Funding Opportunities

The IR Program supports students inside and outside the classroom through research opportunities, scholarships, and funding to attend IR-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.

IR Program Funding Opportunities

Conference Funding

The IR Program will on occasion solicit applications from students studying IR to attend discipline-relevant conferences.

IR majors in good academic standing are also eligible to apply for small grants to help defray the costs of attending and participating in IR-related national and international meetings. Applications for grants up to $250 will be considered (on a rolling basis). To apply, please submit the Conference Funding Application no later than 4 weeks before the meeting.

IR Undergraduate Research Fellows Program

The IR Undergraduate Research Fellows Program is designed to foster excellence in scholarly research and creative inquiry by sponsoring semester-long research assistant positions for undergraduates working with Tufts IR Core Faculty members. The program supports IR Core Faculty to hire and manage undergraduate IR students as they assist in the faculty member's own research. Faculty apply at the beginning of Fall or Spring semester for a grant to support researchers throughout the rest of the term.

NOTE: This is a faculty-driven application process. Only IR Core Faculty members may apply for a grant, but students are encouraged to share this opportunity with their faculty mentors if they are interested in participating in the program.

Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize

The Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize is an incentive award that enables the recipient(s) to undertake a research project, internship, volunteer activity, or plan of study in any field involving international issues. Designed to foster the spirit of the award, the prize encourages personal growth and independence, while increasing one's understanding of all peoples and encouraging a commitment to the world community.

IR Research Scholars Program Award

The IR Research Scholars Program (IRRSP) award supports original, high-quality undergraduate international research. The award will support a minimum of eight weeks of IR Core Faculty-mentored summer research. IRRSP's objective is to support the development of strong research skills critical to professional or academic goals.

IR Internship Award

The International Relations Internship Award is a highly competitive award that is designed to help enable recipients to pursue an IR-related internship. Internships may be U.S. based or international. Select students will receive an award up to $2,500.

Applications for the IR Internship Award will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please contact the IR Program for more information.

Other Funding Opportunities Available to IR majors

Laidlaw Scholarship Program

Launched in 2018, the Tufts Laidlaw Research and Leadership Program is open to undergraduate students, preferably those in their sophomore year, willing to commit to two consecutive summers of research with a Tufts faculty mentor. Research projects can be in any discipline. Projects may have an international dimension, and scholars may spend all or part of the second summer in an overseas university. Following each summer research period, scholars and their faculty mentors will participate in a research day in which their findings are shared with the broader community.

 

Global Research Assistant Program

The Global Research Assistant Program (GRAP) provides the opportunity for Tufts students to work with Tufts faculty members on international research and impact projects for a minimum of eight weeks during the summer. This initiative is sponsored by the AS&E Career Center and Summer Scholars Program, the Office of the Provost, and Tisch College.

 

Summer Scholars Program

The Summer Scholars program funds rising juniors and seniors to pursue ten-week independent research projects. As part of the program, you will work closely with a faculty mentor to create a poster to present at a poster session in the fall. Summer Scholars then present the next stage of your research at the Undergraduate Research Symposium in the spring. Often, the summer project will culminate in your senior honors thesis.

Career Center Summer Internship Grants

Each summer the Career Center funds 40-50 undergraduate students doing unpaid internships for a minimum of 350 hours. These funds offer students the opportunity to explore career fields and gain experience. Selected students will receive $3,500. Students must secure an internship prior to the deadlines.

Tisch Summer Fellows (TSF) International Program

The Tisch Summer Fellows (TSF) International program supports undergraduate, graduate and professional students working on creative, self-designed projects with an active citizenship theme. TSF provides financial support to help students bring their international initiatives to life. We recommend that TSF projects be led by a group of two or more Tufts undergraduate, graduate or professional school students, although individuals with very strong proposals are welcome to apply. Applications will be accepted from official and unofficial Tufts groups or organizations.

Tisch Library Undergraduate Research Award

Tisch Library has developed an award recognizing outstanding undergraduate use of the library's collections, resources and services in the production of an exemplary research project. All undergraduate students who are registered through the end of the respective academic year may apply. Projects completed any time during the application's AY (spring, summer or fall semesters) are eligible, including group projects. Prizes will be split equally among group members.

Office of the Vice Provost for Research

The Office of the Vice Provost for Research is a great resource for Tufts students to gain insight into several sources of research funding, including: federal, state, corporations, foundations, and opportunities internal to Tufts.