UCIS     University Center for International Studies
External Funding Opportunities for Graduates

Academic-Year Scholarships
Research and Study Abroad
 Dissertation Writing and Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Workshops and Other Training Opportunities
 Internships

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The School of Russian and Asian Studies (SRAS)
In celebration of the return of VESTNIK, The Journal of Russian and Asian Studies, the world's first online journal focused on showcasing student research on Eurasia, the editorial board is pleased to announce that a $200 Jury Award will be given to the most interesting, original, and well-written paper published in the next edition of VESTNIK. Details on the award and the call for papers can be found on our site here: http://www.sras.org/call_for_papers_vestnik

Council of Higher Education Scholarship
The Council of Higher Education has established a scholarship program for U.S. and Canadian students of Czech, Slovak, or Rusyn descent who plan to continue education in undergraduate and graduate programs. Renewable scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice.

Jacob K. Javits
 The JKJ Fellowship is a multi-year award for graduate study.  Awardees are selected on the basis of demonstrated achievement, financial need, and exceptional promise, to undertake graduate study in selected fields in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Diversity Fellowships
 Ford Foundation Predoctoral diversity fellowships provide funding of $17,000/year (plus tuition remission and health insurance) for three years of study in Ph.D. and Sc. D. programs.  The awards are made regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation, however, membership in one or more of the following groups will be considered a positive factor in the application process:  Alaska Natives (Eskimo or Aleut), Black/African Americans, Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos, Native American Indians, Native Pacific Islanders (Polynesian/Micronesian), Puerto Ricans. 

AAUW Educational Foundation Fellowships
 The American Association of University Women Educational Foundation awards fellowships for graduate and postgraduate studies to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.  Selection criteria include an outstanding academic record, professional potential, and the potential of the field of study to improve lives of women and girls in the country of origin. Awards: postdoctoral fellowships – $30,000; doctoral fellowships – $20,000; master’s fellowships – $18,000.

Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans provide funding of $20,000 and partial tuition remission for up to two years of graduate study in professional or academic programs.  Eligible candidates must be a Green Card holder, a naturalized US citizen, or the child of naturalized parents; be no older than 30 years of age; demonstrate the relevance of graduate study to their long-term career goals and potential to contribute to society.

American Council for Polish Culture
The American Council for Polish Culture provides a $5000 award to a qualified student to support graduate studies. Applicants must be American citizens of Polish descent who have completed one year of studies at the graduate level. 

The Kosciuszko Foundation Tuition Scholarship
This program provides funding for full-time graduate studies in the United States or Poland.  Scholarships range from $1,000 to $7,000.  Applicants must be of Polish descent, and a U. S. citizen or permanent res­ident of Polish descent; an undergraduate senior or graduate student; and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. 

Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship
This fellowship supports students preparing to enter the United States Foreign Service.  The award includes tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees during the junior and senior years of college and during the first year of graduate (Master’s) study.

National Security Education Program (NSEP), David L. Boren Fellowship
NSEP awards fellowships to graduate students to study a contemporary language and culture in an area of the world other than western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.  Awards are made for a minimum of one and a maximum of six academic semesters (24 months). Support for language or area study coursework at your home university is $2,000 per semester. Overseas study is based on program expenses for a maximum of $10,000 per semester for up to two semesters.  All recipients of Boren awards must seek employment with an agency or office of the federal government involved in national security affairs.

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The School of Russian and Asian Studies (SRAS)

Charles Braver Language Exploration Grant
SRAS is also pleased to announce that the Charles Braver Language Exploration Grant for Spring, 2011 will award $1,000 to a promising student looking to study Kyrgyz, Russian, or Chinese on our programs.

Research Abroad Grant
The SRAS Research Abroad Grant will award $1,000 to upperclassman and graduate students who will conduct research in Russia or Kyrgyzstan.

More information about funding for study abroad can be found here, and information about current open cycles can be found here.

American Councils for International Education (ACTR/ACCELS)
American Councils for International Education ACTR/ACCELS is now accepting applications for its Title VIII Grants for Research and Advanced Language Training programs in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Southeast Europe, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine. For a full list of countries eligible for each fellowship, please visit our website:
http://researchfellowships.americancouncils.org/

Only U.S. citizens are eligible for these awards.

