Funding For Faculty Travel Abroad
In collaboration with the Office of Internationalization and Equity, the Office of Research and Creative Scholarship has prepared a list of opportunities for faculty that support travel abroad.
The Fulbright US Scholar Program is the largest fellowship program for US scholars. Over the years Emerson faculty have received Fulbright Scholar awards to travel to Austria, Cape Verde, Columbia, Ivory Coast, Japan, and Mexico. The program supports travel abroad typically for 3-6 months, but can be as long as 12 months, usually in collaboration with a host institution abroad. The application opens each year in the spring and applications are due in September. Dr. Tony Pinder, Vice Provost for Internationalization and Equity is Emerson’s Fulbright Liaison. Faculty are encouraged to schedule a meeting with him in advance of an application.
The Fulbright-Hays Program supports 3-12 months of research and training efforts overseas, which focus on non-Western foreign languages and area studies. Research projects should focus on one or more of the following geographic areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, South Asia, the Near East, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and the Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and its territories). Applications are usually due in the spring.
The Fulbright Specialist Program funds short-term travel (2-6 weeks) at a host institution abroad in order to support the host institution with a special project. It does not support research. Applicants must first apply to the Specialist Roster. They are then eligible to be matched with a host institution. Sometimes applicants and host institutions discuss a project beforehand, and the host institution can select the applicant from the roster, but all applicants must go through the roster process. The program operates on a rolling deadline, with several roster cycles each year.
The Peace Corps Response Program supports 6-12 month volunteer assignments overseas while receiving a housing and living allowance and other support, as well as training and orientation. Applicants can browse available assignments and apply at any time.
The Marion and Jasper Whiting Travel Fellowship supports short-term travel abroad for New England college instructors that will enhance their teaching. In recent years Emerson faculty have used the Whiting fellowship to travel to Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, South Korea, Spain and Thailand among other places. Faculty often travel over the summer. The average award is approximately $6,000. Applications are due through the ORCS office each year in January.
The U.S. Department of State IDEAS Grant can support faculty travel abroad with the purpose of planning and developing a faculty-led program that would increase and diversify study abroad opportunities for students. Faculty who are thinking about exploring the development of a faculty-led study abroad opportunity (such as a Global Pathways program) are encouraged to contact the Office of Internationalization and Equity in advance of an application. Applications are submitted through the ORCS office and are typically due annually in December.
Faculty looking to fund research in a specific country may find additional opportunities using Emerson’s subscription to the Proquest Pivot funding opportunities database. Faculty can sign in using their Emerson credentials, and reach out to ORCS with any questions.