Dumbarton Oaks offers residential fellowships in three areas of study: Byzantine Studies (including related aspects of late Roman, early Christian, Western medieval, Slavic, and Near Eastern studies), Pre-Columbian Studies (of Mexico, Central America, and Andean South America), and Garden and Landscape Studies.

Junior Fellowships are for degree candidates who at the time of application have fulfilled all preliminary requirements for a PhD or appropriate final degree and will be working on a dissertation or final project at Dumbarton Oaks under the direction of a faculty member at their own university. Graduate students who do not have the PhD in hand by the application deadline of November 1 must apply as Junior Fellows. Successful applicants for Junior Fellowships who have the PhD in hand by the beginning of the Fellowship term may be granted the status and stipend of Fellows.

Fellowships are for scholars who hold a doctorate or appropriate final degree or have established themselves in their field and wish to pursue their own research.

Summer Fellowships are for Byzantine, Pre-Columbian, or Garden and Landscape Scholars on any level of advancement beyond the first year of graduate (post-baccalaureate) study.