Fellowships will be offered in two categories:

Title VIII Research Scholar Program: Provides full support for three- to nine-month research trips to Russia, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Southeast Europe, Ukraine, and Moldova. Fellowships include roundtrip international travel, housing and living stipend, visa support, medical insurance, archive access, and logistical support in the field. Open to U.S. graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and faculty.

Title VIII Combined Research and Language Training Program:Provides full support for research and up to ten academic hours per week of advanced language instruction for three-to-nine months in Russia, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Southeast Europe, Ukraine, and Moldova. Fellowships include roundtrip international travel, housing and living stipend, tuition, visa support, medical insurance, archive access, and logistical support in the field. Open to U.S. graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and faculty.

For a full list of countries eligible for each fellowship, please see our website.

Funding for these programs is available through American Councils from the U.S. Department of State’s Program for Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII). All competitions for funding are open and merit based. All applications will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, or disability.

Applications are available for download at:
http://researchfellowships.americancouncils.org/ or by contacting the American Councils Outbound Office.

For more information, please contact:

Russian and Eurasian Outbound Programs
American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS
1828 L St. NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 833-7522

Email: outbound@americancouncils.org

Eurasian Regional Language Program
ACTR/ACCELS also invites applications for the Eurasian Regional Language Program for language study in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan or Ukraine.

The Eurasian Regional Language Program provides graduate students, advanced undergraduates, scholars, and working professionals intensive individualized instruction in the languages of Eurasia. Participants may enroll in semester, academic year, or summer programs. Courses are designed to strengthen speaking, listening, reading, and writing proficiency in the language of study.  Program features include: core language courses focusing on grammar and lexical studies, phonetics, vocabulary development, and conversational skills; area studies, literature, and culture classes for advanced students; classes conducted in small groups of three to six students or in private tutorials; native-speaking faculty with extensive experience teaching foreign students; homestays with local families; undergraduate or graduate credit from Bryn Mawr College; pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C.; and logistical support provided by local American Councils offices. Students with at least two years of college-level instruction in the target language, Russian, or a language related to the target language are eligible to apply to the program.

Languages offered:

*Armenian in Yerevan, Armenia
*Azeri in Baku, Azerbaijan
*Chechen or Georgian in Tbilisi, Georgia
*Kazakh in Almaty, Kazakhstan *Romanian in Chisinau, Moldova
*Persian (Dari, Farsi, Tajiki) or Uzbek in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
*Turkmen in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
*Ukrainian in Kyiv, Ukraine

Fellowships are available through American Councils from U.S. Department of State (Title VIII) and U.S. Department of Education (Fulbright-Hays) grant support. Recent program participants have also received substantial fellowship support from the National Security Education Program, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, and the U.S. Department of Education Title VI (FLAS).

For more information, please contact:

Russian and Eurasian Outbound Programs
American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS
1828 L St., NW
Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 833-7522
Email: outbound@americancouncils.org

ACTR Fellowships for Language Study in Russia
Graduate students are eligible for Title VIII State Department fellowships to study the Russian language through ACTR summer, semester, and year-long programs in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Vladimir.  Awards are made on the basis of need and merit, and range from $2,000-15,000. 

Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarships
There are currently three types of scholarship offered by Rotary International (see below).  Application procedures: the availability of the scholarships is determined by each Rotary district and varies from year to year. Applicants must contact a local Rotary club for information about local deadlines and application materials. Applications may also be obtained directly from The Rotary Foundation web­site at:

Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships provide funding for one academic year of study in another country. This award is intended to help cover round-trip transportation, tuition, fees, room and board expenses, and some educational supplies up to $26,000 or its equivalent.

Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either two or three years of degree-oriented study in another country. A flat grant of $13,000 or its equivalent is provided per year to be applied toward the costs of a degree program.

Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either three or six months of intensive language study and cultural immer­sion in another country and provide funds to cover round-trip transportation, language training expenses, and homestay living arrangements up to $12,000 and $19,000, respectively.


IREX
The International Research and Exchange Board offers multiple programs for U.S. and foreign scholars, including the following. 

Individual Advanced Research Opportunities – Provides grants of two to nine months for doctoral students and senior scholars for research at institutions in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia. 

