We offer admission to approximately forty applicants to the Department of History each year, and all of these offers include some type of University grant. Academic record and scholarly promise are used as criteria for making a grant offer, but need or United States citizenship are not factors. Currently these offers are tuition plus a $21,000 stipend, or a tuition scholarship alone for the first and second years at the University, with the promise of a $21,000 stipend in the third- through fifth-year if good academic progress is made. In the third through fifth year of these fellowships, a portion of the stipend award comprises teaching service for the College. Around twenty to twenty-five students matriculate each year.
The academic accomplishments of all students are reviewed by the Graduate Student Affairs Committee in May of the first year. GSAC makes one of three decisions: (a) recommend continuation to the doctoral program; (b) recommend academic probation, in which case the decision to recommend continuation is suspended for one year to allow for improvement, or (c), do not recommend continuation in the program beyond the masters degree.
Funding may be held if students have incompletes in the program. All grades from the previous academic year must be present on the transcript before the stipend will be released. Incompletes must be submitted to the professor by Sept 1.
The formal acceptance letter from the Dean of Students will include information on government work-study and loans programs, as well as private loans for foreign citizens. If you have only a small debt from financing your undergraduate studies, securing loans may be an option for you. You may also decide to use savings, gifts from family and friends, and part-time employment during the school year to help with school or living expenses. The curriculum in Historys graduate program requires full-time study, with the majority of courses held during the day, which precludes studying part time or remaining employed full time.
You may wish to postpone matriculation into the History program, by "reactivating" your application for the next year. We would reconsider your record in light of the new materials you provide, such a more complete transcript, a new statement of purpose, additional recommendations, a master's thesis or other substantial paper should you attend a master's program elsewhere. Although we cannot guarantee that applicants will be admitted a second time, we feel that reactivation (starting over, as it were) is in the applicants' best interest as it is the only way they can be considered for first-year funding again. There is no fee to reactivate.
The federally funded work-study program for United States citizens and permanent residents assist students with money that does not have to be repaid. Program eligibility is determined by various criteria established by the government and overseen by the responsible University officials, all whom are outside the Department of History. In general practice, an eligible student is from a family of modest means, or is independent, which is defined as not being claimed as an exemption on their parents federal income tax return. Based on past experience, over four-fifths of those who apply to the Department of History program fulfill one or both of these criteria.
From your perspective, there are probably three reasons for participating
in work-study:
If you think you would like to participate in the work-study program,
complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Next, complete a University Application
for Student Loans and Federal Work-Study. These forms are required
in early spring term. (There is a separate application if you are interested
in working over the summer.) You can apply for work-study, without applying
for federal student loans. The amount you may earn will then be determined
by correlating the University work-study application with information
from the FAFSA. The Student Loan Administration informs you whether
you qualified and a blue Work-Study Employment form will be send to
Cyndee Breshock in the History
office and she will help you with payroll and a faculty placement. Should
you have in mind a particular professor for whom you would like to work,
please discuss the matter with him or her at your convenience. Diane
would like to have most arrangements made by the time school begins
in late September. If you have no one in mind, this should not be a
matter of concern. We have little difficulty in arranging placements.
The University has ten Collegiate residence halls, which are divided into thirty-seven houses. Houses are staffed by resident heads, who are generally advanced graduate students. The RHs live in their house, guide undergraduate students through the ups and downs of college life, manage house meetings councils, and study breaks, as well as organize intramural sports and other house events. RHs receive a free private apartment (for 12 months), board (for 9 months), student health insurance (for 12 months), and a modest salary. New openings are generally announced in January.
Its hardest to find external funding for graduate school in the first four years. After youve proven yourself by completing general course work and passing qualifying examination, there are more grant givers willing to fund your research and writing. That said, some corporations do offer fellowships for children of employees and private institutions may sponsor fellowships based on ethnic affiliations to help you begin your own research. Ive selected funding sources which our students have successfully received in the past. Plan to begin your research in the summer before applying to graduate school deadlines for some major fellowships occur a year in advance.
Jacob K.
