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FULBRIGHT-HAYS DDRA PROGRAM: GENERAL INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION

The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Grants are offered to colleges and universities to fund doctoral students for study abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. They are defined as programs and/or research related to the comprehensive study of aspects of a society, including: geography, history, culture, economy, politics, and/or international relations. Proposals focusing on Western Europe are not eligible. For additional information, visit the Fulbright-Hays DDRA website and MSU and DDRA Timelines.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:

Institutions of Higher Education, e.g. MSU

ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS:

Graduate students must apply through MSU and be enrolled full-time in a doctoral program in foreign languages and area studies.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

A graduate student is eligible to receive a fellowship if she/he is:

  • A citizen, national or permanent resident of the United States, a graduate student in good standing at an institution of higher education in the United States. When the fellowship begins the recipient must have been:
    • Admitted to candidacy in a doctoral program in modern foreign languages and area studies at that institution;
    • Planning a teaching career in the United States upon graduation;
    • Proficient in the language(s) necessary to conduct the dissertation project in the host country.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

A fellow shall:

  • Maintain satisfactory progress in the conduct of his/her research.
  • Devote full time to research on the approved topic
  • Not engage in any gainful employment during the fellowship period
  • Remain a student in good standing at his/her home institution.

EXPENSES COVERED BY THE AWARD:

  • Travel expenses, including excess baggage to and from to the host country of research.
  • Maintenance and dependents' allowances based on the cost of living in country(ies) of research.
  • Project allowance for research related expenses such as books, copying, tuition and affiliation fees, local travel and other incidental expenses.
  • Health and accident insurance.
  • $100 administrative fee to applicant institution

Typically, approximately 150 Fulbright-Hays DDRA grants are awarded each year. They range from $15,000 to $60,000 with an average of approximately $32,000.

DURATION OF THE GRANT:

Students may propose research projects for 6 to 12 months. The fellowship may not be renewed.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

  • Project's originality, validity, and feasibility
  • Quality of the proposed research including the methods, hypothesis to be tested and/or questions to be answered.
  • Description and justification of the need to conduct the field research overseas.
  • Relationship of the research to the literature on the topic and to major theoretical issues in the field
  • Preliminary research already completed in the United States
  • Plans to share the research results/dissertation with scholars and officials of the host country
  • Level of guidance by the dissertation adviser/committee during all stages of the project
  • Academic qualifications, including the applicant's graduate record in area studies relevant to the proposed project
  • Proficiency in the language(s) of the host country along with specific measures to be taken to overcome any anticipated language barriers
  • Ability to conduct research in a foreign cultural context
  • Inclusion of priorities set by the U.S. Secretary of Education as they relate to geographic areas, academic disciplines, languages, or topics.
  • Preference is given to applicants who have served in the U.S. armed services if their applications are equivalent to those of other applicants.

MSU FULBRIGHT FULBRIGHT-HAYS DDRA PROGRAM

PROJECT DIRECTOR

Professor Frank M. D'Itri, 4A International Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, TEL: 517-432-8244 and 517-355-2350 FAX: 517-353-7254, Email: ditri@msu.edu.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

The U.S. Department of Education FY 2009-2010 Fulbright-Hays DDRA Program requires that all applications be submitted on-line at http://e-grants.ed.gov. The complete application must include the following:

  • The application form
  • A ten page, double-spaced research proposal narrative
  • A two page, double-spaced bibliography
  • A double-spaced curriculum vitae.
  • Three references letters from graduate school faculty
  • A Fulbright-Hays Foreign Language Reference Form for each research language
  • All graduate school transcripts (submitted to the MSU Fulbright-Hays DDRA Project Director)
Document Revised 11/13/07 (CGenInfo.php)
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