CES believes very strongly that a vital part of the training of future Europeanists is the ability to conduct fieldwork in the region. Thanks to an endowment originally provided by the Krupp Foundation, the Center is able to provide a year of support for dissertation research abroad to large numbers of students, as well a small number of completion fellowships to students who are in the final year of writing their dissertations. CES also offers a small number of Dissertation Writing Fellowships to students who are in the final year of completing their dissertations. Please note that the CES Graduate Summer Travel Grants and Ariadne Graduate Summer Travel Grants have been discontinued.

For an extensive list of major funding opportunities for doctoral students, please search the GSAS online database Graduate Guide to Grants. It is specifically designed to assist graduate students in locating grants and fellowships that are applicable to the wide range of fields represented in the arts and sciences.



Graduate Dissertation Research Fellowships

Purpose: Graduate Dissertation Research Fellowships fund Harvard doctoral students in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and MIT doctoral students in the social sciences who plan to spend six to twelve months in Europe conducting dissertation research. Topics should focus on political, historical, economic, social, cultural, and intellectual trends, and public policy in modern or contemporary Europe (roughly 1750 – present).

Eligibility: Harvard doctoral students in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and MIT doctoral students in the social sciences may apply. Applicants must have completed two years of graduate school and have passed their general examinations, but they can be at any stage of research.

Award:A graduate dissertation research fellowship provides $24,000 annually and can be used to supplement external (non-Harvard) grants to a level not to exceed $30,000. In some cases, half-grants are awarded. The fellowship cannot be deferred and must be used within the twelve-month period for which it is awarded (July 2012 – June 2013). The award covers the Harvard active file fee and individual health insurance (HUSHP Supplemental Insurance only). Funding is provided by the Krupp Foundation and by the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies. In some cases, funding will be shared with other centers and grant programs.

Deadline: Applications are due at CES by February 17, 2012. Download the application instructions here. Applications must be submitted in PDF format via email to ccolburn@fas.harvard.edu; please note that paper copies will not be accepted.

Students are strongly encouraged to consult Scholarly Pursuits, published by Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, which contains advice on writing a proposal as well as samples and Salomon's The Art of Writing Proposals, available online from the Social Science Research Council.


Graduate Dissertation Completion Fellowships

Purpose: Graduate Dissertation Completion Fellowships support doctoral candidates as they complete their dissertations. The award allows students to spend a final year dedicated to writing. The dissertation must focus on modern or contemporary Europe (roughly 1750 – present)

Eligibility: Harvard doctoral students in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and MIT doctoral students in the social sciences may apply. Please note that Harvard PhD candidates at the Graduate School of Design (GSD) are not eligible for this grant. Students must have completed two draft dissertation chapters and submitted them to the dissertation advisor at the time of application (or for students in fields where the dissertation consists of three articles, the existence of one article in draft). Applications will be judged by their overall merit, the importance of the topic, the clarity of the proposal, the potential for scholarly contribution, and the likelihood of timely completion.

Award: CES matches its stipend level to the GSAS standard annual stipend for dissertation completion fellowships. The stipend cannot be deferred and must be used within the twelve-month period for which it is awarded (July 2012 – June 2013). No other employment, beyond serving as an advisor for an undergraduate senior thesis or working as a part–time research assistant, is allowed under the grant, as students are expected to complete their dissertation during the period of the award. Students who have previously received writing/completion grants from other sources are not eligible. The fellowship covers Harvard facilities fees and individual health insurance (HUSHP Basic and Supplemental). Winners will be given priority for office space at CES if they contact the building manager, Sandy Selesky, before the start of the fellowship term.

Deadline: Applications are due at CES by February 17, 2012. Applicants must complete the GSAS Dissertation Completion Fellowships Standard Application, as well as the CES-specific requirements and submit the application in PDF format via email to ccolburn@fas.harvard.edu. Please note that paper copies will not be accepted.


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