Graduate Funding Opportunities

Deadline

Spring

About the Opportunity

The Global Studies Center employs undergraduate and graduate student ambassadors to market GSC’s academic credentials, mentor incoming undergraduate students enrolled in our programs, organize and participate in UCIS Global Hub events, assist with technical support on digital portfolios, support data collection, assist with alumni and career programming, and support special events as needed. The position provides professional development and mentoring.

Who is Eligible?

Undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a GSC academic program.

Requirements/Intended Use of Funds

Must be currently enrolled in, and must demonstrate progress towards completing, one of the following: Undergraduate Certificate, Graduate Certificate, or Bachelor of Philosophy in International and Area Studies (BPhil-IAS), Global Studies Track. Minimum GPA: Undergraduate Certificate students: 3.0; Graduate Certificate and BPhil students: 3.5. Note: First-term students are not eligible to be GSSAs; please apply after grades for the first term have been received.

Max Funding

Partial term's tuition.

More Information

Applications can be submitted via Submittable every Spring.

Deadline

Rolling

About the Opportunity

To encourage students to study a language deemed of critical importance by the U.S. Department of Education, the Global Studies Center is pleased to announce a supplemental tuition remission program available to full-time graduate students at the University of Pittsburgh.

Who is Eligible?

Full-time graduate students in the Department of A&S and/or professional schools.

Requirements/Intended Use of Funds

Students must satisfy the following requirements:

• Enrollment in one of the nine Less Commonly Taught Languages: Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi, Persian (Farsi), Portuguese, Swahili, or Turkish.
• Successful completion or proficiency equivalent to completing four semesters of college-level instruction in a commonly taught language or less commonly taught language.
• Minimum GPA: 3.5
• Enrollment in the GSC graduate certificate program and taking an affiliated Global Studies area course during the semester(s) of the award.

Max Funding

The supplemental tuition remission will cover the equivalent of 1-5 five credits of language study.

Example: GSPIA student who carries 12 credits and wants to take a 5-credit Arabic course. In this case, the award would cover a maximum of two credits of tuition remission.

12 credits towards major (including one Global Studies course)
+ 5 credits in Arabic
= 17 total credits (15 full-time tuition credits covered through regular tuition; 2 credits covered by GSC tuition remission)

More Information

To apply, complete and submit the following:

• The application form.
• Plan of study: students must submit a statement of not more than one page explaining how the language course and area studies course complement their academic plan and explain how learning the language will support their career goals.
• Curriculum Vitae that includes relevant work experience and courses taken.
• Most recent transcript (if an incoming student, please provide your undergraduate transcript; an unofficial copy is acceptable).

Please direct all questions to Elaine Linn at eel58@pitt.edu.

Deadline

Candidates should check the deadline for the school and academic year they intend to apply to.

About the Opportunity

The University of Pittsburgh’s Global Studies Center administers the H.J. Heinz Fellowship to support outstanding international graduate students who demonstrate strong potential for leadership in the public, government, non-profit, or private sectors. The fellowship provides stipend support for up to two years while fellows complete their graduate studies and the Graduate Certificate in Global Studies. Priority consideration is given to students who have been compelled to leave their home countries due to war, political instability, or credible threats and who are seeking to complete their degrees in a secure academic environment.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible candidates must be admitted to a master’s program at the University of Pittsburgh and formally nominated by their academic department. As part of the nomination, the department must commit to covering the fellow’s tuition for up to two years. Fellows must also complete coursework fulfilling the Graduate Certificate in Global Studies during the award period. Students should consult their graduate program to determine whether departmental nomination is available.

Requirements/Intended Use of Funds

• Students must be formally nominated by their academic department.
• The nominating department must commit to covering the fellow’s tuition for up to two years.
• Fellows are required to complete coursework by fulfilling the Graduate Certificate in Global Studies during the award period.

Fellowship Guidelines

During the residency, fellows are expected to:

• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in their graduate program and Global Studies Certificate coursework.
• Contribute to the intellectual life of the University, including at least one presentation related to their professional experience.
• Engage, when possible, in community outreach activities that share knowledge about their home country or area of expertise.

Acceptance of the fellowship constitutes an agreement to remain in the program for the full award period unless otherwise approved by the University. Fellows who terminate participation early without authorization may be required to reimburse expenditures made on their behalf.

Upon completion of the fellowship, recipients must submit a final report reflecting on their academic and professional activities and future plans. Upon approval, fellows will receive a Heinz Program certificate from the University Center for International Studies.

Max Funding

The Global Studies Center provides a living stipend of up to $24,000 per year (paid in monthly installments) for up to two years, contingent on satisfactory progress and continued departmental support.

More Information

Students interested in the H.J. Heinz Fellowship should indicate their interest during the graduate admissions process and consult their department’s graduate director regarding nomination eligibility and tuition commitment. Only students formally nominated by their department will be considered for the fellowship.

