Grants

Grants for Student Research in Sub-Saharan Africa

Beginning in 2008-2009, the Committee will introduce new categories of grants for Harvard students traveling to Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to the existing summer grants for juniors doing thesis research and doctoral students doing summer dissertation research, Harvard students can now apply for grants to help fund summer internships in Africa and for the study of African languages. Dissertation research grants can now be used during term time or summer, and master's students can apply for grants for their summer thesis research.

As in the past, all grants cover only partial expenses, and students should also apply elsewhere for additional funds. Please note the minimum stays required for Committee grants. The following is a description of the grants currently offered.

Dissertation Research Grant 
The Committee on African Studies offers travel grants to assist Harvard graduate students conducting short term doctoral dissertation research in Africa. These grants are for research in the social sciences or humanities and are only for travel in Sub-Saharan Africa. Grants require a minimum stay of six weeks in Africa and may be used during the summer or term time.

Summer Internship Grant 
The Committee on African Studies offers summer travel grants to assist Harvard undergraduates and graduate students with internship opportunities in Africa. These grants are only for internships in Sub-Saharan Africa. Internships must last a minimum of eight weeks and students must be returning to Harvard the following year.

Summer Masters Thesis Grant
The Committee on African Studies offers summer travel grants to assist Harvard graduate students doing masters thesis research on Africa. These grants are for research in the social sciences or humanities and are only for travel in Sub-Saharan Africa. Students must be returning to Harvard the following year. Grants require a minimum stay of six weeks in Africa.

Summer Senior Thesis Grant
The Committee on African Studies offers summer travel grants to assist Harvard juniors with senior honors thesis research. These grants are for research in the social sciences or humanities and are only for travel in Sub-Saharan Africa. Students must spend a minimum of eight weeks in Africa.

Summer African Language Study Grant
The Committee on African Studies offers grants for summer study of Sub-Saharan African languages not offered at Harvard. Students may study at any academic institution offering approved African language courses, but must receive the prior approval of the Director of the African Language Program at Harvard. Grants may not be used for private tutorials.

Grant deadline
The deadline for all grant applications is February 27, 2009. To apply, please go to the Common Application for Research and Travel at CARAT. (Please be advised that the University is revising information for all grants processed through this site.)

For more information on Committee grants contact:

Dr. Rita Breen
1730 Cambridge Street, Room 403
Ph: 495-5265, rbreen@fas.harvard.edu

For a comprehensive listing of all funding available for Harvard undergraduates for international study and research go to the Funding Sources Database for International Experience.