INTR91: Grant and Proposal Writing

Spring 2002: Eichenberg

1. What's Available: Scholarship and Other Funding Opportunities for Tufts Students

  • Tufts: Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Education: comprehensive list of scholarships and funding sources for undergraduates, including scholarships for sophomores, juniors and seniors; includes everything from Truman Scholarship (juniors) to Fulbright and Rhodes (seniors).

Deadlines are posted on the IRN’s community calendar and reminders are sent out to IR majors through the IR e-List.

This page also includes information on the Dean's fund to support undergraduate research, such as senior theses and information on the new Tufts Summer Scholars Program and Undergraduate Research Clearinghouse:

  • Tufts IR Program: Funding Sources (Thanks to Melissa Dodd for these links):

Tufts IR Research Opportunities: International Research Scholars Program

The International Relations Research Scholars Program supports original, high-quality undergraduate international research. Awarded jointly to selected IR juniors who plan to undertake a senior honors thesis or other capstone research experience and their faculty mentors, the scholarship financially supports a minimum of eight weeks of summer research on an international topic. The program’s objectives are to promote intensive faculty-student mentoring and to advance the development of strong international research skills critical to professional and academic goals in an increasingly interdependent world.

TuftsIR: The Anne E. Borghesani Prize

The Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize is an incentive award that enables the recipient(s) to undertake a project, activity or plan of study in any field involving international issues. Designed to foster the spirit of the award, the prize encourages personal growth and independence, while increasing one´s understanding of all peoples and encouraging a commitment to the world community.

The Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies at Cornell University a funding opportunities searchable database. Has predominantly East Asia Focus.

National Security Education Program Sponsored by the Institute for International Education, provides grants to students at all levels who wish to focus on the study of language and culture in areas of the world outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. NSEP is especially interested in supporting students in education, the sciences, business, health, and technical fields. NSEP grants are made to matriculated students who are U.S. citizens, and, who are applying for study abroad through a university or university-approved study program.

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships Provides year-long funding for undergraduates to study abroad to promote the Rotary mission of international understanding and world peace.

Institute for International Public Policy Fellowship Program Administered by the United Negro College Funds Special Programs Corporation. Students apply as sophomores to participate in a five-year sequence of summer policy institutes, study abroad, intensive language training, internships, and graduate study. Eligibility requirements include: sophomore student status, full-time enrollment at four-year (baccalaureate) institution; U.S. citizen or permanent resident (documentary support required); Minimum 3.2 grade point average (on 4.0-scale); Strong interest in international affairs; Underrepresented minority.

Publication Opportunities

Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review

More Publication Opportunities Tufts IR Program Webpage

2. Faculty Committee on National and International Scholarships

There is a Tufts faculty committee which assists the Dean in advising, reviewing, and evaluating applications for major scholarships. The faculty on this list will be happy to advise you. Visit for the 2002-2003 committee list.

3. Preparing an Application ...back to our Class 1 notes;reiterate:

  • i. Planning coursework for next year to demonstrate/fill out preparation;
  • ii. Research next year (if applicable) to demonstrate/fill out preparation;
  • iii. Making contacts abroad that can be useful when you apply (e.g. for a Fulbright).
  • Tufts IR Program: Useful Links for Helping You Write a Successful Application:

"On the Art of Writing a Proposal" Geared toward the SSRC competitions but has some valid points on writing proposals that may be helpful to student Proposal Writing Support: University of New Hampshire International Research Opportunities Program

Geared toward the UNH program, but contains useful points for undergraduates. Contains additional support and advice for undergraduate international research (similar to our Tufts IR Research Scholars Program--

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Writing Center Guide on Writing Application Essays. This handout approaches application writing from a general perspective. It will help you write and revise a personal statement required by many graduate programs, internships, and special academic programs.

4. The four questions every proposal/application reviewer asks:

  1. WHAT do you want to do? -- This is your research question
  2. HOW are you going to do it? -- This is your methodology
  3. HOW well prepared are you to do it? -- Have you taken the courses or done preliminary research?
  4. What ADVANCED PLANNING have you done to do it?-- Have you made contacts with scholars/institutes?
  5. [WHAT DIFFERENCE will it make to your future? ]

5. The Application Itself. Review Class 1 lecture notes/posting. Basically: what we have taught you here is what you need to do.