The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) awards various types of fellowship aid to PhD students. Newly admitted domestic and international PhD students are eligible to receive up to five years of fellowship funding from Boston University. This five-year period starts at matriculation and expires at the conclusion of the fifth year in the PhD program (or at graduation, whichever is sooner). The fellowship funding is contingent upon the PhD student maintaining Good Academic Conduct, maintaining Good Academic Standing, and making Satisfactory Academic Progress, as defined by the department and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
This fellowship funding includes a full tuition scholarship for courses required by the PhD degree, mandatory student services and student wellness fees, a credit towards the basic Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) premium during semesters with full stipend funding; and a living stipend as described in the admission offer letter.
The type of stipend funding may be a combination of a training fellowship (such as a Dean’s Fellowship or Dissertation Fellowship), teaching fellowship, or doctoral research fellowship, depending on the department of admission. It is contingent on, among other things, the continued availability of funding to support the PhD student’s work. Detailed information about the fellowship awards and the policies and privileges associated with each award can be found below.
Effective October 16, 2024 to August 31, 2027, teaching and research fellow positions are governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between Boston University and the Boston University Graduate Workers’ Union (BUGWU)/Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 509. The BUGWU Collective Bargaining Agreement sets forth some of the your rights and responsibilities as a member of this bargaining unit.
For additional fellowship information such as the current stipend rate, please refer to our PhD & MFA Fellowship FAQs.
PhD Fellowships
Training Fellowships
Training fellowships provide a stipend and scholarship for exceptional students to focus primarily on their degree coursework with no departmental research or teaching responsibilities. Students awarded training fellowships are required to enroll in a full load of academic courses as determined by the department. Examples:
- Dean’s Fellowship (DF)
- GRS Dissertation Fellowship
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
- National Institute of Health (NIH) Training Grant (TG) Fellowships
- Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship
- Various prestigious departmental fellowships.
Teaching Fellowships
A Teaching Fellowship provides a stipend and a full scholarship and an opportunity for graduate students to gain classroom experience under the close supervision of the faculty members who have the formal responsibility for the courses to which the teaching fellows are assigned. Your obligation in this fellowship would include instructional duties assigned by your department. Instructional and other duties total approximately 20 hours per week.
Doctoral Research Fellowships
Doctoral Research Fellowships provide a stipend and scholarship for exceptionally qualified students in return for research work done for the department. Your obligation in this fellowship will include research duties assigned by your department that total no more than 20 hours per week.
Additional Funding Opportunities
Summer Funding
Graduate Internship Funding Program (GIF)
GIF will not run an application cycle during the 2025-2026 academic year.
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce a new internship funding pilot program, GIF. This is aimed at helping GRS PhD students receive a stipend for an otherwise unpaid summer internship. This summer, only applications for Massachusetts-based internships will be considered.
Please see below for eligibility and application requirements.
Required Application Materials (in PDF format, submitted via InfoReady)
-Cover Letter: This personal statement should share how this internship aligns with the applicant’s professional goals and what they hope to gain from the experience. 250-1000 words, Times New Roman Font Size 12, 1.5 spacing.
– Current CV
– 1 letter of recommendation (from the applicant’s current BU Faculty Advisor)
– Copy of the internship offer letter (scanned email offers are also acceptable as long as the organization and their contact information is clearly communicated).
| Eligibility | Applicant Eligibility
Internship Eligibility
|
| Stipend Amount | $7,000 (summer 2024 rate) |
| Payment Period | Summer: May-August |
| Payment Structure | Stipend paid in two installments on the 4th Friday of the month (May and July). |
| Taxes | The portion of financial aid that exceeds the expense of tuition, books, and fees maybe subject to income tax. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, this stipend is not subject to tax withholding by the University; however, it is your responsibility to report it accurately to the IRS and make payments on the taxable portion of your award. For international students, you will be required to apply for a Social Security Number and your stipend will have a taxation rate of 14% unless you are claiming exempt under a tax treaty. Please check with the the International Students and Scholars Office if you have any questions. |
Social Science PhD Internship Program
The Social Science Internship Program will be paused for Summer 2026.
