A selection of Fellowships for Geographers


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A selection of Fellowships for Geographers

(Please note: This list was last updated in Fall 2006.
Current deadlines will vary - please check the associated website for up-to-date deadline information.)

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Key: P = Pre-dissertation; S = Summer; D = Dissertation; M = Minority; * = Date based on last year’s deadline
Type
Fellowship
Eligibility
Deadline
Web link or Contact Information
P/D Bancroft Library Study Award UC students must be beyond the first year of graduate study;
 First Monday in February
– confirm at website		 http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/info/fellowships.html
For historical research at Bancroft Library. Each academic year, three fellowships (of either $7,000 or $10,000 awards) are available to graduate students on all University of California campuses. The holders of the fellowships, designated as Bancroft Fellows, will conduct their research in The Bancroft Library on the Berkeley campus during the one-year tenure of the fellowship and must therefore be registered during this period at Berkeley or their home campus under the inter-campus exchange program.
P/D
Multi-year		 Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program Grad students doing work in National Parks last year's deadline:
May 3
– confirm at website		 http://www.nature.nps.gov/canonscholarships
The Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program awarded $80,000 scholarships to eight doctoral students in 2006 to conduct research in national parks. Competitions focus on research topics within the biological, physical, social, cultural sciences, and technology innovation. The research topics are of critical importance to the management of the National Park System and selected by the National Park Service. Students applying for scholarships must submit dissertation proposals that address these topics.
D Chancellors Dissertation Year Fellowship Program Students must be advanced to candidacy at the time of nomination March 1, 2007 See Carol Page
Thirteen fellowships awarded for the 2006-2007 academic year for UC Berkeley students. Awards carry a stipend of $17,000, with an additional stipend of $2,000 if the dissertation is filed by May 18, 2007. The Graduate Division covers registration fees and nonresident tuition for international students. Students holding these awards will not be allowed to hold a research or teaching appointment, or any kind of employment.

Each department and group may submit one nomination for the award.
P/D DAAD Fellowship for Graduate Study and Research in Germany US or Canadian citizens or foreign nationals who've been studying here more than a year last year's deadlines:
Nov. 1 or Nov. 15 - depends on fellowship and field
– confirm at website		 http://www.daad.org
For undergraduate seniors, graduate students and post-doctoral researchers to undertake up to 10 months of study and research in Germany. Travel expenses and incidentals, payments of
monthly stipends (715-195 Euros) provided.
P/D
Multi-year
 Environmental Protection Agency Star Fellowship US citizens only last year's deadline:
Nov. 20
– confirm at website		 http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/
100 Fellowships will be given out this year for up to 37k of funding for 3 years to do environmental science related research, including social science (though most of the fellowships go to straight
science). You apply by doing an extensive "pre-application" in October, and then get narrowed down to a final selection process midwinter. Every year a bunch of Berkeley grads get it. Some abstracts of past proposals that were successful can be found on the website.
P Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships for Minorities U.S. citizens, selected minorities last year's deadline:
Nov. 16
– confirm at website		 http://national-academies.org/fellowships/
60 awards were given last year of $20,000 stipend plus $3000 education allowance. Applicants must be able to use a 3-year pre-doctoral award. See eligible minority groups below.
D/M Ford Foundation Minority Dissertation Fellowships Minority groups last year's deadline:
Nov. 30
– confirm at website		 www7.nationalacademies.org/fordfellowships/forddiss.html
Twelve-month dissertation fellowships for U.S. citizens who are members of the following minority groups: African American, Native Alaskan, Mexican American (Chicano), Native American/American Indian, Native Pacific Islander, and Puerto Rican. Provides a $21,000 stipend.
D Fulbright IIE and Other Grants for Graduate Study Abroad US citizens only last year's deadline:
Sept. 21
– confirm at website		 http://www.iie.org/fulbright/
Provides round-trip travel, tuition, books, and stipend for one academic year. Approximately 900 awards are available for study in over 70 countries. Applies to course work, master's or dissertation research.
D Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Grants US citizens only last year's deadline:
Oct. 31
– confirm at website		 http://www.ed.gov/programs/iegpsddrap/index.html
For full-time dissertation research overseas in modern foreign language and area studies by U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Funding is for six to 12 months. Grants are not awarded for projects focusing on Western Europe or for research in countries where the U.S. has no diplomatic representation.
P/S Human Rights Summer Fellowship All grad students Applications available January
last year's deadline:
Feb. 28
– confirm at website		 http://www.hrcberkeley.org/fellowships/