See a list of our past Heinz Fellows.

Fellowship Timeline

• Master’s program application deadline: Candidates should check the deadline for the school and academic year they intend to apply to.
• May: Winner notified.
• August 1: Fellowship year begins.
• June 30: Fellowship year ends.

International Studies Fund (ISF)

The International Studies Fund (ISF) is intended to help students at the University of Pittsburgh conduct research on international issues or in international settings and/or with international collaborators. “International” is defined as relating to another country or culture, comparative analysis covering more than one country or culture, studies of international relations or of transnational activities, or studies which examine topics related to global issues or collaborative projects with partners around the world.

Please note: the application requires a faculty recommendation. The online application system will only prompt your selected faculty to submit the required recommendation upon your submission of the application. You should, therefore, aim to submit your application with ample time for faculty to submit the recommendation by the deadline.

Important: ISF grants may not be used for tuition, language study, internships and other non-research related expenses. Conference, workshop or symposium travel is not eligible for funding under the ISF program.

See below for application form and procedure.

Eligibility

Full-time graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Pittsburgh from all Schools and Campuses are eligible to submit a proposal, including international degree-seeking students. Visiting, non-degree, and post-doctoral students are not eligible to apply.

Awardees must be enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh when applying and when using the award.

Only one International Studies Fund award per student and fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) is allowed.

Please note: An ISF grant may be used to support participation in a group project; however, funds must directly support the student’s individual participation in the project (including direct costs such as travel, supplies, etc.).

Evaluation Criteria

The ISF selection committee uses the following criteria in evaluating proposals:

• Is this an original and important project?
• Does the proposal include sufficient information about the project?
• Is the information clearly presented and understandable to non-specialists?
• Are the activities proposed appropriate to the overall project?
• Will the project lead to or conclude a larger overall agenda?
• Is the proposed budget reasonable for the activities proposed?
• If there is research involving interventions or interactions with individuals or the collection of identifiable private information concerning living individuals, has the applicant enclosed proof of IRB clearance?

Amount of Grant

The maximum grant amount is $1,000. Because of the limited availability of funds, smaller requests may be more likely to be funded. Grants awarded must be used by June 30 of the next calendar year.

Allowable Expenses

• Ground and air transportation to and from research site.
• Lodging and meal expenses while conducting research.
• Copy and other duplication costs.
• Books and subscriptions, if justifiably necessary for the research project.
• Foreign language tutoring or translation if justifiably necessary for research.
• Visa and immunization expenses.

Non-allowable Expenses

• Travel expenses for individuals other than the applicant.
• Equipment.
• Membership fees.
• Tuition or course fees.
• Travel and living expenses for non-research related activities

Travel Warnings and Restrictions

Student applicants should carefully consider requesting funds to travel to countries with a level 3 State Department travel advisory; UCIS may use that as one criterion when considering applications.  No requests for support for travel to countries with a level 4 State Department advisory will be considered.

Grantee Obligations

• All research involving interventions or interactions with individuals or the collection of identifiable private information concerning living individuals requires prospective Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Grantees are responsible for obtaining IRB approval when required, and must provide documentation of IRB approval before a grant can be awarded. For further information, check the IRB web site at www.irb.pitt.edu. Priority will be given to the applicants who include proof of IRB clearance with applications.  Applicants who are in some stage of the review process with IRB are also encouraged to provide proof of this process.  If IRB approval cannot be obtained prior to the ISF deadline due to circumstances outside the applicant’s control, a written explanation with expected approval date must be attached to the application.
• Grantees are required to submit a final report explaining the use of the funds and the outcomes of the supported activity no later than one month after the activity is completed. Failure to submit a final report will disqualify the ISF recipient from future ISF competitions.
• Grantees may be invited to present their work, or otherwise share their expertise, by any of the centers or programs housed within UCIS.

Application Procedure

Applications are to be completed online.  The first time that you access one of the following application forms, you will be directed to a welcome screen at our partner, Submittable.com and invited to create a new user account.  After completing this simple process, you will be shown the application form.

Please note:

• This application requires that you upload multiple pieces of supporting documentation, notably the ISF Budget Spreadsheet, evidence of Institutional Review Board clearance, and an 1100-word (maximum) proposal narrative.  Preparing those documents in advance will likely simplify the application process for you.  You will be able to save your application mid-stream and then return to it before final submission.
• We are now requiring a letter of recommendation from a faculty member (at Pitt or from another accredited institution) as part of your application materials. Faculty are expected to attest to their willingness to mentor the applicant and elaborate on the originality of the research project.

ISF Application Form

Applications will be reviewed by committee. Awardees will be notified approximately four weeks after the deadline.

Deadline

March 2.

Contact

Allyson Delnore
adelnore@pitt.edu
University Center for International Studies
4400 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260