Dissertation Fieldwork Grants

These grants of up to $5,000 provide support for fieldwork expenses. For the purpose of this grant, fieldwork is defined as data collection that takes place for an extended period of time (e.g. weeks or months) outside the western Massachusetts geographical area. These grants are not designed to fund data analysis, only expenses related to data collection. In rare instances applicants may request up to $8,000 to help support lengthy periods of data collection. Applicants will need to submit a statement as part of the application to justify the request for additional funds. 

Who Is Eligible?

UMass Amherst doctoral students enrolled in a campus-based degree program (i.e. no online programs) and in good academic standing are eligible to apply. Students may receive the Graduate School Fieldwork Grant only once. Applicants who were not awarded a grant in a previous application cycle are eligible to reapply, provided they still meet all eligibility requirements. Students may accept only one research grant from the Graduate School in an academic year. 

Application 

Submit your application for a MFA Thesis Grant via InfoReady. The InfoReady site outlines full application instructions and provides a template to prepare your budget table (look for MFA Thesis Grant in the table of funding opportunities). The application requires a letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor--you must register your letter writer in the application system before they can submit their letter. 

The application deadline is November 15 annually (unless otherwise noted in InfoReady). 

Supplements for Public Engagement or Travel with Children

Applicants for Graduate School Grants are eligible to apply for supplements to cover costs associated with Public Engagement projects or childcare/travel with children during research. Please review the criteria and application information in the Public Engagement and Travel with Children pages.

Questions on the Graduate School Fieldwork Grant should be addressed to researchgrant [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (Heidi Bauer-Clapp).