IREX Short-Term Travel Grants – Provides grants for scholarly projects of up to two months focusing on Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

Social Science Research Council (SSRC)
SSRC offers multiple fellowships at the dissertation and postdoctoral level for research in the social sciences and humanities on Eastern Europe, the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and its successor states, including the following.

Pre-Dissertation Training Grants - These awards invite graduate students in their first or second years of study to enhance their research skills for projects on the New States of Eurasia, the Soviet Union and/or the Russian Empire. Awards of up to $7,000 are intended to support language training, specialized methodological training, and/or exploratory research for 3 months – 1 semester.

International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) - This program supports doctoral research that advances knowledge about non-U.S. cultures and societies, grounded in empirical and site-specific research (involving fieldwork, research in archival or manuscript collections, or quantitative data collection).  Fellowships of approximately $20,000 will provide support for nine to twelve months of dissertation research outside the U.S.

ACLS Fellowships in Southeast European Studies
The American Council of Learned Societies offers multiple fellowship programs, including the following, each of which carry an award of up to $17,000 for a one-year period.  Developmental, Research, and Writing Fellowships are intended as sequenced support for completion of a dissertation. Recipients are therefore invited to apply the following year for the next level of funding. 

Developmental Fellowships are for use at a location in the United States other than the home university in preparation for fieldwork or archival research in Southeastern Europe. Applicants may propose intensive language training, acquisition of methodological or other specialized skills, or preliminary work in archives located in the United States.

Research Fellowships for use in Southeastern Europe to conduct fieldwork or archival investigations.

Writing Fellowships for use in the United States, after all research is complete, to write the dissertation.

United States Institute of Peace (USIP): Jennings Randolph Peace Scholar Dissertation Fellowship
This award supports one year of dissertation research and writing on international conflict, conflict resolution, and peace initiatives.  Successful candidates must be A.B.D. by the time their fellowship begins. The award carries a $17,000 stipend. There are no citizenship requirements.  

Council for European Studies Pre-dissertation Fellowship Program
CES Fellowships provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills required to undertake doctoral research through preliminary library research and field-site investigations.  Eligibility is limited to doctoral students who have completed the majority of their coursework and whose universities are members of the Council. 

Institute of Current World Affairs / Crane-Rogers Foundation Fellowships
The institute awards fellowships for self-designed independent study abroad for a minimum period of two years to young women and men under 36 years of age who demonstrate initiative, integrity, outstanding character, good communications skills, seriousness of purpose, and enthusiasm for their chosen fields.

Central European University
Central European University is a US-style, internationally recognized institution of post-graduate education in the social sciences and humanities. The summer school is an international program in English for graduate students, junior or post-doctoral researchers, faculty and professionals in the social sciences and humanities. It draws its student body of around 500 participants annually from more than 80 countries and its faculty from over 40 countries.

The summer school offers 19 high-level, research-oriented, interdisciplinary academic courses as well as workshops on policy issues for professional development, taught by internationally renowned scholars and policy experts (including CEU faculty). Application from all over the world is encouraged. Financial aid is available.

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Havighurst Center Post-Doctoral Fellowship
The Havighurst Center awards fellowships to junior scholars of exceptional promise in all areas of academic study related to Russia and other post-Soviet countries.  Fellowships are for one year, but may be renewed for a second year.  Fellows normally teach four 15 week courses in the field of their primary research interest per year and assist in developing Havighurst programs in the area of their interest.  There are no citizenship requirements. 

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships are designed to assist graduate students in the humanities and social sciences during the last year of Ph.D. dissertation writing.  Applicants must complete their dissertations within the period of their fellowship tenure or shortly thereafter.  Awards include university fees, research support, and stipend up to $33,000. 

SSRC – Dissertation Write-Up Fellowships
These awards of $22,000 for one academic year provide support to graduate students near the completion of their doctoral programs in the social sciences and related humanities. These fellowships are intended for applicants who have completed all formal components of their dissertation field research or data collection, and who have made significant progress in outlining emergent, innovative contributions to scholarship.

Civil Education Project
 The CEP Visiting Lecturer program supports higher education reform in universities in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia by placing advanced graduate students/faculty in social science departments for a year of teaching and program development. For more information, visit the CEP website.