Javits Fellowship
Supports doctoral studies in selected fields within the arts, humanities,
and social sciences. The four-year renewable award includes tuition,
fees, and a stipend. United States citizens or permanent residents who
are fourth-year college students or who have not finished their first
year of graduate studies are eligible. Contact the Office
of Graduate Affairs (702-0871, Administration 225).
Ford Foundation
Predoctoral Fellowships for Minorities
Approximately sixty predoctoral fellowships awarded in a national competition
administered by the National Academies on behalf of the Ford Foundation.
Foreign Language Area Studies (Title VI) Fellowship
For students concentrating in modern foreign language and international
or area studies. There are separate fellowships for the academic year
(nine months for study at Chicago only) and for summer (at Chicago or
other United States or international institution). FLAS fellowships
are contingent upon funding from the U.S. Department of Education. The
nine-month award includes tuition, clinic and student activities fees,
and a stipend. The separate summer award includes tuition and may cover
some travel expenses. Interested students should contact the appropriate
area center (East Asian, East Europe, Latin America, Middle East, or
South Asia), Associate Dean Kelly Therese Pollock, or the Office of Graduate Affairs
(702-0871, Administration 225). Forms can be downloaded at the Office
of Graduate Affairs.
National Science Foundation
For graduate study leading to research-based masters or doctoral
degrees in the fields of science, including the history of science,
international relations, and the social sciences. The thirty-six month
fellowships include tuition, fees, and a stipend. United States citizens
or permanent residents in their fourth-year of college, first year of
graduate school, recent college graduates, or students in joint B.A./M.A.
programs are eligible, but applicants who have earned any medical degrees
are not. Contact the Office
of Graduate Affairs (702-0871, Administration 225).
Soros Fellowship for New Americans
One-half tuition plus a maintenance grant for up to two years of graduate
study in the United States. Fourth-year college students and persons
up to age 30 in possession of a bachelor's degree who meet the foundations
definition of a new American are eligible. A new American is a permanent
resident, a naturalized United States citizen, or the child of two parents
who are both naturalized citizens.
Were very pleased that nearly one quarter of our students come to study history at Chicago from over twenty different nations. To encourage you to select Chicago, we consider foreign students for both the tuition plus $19,000 stipend fellowship, as well as for tuition scholarships. Yet, as with domestic students, we cannot always extend fellowships to all our prospective students from abroad. At the time of applying to Chicago, you may wish to investigate whether your nation will help support your doctoral studies abroad, such as Canadas Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies, the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt) of México, the Sapintia Education Foundation, which offers graduate fellowships to students currently studying in Taiwanese universities, or Thai Government Fellowships. Below are other sources of funding you may wish to explore:
Institute for International Education /
Fulbright
The Study America program is for qualified students who
are unable to afford graduate study in the United States without financial
assistance.The IIE's Placement Unit advises over one thousand international
students annually on appropriate college and university programs, arranges
admissions, and seeks funding on behalf of students from both university
and non-university sources.
International
House Fellowship Program
Foreign students accepted for graduate study and who decide to live
at the Universitys International House may qualify for residential
fellowships to help defray the cost of housing. The selection of fellows
is based on need, merit, and leadership.
The
Rotary Club Foundation
Since 1947, Ambassadorial Scholarships have helped more than thirty-thousand
men and women from one-hundred nations to study abroad under its auspices.
Today, it is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships
program.
Departmental Conference Grants: The History Department's travel grants are funded by gifts from the Freehling and Kunstadter families. Grants are decided by History’s Fellowships Committee.
History graduate students are eligible to receive up to $300 for travel to a recognized conference in order to present a paper. You may request funding for two conferences over the course of your graduate career. You decide at which stage to seek reimbursement, i.e., two conferences in a single year, prior to orals in order to gain rhetoric skill, after the proposal to seek responses to a topic's argument or direction, or before entering the job market for professional development.
To receive reimbursement, you complete a conference reimbursement form with relevant documentation: (1) a copy of the conference program as proof that you delivered a paper; (2) original airline, train, or car rental, parking, and toll receipts; use mileage figures when driving a private vehicle. For conference costs of less than $300, the grant will cover only that smaller amount. Conference fees, accommodations, meals, and additional ground transportation (for students traveling by plane or train) are not covered. The application is made any time after the completion of the trip and before the end of the quarter in which the trip took place.
