The Institute for Research in the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison sponsors research, promotes interdisciplinary understanding of the humanities, and fosters a stimulating research environment of diverse scholars open to learning from each other. The Institute also collaborates closely with many other humanities initiatives on campus, especially the Center for the Humanities. The oldest humanities research institute at a university in the United States, the IRH is currently celebrating its fiftieth anniversary.

The Institute awards stipendary and non-stipendary fellowships to internal and external applicants each year. Fellowships are open to applicants in any discipline or field whose project has a clear relationship to and significance for the humanities and are awarded across the spectrum of the humanities on the basis of the significance of proposed research, the record and potential of the applicant, and the promise of interdisciplinary engagement in the Institute's intellectual community. All fellows are expected to participate in the weekly Institute seminars and have the chance to present their work at an Institute seminar.The Institute administers fellowship competitions, with Selection Committees appointed by the director and involving the associate deans for the humanities.