Apply to be a TED Fellow

Every year the TED Fellows program selects a new group of extraordinary, multidisciplinary individuals by open application. We look for innovators on the rise in their respective fields who are doing bold, original work.

How to apply

Applications for the 2023 TED Fellowship are now closed. We will open applications for the 2024 Fellowship cohort next year. Stay tuned by subscribing to our application newsletter below.

Applications closed

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The application process

Before submitting an application, we encourage you to learn more about the support the TED Fellows program provides and read our tips for applying.

To apply, you’ll submit an application online during our open application cycle. Your written application is the primary means for showcasing your work -- tell us what makes your work unique and impactful. Please write clearly for a general audience and assume we know nothing about your field. We only accept applications written in English. We do not accept late submissions.

Once we’ve received your application, we start reading. We read every application, and therefore the selection process takes time. You can expect to hear back from us 8 months after the application closes. All applicants are notified whether or not they have been selected to join the TED Fellows program.


Who should apply

The TED Fellows Program recognizes the folks working on-the-ground on world-changing ideas -- the doers, makers, inventors, advocates, filmmakers and photographers, musicians and artists, educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and human rights activists. If you’re at work on a future-shaping idea and over the age of 18, you should apply.

The TED Fellows program is not an academic fellowship and non-traditional educations are welcome.

In addition to impressive accomplishment, fine character and a good heart are also important traits we look for in TED Fellows.


The selection process

TED Fellows are selected by the program staff, with extensive reference checking, fact checking and consultation with experts across all fields.

Your written application is central to our selection process. We read every application and encourage you to read our tips for applying before submitting your application. These tips are a guide to what we’re looking for when we review your application.

Applicants may receive requests for additional information from our team. But unless we reach out to you, we require no further information from you.

Ultimately, there is no algorithm for how we select our TED Fellows. We select Fellows based on their accomplishments in their respective fields, the potential impact of their work and also their character. The ideal applicant is collaborative in their pursuits and in their nature, and is at a moment in their career to maximize the support of the TED community.