American Research Center in Egypt
Pre- dissertation Research Travel Grant
Application Deadline: January 15, 2015
Description and Guidelines
A limited number of pre-dissertation research travel grants will be offered for the first time
this year. This grant is designed to support pre-dissertation research travel to Egypt for a 4-8
week period. During this period the grantee will conduct exploratory research to identify
sources, establish contacts, identify and visit various sites and institutions and test the
feasibility of their initial research methodologies on the ground in Egypt.
Applications must be submitted by January 15, 2015, and will be vetted by the ARCE
Fellowship Selection Committee in February 2015. Successful applicants will be required to
complete Egyptian government security forms immediately following notification in order for
ARCE to obtain research clearances. As funding may become available throughout the year,
ARCE will notify the selected candidate(s) to confirm the award, discuss and finalize research
dates.
Each grant will consist of a round-trip economy airfare to Cairo, approved by ARCE, from the
address indicated on the application. In addition each grantee will receive an amount not to
exceed $2400 or roughly $300/week based on the submission of a simple budget with a
breakdown and description of estimated costs.
Funds from this travel grant may be awarded to students who are receiving funds from
another source for the same purpose. However, due to limited funds, priority will be given to
students who do not have another funding source. If you are applying for funding from
another source, including your own university, you must note this on your application and
inform ARCE if you are selected for an award so that adjustments can be made in the award
amount.
Grantees will be required to meet with an Egyptian affiliate scholar at least once during the
grant period. ARCE will select an affiliate scholar for you based on your proposed dissertation
research topic. Like all ARCE fellows, your proposal will be submitted to the relevant ministry,
either the Ministry of Higher Education or the Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage for
clearance, a process that takes from 3-5 months.
The award of a pre-dissertation research travel grant will not negatively impact your ability
to apply for and receive an ARCE Fellowship to complete dissertation research.
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Eligibility
Applicants may be students from any discipline noted on the ARCE website, including but not
limited to Anthropology, Archaeology, Architecture, Art, Art History, Comparative Literature,
Coptic Studies, Economics, Egyptology, Ethnomusicology, Gender Studies, History,
Humanistic Social Sciences, Islamic Studies, Literature, Music, Political Science, and Religious
Studies. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. Applicants must be an American citizen;
2. Applicants must be enrolled in a Ph.D. program at an accredited university in the
United States or abroad;
3. Applicants must be available to conduct 4-8 weeks research in Egypt;
4. Applicants must have completed all coursework prior to arriving in Egypt to begin the
pre-dissertation research grant;
5. Applicants may have started the dissertation proposal but may NOT have advanced to
ABD status. In other words, applicants must not have already submitted their
dissertation research proposals.
Review Criteria
The ARCE Fellowship Selection Committee that convenes in February 2015 will review
applications for this pilot program and select candidates for the grant. Committee members
represent private and public universities and are specialized in ancient, medieval, Islamic and
contemporary Egyptian history, humanities and social sciences. Applicants for travel grants
will be evaluated on the following basis:
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Validity, significance and feasibility of proposed dissertation topic;
Faculty support as indicated by letters of reference;
Connection between the travel grant plans and dissertation proposal development;
Scholarly achievement;
Requisite language facility.
Application Components and Submission Instructions
There are five components to the application:
1. The ARCE Pre-dissertation Research Travel Grant Application is available on the ARCE
website. The form is a downloadable Adobe PDF. You will need Adobe 8 or later to
complete the form. Fill it out and save it to your computer as a PDF and send it as an
attachment.
2. The statement of purpose should not exceed 1200-words and should describe the goals
and objectives of the proposed pre-dissertation and travel. It should include how the
proposed research fits the overall research plan and must consist of a statement
describing the concept, methodology and significance of the proposed research project
in relation to the applicant's academic field. Footnotes are not required. A one-page
bibliography may be included but is not considered part of the word count. Save the
statement as a PDF and send it as an attachment.
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3. Undergraduate and graduate level transcripts (unofficial PDF copies are acceptable at
this stage) and should be sent as a PDF attachment.
4. Language evaluation (ancient or contemporary) from a language teacher or faculty
member. The PDF form is available on the ARCE website. The applicant should
download the form, fill in Questions 1-6 and send it to the evaluator to complete. The
evaluator must send the completed form to fellows@arce.org by January 15, 2015 from
the email address provided for the evaluator on the application.
5. Two letters of reference from those who know your work; one must be from your
advisor. Two references should be submitted using this form. The applicant should
download the form, fill in Questions 1-6 and send it to the reference to complete. The
referee must send the completed form to fellows@arce.org by January 15, 2015 from
the email address provided for the evaluator on the application.
Application Checklist
A complete application includes:
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Application form
Statement of Purpose
Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
Language Evaluation
Two references
All materials must be received by January 15, 2015 at fellows@arce.org. If it is impossible to
send the application by email, a faxed or hard copy may be sent instead to:
American Research Center in Egypt
Att: Djodi Deutsch
8700 Crownhill Blvd., Suite 507
San Antonio, Texas 78209-1130
Tel: (210)-821-7000 Fax: (210)-821-7007
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