REEI Master's Student Funding

Indiana University provides many opportunities for graduate students to receive funding for their studies. Approximately one third of entering MA students receive support in their first year; half do so in their second year. We encourage students to apply for all sources of financial support for which they are eligible

REEI Funding for Prospective Students

Robert F. Byrnes Memorial Fellowship in REEI
Robert F. Byrnes was the founder and for many years director of REEI. The Fellowship Committee awards this fellowship annually to an outstanding incoming graduate student in Russian and East European studies. There is no application for this award. REEI will provide a stipend of $15,000 and a fee remission to the recipient of the award.

Romanian Studies Graduate Student Fellowship
Indiana University is proud to announce the first Romanian Studies Graduate Fellowship in the United States. Prospective graduate students who are applying in any discipline with a research focus in Romania are encouraged to apply. The fellowship carries a two-year tuition and fee waiver and a stipend of $10,000 per year. Applicants should be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and need to be applying to an MA program (though they are also eligible if they wish to continue into a Ph.D. program). Applicants need to have proficiency in Romanian or be committed to enroll in language classes at Indiana University in order to gain a proficiency in the language. No separate application is required. To notify REEI of your interest in being considered for this fellowship, please contact: reei@indiana.edu. This fellowship is awarded biennially. REEI will NOT award a Romanian Studies Fellowship for the 2011/2012 academic year. The next fellowship will be awarded for the 2012/2013 academic year, and will be renewed automatically for another year, if the student's academic performance is commensurate with our academic standards.

Title VI Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships
Title VI Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships are awarded to universities in order to promote the training of students who intend to make their careers in college or university teaching, government service, or other employment where knowledge of foreign languages and cultures is a prerequisite for success.
Each fellowship covers the academic year (summer FLAS fellowships are also available, see page 8). Both graduate and undergraduate students may apply. For graduate students, the FLAS fellowship carries an estimated fixed stipend of $15,000 per academic year. as well as a fee remission for12 credits of course work each semester (a total of 24 credits). For undergraduate students, the FLAS fellowship provides a stipend of up to $5000 per academic year as well as a tuition award of up to $10,000 (the exact figures may vary depending on other sources of financial aid that the awardee is receiving).
Only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for FLAS fellowships. Holders of FLAS fellowships must undertake full-time study during the period of the award and be enrolled in formal instruction in the language of the award.
REEI will accept applications from graduate students for study of the following languages in academic year 2011/2012: Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Czech, Estonian, (Modern) Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian (beyond second year), Ukrainian and Yiddish. Undergraduate students who matriculated by the fall semester preceding the FLAS award period may apply to REEI for a FLAS to support study of any of these languages beyond the second year of study only. If you wish to apply for a language or level of language not included in the regular IU schedule of classes, or if you wish to apply for FLAS support for dissertation research abroad, please discuss your application with Mark Trotter, Assistant Director, prior to submission. The availability of FLAS Fellowships is dependent upon final authorization of funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
Applications should include:

• One FLAS application
• One complete set of official transcripts of college and university credits
• Three letters of recommendation, at least one of which should address the applicant’s abilities in foreign language training
• Statement on language training and proposed program of study.

Paper FLAS applications are available at Ballantine Hall 565 and online at www.iub.edu/~flas/; the deadline for receipt of all materials is February 1, 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions about FLAS

Tucker-Cohen Fellowship
This award memorializes Robert C. Tucker, the distinguished political scientist, diplomat, and Stalin biographer who as a professor of government at Indiana University played a critical role in the formation of the Russian and East European Institute. It also honors the work of his student, Stephen F. Cohen, a preeminent scholar of Soviet and Russian political history, who holds two degrees from Indiana University.

The Tucker/Cohen Fellowship will be awarded to an incoming student in the REEI MA program or any other MA program associated with REEI who demonstrates a scholarly interest in the history and politics of the Soviet Union and/or Russia and intends to pursue a career in some field of public service, such as journalism, secondary education, non-profit work, or government service. The award carries a one-year tuition and fee waiver, health insurance, and a stipend of $15,000 per year, for the award year 2012-2013.