For students to work in coordination with non-governmental organizations on pressing human rights issues domestically or abroad. The fellowship includes a $3,500 stipend per fellow. Note: make sure you check out the requirements for the fellows who receive this grant - there are quite a few. Also, you need a letter from a supporting institution, so make sure to start applying well in advance.
P/S Graduate Division Summer Grant All grad students in the humanities or social sciences last year's deadline:
Oct. 26
– confirm at website		 http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/fellowships/fellowships_deadlines.shtml
For doctoral students in eligible humanities, social sciences, and professional schools. Provides summer support to students preparing for their qualifying exams, conducting research in preparation for their dissertations, writing dissertations, and enrolling in language programs. Priority given to students who have not received prior funding from the Graduate Division and are making timely progress toward their doctoral degrees. Award amount is $3,200 in stipend plus fees for 3 units for the Berkeley Summer Session.
P/D IIS fellowships All grad students who meet specific requirements last year's deadline:
April 3
– confirm at website		 http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/fellowship/
Funding for UC Berkeley graduate students conducting various predissertation and dissertation research projects that explore social science issues on an international scale. Note: These fellowships have varying requirements, see the home page. The deadlines are very late, and hence are usually used by students who applied for the main funding grants, but still need money come April.
D International Dissertation Research Fellowship All grad students last year's deadline:
Nov. 5
– confirm at website		 http://www.ssrc.org./programs/idrf/
Many geography students have received this; it is $20,000, for up to one year.
P/D
Multi-year
 Jacob K. Javitz Fellowship Program Eligibility is limited to those, who at the time of application, have not yet completed their first full year of doctoral or MFA study; or to those who will enter graduate school in academic year 2006-2007. last year's deadline:
Oct. 3
– confirm at website		 http://www.ed.gov/programs/jacobjavits/index.html
This program provides fellowships to eligible students "of superior ability" selected based on their demonstrated achievement, and financial need. The stipend level is comparable to that of the National Science Foundation; 3-4-years of funding. In 2005 they paid up tp $30,000 in stipend and $11,822 in tuition.
P/D Mentored Research Fellowship Citizenship or permanent residency in the United States. March 1, 2007 See Carol Page
The purpose of this program is to assist doctoral students in acquiring sophisticated research skills under faculty mentorship, while working on their own pre-dissertation research. Each award holder will receive $14,000 plus registration fees for the academic year.

Applicants must exhibit one or more of the following characteristics (describe on application form):
- Demonstration of strong academic achievement despite challenges such as educational, cultural or social obstacles.
- Contribution to diversity within a discipline or in the graduate community at large. This can include actively working to increase representation of underrepresented students attending college, or to improve the retention rate of underrepresented students. Another example might be representation of life and perspectives that are underrepresented in a particular discipline.
Evidence of intention to use doctoral degree toward serving educationally underrepresented segments of society.
See Carol for application
P/D
Multi-year
 NASA Graduate Student Fellowships In Earth System Science United States citizens and resident aliens are given preference, although the program is not restricted to them. last year's deadline:
Feb. 1
– confirm at website
Note: Students may also apply in their senior year prior to receiving their baccalaureate degree.
 http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/
Awards are made initially for one year and may be renewed annually, for up to three years of $24,000 per year. Applications are considered for research in Biology and Biogeochemistry of Ecosystems, Climate Variation and Prediction and the Global Carbon Cycle, Ozone and Atmospheric Chemistry, Solid Earth and Natural Hazards, and Global Water and Energy Cycle. NASA discourages submission of paleo-climate related applications to this program.
P/D
Multi-year
 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships U.S. citizens or nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States. Fellowships are intended for individuals in the early stages of their graduate study. last year's deadline:
Nov. 1
– confirm at website		 http://www.nsfgradfellows.org
Offers three-year graduate research fellowships in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, and behavioral and social sciences, including the history of science and the philosophy of science. This is a good one to apply for in the 1st year of study. (Along with the EPA Star Fellowship).
Approximately 900 three-year fellowships are awarded each year: The 2006 awards were $27,500 for stipend, for 12-month tenures, and a cost-of-education allowance of $10,500 per tenure year. Many Berkeley grad students get these each year and several have been awarded to geographers over the past few years.
P/D Natural Reserve System Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student
Research Grants.
 last year's deadline:
Oct. 20
– confirm at website		 Contact michael.dorward@ucop.edu
$2,500 per award for studies conducted on reserves in the UC Natural Reserve System.
D NSF Dissertation Improvement Grant All grad students last year's deadlines:
Oct 15th or Feb 15th
– confirm at website
Note: The university usually requires your proposal a week in advance of this.		 http://www.nsf.gov/
Many geography students have got this; applications are long (10 pages of single spaced) so this is a good one to submit first, and then slim down for other proposals; $8,000 to $12 000; you have to apply online and through the Sponsored Project office – see Nat.
D Social Science Research Council International Dissertation Field
Research Fellowships
 last year's deadlines:
Nov. 1 (online)
Nov. 8 (mailed in)
– confirm at website		 http://www.ssrc.org/programs/idrf/

SSRC has many programs – check out the website for more information
Provides support for humanists and social scientists to conduct disseretation field research in all areas of the world. Applicants must have completed all Ph.D. requirements except the field research component by the time the fellowship begins or by December, whichever is first. Awards of up to $20,000 in field research support.
P/D Switzer Environmental Fellowships Students in New England and California working toward improving the quality of our natural environment. last year's deadline:
Jan. 6 (nomination)
Feb. 17 (application)
– confirm at website		 http://www.switzernetwork.org/fellowship-overview.html
One-year fellowships for $13,000 available for studies directed toward improving the natural environment. Not limited to field of study. In the past awards have been made to students pursuing policy studies, economics, engineering, law, biology, chemistry and physics. 20 awards are given each year.
D UC Dissertation Award Citizenship or permanent residency in the United States. last year's deadline:
March 1
– confirm at website		 See Carol Page
Awards will carry a stipend of $17,000 and a travel allowance. If the dissertation is filed by May of the following year, an additional $2,000 stipend will be awarded. Each awardee is required to present two seminars on his/her dissertation research, one on the Berkeley campus and one on another UC campus or California State University campus. Graduate Division will cover registration fees. Awardees will not be allowed to hold a research or teaching appointment, or any kind of employment.
D Wenner-Gren Anthropological Grant for Dissertation Fieldwork All grad students intending to undertake anthropological research last year's deadlines:
May 1 or Nov. 1
– confirm at website		 http://www.wennergren.org/programsirg.html
You need to persuade them that your research will advance the field of anthropology; up to $25,000 makes it worthwhile though! Beware, they take the application form off-line a week before applications are due.
Here are some other organizations that have given awards to Berkeley geography students in the past:
Aspen Institute - fund research on non-profit organizations
Center for Water and Wildlands Research – center located at UC Davis (for study of California water and resource issues)
Humanities and Social Science Research
Hwa Am Foundation's Summer Research Grant
Institute for International Studies
Institute for Global Cooperation out of IIS Berkeley
Institute for the Study of World Politics
Inter-American Foundation (also has pre-diss grants)
Korea Foundation Graduate Studies Fellowship through the Center for Korean Studies
Simpson, Sharlin and Bendix for dissertation research
Soroptomist International Founder Region Fellowship for woman in grad school

Others appropriate for geographers:
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy for dissertation fellowships
Society of Woman Geographers (SWG) Evelyn L. Pruitt National Fellowship for Dissertation Research

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