IUB-CAHI Graduate Capstone Research Award Spring

The Graduate Capstone Research Award for dissertation or M.F.A. thesis research is a competitive award for IU Ph.D. or M.F.A. students in the arts and humanities. The award can be used either for traveling (to visit archives, for fieldwork, etc.) or for materials and other assistance to help further their research and creative activity agendas. Awards may be up to $2,000.

In the interest of supporting as many graduate student scholars and artists as possible, applicants are eligible to receive only one CAHI Graduate Capstone Research Award. Previous recipients will not be considered. If a student does not receive the full amount of the request or the full amount of $2,000, eligibility is still limited to one successful application.

In addition to travel costs, examples of what may be requested for these awards include (but are not limited to): fees associated with locating, accessing, and reproducing materials; research supplies (archival scans, difficult-to-access books, computer programs, equipment); technical assistance; and support for digital projects, among others. Proposals and expenses must be oriented toward the completion of a specific project.

Expenses that are not supported include (but are not limited to) typing and duplicating of dissertations, tuition, normal living expenses, and computers, travel to or costs associated with attending conferences.

In the case of requests for equipment, the letter writer must verify that neither the equipment requested nor the funds received are otherwise available to the student in a timely manner. At the completion of the project, any equipment purchased must remain with the department and be made available for future research projects by other graduate students.

Please be specific about the needs and timetable for your research. If you have questions about whether your request is feasible, please contact us.
All awards are subject to university restrictions and regulations. Recipients are expected to send a brief report (500 words) within one month of completing travel, summarizing participation and outcomes.

Note: It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the letter of support is submitted to CAHI by the application deadline. Applications that are missing a letter of support will not be reviewed.

Who may apply: IU Ph.D., M.A., or M.F.A. students working in the arts and humanities whose primary degree affiliation is within core College of Arts + Sciences departments. Students in the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies are also eligible to apply.

Please note: As of Fall 2025, students in the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design or the Media School are not eligible to apply.

Students must be enrolled in the College of Arts + Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington in order to apply for and receive award funding.

If other internal or external funding is received for the same project, CAHI requires notification and reserves the right to adjust or reassign awards in light of this information.