There is no separate application required. The fellowship will be awarded every other year, starting with the 2012/2013 academic year.

Graduate Assistantships
REEI offers funding for graduate assistants. Positions require a 20-hour per week employment commitment. In return, graduate assistants receive a stipend of at least $12,100 and fee remission for up to 30 credit hours per year. These awards are contingent upon receipt of funds from the US Department of Education.
New applicants are not as competitive for graduate assistantships as returning students unless they have had significant previous experience in newsletter publication or web design.

Applications for the GAship should include:

• Graduate assistantship application
• Three letters of recommendation. Two new recommendations should address the student's abilities to meet the demand of the GAship. The remaining reference may be on file if written by an IU faculty member within the last 18 months.
• Current transcript of IU graduate work (may be obtained from your home department graduate secretary. OneStart transcripts are acceptable).
• Current CV/resume.
• Statement of 1,000 words or less, describing educational goals, career interests and plans.

GA applicants should describe their experiences with the following:

• writing and editing (newsletters, reports, reviews).
• computer experience (software, web skills, etc.).
• office skills.
• presentations (lectures, displays, showing of films).
• organizational skills.
• knowledge of library materials.
• languages and level (reading, writing, oral).
• overseas experience.

Applications are available in REEI and online. Application deadline is February 1 of each year. Applicants for GA positions may be contacted to arrange for an interview with the REEI senior staff.

REEI Funding for Current Students

Daniel Armstrong Memorial Research Paper Award
This competition is dedicated to the memory of IU Slavic Department alumnus, teacher, scholar, and administrator, Professor Daniel Armstrong (1942-1979). Awards are presented to students for papers written for a class in Russian, East European or Central Eurasian studies taken during the previous academic year. The award is given in three categories: graduate student paper, Master of Arts essay, and undergraduate paper. Winners receive a modest monetary prize and certificate of recognition.

The papers are read during the summer by a panel of REEI faculty. The identity of the students submitting the papers will not be shared with the jury. Papers are submitted directly by students who may submit only one entry per year. Papers must be submitted by the third Friday after the Spring semester final exams week.

Awards are presented to the authors of the winning papers in September at the annual REEI Fall Reception for faculty and students. (Only winners will be notified.)

How to submit:
Submit clean copies without comments electronically to reeiadm@indiana.edu. If unable to submit electronically, submit one hard copy, also clean and free of comments. The author’s name should be omitted from all pages. Include a single cover sheet with the following information:

• author’s name & student ID number
• paper title
• course information (number/title, instructor, semester)

Past Armstrong Award winners can be viewed here.

Papers must be submitted no later than May 25, 2012 to the REEI Administrative Secretary at:
reeiadm@indiana.edu
Indiana University/Russian and East European Institute
Attn: Daniel Armstrong Paper Competition
Ballantine Hall 565, 1020 E. Kirkwood Ave
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47401

Papers awarded the Eva Kagan-Kans Memorial Award (Office for Women’s Affairs) are ineligible.

Grants-in-Aid of Research

Small grants are available to help graduate students who require modest support (up to $700/year) for research-related travel (domestic or international), travel for participation in a structured internship program, or travel for advanced language study in the Russian East European region. Grants may also be used for expenses related to publication of completed research. Students applying under this program may also be eligible for support under Office of International Programs, International Enhancement Grants. Please discuss your plans with the REEI staff before submitting an application.
Deadlines: January 15, April 1 (if funds available), October 1

Application Materials Needed:

• One REEI/Mellon Endowment graduate student application form (available at REEI, Ballantine Hall 565 and online.
• One letter of recommendation (preferably from the student's academic advisor) addressing the quality of the student's work generally.
• Itemized budget of expected expenditures.
• Current IU transcript (unofficial transcript sufficient) and CV or list of academic honors.
• For conference travel: an abstract of the paper and a copy of the conference program (or notification of the acceptance of the paper).
• For research: a statement of 1,000 words or less describing educational goals, career interests and plans; the statement should describe the project and the specific purposes for which aid is sought; it should address this activity will further the participant's academic progress and ultimately help achieve career goals.
• For internships: include documentation of confirmed acceptance by the internship provider.

