Funding Opportunities
The History Department supports students inside and outside of the classroom through research opportunities, scholarships, and funding to attend relevant programs, events, and conferences. Participation in such activities presents an invaluable opportunity for students to become developed scholars and vital contributors to international understanding and a global society.
Funding Opportunities for Undergraduate Students
Ted Shapiro, A82 Memorial Fund for Experiences in American History
The History Department invites undergraduates with a demonstrated interest in American history to apply to the Ted Shapiro, A82 Memorial Fund. Through the generosity of the Shapiro family, this fund supports undergraduate student projects that include an off-campus experiential learning component. The proposed projects should emphasize personal growth and exploration and will allow a student to delve deeper into an area of interest. The funds can be used for research or for other experiential projects that lead to a deeper understanding of American history, including travel to museums or historical sites. Travel outside the United States and transnational projects are a possibility as long as the project relates directly to a student’s previous studies in American history.
Applicants should be History majors or minors who have taken at least two courses in American History. Students who pursue topics in the political arena will be prioritized for emphasis on unity and conflict resolution. After completion of the project, students will be expected to submit a brief report.
Students interested in applying should submit an application letter (1-2pp) detailing their research and/or travel plans, explaining how the research relates to their work in American History, and providing an economizing budget specifying the estimated cost (up to the $5,000 maximum). A supporting letter from the applicant’s academic advisor is also required, as well as an up-to-date transcript.
Applications should be submitted electronically to the Chair of the History Department, Professor Alisha Rankin. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, but no applications will be considered after Monday, April 28, 2025.
Beverly Cohen Peterman Program Fund
The History Department invites undergraduates to apply to the Beverly Cohen Peterman Program Fund. Through the generosity of the Peterman family, this fund supports Tufts undergraduates who are History majors or minors for programs or activities not supported by the Tufts History Department. Priority will be given to students who wish to conduct historical research for their Senior Honors Theses, but the fund can also sponsor other activities, such as covering the costs to attend an academic conference or to visit a historical museum. This fund is open to students studying any area of History.
Students interested in applying should submit an application letter (1-2pp) detailing their research and/or travel plans, explaining how the research relates to their historical studies, and providing an economizing budget specifying the estimated cost ($1,000 maximum). A supporting letter from the applicant’s academic advisor or thesis advisor is also required, as well as an up-to-date transcript.
Applications should be submitted electronically to the Chair of the History Department, Professor Alisha Rankin. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, but no applications will be considered after Monday, April 28, 2025.
Senior Honors Thesis Grants
The History Department offers small grants to help fund research for the senior thesis. These grants will normally be for $200 or less, to help defray the cost of archival and library research for the senior thesis, such as photocopying or scanning of documents. The money may be used in the United Stets or abroad. Grant applications will be reviewed by a department committee. Students should apply for such grants through their thesis advisors; applications require a brief thesis prospectus, an explanation of how the grant will be used, a supporting letter from the thesis advisor, and an up-to-date academic transcript.
Funding Opportunities for Graduate Students
Graduate Student Conference Reimbursement Fund
The AS&E Graduate Student Conference Reimbursement Fund supports students who wish to attend or present at a conference or professional meeting. Each year, graduate students travel to professional conferences, both within the United States and abroad, to further their research and engage with colleagues in their respective fields. The Graduate Student Conference Reimbursement Fund is a highly competitive, merit-based award that provides funds (up to $300 or $600) to defray the costs associated with presenting research or to attend conferences and meetings where new research in their field is presented.
Funding is limited, and applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Each graduate student is eligible for reimbursement of the following for one conference per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30):
- up to $600 if presenting their work at a conference or professional meeting; or
- up to $300 to attend a conference or professional meeting without presenting.
Applications must be received by June 1st and receipts by June 15th, at the latest, for any given fiscal year, and can be used for past conferences within the same fiscal year. Students may receive additional funding from their department or other sources. These funds are separate from the reimbursement provided by the Dean’s Office and/or Graduate Student Council and may require separate authorization.
To read the guidelines for eligibility and to apply for funding, please go to Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Student Conference Reimbursement Application or the School of Engineering Graduate Student Reimbursement Application.
The Graduate Student Conference Reimbursement Fund is sponsored by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the Graduate Student Council.