Presidential Management Fellows
Presidential Management Fellows serve 2-year internships with federal departments and agencies, with assignments related to domestic or international issues, technological changes, criminal justice, health research, financial management, and many other fields of public service.  Graduate students who are completing or are expecting to complete a master’s or doctoral degree during the current academic year are eligible to seek nominations from their academic program.  

Human Rights Watch – Finberg Fellowship
Human Rights Watch awards paid fellowships with benefits to recent graduates of law schools or graduate programs (master's degree and above) in journalism, international relations, area studies, or other relevant disciplines.  Fellows work full time for one year at Human Rights Watch, based in New York City or Washington, D.C., and monitor human rights developments in various countries, conduct on-site investigations, draft reports on human rights conditions, and engage in advocacy aimed at publicizing and curtailing human rights violations.

East European Studies at the Woodrow Wilson Center- Short-Term Grants
REES offers short-term grants to scholars, including advanced graduate students, who require specialized access to Washington, DC and its research institutions.  Grants are for one month and do not include residence at the Wilson Center.

Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies
The Kennan Institute offers multiple grant opportunities for research related to Russia and the Soviet successor states, as well as paid research assistant positions.

Title VIII Research Scholarships - lasting three to nine months are available to academic participants in the early stages of their career (before tenure) or scholars whose careers have been interrupted or delayed.  Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents.  The Title VIII Research Scholar grant offers a stipend of $3,000 per month, research facilities, word processing support, and some research assistance.

Short-Term Grants - (up to one month's duration) for scholars who demonstrate a particular need to utilize the library, archival, and other specialized resources of the Washington, D.C. area.  Short-Term Grants provide a stipend of $100 per day.  There are no citizenship requirements.

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Summer Research Laboratory at UIUC
The Summer Research Laboratory on Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia (SRL), held at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, is a multi-week program of workshops and independent library research.  Associates are given full access to the collection and resources of the University of Illinois Library, the largest Slavic collection west of Washington, DC, and are able to seek advice from the reference librarians of the Slavic and East European Library.  Participation is open to graduate students, Ph.D. recipients employed within and outside of academia, regional specialists, area librarians, and other specialists. 

East European Studies Junior Scholar Training Seminar
The annual junior scholar training seminar organized by the East European Studies of the Woodrow Wilson Center and the Committee on Eastern European Studies of the American Council of Learned Societies brings together junior and senior scholars for a week of presentations and constructive feedback on junior scholars’ research, advice regarding publishing, and discussions about the state of the discipline and employment possibilities. 

IREX Regional Policy Symposium
The Regional Policy Symposium Program, initiated in 2000 as a new model for supporting scholarship, provides US students, scholars, and professionals with a forum to examine and discuss current policy research on the countries of Eurasia and Central and East Europe from multi-disciplinary and multi-regional approaches. The research ultimately results in the development and dissemination of policy recommendations to academic and policy communities. 

Summer Translation Program (STP)
The Summer Translation Program (STP), hosted by the Department of Foreign Languages at Western Michigan University, offers a unique opportunity for advanced language learners and professionals to improve their translation skills while working on their language proficiency. This program is unique in that it provides intensive translation training in Arabic, Japanese, and Russian, which is only available in a handful of graduate programs in the United States, despite the high demand for translators. In order to do translation accurately and efficiently, it is necessary to develop special skills above and beyond the skills you have already developed in your language studies. Come join us at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo for a four-week summer intensive program that will teach you about the business and practice of translation.

 

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New Voices National Fellowship Program
The New Voices National Fellowship Program offers leadership and employment opportunities to recent graduates of undergraduate and graduate programs, and others interested in pursuing a career in social justice. The prospective fellow should apply for the fellowship jointly with a nonprofit organization that would host her/him.

Central Intelligence Agency Student Programs
The CIA offers paid student internships of various duration for undergraduate and graduate students. Applicants must be US citizens and should have a strong academic record (3.0 GPA or better).

FBI Honors Internship Program
The FBI Honors Internship Program provides an opportunity to explore the many careers within the bureau.  Full-time undergraduate and graduate students who are U.S. citizens with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above, are eligible to apply.

Alfa Fellowship Program
The Alfa Fellowship Program provides U.S. professionals with a year-long opportunity to live and work in Russia. Qualified candidates will have Russian language skills, as well as a graduate degree or at least two years of professional experience in business, economics, journalism/mass communications, international relations, political science, government, or public policy.