Conference Travel Grants

REEI provides grants to help graduate students who specialize in the Russian East European region present their research at major association meetings and conferences. Student travel reimbursement is limited to minimum airfare or mileage (per IU guidelines), one night lodging, and conference registration fee. Students may also be eligible for conference travel support from the College of Arts and Sciences. Please check with your home department graduate advisor to see if you can be nominated. REEI domestic conference travel grants will not exceed $400 and international grants will not exceed $600.

Deadlines: January 15, April 1 (if funds available), October 1

Application Materials Needed:

• One REEI/Mellon Endowment graduate student application form (available at REEI, Ballantine Hall 565 and online.
• One letter of recommendation (preferably from the student's academic advisor) addressing the quality of the student's work generally.
• Itemized budget of expected expenditures.
• Current IU transcript (unofficial transcript sufficient) and CV or list of academic honors.
• For conference travel: an abstract of the paper and a copy of the conference program (or notification of the acceptance of the paper).
• For research: a statement of 1,000 words or less describing educational goals, career interests and plans; the statement should describe the project and the specific purposes for which aid is sought; it should address this activity will further the participant's academic progress and ultimately help achieve career goals.

Other IU Funding Programs

Additional FLAS Awards

A number of other departments on campus offer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships, including the Center for the Study of Global Change, the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center (IAUNRC), and the West European Studies Program. Students applying for Hungarian or Estonian language study will be automatically considered by REEI and IAUNRC. IAUNRC also offers fellowships for study of Azeri, Finnish, Kazak, Mongolian, Persian/Tajik, Tibetan, Turkish, Turkmen and Uzbek. To apply for the Global Center FLAS, check the appropriate box in the online application or send a copy of your completed REEI FLAS application to them.

Additional Graduate Assistantship Opportunities

Graduate Assistantships and Research Assistantships are available in some departments affiliated with REEI. These include Central Eurasian Studies (CEUS), the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center (IAUNRC), the Polish Studies Center, West European Studies, and the International Resource Center. GradGrants also posts announcements for various assistantships. For more details and application information contact each department directly.

Graduate Student Exchange Programs

The Office of International Programs maintains exchange agreements which provide opportunities for IU graduate students to conduct research, study, and teach at selected partner institutions abroad. Interested individuals should contact Shawn Reynolds, Office of International Programs, Bryan Hall 104, Bloomington, phone: (812) 856-9024, e-mail: shreynol@indiana.edu. Application deadline is mid-January for the upcoming academic year.

Applicants may be students from any discipline, department, or campus. Each applicant must submit a proposal for a program that would constitute an integral part of a well-conceived graduate degree program at Indiana University. Unless specifically indicated, it is important that applicants demonstrate strong language skills. Download application and guidelines here.

External Sources of Student Funding

National Security Education Program (NSEP) Boren Scholarships

Boren Fellowships provide up to $30,000 to U.S. graduate students to add an important international and language component to their graduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency. Fellowships are available to both master's and doctoral level students representing a broad range of academic and professional disciplines.

You are eligible to apply for a Boren Fellowship if you are:

• A U.S. citizen at the time of application.
• Either enrolled in or applying to a graduate degree program at an accredited U.S. college or university located within the United States. To receive the award you must provide evidence of admission and enrollment in such a program. Boren Fellows must remain enrolled in their graduate programs for the duration of the fellowship.

Paul Fogleman, the Indiana University Bloomington campus contact, can provide application guidance and answer questions about the Boren Fellowship.

Office of the Vice President for International Affairs
201 N. Indiana Ave.
Bloomington, IN 47408
United States

Office: (812)-855-3948
Fax: (812)-855-6271
Office: pfoglema@indiana.edu

The application must be submitted online. For more information visit: www.borenawards.org

Foreign Language Enhancement Program (FLEP) Scholarships

Offered through the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), FLEP provides scholarships of up to $2,000 to help graduate students from CIC schools (University of Chicago, University of Illinois, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana University, Northwestern University, University of Minnesota, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University and University of Wisconsin-Madison) take advantage of language offerings not available at their home university. For eligibility and application information visit: www.cic.uiuc.edu/programs/flep.

