Through its Franklin Research Grants program, the American Philosophical Society sponsors one Fellowship per year at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), for research in Edinburgh. The Fellowship is for two to four months and is for research in any aspect of the humanities and social sciences. The Fellowship is available only to residents of the United States (either American citizens or foreign nationals or permanent residents affiliated with a U.S. institution) or American citizens resident abroad.

Applicants are expected to have a doctorate by the date of application, or to have published work of doctoral character and quality. PhD candidates are not eligible to apply, but the Society is particularly interested in supporting the work of young scholars who have recently received their doctorate. Independent scholars and faculty members at all four-year and two-year research and non-research institutions are welcome to apply provided that all eligibility guidelines are met.