Together, the Associate Provost for Graduate Affairs, the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and the Center for Innovation in Social Sciences are pleased to provide stipend-supported summer internships aimed at introducing PhD students in Social Sciences fields (including PhD students in Anthropology, History, Political Science and Sociology in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences) to career opportunities at institutions beyond academia. Interns will bring to their roles the array of skills developed during their PhD training, including research and writing and area-based expertise.
Internships will run for approximately 10 weeks. Interns will serve in their roles for no more than 20 hours per week and will receive a $7,000 stipend.
Applications include a CV, a personal statement, and two letters of recommendation.
Applicants should request recommendations through this portal; please allow adequate time for your recommenders. Applicants will be evaluated in terms of their academic accomplishments (including degree progress) and the appropriateness of their professional goals for this program.
Please note that in the application you will identify your first and second choice internship. You will be asked to explain both choices.
Interns are required to furnish a final written report about their experience. Interns will also participate in a larger Summer PhD Internship cohort through the Professional Development and Postdoctoral Affairs Office.
| Eligibility | Applicant Eligibility
|
| Stipend Amount | $7,000 (summer 2024 rate) |
| Payment Period | Summer: May-August |
| Payment Structure | Stipend paid in two installments on the 4th Friday of the month (May and July). |
| Taxes | The portion of financial aid that exceeds the expense of tuition, books, and fees maybe subject to income tax. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, this stipend is not subject to tax withholding by the University; however, it is your responsibility to report it accurately to the IRS and make payments on the taxable portion of your award. For international students, you will be required to apply for a Social Security Number and your stipend will have a taxation rate of 14% unless you are claiming exempt under a tax treaty. Please check with the the International Students and Scholars Office if you have any questions. |
PhD Summer Internships in the Humanities
The Office of the Associate Provost for Graduate Affairs and the BU Center for the Humanities (BUCH) are pleased to offer stipend-supported summer internships aimed at introducing PhD students in humanities fields to career opportunities at institutions beyond academia. These internships receive generous support from the Demir Sabanci (CAS’ 93) Experiential Learning in the Humanities Fund.
Learn more at the BUCH Internship Website: https://www.bu.edu/humanities/opportunities/graduate-opportunities/phd-internships/
Dissertation Fellowships
Bloom Dissertation Fellowships
The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) is pleased to announce the creation of the Bloom Dissertation Fellowships. These fellowships have been created thanks to the generous estate gift of CAS alumnus, Laurence A. Bloom (DGE’66, CAS’68). These competitive Fellowships are designed to provide funding to GRS doctoral students in the social sciences and the humanities, who will be in their final semester prior to graduating, enabling them to focus on completing their dissertation.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, a doctoral student must be enrolled in a Graduate School of Arts & Sciences PhD program in the humanities or social sciences, or if outside these two divisions, use social science methods in their research (e.g. Earth & Environment or Economics)
Funding
This fellowship provides one semester of funding, at the prevailing monthly rate.
Application Portal
Via Infoready: https://bu.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2002437
Application Materials
Submitted by the Applicant (via InfoReady)
- A two- page cover letter which:
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- Describes the dissertation project, clearly outlining the thesis.
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- Details of the current plan for completion as well as all progress made thus far.
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- Includes the semester of support requested (funding will not be given for any time that is covered through other sources of funding – (Summer: May – August 2025, Fall: September 2025 – December 2025, Spring: January – April 2026)
- Current CV
- Unofficial transcript
Submitted by Faculty member (via a link sent from InfoReady)
- Letter of Support from the applicant’s dissertation advisor
- This should make note of the applicant’s current progress towards completing their dissertation and updated plan for completion.
- Letter of support from the applicant’s PhD program Director of Graduate Studies
- This should confirm that the applicant does not have other funding during the semester they are applying to for this fellowship opportunity.
Applications will be due by February 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Letters of support should be submitted by faculty members by March 6, 2026. Decision notifications will be made in April.
Please contact grsgs@bu.edu with any questions.