IREX Grant Opportunities

IREX is an international nonprofit organization providing leadership and innovative programs to improve the quality of education, strengthen independent media, and foster pluralistic civil society development. IREX programs have advanced the education and expertise of over 20,000 scholars, professionals, and students for nearly 35 years. For a current list of IREX grant opporunities, as well as a description of the application process, please click here.

American Council of Learned Societies

The American Council of Learned Societies is a private non-profit federation of sixty-eight national scholarly organizations. The mission of the ACLS, as set forth in its Constitution, is "the advancement of humanistic studies in all fields of learning in the humanities and the social sciences and the maintenance and strengthening of relations among the national societies devoted to such studies." ACLS offers fellowships and grants in over one dozen programs, for research in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. Particularly relevant to students associated with REEI are the Southeast European Studies Program and the ACLS Humanities Program in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.

US Fulbright and Related Grants

The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 by the U.S. Congress to "enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries." It is administered by the US Department of State and is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. For more information click here.

ACTR/ACCELS Research Scholar Program

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, Program for the Study of Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII),the American Councils Research Scholar Program provides full support for graduate students, faculty, and independent scholars seeking to conduct in-country, independent research for three months to nine months in Belarus, Central Asia, Russia, the South Caucasus, Ukraine, and Moldova. For more information click here.

Jacob K. Javits Fellowships Program

This program provides fellowships to students of superior academic ability—selected on the basis of demonstrated achievement, financial need, and exceptional promise—to undertake study at the doctoral and Master of Arts level in selected fields of arts, humanities, and social sciences. For more information about this program click here.

The Kosciuszko Foundation Grants and Scholarships

The Kosciuszko Foundation is dedicated to promoting educational and cultural exchanges between the United States and Poland and to increasing American understanding of Polish culture and history. Descriptions of and application procedures for grants and scholarshipsmay be found here.

Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship

The Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, DC, administers this fellowship for the US Department of State. The goal is to attract outstanding students who represent all ethnic and social backgrounds and who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the US Department of State. The program is designed to train in academic disciplines representing the skill needs of the department men and women, who are dedicated to representing America's interests abroad. For more details and application information contact The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation.

American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC) Scholarships

The American Council for Polish Culture, Inc. is a national non-profit, charitable, cultural and educational organization that serves as a network and body of national leadership among affiliated Polish-American cultural organizations throughout the United States. The ACPC offers various scholarships for students interested in Poland and Polish, including the Pulaski Scholarship: $5,000 for graduate students of Polish descent enrolled at an accredited university in the United States, who have completed at least one year of studies at the graduate level; the Skalny Scholarship for Polish Studies: $1,000 for students pursuing some Polish studies (major may be in other fields) at universities in the United States, who have completed at least two years of college or university work at an accredited institution; the ACPC Summer Study Scholarship: $1,500 for American students of Polish descent to participate in a SUMMER STUDY program at any one of Poland's fine universities that offer such programs; and the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia scholarship: For students accepted to or already enrolled at a college or university, either of Polish descent or pursuing courses in Polish or Slavic language, history or culture.

The Rotary International Foundation Educational Fellowships

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty. Through its Educational Programs, the Foundation provides funding for some 1,200 students to study abroad each year. Grants are also awarded to university teachers to teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and professional people.

For more information about these fellowships click here.

Smithsonian Fellowships

The Smithsonian's Office of Research Training and Services (ORTS) has the central management and administrative responsibility for the Institution's programs of research grants, fellowships, and other scholarly appointments. One of its primary objectives is the facilitation of the Smithsonian's scholarly interactions with students and scholars at universities, museums, and other research institutions around the world. The Office administers Institution-wide research support programs, and encourages and assists other Smithsonian museums, research institutes and research offices in the development of additional fellowships and visiting appointments.

Fellowships at the Smithsonian Institution provide students and scholars with opportunities to pursue independent research projects in association with members of the Smithsonian professional research staff. Click here for information on and applications for the Smithsonian's Graduate student fellowships.