Preparing Grant Applications
It's recommended that you begin your search for external funds at least a year in advance. The following is a step-by-step process for applying for a grant for student research abroad.
- Step One: Contact the Sponsoring Agency
- Step Two: Obtain Application Materials and Information
- Step Three: Acquire References
- Step Four: Prepare a Proposal
Contact the Sponsoring Agency
Contact the sponsoring agency to see that your proposed research project fits their guidelines. Most agencies are willing to give you an idea of the types of projects usually funded and tips for a successful proposal.
Obtain Application Materials and Information
The required application materials will usually include an application form, a proposal, a curriculum vitae or resume, and references.
You may be asked for:
- Funding sources to which you have applied.
- Academic or professional honors and fellowships you have received.
- Publications or research to which you have contributed.
- Date you plan to complete your degree.
- Proof of language proficiency if the program or your specific research project requires a second language.
Acquire References
References should include in your letter of recommendation:
- How long and in what capacity the referee has known you.
- Your technical and scholarly qualifications for the proposed research.
- An evaluation of your long-term promise as a contributor to the research in your field.
- Your competence and stature in your own discipline, and any further information the referee deems appropriate. When asking professors for references, remember to allow them ample time to meet the stated deadline.
Prepare a Proposal
At this stage you've probably already developed the academic content of your proposal through internal processes, for example through your department's dissertation approval process. Writing your proposal should not entail additional work beyond molding your proposal to meet the agency's specifications and priorities.
In general, your proposal will be required to:
- Detail the intellectual background, preparation, and skills that you bring to the project, especially your ability to undertake research in a foreign environment.
- Describe the research you plan to undertake in as much detail as possible, including research sites, courses you will take if applicable, individuals with whom you will be collaborating, and a timetable for your activities.
- Identify the research questions to be asked, including their broader, intellectual context.
- Specify the proposition or hypotheses to be tested.
- Detail the methods of finding, gathering, and analyzing the data you are drawing upon.
- Explain the potential of your project for adding to the existing body of research in your particular field. If you are applying for a grant that is not specifically for research abroad, you may be asked to justify doing your research overseas.