Scholarships for Library and Information Science (2026/2027)

In 2026, Library and Information Science (LIS) scholarships will change to support Digital Archiving, Metadata Enhancement, and Community Literacy. Many deadlines for the 2026 intake have already passed, but there are still high-value fellowships for mid-career professionals and full-ride awards for the 2027 intake.

1. Best “Full-Ride” and Elite Fellowships

These are the most complete awards because they cover tuition, living costs, and travel abroad.

Chevening British Library Fellowships for the Class of 2027

• The prize is a 12-month project-based job at the British Library in London. Includes all living costs, round-trip airfare, and a £1,000 project budget.
• Windows that are open:
  • Southeast Europe Fellowship: For professionals from the Balkans/Türkiye (Start: Jan 2027).
  • Overseas Territories Fellowship: For professionals from the Caribbean and Atlantic territories (starts in January 2027).
• Due date: May 15, 2026, at 12:00 UTC.
• Requirement: a postgraduate degree and at least five years of professional experience.

Stipendium Hungaricum (in Hungary)

• The Award: full tuition waiver, a monthly stipend, free dormitory housing, and health insurance.
• 2027 Intake: The application portal for the September 2027 intake opens in November 2026.
• Due date: January 15, 2027.
• LIS Focus: Information Science and Cultural Heritage degrees are available at the BA, MA, and PhD levels.

2. Special LIS Awards and Grants for Minorities

Scholarships from the American Library Association (ALA)

The ALA gives out a number of “Diversity and Excellence” scholarships to students who are getting their MLS in ALA-accredited programmes.

• The Spectrum Scholarship gives $5,000 to students from different ethnic backgrounds who want to work with library technology.
• Chris Hoy Scholarship: $5,000 for doing well in general LIS.
• The Julia J. Brody Scholarship gives $4,000 to students who want to work in public library services.
• The 2027 Cycle: Applications usually open in September 2026 and close on March 1, 2027.

Foundation for International Education in ARMA

• The award is $2,000 for students who are studying Records and Information Management.
• The deadline is April 6, 2026 (every year).

Core Online Course Grant (ALA)

• The Prize: One free seat in each “Fundamentals” online course for library workers from developing countries.
• Applications for the 2027 intake usually open in December 2026.

3. Erasmus Mundus: An Important Update for 2026

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) in Digital Library and Information Science is currently going through a change.

• Status for 2026–2027: Several major consortia, including Euroculture, have said that there are no Erasmus Mundus scholarships available for the 2026 intake while they wait for the results of the funding re-selection.
• 2027 Outlook: Full scholarships (about €1,400 a month) are expected to be available again for the September 2027 intake, with results coming out in mid-2026.

4. How to avoid taking the IELTS for LIS in 2026

Because LIS is a field with a lot of metadata, it’s important to be good at English, but you can skip formal tests by:

• Medium of Instruction (MOI): The British Library (Chevening) and Hungarian programmes usually accept a MOI letter from your Registrar if your bachelor’s degree was taught in English.
• The University of Warwick and several US-based LIS programmes now accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) as a $59 alternative.
• Professional Waiver: If you have worked in an international library for at least five years, you may be able to show your skills through an interview instead of a formal IELTS score for the Chevening Fellowship.

5. Important Timeline for 2026 and 2027

1. The ARMA International scholarship is due on April 6, 2026.
2. The last day to apply for the Chevening British Library Fellowships is May 15, 2026. The fellowships will start in January 2027.
3. Chevening (UK Master’s) and ALA portals open for the 2027 intake from August to September 2026.
4. The Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary) portal opens in November 2026.

Final Thoughts

The Chevening British Library Fellowship is the best chance for professionals in the middle of their careers in 2027. It ends in May. For students just starting out, the Stipendium Hungaricum is still the best full-ride option. Digital Humanities and Metadata Ethics should be the main focus of your application because the 2027 committees are putting a lot of weight on making old collections easier to access through technology.