IUB-CAHI Graduate Capstone Research Award Fall

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. Even 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.

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

Eligibility:

Who may apply: IU Ph.D. or M.F.A. students working in the arts and humanities whose primary degree affiliation is within core College of Arts + Sciences departments at Indiana University Bloomington, including those in the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. Those in the Eskenazi School and the Media School are no longer eligible.

Applicants need to have completed all coursework and qualifying exams, been advanced to candidacy, and be at work on the dissertation. M.F.A. applicants must be within one year of completing their thesis work.

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.

Award
Varies
Deadline
09/16/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. Please upload a 1-page cover letter outlining the research to be done. Travel requests should discuss the necessity of the travel, while other requests should identify the materials requested and explain how they will be used to support the research.
  2. Please upload a copy of your curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
  3. Please provide the title of your dissertation or thesis. If a dissertation or thesis is not applicable to your program or project, please enter "N/A.”
  4. Please upload a research abstract of no more than 200 words describing your research project. At the top of your abstract, include your name, major and minor (if applicable), and the name of your faculty mentor. Please save and upload your file using the following naming convention: LASTNAME_ABSTRACT.
  5. Amount requested
  6. Please upload a detailed budget of expected costs. Please save and upload your file using the following naming convention: LASTNAME_BUDGET.
  7. Please provide the name and official IU email address of a faculty advisor who will be asked to submit a letter of endorsement in support of your application. An automatic email containing submission instructions and a link to upload the letter will be sent directly to the advisor you designate. Please ensure that the name and email address provided are accurate and up to date.
    Note: It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the letter of support is submitted by the application deadline. Applications with missing or incomplete letters of support will not be considered for review.
  8. Please provide the first and last name, as well as the email address of your Director of Graduate Studies.
  9. Please provide the first and last name, as well as the email address of your department Chair.
  10. If your application is successful, may we share it as an example for future applicants? Any identifying information may be removed before it is shared.
  11. Please provide any additional information you would like the review committee to consider.
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