Doolittle-Harrison Fellowship: An award of up to $400 doctoral students for presentation at a professional academic conference or for short-term travel outside of the contiguous United States to facilitate dissertation research. Applicants must be in or beyond their 3rd year of Ph.D. work at the time the resources will be used (that is, at least the Fall term of the 3rd year, for most students). Students are eligible to hold a D-H award only 1 time during a 12-month period. Students who have held 2 D-H awards in the past are not eligible; students who have held 1 D-H award in the past are given lower priority. Contact the Office of Graduate Affairs for deadlines and to download an application.
This section addresses fellowships administered directly by the
Department of History or the Social Sciences Division. Please continue
to look for bulletins posted to HistAdmin, especially those related
to specific fields of research or private foundations. You may also wish to check the websites for the University's area centers which often provide funding for dissertation research and writing, such as the Center for Gender Studies, the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture, East Asian and Latin American Studies, Cinema and Media Studies, and the French and British Centers. Many competitions
are straight-forward, but others, especially write-up grants, have strict
eligibility requirements or complex procedures.
The deadlines given here are generalized; check the Administrative Calendar
for specific grant dates, and in some cases, application forms to download.
Research and Travel Grants
History Grants (November & April deadlines)
History Cochrane Grant (April deadline)
History Mann Grant (April deadline)
Overseas Dissertation Research (April-May deadline)
Ecole des Hautes Etudes in Sciences Sociales Exchange
(April deadline)
Teaching and Research Fellowship
Dissertation Fellowships
Liebmann (November)
Eisenhower (January)
Harper (April)
Mellon (April)
Barnard (April)
Bloom (April)
Markovitz (April)
Quinn (April)
Research and Travel Grants
Students no longer apply to individual Travel Grants. There is a combined application form. The Fellowships Committee will consider students for all awards that fit their project.
Travel Application
Freehling, Kunstadter, and Shinkler Research Travel Grants
Department grants for archival research. The autumn quarter competition
funds travel in the winter and spring months; the spring quarter competition
funds travel in the summer and early autumn months. History student
may receive the award twice in their graduate career, with preference
given to students who have not yet received outside support for research
travel.
Amount of award: Up to $2,000
Number of awards: Varies
Deadlines: mid-November and Early-Mid May (see department calendar for exact date each year)
Procedure: (1) A one- to two-page description of the project's value
to your research with archives to be visited; (2) a signature
from your main advisor (orals or proposal); (3) and a Research Travel
Grants Application which asks you to provide a realistic budget and
itinerary.
Award Committee: History Fellowship Committee
Eric Cochrane Traveling Fellowship
A Departmental grant for summer research to Europe in connection
with work on the dissertation. The research can be preparatory to formal
presentation of the dissertation, or it can be part of the dissertation
project. Students of western European history who have passed the orals
examination before commencing travel are eligible.
Amount of award: Up to $3,000
Number of awards: Generally two
Deadline: Early-Mid May (see department calendar for exact date each year)
Procedure: (1) A one- to two-page description of the project's value
to your research; (2) a signature from your main advisor;
(3) and a Research Travel Grants Application which asks you to provide
a realistic budget and itinerary
Award Committee: History Fellowship Committee
Arthur Mann Traveling Fellowship
A Departmental grant to assist travel by United States history
students doing preliminary dissertation research, as well as third-year
concentrators who will be writing a B. A. paper on U.S. history.
Amount of award: $500
Number of awards: Two for graduates; two for undergraduates
Deadline: Early-Mid May (see department calendar for exact date each year)
Procedure: (1) A one- to two-page description describing the significance
of the trip for your research project; (2) a signature
from your main advisor (orals or proposal); (3) and a Research Travel
Grants Application which asks you to provide a realistic budget and
itinerary.
Award Committee: History Fellowship Committee for graduate awards. Collegiate
Affairs Committee for undergraduate awards.
