Each year, Yale Institute of Sacred Music brings a group of fellows from around the world to join its interdisciplinary community, normally for a one-year term.

The ISM Fellows are scholars, religious leaders, and artists at all career stages whose work is in or is moving to the fields of sacred music, liturgical/ritual studies, or religion and the arts. Scholars in the humanities or the social or natural sciences, whose work is directly related to these areas, are also encouraged to apply. Fellows have the opportunity to pursue their scholarly or artistic projects within a vibrant, interdisciplinary community, and they may have the option to teach.

The fellowship year normally lasts from August 20 to May 15. Fellowships may also be given for either fall or spring, though applicants who are available for the entire year are strongly favored. All fellows are expected to be free of commitments that would prevent them from devoting themselves full time to the work outlined in their proposal and to live in residence within ten miles of the Yale campus.