Campagna-Kerven Graduate Fellowship
The Fellowship: The Campagna-Kerven Graduate Fellowship, endowed by a bequest from Madame Susanne Campagna, provides a dissertation fellowship to a PhD student in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences whose doctoral dissertation deals substantially with an aspect of modern Turkey. This includes Turkish culture, society, politics or economics in the 20th or 21st century.
The dissertation fellowship includes a full annual stipend (September through August), SHIP health insurance coverage, and all other necessary fees.
Eligibility: The fellowship is open to PhD students in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences who are defining or preparing their dissertation. Preference will be given to students who have passed all qualifying exams and are either preparing their dissertation prospectus or have had their prospectus approved by the faculty of their program. The dissertation must focus, at least in part, on some aspect of modern Turkey which is defined as the Republic of Turkey or the Turkish people and culture in the 20th or 21st century. A student awarded the dissertation fellowship may not hold another fellowship simultaneously.
Application Materials
Submitted by the Applicant (via InfoReady)
- A two- page cover letter which:
- Describes the dissertation project, clearly outlining the thesis.
- Details of the current plan for completion as well as all progress made thus far.
- Current CV
- Unofficial transcript
Submitted by Faculty member (via a link sent from InfoReady)
- Letter of Support from the applicant’s dissertation advisor
- This should make note of the applicant’s current progress towards completing their dissertation and updated plan for completion. It should also highlight the significance and feasibility of the dissertation project.
- Letter of support from the applicant’s PhD program Director of Graduate Studies
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- This should confirm that the applicant will not hold another fellowship between September 2025 – August 2026.
Deadline: Applications will be due by February 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Letters of support should be submitted by faculty members by March 6, 2026. Decision notifications will be made in late April.
Please contact grsgs@bu.edu with any questions.
InfoReady Link: https://bu.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2002437
Newman Graduate Student Fellowship
The Fellowship: The Henry S. Newman Graduate Student Fellowship, endowed by Mr. Newman in honor of his daughter Dori Newman (CAS ’69), provides a one-year fellowship to a PhD student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences whose dissertation focuses on some aspect of immigration to America. Mr. Newman immigrated to America following World War II after having survived two years in a concentration camp.
The dissertation fellowship includes a full annual stipend (September through August), SHIP health insurance coverage, and all other necessary fees.
Eligibility: The fellowship is open to PhD students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences who have passed all qualifying exams and had their dissertation prospectus approved by the faculty of their program. Their dissertation must focus on some aspect of immigration to America. A student awarded the Henry S. Newman Graduate Student Fellowship may not hold another fellowship simultaneously.
Application Materials:
Submitted by the Applicant (via InfoReady)
- A two- page cover letter which:
-
- Describes the dissertation project, clearly outlining the thesis.
-
- Details of the current plan for completion as well as all progress made thus far.
- Current CV
- Unofficial transcript
Submitted by Faculty member (via a link sent from InfoReady)
- Letter of Support from the applicant’s dissertation advisor
-
- This should make note of the applicant’s current progress towards completing their dissertation and updated plan for completion. It should also highlight the significance and feasibility of the dissertation project.
- Letter of support from the applicant’s PhD program Director of Graduate Studies
-
- This should confirm that the applicant will not hold another fellowship between September 2025 – August 2026.
Deadline: Applications will be due by February 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Letters of support should be submitted by faculty members by March 67, 2026. Decision notifications will be made in late April.
Please contact grsgs@bu.edu with any questions.
InfoReady Link: https://bu.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2002437
Dean's Dissertation Fellowship
The Fellowship: The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences is now seeking applications for a new opportunity, the Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship. These fellowships are open to GRS PhD students across all Arts & Sciences divisions and are intended to support students to make significant progress towards dissertation completion.
The fellowship will provide a stipend of $15,000 paid in monthly installments during the tenure period of either the Fall 2026 (September – December) or Spring 2027 (January – May) semesters.
Eligibility
To be eligible, the student must:
- Be enrolled in a GRS PhD program
- Be in years 4-6 of their program
- Have completed their prospectus.
