The TED Fellowships 2019

Every year, the TED Fellows program selects a new class of extraordinary thinkers and doers by open application. The program looks for innovators on the rise in their respective fields with bold, original work. 

The TED Fellowship program has the potential to catapult your career forward. By attending and speaking at the TED conference, you’ll be given a platform to share your work and ideas far and wide, and you’ll meet individuals who can help your career. As a Fellow, you’ll also join the powerful global network of TED Fellows – innovators who may be future collaborators. Fellows also have access to personal mentorship opportunities, public-relations guidance, speaker coaching and more.

Who should apply

Who should apply:

[1] All applicants must be 18 years or older.

[2] The TED Fellows program focuses on doers, makers, inventors, advocates, filmmakers and photographers, musicians and artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, NGO heads, and human rights activists.

[3] Applicants need to have traits such as fine character and a good heart since this focus on character has defined the success of the TED Fellows program.

The selection process:

TED Fellows are selected by the program staff, with extensive reference checking and consultation with experts across all fields. Selections are made by the group as a whole, not by individuals.

Fellows are selected based on their accomplishments in their respective fields, the potential impact of their work and also their character. The ideal applicant is multidisciplinary in their pursuits and is at a moment in their career to maximize the support of the TED community.

Once selected, fellows must be available to speak with the TED Fellows team via video-conference for approximately ten hours (over the course of approximately three months) prior to the TED conference.

The central requirement of the TED Fellowship is that fellows are available to attend the TED conference in person, for the entire time. In addition to the main five days of the TED conference, all Fellows must participate in a three-day pre­-conference. This means they will be required to block off a total of eight consecutive days in their schedule.

The TED fellowships program cover the following:

[1] Costs of transportation to and from the TED conference.

[2] Any visa the fellows may need.

[3] Accommodations and food while at the conference.

[4] Conference registration.

Note: TED is committed to the principle of equal opportunity. TED does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, veteran or refugee status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its fellowship opportunities.