Harvard University Department of Romance Languages and Literatures
   Home > Undergraduate > Dressler Family Traveling Grant


Dressler Family Traveling Grant



Summer Travel/Study for Sophomores and Juniors

Description of Fellowship

The Dressler Family Traveling Grant was established thanks to a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Dressler. Open to sophomores and juniors only, it is for the purpose of travel and study in a country where a Romance language is spoken (e.g. France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Romania, and Latin America). The Dressler Grant is to be awarded at the discretion of the Chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, based on the recommendation of a selection committee. The purpose of the grant is to afford students who have completed at least one course in Romance Languages and Literatures at Harvard the opportunity to travel and study in these countries in order to further their understanding of language, literature, politics, history, culture, etc. Financial need is a requirement for application.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Only current sophomores and juniors at Harvard College may apply.
  • Students must have completed at least one course in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures (any level) at the time of application.
  • Students must currently be recipients of financial aid.
  • The grant may only be used for summer travel/study.

    • Some Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many grants are awarded per year?
    Normally, only one grant is awarded each year.
  • What is the selection committee looking for?
    It is impossible to provide an exact recipe for a "winning project." Past recipients of the Dressler grant have conducted research on extremely different subjects in a wide variety of destinations. For instance, one grant winner traveled to Peru in order to study the interaction of native and European traditions in local religious festivals; another traveled throughout Italy to explore the influence that the great 19th-century composer Giuseppe Verdi still exerts over Italian popular culture. As you can see from these two examples, Dressler grant recipients typically perform on-site field research, experience direct cultural contact with local populations, and conduct their daily activities exclusively in the target language. They could not have brought their projects to fruition within the confines of a library, either at Harvard University or anywhere else.
  • How should I write the proposal?
    State your research goal as clearly and precisely as possible. What exact steps do you intend to take while abroad towards achieving your desired end? You may also wish to describe whatever research you have already conducted on your subject, and how a trip abroad is essential to pursuing your goal.
  • How many applicants are there each year?
    This information varies so much from year to year that it is impossible to predict the number of applicants in a given year.

    Application Instructions

    Please submit the following materials:

  • Application form
  • current official transcript or photocopy of grade printout from department or house.
  • project proposal (1-2 typed pages) stating where you plan to travel, inclusive dates, project or research description, and its goal.
  • One letter in support of your proposal from the Head Tutor in your concentration, or from another Harvard faculty member. (This letter must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the recommender's signature across the seal.)

    Place all application materials in a manila envelope and leave in the appropriately marked mailbox right across from the elevator on the 4th floor of Boylston Hall.

    All applications are due by FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2009, no later than 5pm. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS, OR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

    For further information please contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, Walter Hryshko.

    Last updated on July 30, 2009