Department of Anthropology Conference and Fieldwork Funding
Guidelines for Application
Every academic year, the School of Graduate Studies provides the department with
funding based on the numbers of full time M.A. and Ph.D. students enrolled in the
program who have not yet exceeded their 2 or 4 year term of funding. This money is
then used to provide departmental scholarships for our students. When students are
successful in receiving outside scholarships (SSHRC and OGS) their departmental
scholarship reverts to the department. In this way, the department is able to build up a
surplus of scholarship funds. However, the exact amount of the surplus varies from year
to year. One of the uses to which these surplus scholarship funds may be put is to assist
with funding for graduate student conference and fieldwork travel. These funds are
limited, vary in total amount from year to year, and are only intended to defray expenses
incurred in conference attendance or fieldwork. In most cases, departmental funding will
not be sufficient to cover the full cost of the conference travel or fieldwork.
Application Deadline: March 3, 2014
Forms: available on department website
Eligibility – Conference Travel Funding: All students in the graduate program who are
presenting a paper or poster at an academic conference are eligible to apply, however
only one conference per student will be funded annually. Proof of acceptance of the
paper or poster presentation must be included with the application.
Eligibility – Fieldwork Funding: All Ph.D. students are eligible to apply for fieldwork
funding. Primary consideration will be given to students who have completed all
program requirements except for fieldwork and the dissertation, and who will have
completed/defended comprehensive exams and had their thesis proposal approved prior
to commencement of the proposed fieldwork.
Application Procedure: Application forms and supporting documents should be
submitted to Liz Penney by March 3, 2014, and will be reviewed by the Graduate
Committee and the Department Chair. Supporting documents for fieldwork funding
include a research proposal (1-2 pages), budget and justification, letter of approval from
the supervisor, and documentation of efforts to secure external funding.
Eligible Budget Items for Fieldwork Funding:
Because departmental funding is limited, and intended to defray essential research costs
rather than fully fund fieldwork, the following items will receive highest priority:
 Economy travel (air, rail, bus) or fuel costs for travel by car
 Room and board, over and above the expenses normally incurred while not in the
field (please itemize current expenses and estimated expenses while in the field)
 Visas, research permits and/or site entrance fees
 Medical supplies and/or immunizations mandated by international health
regulations
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Funding may also be requested for other items without which the research cannot
proceed, such as:
 Informants fees
 Specialized software deemed essential for the project
 Interpreter, transcription or translation services
Funding will be approved for the following items only under special circumstances:
 Computer hardware and most software
 Supplies (paper clipboards, diskettes, tapes)
 Communication costs (Internet/phone lines, postage)
 Personal items (including medication not mandated by international health
regulations)
 Photocopying, printing costs
Receiving and Accounting for Research Funds:
Arrangements regarding advances and payment schedules must be made with the
department administrator (Rosita Jordan). Departmental research funds are fully
accountable. Each recipient is required to adhere to the travel policies of McMaster
University, to fill out travel expense forms and submit receipts accounting for the full
sum of the grant and submit them to the department, either within two weeks of the
student’s return from the conference or fieldwork or at periodic intervals during
fieldwork as arranged with the department.
Edit Aug 9/13