- Be in good academic standing
- Not hold another fellowship for the applied semester.
Awardees will be expected to defend and submit an intent to graduate by the end of the 6th year of their program.
Application Materials
Submitted by the student via Infoready
- A 3-4 page cover letter which:
- Is formatted in Times New Roman font, size 12 with 1.5 spacing.
- Briefly describes the dissertation project, clearly outlining the thesis.
- Details the current plan for dissertation completion as well as all progress made thus far.
- Includes the semester of support requested (either Fall 2026 or Spring 2027).
- Current CV
- Unofficial Transcript
Submitted by a Faculty Member via Infoready
- Letter of Support from the applicant’s dissertation advisor
- This should make specific note of the applicant’s current progress towards completing their dissertation and updated plan for completion.
- Letter of support from the applicant’s PhD program Director of Graduate Studies
- This should confirm that the applicant is in good academic standing
Applications will be evaluated by a review committee based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated excellent progress towards degree and dissertation completion.
- Ability to communicate research thesis and goals in a succinct, cohesive manner.
- Academic merit
Deadline: Applications will be due by February 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Letters of support should be submitted by faculty members by March 6, 2026. Decision notifications will be made in late April.
Please contact grsgs@bu.edu with any questions.
InfoReady Link: https://bu.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2002437
CISS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
The Fellowship: The Center for Innovation in Social Science (CISS) is offering a PhD Dissertation Completion Fellowship. These fellowships are open to GRS PhD students across all Arts & Sciences divisions who use social science methods in their research and are intended to support these students in their final year of dissertation writing. In order to apply, a student must be nominated by their department.
The tenure of this fellowship is for an entire academic year. Applications will be due March 1, 2026.
Please visit the CISS website for more details, and contact ciss@bu.edu with any questions.
BUCH Dissertation Fellowships
The Fellowship: The Center for Innovation in Social Science (CISS) is offering a PhD Dissertation Fellowship. These fellowships are open to GRS PhD students who are in humanities departments and who will be defending their dissertation by the end of the year of the fellowship. In order to apply, a student must be nominated by their department.
The tenure of this fellowship is for one academic semester. Applications will be due March 1, 2026.
Please visit the BUCH website for more details, and contact buch@bu.edu with any questions.
SoF PhD Dissertation Completion Fellowships
The Fellowship: The Society of Fellows invites promising current GRS PhD students across all Arts & Sciences disciplines to apply to their PhD Dissertation Completion Fellowship. They are particularly interested in outstanding scholars whose work demonstrates enthusiasm for intellectual inquiry across traditional disciplinary divisions.
Successful applicants will join a vibrant scholarly community committed to innovative research and cross-disciplinary conversations. PhD Fellows will participate in a weekly colloquium during which members share works-in-progress and learn from each other through sustained and substantive interaction across different modes of scholarship.
The tenure of this fellowship is for an entire academic year. Applications will be due February 2, 2026.
Please visit the SoF website for more details, and contact sofcas@bu.edu with any questions.
Research Travel Funding
Graduate Research Abroad Fellowships (GRAF)
The Spring 2026 GRAF portal is now open: https://bu.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1961673
Applications are due by 11:59 PM ET February 2, 2026. Please note, the portal will not allow submissions past the deadline and Google Chrome is the recommended browser.
The Graduate Research Abroad Fellowship (GRAF) program was established by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences to support foreign-based research by GRS doctoral students whose field-based or archival research requires an extended period of residence in another country or countries.
As noted in the December memo from the Graduate School, there will only be a Spring cycle of GRAF in the 25-26 academic year. Please see below for specific details on eligibility, timeline, and application materials. Please note that funds are extremely limited for this cycle, and applicants should expect it to be highly competitive. Proposals should contain a clear research question, methods, and plan for travel. The committee will not be making awards over the maximum amounts listed below.
GRAF awards may not be used for foreign-based study or training such as acquiring language skills, equipment, personal expenses not related to the GRAF proposal, or for attending professional conferences. GRAF awards are travel grants and are in addition to the non-service funding students receive within their five-year funding package. They cannot be used during a semester where the student receives a teaching or research fellowship. Students who have exhausted their guaranteed funding will only receive travel support through this mechanism.
