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 work of the Institute touches a broad array of disciplines, including Anthropology ~ Art ~ Architecture ~ Composition ~ Creative Writing ~ Ethnomusicology ~ Film Studies ~ History of Art or Architecture ~ Languages ~ Literature ~ Liturgical Studies ~ Musicology ~ Religious Studies ~ Ritual Studies ~ Sociology ~ Theatre Studies ~ Theology ~ World Religions.

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. Fellows commit themselves to meet weekly in the ISM Colloquium, then with their cohort at weekly Fellows lunches, and they are asked to share their work in at least one public presentation per semester.

Eligibility
Candidates are eligible to apply as fellows if they are employed as regular full-time faculty or if they have more than six years of related experience following the terminal degree. These fellowships are typically one-year long, though shorter residencies (e.g. one term) are possible in special circumstances. Teaching is an option for fellows, though the ISM encourages fellows to offer one course.

Candidates are eligible to apply as post-doctoral associates if they have fewer than six years of related experience following the terminal degree, and are not yet employed as full-time regular faculty. These fellowships are typically one-year long, though in rare circumstances, fellowships may be granted for two or even three years. Teaching is required for post-doctoral associates.