Horizon Fellowship year, Horizon Fellows will enter the sponsoring departments' PhD program as first-year graduate students without the need to re-apply. Successful completion is based on but not limited to, completion of an individualized one-year academic plan/course of study (determined by the Graduate School and the sponsoring department). 

Approved and relevant Princeton graduate courses completed during the program's first year may be applied toward degree completion. 

The Horizon Fellows Program also provides several benefits including but not limited to a fully-funded first year of study (including stipend, tuition, and benefits), enrolled student status, participation in the Graduate Scholars Program, and guaranteed University housing. 

How many Horizon Fellows will be accepted each year?

The cohort size is determined by the admitting departments and the Graduate School.

Will I take courses with first year graduate students?

Horizon Fellows have the opportunity to develop an academic plan in collaboration with their department which may include graduate and/or undergraduate courses.

Will I be assigned an academic adviser or research mentor during the Horizon Fellowship year?

Each Horizon Fellow will be assigned at least one academic mentor.  The role of this mentor will be to assist the fellow in devising a plan of action for the academic year and to advise them as they implement this plan during their course of study.  Fellows will be expected to stay in regular contact with their mentors, and the mentor, for their part, will be expected to be readily available for consultation. Robust mentoring will be the key to the success of the Horizon Fellow.

How will I receive feedback on my progress during the academic year?

In addition to regular advising from an academic adviser/mentor, Horizon Fellows will undergo the reenrollment process in the spring. Reenrollment is the annual process whereby departments, programs and the Graduate School evaluate the academic progress of candidates for advanced degrees, including Horizon Fellows. The reenrollment process, which is conducted during the latter half of the spring term, is often supplemented by other departmentally specific evaluations and/or discussions conducted at different times during the academic year (for example, Horizon Fellow advisee/adviser meetings, dissertation committee meetings, etc. which may occur once or at several times during an academic year).

What are some examples of the type of training, coursework, or experiences a Horizon Fellow may complete?

Each Horizon Fellow will follow an individualized one-year academic plan/course of study as determined by the Graduate School and the admitting department. As the year is meant to address areas requiring supplementary preparation for the regular program, and the particularity of student circumstances, there is no prescriptive experience. However, some examples of possible activities could be language study, quantitative coursework, research experiences, or any other complementary activities that would be beneficial to a student entering the program the following year.