Ecole des Hautes Etudes in Sciences Sociales
For advanced graduate students in the Division of the Social Sciences
whose dissertation projects require study and research in Paris and
who would benefit substantially from the resources of the EHESS.
Amount of award: Airfare, registration fees at the Ecole, and a stipend
Deadline: mid-April
Procedure: Application form available from the Associate Dean of Students
Award's Committee: Committee is selected by the Dean of Students
Contact Person: Associate Dean Kelly Therese Pollock (795-3238)
Dissertation Teaching
and Research Fellowship
Open to students selected to lecture in a Social Sciences core or civilization
course in the coming academic year. The stipend support is intended
to release the student from other teaching; therefore fellows may not
hold other lectureships during the year.
Amount of award: $12,000 (includes a one quarter lecturers salary
plus two quarters stipend), and Advanced Residency tuition for three
quarters
Number of awards: generally two to History
Deadline: none
Eligibility: (1) Advanced to candidacy by July 3rd before the fellowship
year; (2) be in advanced residency, i.e., completed University fellowship
aid, during the fellowship year; and (3), be in the 8th year of study,
or less, during the fellowship year
Note: Von Holst Prize lecturers and preceptorships do not qualify for
this fellowship
Procedure: None. Eligible students who apply for and receive a lectureship
are automatically considered for the fellowship. These awards are announced
in late June or July.
Award Committee: History Fellowship Committee nominates two students
to the Dean of Students
Hanna Holborn Gray Advanced Fellowship
To support students in both the penultimate and final phrases of graduate study, beginning in the period when the dissertation proposal is being developed and carrying through the time of write-up and final completion of the dissertation.
Amount of Award: $20,000/year stipend and tuition, basic fees, and basic health insurance
Deadline: early April (see department calendar for exact date each year)
Eligibility: Applicant Currently in 3rd year of study. Successful completion of all coursework, language requirements, and qualifying examinations by the end of the 3rd year. (June 12).
Procedure: (1) Hannah Holborn Gray Fellowship Application Form ; (2) general essay (8-10 pages, double spaced) on the topic area proposed for the dissertation. (3) a letter of recommendation from dissertation committee chair forwarded directly to the Graduate Affairs Administrator. (The department will provide a letter from the Chair of the department for the selected candidate).
Details: Fellows may undertake a reasonable number of teaching assignments. They are not required to teach, and they will be compensated additionally for that work.
Award Committee: Historys Fellowship Committee generally nominates
one student
Dissertation Write-up Fellowships
Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Foundation Fellowship
To support students with outstanding character and ability who
hold promise for achievement and distinction in their chosen fields
of study.
Amount of award: $18,000 stipend and a tuition waiver; renewable for
up to three years
Nominations: The Humanities and Social Sciences select up to three to
represent the University.
Deadline: December (see department calendar for exact date each year)
Procedure: (1) A five-page application; (2) letters of recommendation
from two faculty members; (3) a two- to three-page statement describing
your program of study and professional goals; (4) federal income tax
returns for the prior two year of the student and spouse; (5) curriculum
vitæ
Award's Committee: Historys Fellowship Committee recommends one
student for nomination
Contact Person: Associate Dean Kelly Therese Pollock (795-3238)
Dwight D. Eisenhower/Clifford Roberts Graduate
Fellowship
To support study and education dealing with the role of government
in a free society, the relationship between international and domestic
issues, and improved understanding of world affairs. Applicants need
to be advanced to candidacy (ABD) and United States citizens or permanent
U.S. residents.
Amount of award: $10,000 stipend and a tuition waiver
Nominations: The Social Science Division selects two nominees
Deadline: early March (see department calendar for exact date each year; Deadline based on Dean of Students announcement, which usually comes in early Feb)
Procedure: (1) Dissertation-Year Fellowships Application Form; (2) statement describing
the nature and the scope of the dissertation, including timetable for
its completion; (3) 10- to 15-page writing sample, preferable on a topic
related to the dissertation; (4) a statement, not to exceed 1,000-words, of your career
aspirations; (5) two letters of recommendation, with one written by
the dissertation advisor; (6) curriculum vitæ
Award's Committee: Historys Fellowship Committee recommends one
student for nomination
William Rainey Harper Dissertation Fellowship
For students who have demonstrated academic excellence and unusual
promise, the Harper is one of the highest honors awarded students at
the University. Students entering their last twelve to eighteen months
of dissertation work are eligible.