There are two kinds of Graduate Research Abroad Fellowships:
Short-term GRAF: Supports travel and living costs during a period of study abroad up to, but not exceeding, 3 full months. For trips taken during the academic year when students will normally be supported by another fellowship, up to $4,000 in travel costs can be provided. For trips during the summer (June 1 through August 31) a short-term fellowship can provide up to $6,000.
Long-term GRAF: Enables a student to spend an extended period (4 or more months/at least a full semester) of foreign-based field or archival research. It provides up to $16,250 to cover living, travel, and research expenses. For students in years 1 through 6 of their academic programs, a long-term GRAF will also cover continuing study fees and the cost of participation in the basic BU student health plan for the time the student is abroad.
GRAF Eligibility
- Applicants should have completed their prospectus and all other doctoral program requirements except for the dissertation before the proposed project begins.
- Exception: In disciplines where international travel is necessary to complete the prospectus, students may apply for short-term GRAF awards only. Please note that these projects should have a clear timeline and goals listed.
- Applicants must be registered as BU GRS PhD students.
- For help with initiating a continuing student registration for students who will not be registering for classes, please contact your Department Administrator.
- Applicants must not have a conflicting teaching or research fellowship during their proposed travel period.
- For example, students appointed as teaching fellows in Fall 2026 cannot travel during that semester. Similarly, students holding research fellowships that require on-campus supervised work are not eligible for GRAF during those semesters.
- Applicants must disclose other forms of funding for their research and whether they previously received a GRAF or GRUF award, including what progress has been made since that award. Failure to do so will result in disqualification for that cycle.
GRAF Travel and Deadlines
All GRAF-funded travel must begin on or after May 18, 2026, and conclude by June 1, 2027.
Student Applicant InfoReady Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM ET February 2, 2026
Departmental Acknowledgement Form and Letter of Reference Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM ET February 9, 2026
InfoReady Portal: https://bu.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2001691
GRAF Application Process and Materials
Phase 1: Interested students will submit their application via InfoReady by 11:59 PM on February 2, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. This will include:
- GRAF Budget Template (save as a PDF, with all cells visible on one page)
- Applicants are reminded that no awards will be made above the maximum award amounts listed above.
- IRB Approval (if working with human subjects)
- If approval is not granted before the application deadline, a copy of the email to IRB is admissible; however, applicants will not be awarded funds until IRB approval is received.
- An unofficial transcript (please download from MyBU)
- A letter of recommendation from the student’s advisor
- Project Proposal (no more than 6 pages) which:
- Clearly states and explains the problem or question that the proposed research will address, links it to existing scholarship on the topic, and demonstrates why the research will best allow the applicant to answer or illuminate it. Remember that the review committee has a broad membership across disciplines.
- Includes a proposed timeline for the project along with travel locations.
- Includes a brief rationale for how this research travel will contribute to current progress on dissertation work, including any other progress that has already been made.
- Clearly discloses all other forms of funding received or being applied to for the project. (Failure to do so can result in your award being rescinded should you be selected).
- Contains a disclosure of previous GRUF or GRAF support received and why the applicant should receive additional GRAF funding.
All GRAF materials should use size 12 Times New Roman font and 1.5 spacing.
Phase 2: Submitted applications will be routed to the student’s home department/program and Director of Graduate Studies (or equivalent faculty member) to be considered for nomination. Departments will need to approve or deny nominations via InfoReady by 11:59 PM on February 9, 2026 via the Departmental Acknowledgement Form (emailed automatically via InfoReady routing).
Phase 3: Nominated students will be reviewed by the GRAF Committee, with award decisions being made by early April. Decisions will be sent via an InfoReady email to all applicants, their departmental/program Directors of Graduate Studies, and their department administrators.
Departmental Phase 3 Submissions
There is no limit on the number of short-term GRAF proposals that a department/program can advance to Phase 3; however, a maximum of 3 long-term GRAF proposals per department/program will be considered.
