Fellowships and Competitions

B.A Thesis Prize Deadline Extended--Tuesday, April 30th (see details below)

The Nicholson Center is pleased to offer the following grants and initiatives for graduate and undergraduate students pursuing topics in the British Studies:

Nicholson Graduate Fellowships

The Nicholson Center for British Studies at the University of Chicago is pleased to announce its competition for Nicholson graduate fellowships for research in the British Isles.

Fall Quarter Deadline: THURSDAY, November 15, 2012
Spring Quarter Deadline: THURSDAY, April 11, 2013

Eligibility

University of Chicago Ph.D. students from the Humanities, Social Sciences, Divinity School, and Law School are eligible. At the time of application, students who plan to travel for three months or less should have passed their exams, but need not have completed the dissertation proposal. Students who plan to travel for more than three months should have been admitted to candidacy.  In all cases, research travel must be completed before the dissertation defense.

Scope

The Nicholson Center supports doctoral students in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Divinity School, as well as students in the Law School conducting historical research, who require dissertation research in Britain or in Ireland for periods of up to nine months. Although the research projects themselves need not focus on Britain, Ireland, or the former British Empire, those that do may be given preference. All applicants must demonstrate the need to conduct research in the British Isles or in Ireland.

Application

Applications must be submitted no later than 5pm on THURSDAY, April 11, 2013 to Jeanne Fitzsimmons, Classics Building, Room 112 (fitzsimmons@uchicago.edu, 773-834-3403). Please note that all applications must meet the criteria listed below.

**Applicants must submit both paper and electronic copies of the application.** 

**Paper copies may be mailed or dropped off by 5pm on April 11, 2013. Do not use staples.** 

**Electronic copies should be e-mailed as a single Word (or PDF) attachment to fitzsimmons@uchicago.edu.** 

The application materials include:

  • Nicholson Graduate Fellowship Cover Sheet
  • Three-page project proposal
  • Two-page discussion of the materials or data to be examined in the British Isles.  This should include a detailed description of the historical research to be conducted in the British Isles and a shorter description of  how this research will contribute to your broader research project.  Please also include AN ESTIMATE of how long it will take to complete the research.
  • Estimated budget covering the entire trip, including the total amount being requested (the Center generally awards between $1500 and $2000 per month of travel.)
  • Current CV
  • E-mail from the student's departmental Chair of Graduate Studies stating that the student has passed all departmental exams, or, if the research trip is to last longer than three months, that the student has advanced to candidacy.

In addition, those planning trips lasting longer than three months should submit:

  • Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the dissertation supervisor (paper copy only, unless electronic is available)
  • For those students who have applied for outside funding, please include a copy of any additional funding applications. (Paper or electronic copies are accepted.)

Students planning trips lasting longer than three months may also be interviewed before final award decisions are made.

Normally, travel should begin within the three consecutive academic quarters (including summer) after the award has been made. The number of awards given and the amount of each award will be based on the needs of the strongest applicants.

 

Nicholson Graduate Initiative Project

Spring Quarter Deadline: THURSDAY, April 18, 2013

The Nicholson Center for British Studies invites funding applications from graduate students interested in organizing a British Studies event in the 2013-2014 academic year. Projects should be related to British Studies broadly conceived (including topics related to the former colonies), and should be targeted toward graduate students: possibilities include, but are not limited to, conferences, colloquia, bag lunches, and lectures by external visitors.

The Nicholson Center is especially interested in funding events that, across departmental and divisional boundaries, bring at least two workshops into conversation with one another, through an event or conversation or series of conversations that promise to be of interest to more than one disciplinary constituency at the University.

All graduate initiative events funded by the Center are to be planned and organized by the students. Submit a one-page letter of intent via e-mail attachment to Jeanne Fitzsimmons at fitzsimmons@uchicago.edu. Contact Jeanne by phone at (773) 834-3403.

 

Nicholson Undergraduate Travel Grants

The Nicholson Center for British Studies is pleased to announce the 2013 fellowship competition for undergraduate BA thesis research in the British Isles. This year we will award one 1-month fellowship funded at $2,500.

Spring Quarter Deadline: THURSDAY, April 25, 2013

Eligibility

University of Chicago undergraduate students from the Humanities and Social Sciences Divisions and the New Collegiate Division are eligible. Students should be completing their degree between December 2013 and December 2014.

Scope

The Nicholson Center is happy to support a senior project proposed by any Humanities, Social Sciences, or New Collegiate Division undergraduate who is within a year of graduating, provided that the student requires research – whether in the form of archival, visual, or oral materials – in the British Isles to complete his/her senior thesis. Applicants need not have the British Isles themselves as the subject of their research. We will happily support work on Africa, South Asia, East Asia, North America, the Middle East, or the West Indies that requires substantial research in the British Isles. Research in and projects on Ireland also meet our requirements. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate their need to conduct research on their senior project in the British Isles.

Application

Applications must be submitted no later than 5pm on THURSDAY, April 25, 2013 to Jeanne Fitzsimmons, Classics Building, Room 112 (fitzsimmons@uchicago.edu, 773-834-3403). Please note that all applications must meet the criteria listed below.

**Applicants must submit both paper and electronic copies of the application.** 

**Paper copies may be mailed or dropped off by 5pm on THURSDAY, April 25, 2013. Do not use staples.** 

**Electronic copies should be e-mailed as a single Word attachment to fitzsimmons@uchicago.edu.** 

The application materials include:

  • Nicholson Undergraduate Travel Grant Cover Sheet
  • Letter of recommendation from a University of Chicago faculty member or lecturer who is familiar with the student's project (hard copy only, unless electronic copy is available)
  • CV or resume
  • 4-page statement of purpose, which includes a description of the unique materials to be examined in the UK
  • Transcript (hard copy only)

Award

Applicants will be expected to spend the grant money during Summer 2013.


Nicholson B.A. Thesis Prize

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Tuesday April 30th, 2013

The Nicholson Center for British Studies is pleased to announce a $250 prize for the best senior B.A. thesis based on the use of primary materials in the area of British Studies in any concentration or discipline. For the purposes of this competition, British Studies is broadly defined to include the British Isles or any of its former colonies. In the latter case, topics should involve the former colonial relationship in some way.

Applicants should submit BOTH paper AND electronic copies of their senior essays, and should include their name, department, advisor's name, expected graduation date, phone number, and e-mail address on the title page. Paper copies *should not be stapled,* and may be mailed or dropped off, electronic copies should be e-mailed as Word or PDF attachments to fitzsimmons@uchicago.edu, both are due by 5:00 pm on TUESDAY, April 30th, 2013 The winner will receive a check for $250. University of Chicago seniors who will graduate between December 2012 and August 2013 are eligible. Please contact Jeanne Fitzsimmons at fitzsimmons@uchicago.edu or 773-834-3403 with questions.