Amount of award: $5,000 stipend/quarter ($20,000 maximum), a tuition waiver, fees, and University Basic student health
insurance for four quarters unless graduation occurs earlier.
Number of awards: 1 in Social Sciences Division
Deadline:late March/early April(see department calendar for exact date each year; Deadline based on Dean of Students announcement, which usually comes in early Feb)
Procedure: (1) Departmental Fellowship Form (2) SSD Dissertation Year Fellowship application form; (3) two to four letters of recommendation (one from dissertation adviser); (4) statement from the applicant that describes the dissertation project (4 page maximum) (5) a one-page quarter-by-quarter timetable,
signed by both the nominee and the dissertation director, indicating
for the next twelve to eighteen months the expected stages of completion
of the Ph.D.; (6) copies of all completed dissertation chapters; and (7) copies of any other original work - optional (transcript will be provided by the Dean of Students office)
Award Conditions: Fellows may not engage in any remunerative activity, including teaching, either on or off campus while holding the award. (2) Fellowships will be awarded for four consecutive quarters, without interruption, and may be activated in the summer or autumn of 2011-2012. (3) Harper Fellows who do not complete their degrees within six months of completion of their fellowships are ineligible for further internal University funding from any source, including the tuition grant associated with teaching assignments. (4) For students pursuing joint programs, eligibility is through the home department only.
Award Committee: Historys Fellowship Committee generally nominates
one student
Mellon Dissertation Fellowship
For students who have demonstrated academic excellence and unusual
promise.
Amount of award: $3,700/quarter for 4 quarters ($15,000 maximum), a tuition waiver, fees, and health
insurance
Number of awards: One or two to History
Deadline:late March/early April (see department calendar for exact date each year; Deadline based on Dean of Students announcement, which usually comes in early Feb)
Eligibility: Students in their 6th-year, or less, of graduate study in the fellowship year (in other words, you apply during your 4th or 5th year in the program). In tallying up relevant years of study, you
must count years spent in a master's program before enrollment in the
History program for which you subsequently received credit toward the
University of Chicago History doctorate. If you chose not to waive 2nd-year
requirements based on a previous graduate work, then count your first
year at the University of Chicago as year one. Please contact the Graduate Affairs Administrator
before applying if in doubt about your eligibility
Procedure: (1) SSD Dissertation Year Fellowship application form; (2) two letters of support forwarded directly to the Graduate Affairs Administrator (3) applicant statement (4 page limit) that describes the dissertation project, a table of contents and current completion
status of each chapter, and at least one completed chapter; (4) a curriculum
vitæ; (5) the Dean of Students will provide a current University of Chicago transcript
Details: This is a twelve-month fellowship. Preference is given to students
most likely to complete the dissertation during this period. To encourage
completion, fellows cannot engage in any remunerative activity, such
as teaching, either on or off campus, while holding this award.
Award Committee: Historys Fellowship Committee may nominate four students.
Harry Barnard Dissertation-Year Fellowship
in American History
A departmental fellowship to an outstanding graduate student, whose
dissertation promises to make a significant contribution to understanding
American culture, politics, and the pursuit of human values and social
justice in American life. United States history students entering the
final year of dissertation writing are eligible. Barnard fellows can
teach one course or hold other fellowships during the award year, but
cannot hold a preceptorship or other year-long teaching position.
Amount of award: $15,000 stipend, plus tuition waiver and basic health insurance.
Number of awards: One
Deadline:late March/early April(see department calendar for exact date each year; Deadline based on Dean of Students announcement, which usually comes in early Feb)
Procedure: (1) SSD Dissertation Year Fellowship application form; (2) A brief cover letter which discusses professional goals and the humanistic implications of the dissertation project; (3) A copy of the approved dissertation proposal; (4) Status report and timetable for the completion of the dissertation; (5) Letter of recommendation from the dissertation director; (6) The Department will provide a transcript.
