1. Political Science UNMA
Applying for Grants and Fellowships as a Graduate Student: Understanding Your Options, the Process and How GradFund Can Help
Teresa M. Delcorso-Ellmann, Assistant Dean and Director, GradFund, School of Graduate Studies
And
Dawn Wells, Peer Mentor
Presentation to:
Political Science UNMA
March 5, 2019

2. Presentation Overview
 SGS Fellowships and Awards
About GradFund
 GradFund Services
 Applying for Funding as a Graduate Student
Fulbright IIE
Lint Center for National Security Studies Scholarship
PEO International Peace Scholarship
Margaret McNamara Education Grants
Next Steps 2

3. SGS Fellowships and Awards
Employ an integrative approach to identifying and applying for internal and external funding.
SGS Awards: Such as conference travel funds and awards to recognize scholarly excellence and meritorious service. 
External Awards: There is a universe of over 3500 externally funded grants and fellowships.
SGS Managed Awards: There are several funding competitions that are managed by the SGS Fellowships Office which means that the application must be processed by Assistant Dean Teresa Delcorso-Ellmann. Exemplars include the Fulbright IIE, PEO Scholar Award and DAAD, to name a few. 3

4. About GradFund
GradFund is the peer mentoring fellowship advising service provided by the School of Graduate Studies.
Since our founding in 2000, we have helped Rutgers graduate students win more than $45 Million in external grants and fellowships.
 We provide comprehensive and current information on funding opportunities, perform outreach to graduate programs, and work with students individually to develop their extramural funding applications. 4

5. GradFund Services

6. GRADFUND INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONS6

7. GradFund Services Workshops & Presentations 7
We offer a range of services to support Rutgers graduate students throughout the fellowship and grant application process, from planning to submission.
Workshops
&
Presentations
GradFund offers targeted information and guidance through graduate program and award specific presentations and workshops. 7

8. GradFund Knowledgebase
GradFund Services
We offer a range of services to support Rutgers graduate students throughout the fellowship and grant application process, from planning to submission.
The GradFund Knowledgebase is an expertly curated collection of digital tools and resources including a funder database, blog, advice and forums to assist graduate students with applying for funding.
GradFund Knowledgebase 8

9. OUR AWARD SEARCH 9

10. AWARD RESOURCE PAGES
Our award resource pages allow students to access all the information they need about a particular award in a clean and simple to navigate interface. 10

11. GRADFUND CONVERSATIONS: ADVICE
Our blogging platform GradFund Conversations publishes weekly advice and guidance from the GradFund Fellowship Advising Team and guest bloggers. 11

12. GradFund Services Social Media 12
We offer a range of services to support Rutgers graduate students throughout the fellowship and grant application process, from planning to submission.
Social Media
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date on upcomingd deadlines, GradFund events and programs. 12

13. Applying for Funding as a Graduate Student: An Overview

14. INTEGRATING FUNDING APPLICATIONS INTO THE GRADUATE CAREER
Fellowship and grant applications are a key component in a graduate student’s career. Integrating these applications into their career can help graduate students to actively plan their timeline, learn to communicate and justify their research plans, and to articulate the contribution of their work to different audiences. 14

15. THE BENEFITS OF WRITING AN APPLICATION
Applying for external funding does more than bring resources for your graduate work.
Applying for grants and fellowships can also help you:
Learn to communicate your research ideas effectively
Bring recognition to your scholarship and scholarly activities
Learn an important skill you will need throughout your career 15

16. WHAT KINDS OF AWARDS ARE THERE?
Grants v. Fellowships
Grants: Provides support for research-related expenses.
Fellowships: Provides stipends to support living expenses. 16

17. WHAT KINDS OF FUNDERS EXIST?
Funders may be governmental or private organizations.
What are Different Funders About?
Discipline specific
Interdisciplinary focus
A specific topic or theme
A particular activity
Stage of scholarship
Specific population 17

18. UNDERSTANDING YOUR FUNDER
Getting to know your funder is key to developing a strong application.
What you want to know:
Eligibility requirements
Funder mission and goals
What they support
What their review process is like
What their application cycle is like 18

19. Applying for Funding as a Graduate Student: The Application Process

20. KEY PARTNERSHIPS 20 Your faculty GradFund staff Program officers
Fellow graduate students 20

21. THE APPLICATION CYCLE
Most fellowship and grant competitions for graduate students have deadlines from September through March.
It can take 3-6 months for a funder to review your application, make a decision, and notify you of the results.
Once you are notified that you have won an award, it may take another 1-3 months before you can activate the award. 21

22. The Proposal Writing Process

23. APPLICATION COMPONENTS
Funders may typically require applicants to submit the following as part of their application:
Research proposal
Personal statement/Statement of Previous Research CV
Letters of recommendation
Transcripts
Budget
Important note: The above list is general guidance. Please consult your funder guidelines for their specific requirements and preferences. 23

24. CHARACTERISTICS OF A STRONG PROPOSAL
Clear, concise, and compelling
No jargon
A concretely defined topic with a limited scope
Accessible to a broad audience
Is a good fit with the funder’s goals 24

25. fulbright.state.gov
Sponsored by: U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs
Administered by: Institute of International Education (IIE) 25

26. Fulbright Program 1946: Created by U.S. Congress
About…
Goal
1946: Created by U.S. Congress
Student Program administered in U.S. by IIE
Administered overseas by bi-national commissions and U.S. embassies
To increase mutual understanding between people of the U.S. and people of other countries through exchange
Senator J. William Fulbright ARKANSAS
For more information, visit:

27. Sponsored by: U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs
eca.state.gov/fulbright
Administered by: Institute of International Education (IIE)
iie.org/fulbright

28. Eligibility Graduating seniors Recent graduates Graduate students
Open to:
Basic Eligibility:
Graduating seniors
Recent graduates
Graduate students
Early career professionals, including creative and performing artists/musicians
U.S. citizen by the application deadline
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent by start of grant
No doctorate at the time of application
Country specific requirements
Do we want to list the number of awards on the slide for the tutorials in case it changes in the future?
For more information, visit:

29. U.S. Student Program Study/Research Grant 950+ awards 8-10 months
Two Types of Grants
Study/Research Grant
950+ awards
8-10 months
~140 countries
Independent research, study, or arts projects abroad
English Teaching Assistantship (ETA)
1200+ awards
8-10 months
~75 countries
Help teach English and U.S. culture in the classroom
Do we want to list the number of awards on the slide for the tutorials in case it changes in the future?
For more information, visit:

30. Special Award Opportunities
The Critical Language Enhancement Award
Supplementary funding for Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantees
3-6 months intensive language study
Only in select languages/host countries.
Eligible Countries:
China (mainland China program only), Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, Russia
Eligible Languages:
Arabic (all dialects), Bahasa Indonesia, Bangla/Bengali, Mandarin Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, Russian, and Urdu.
The number of eligible countries and languages supported by the CLEA is subject to change based on future budget allocations and U.S. Department of State priorities.

31. Grant Benefits Round-trip Airfare Monthly Stipend *
Accident & Sickness Insurance
Other Possible Benefits *
Support For Dependents
Research Allowance
Tuition
Language Lessons
Enhancement Activities
Disability-Related Accommodations
* Varies, dependent on grant and host country
For more information, visit:

32. Factors in Selection Quality & feasibility of the proposal
Academic or professional record
Personal qualifications
Language preparation
Preference factors as established by FFSB
Extent to which the candidate and the project will help to advance the Fulbright goals
Requirements of the program in individual countries
Desirability of achieving diversity
For more information, visit:

33. Application Timeline Initiate your application in the Embark System
April - Aug
Campus Deadline
Sept
On-Campus Interviews
Sept
Post-Interview Meeting
Sept
Final Submission Deadline
Early Oct
National Deadline
Early Oct
For more information, visit:

34. How to Apply
Application Tips section can be found in Applicants section on us.fulbrightonline.org
Check events section for upcoming live webinars.
For more information, visit:

35. Connect Video vimeo.com/fulbright youtube.com/fulbrightprogram
On Twitter
@FulbrightPrgrm
Webinars
us.fulbrightonline.org
Applicant Blog
blog.fulbrightonline.org/
On Facebook
facebook.com/fulbright
Instagram
@the_fulbright_program
Sponsored by: U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs
eca.state.gov/fulbright
Administered by: Institute of International Education (IIE)
iie.org/fulbright

36. Lint Center for National Security Studies Scholarship
Applications in January and July Awards of $500 - $1,500
Mission: To foster and further the educational development and opportunities for the next generation of America’s Counterintelligence and National Security Workers. The Center focuses on empowering individuals, enhancing the study of national security issues, and enabling emerging leaders to be mentored by established current-and-former industry experts.

37. Lint Center for National Security Studies Scholarship
To be eligible for scholarships from Lint Center for National Security Studies, students must be admitted to a University prior to submitting this application. Scholarships will be awarded for use in tuition and books, not for room and board. The Lint Center of National Security Studies encourages participation of all students/scholars of any race, color or national or ethnic origin.

38. PEO International Peace Scholarship
P.E.O. Philanthropic and Educational Organization for Women
The International Peace Scholarship Fund, established in 1949, is a program which provides scholarships for selected women from other countries for graduate study in the United States and Canada. Members of P.E.O. believe that education is fundamental to world peace and understanding.
Award Maximum $12,500

39. PEO International Peace Scholarship
Eligibility
An applicant must be qualified for admission to full-time graduate study and working toward a graduate degree in an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada.
A student who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada is not eligible. Note: A student with residency for tax purposes only is permitted.
Scholarships are not given for online courses, research, internships or for practical training if not combined with coursework.
In order to qualify for her first scholarship, an applicant must have a full year of coursework remaining, be enrolled and in residence for the entire school year.

40. Margaret McNamara Education Grants
Eligibility
Be at least 25 years old at time of application deadline
Identify as a woman
Be a national of a country listed on the MMEG Country eligibility List
Be enrolled at an accredited academic institution when submitting application; and plan to be enrolled for a full academic term after award of the grant by the Board;
Not be related to a World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund or Inter-American Development Bank staff member or spouse; 40

41. Margaret McNamara Education Grants
Application open September 15 – January 15
Up to $15,000
Telephone interview at semi-finalist stage

42. Next Steps

43. WHAT TO DO NOW?
Learn what you can apply for by scheduling an appointment with GradFund.
Work with your faculty mentors and our staff to develop the strongest application possible.
Take advantage of our resources and programs to help support the application process.
Keep up to date with GradFund news, subscribe to our newsletter. 43

44. Questions?

45. CONTACT US 45 GradFund 25 Bishop Place College Avenue 45

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