Please note that preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received a GRAF or GRUF award, especially as funds are limited this application cycle.
GRAF Award Terms
In order to receive a GRAF stipend, students must be registered as BU GRS students for the semester of their project travel. Failure to disclose other forms of research funding can result in the loss or reduction of the GRAF award.
All students awarded GRAF will need to submit the following upon completion of their travel:
- A one-page summary detailing what they accomplished and how it relates to their dissertation progress
- A copy of flight and accommodation receipts
Failure to travel within a year from the award letter date will result in the GRAF being rescinded. If an extension or adjustment is needed, awardees must email grsaid@bu.edu for approval.
GRAF Award Disbursement
GRAF funds will only be disbursed to awardees by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences following the return of the signed award letter and registration of travel in the university travel registry (including travel dates) to grsaid@bu.edu.
Questions regarding disbursement should be directed to grsaid@bu.edu. Please include your BU ID in all correspondence.
For all other questions regarding the application process for GRAF, please contact grsgs@bu.edu.
Graduate Research in the United States Fellowship (GRUF)
The Spring 2026 GRUF Portal is now open: https://bu.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1961679
Applications are due by 11:59 PM ET February 2, 2026. Please note, the portal will not allow submissions past the deadline and Google Chrome is the recommended browser.
The Graduate Research in the United States Fellowship (GRUF) program was established by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences to support research by GRS PhD and MFA students whose field-based or archival research requires travel to and a period of residence in another city or state within the United States. This fellowship is open to students from any GRS department or program whose research needs additional sources of funding.
As noted in the December memo from the Graduate School, there will only be a Spring cycle of GRUF in the 25-26 academic year. Please see below for specific details on eligibility, timeline, and application materials. Please note that funds are extremely limited for this cycle, and applicants should expect it to be highly competitive. Proposals should contain a clear research question, methods, and plan for travel. The committee will not be making awards over the maximum amounts listed below.
GRUF awards are travel grants that are given in addition to a student’s five-year funding package, when applicable. These awards may not be used for foreign-based study or for attending professional conferences. There are two kinds of GRUF fellowships:
- Short-term GRUF: Supports travel and living costs during a period of research outside of the greater Boston area, not exceeding 3 full months. The award for a short-term GRUF is up to $6,000. Short-term GRUF can be used for shorter research trips.
- Long-term GRUF: Enables a student to spend an extended period (4 or more months/at least a full semester) of United States-based field or archival research outside of the greater Boston area. It provides up to $16,250 to cover living, travel, and research expenses. For students in years 1 through 6 of their academic programs, a long-term GRUF also covers continuing study fees and the cost of participation in the basic BU student health plan for the time the student is traveling.
GRUF Eligibility
Applicants must be registered as BU GRS PhD or MFA students.
- For help with initiating a continuing student registration for students who will not be registering for classes, please contact your Department Administrator.
Applicants must not have a conflicting teaching or research fellowship during their proposed travel period.
- For example, students appointed as teaching fellows in Fall 2026 cannot travel during that semester. Similarly, students holding research fellowships that require on-campus supervised work are not eligible for GRUF during those semesters.
Applicants must disclose other forms of funding for their research and whether they previously received a GRAF or GRUF award, including what progress has been made since that award. Failure to do so will result in disqualification for that cycle.
GRUF Travel and Deadlines
All GRUF-funded travel must begin on or after May 18, 2026, and conclude by June 1, 2027.
Student Applicant InfoReady Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM ET February 2, 2026
Departmental Acknowledgement Form and Letter of Recommendation Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM ET February 9, 2026
InfoReady Portal: https://bu.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2001691
GRUF Application Process and Materials
Phase 1: Interested students will submit their application via InfoReady by 11:59 PM on February 2, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. This will include:
- GRUF Budget Template (save as a PDF, with all cells visible on one page)
- Applicants are reminded that no awards will be made above the maximum award amounts listed above.
- IRB Approval (if working with human subjects)
- If approval is not granted before the application deadline, a copy of the email to IRB is admissible; however, applicants will not be awarded funds until IRB approval is received.
- An unofficial transcript (please download from MyBU)
- A letter of recommendation from the student’s advisor
- Project Proposal (no more than 6 pages) which:
- Clearly states and explains the problem or question that the proposed research will address, links it to existing scholarship on the topic, and demonstrates why the research will best allow the applicant to answer or illuminate it. Remember that the review committee has a broad membership across disciplines.
- Includes a proposed timeline for the project along with travel locations.
- Includes a brief rationale for how this research travel will contribute to current progress on dissertation work, including any other progress that has already been made.
- Clearly discloses all other forms of funding received or being applied to for the project. (Failure to do so can result in your award being rescinded should you be selected).
- Contains a disclosure of previous GRUF or GRAF support received and why the applicant should receive additional GRUF funding.
All GRUF materials should use size 12 Times New Roman font and 1.5 spacing.
Phase 2: Submitted applications will be routed to the student’s home department/program and Director of Graduate Studies (or equivalent faculty member) to be considered for nomination. Departments will need to approve or deny nominations via InfoReady by 11:59 PM on February 9, 2026. They will also need to complete the InfoReady Departmental Acknowledgement Form (automatically emailed via InfoReady routing).
Phase 3: Nominated students will be reviewed by the GRUF Committee, with award decisions being made by early April. Decisions will be sent via an InfoReady email to all applicants, their departmental/program Directors of Graduate Studies, and their department administrators.
Departmental Phase 3 Submissions
There is no limit on the number of short-term GRUF proposals that a department/program can advance to Phase 3; however, a maximum of 3 long-term GRUF proposals per department/program will be considered.
Please note that preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received a GRAF or GRUF award, especially as funds are limited this application cycle.
GRUF Award Terms
In order to receive a GRUF stipend, students must be registered as BU GRS students for the semester of their project travel. Failure to disclose other forms of research funding can result in the loss or reduction of the GRUF award.
All students awarded GRUF will need to submit the following via InfoReady upon completion of their travel:
- A one-page summary detailing what they accomplished and how it relates to their dissertation progress
- A copy of flight (or main transport method) and accommodation receipts
Failure to travel within a year from the award letter date will result in the GRUF being rescinded. If an extension or adjustment is needed, awardees must email grsaid@bu.edu for approval.
GRUF Award Disbursement
GRUF funds will only be disbursed to awardees by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences following the return of the signed award letter and registration of travel in the university travel registry (including travel dates) to grsaid@bu.edu.
Questions regarding disbursement should be directed to grsaid@bu.edu. Please include your BU ID in all correspondence.
For all other questions regarding the application process for GRUF, please contact grsgs@bu.edu.
GSO Travel Grants
Twice a year, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Organization (GSO) accepts applications for travel grants. The GSO offers two types of awards:
- Presentation travel grants: For students planning on directly participating in a conference or research forum by presenting a paper or poster, participating in a discussion panel, or chairing a discussion or paper session.
- Research travel grants: For students planning to visit an archive, attend a training workshop, or use a research facility.
For instructions, application, and more details please visit the GSO website.
Other University Opportunities
Graduate Program Writing Fellowship
The Fellowship: The CAS Writing Program invites applications for Graduate Writing Fellowships from doctoral students in College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) departments and programs who are currently in their G2-G5 years. These competitive fellowships provide recipients with an opportunity to receive valuable pedagogical training and experience while developing and teaching writing seminars on topics related to their respective disciplines. Because Writing Program courses span the disciplines, the program welcomes applications from doctoral students in any of CAS’s divisions: humanities, mathematical and computational sciences, natural sciences, and social sciences.
Graduate Writing Fellows (GWFs) teach one first-year writing seminar as assigned by the Writing Program director (typically WR 120) each semester they hold the fellowship. The fellowship does not cover summer teaching or service. Doctoral students beyond the G6 year are ineligible to hold a Graduate Writing Fellowship. Applications are due October 27, 2025.
Please visit the Writing Program website for more details and contact writing@bu.edu with any questions.