Award Committee: History Fellowship Committee
Benjamin Bloom Dissertation Fellowship
A Divisional fellowship for a dissertation which considers education,
formal schooling, or informal education, broadly construed. Applicants
will be considered based upon the appropriateness of the dissertation
topic to the fellowships intent, an outstanding graduate record,
and the prospect of completing the dissertation by the end of the fellowship
tenure.
Amount of award: $15,000 stipend, a tuition waiver, fees, and health
insurance
Number of awards: One
Deadline:late March/early April(see department calendar for exact date each year; Deadline based on Dean of Students announcement, which usually comes in early Feb)
Procedure: (1) SSD Dissertation Year Fellowship application form;
(2) an applicant statement of no more than 4 pages, which discusses
the dissertation project, including organization and methodology; (3)
a status report and timetable for the completion of the dissertation;
(4) a letter of recommendation from
the dissertation director which addresses the expected completion date; and (5) a current University of Chicago transcript, provided by the
Dean of Students
Award's Committee: History Fellowship Committee may nominate one student
to the Dean of Students
Contact Person: Kelly Therese Pollock (795-3238)
Markovitz Dissertation Fellowship
A Divisional fellowship for a dissertation which considers some
aspect of the connection between social and economic behavior. Ph.D.
candidates in any of the Social Sciences programs are eligible; there
is an inclination to share the fellowship over years across disciplines.
History students received this award in 98-99 and 02-03 (declined).
Amount of award: $18,000 stipend, tuition, required fees, and basic health insurance
Number of awards: Two
Deadline:late March/early April (see department calendar for exact date each year; Deadline based on Dean of Students announcement, which usually comes in early Feb)
Procedure: (1) SSD Dissertation Year Fellowship application form; (2) a letter of recommendation from
the dissertation director which includes an assessment of progress to
date; (3) an applicant statement of no more than four pages, which describe the dissertation
project and its relevance to the purposes of the fellowship; (4) a status
report and timetable for the completion of the dissertation; and (5) a current University of Chicago transcript, provided
by the Dean of Students
Details: Fellows may not hold another significant financial award concurrently
nor may they work, including teaching, during the tenure of their fellowship
Award Committee: History Fellowship Committee nominates one student
to the Dean of Students
Contact Person: Kelly Therese Pollock (795-3238)
Quinn Foundation Fellowship
A departmental fellowship that seeks to support dissertation research in any field of historical inquiry. Ph.D candidates in the Department of History are eligible. Employment, including teaching, is not permitted during the tenure of the award. Quinn fellows who do not complete their degrees within six months of completion of their fellowships are ineligible for further internal University funding from any source and/or teaching appointments.
Amount of award: $18,000 stipend, plus a tuition waiver
Number of awards: One
Deadline: late March/early April (see department calendar for exact date each year)
Procedure: (1) SSD Dissertation Year Fellowship application form; (2) Statement from the applicant (of no more than four pages) that discusses the dissertation project and its organization and methodology; (3) Status report and timetable for the completion of the dissertation; (4) Letter of recommendation from the dissertation advisor that addresses the expected completion date; (5) The Department will provide a transcript.
Details: This is a twelve-month fellowship. Preference is given to students
most likely to complete the dissertation during this period. To encourage
completion, fellows cannot engage in any remunerative activity, such
as teaching, either on or off campus, while holding this award.
Contact Person: Sonja Rusnak, Graduate Affairs Administrator
We maintain information regarding grants and fellowships of particular interest to students in various fields of interest in History in the department office (SSRB 330). These Fellowship Binders are a good place to begin a search for grants offered both within the University or from other philanthropic institutions. Students are invited to browse through the binders during office hours, 9-noon and 1-4.30 p.m., Monday-Friday. You can also make photocopies for a small fee.
Faculty in the various fields of history have singled out the funding opportunities specific to each field.
The Departments Honor Roll also lists fellowships awarded to our students in this current academic year. Below, Ive singled out some of the major grants, both because they interest the greatest number of students and because History students have done so well in these competitions in the past, making it a good place to start your own research: