UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GRADUATE SCHOOL THESIS RESEARCH GRANTS

2008-09 Instructions to Applicants

Deadlines:  12 noon, October 1, 2008 and March 2, 2009*

*Deadlines which fall on a weekend become 12 noon the following Monday.

Thesis Research Grants:

For domestic research:  Grants of up to $2,500 are available to support thesis research, such as domestic travel and expenses for fieldwork, postage, and photocopying.

For international research:  Grants of up to $5,000 are available to conduct thesis research abroad for six weeks to six months.  (Grant requests for shorter trips may be considered, by exception, if well justified.)

Eligibility:

Applicants must be registered for credit (not 999) in the University of Minnesota Graduate School. Retroactive requests will be considered only in rare cases, by exception, if fully justified. Students are ineligible for a second award.

Category 1:  For doctoral students who have passed the oral preliminary examination by the end of the semester in which the deadline falls. 

Category 2:  For doctoral students who are in the beginning stages of their graduate career (i.e., for those who will not have passed their oral preliminary examination by the end of the semester).

Category 3:  For master’s students pursuing a Plan A (thesis) degree.  Must have filed a degree program in the Graduate School.

 

 

Application Procedure: 

Submit four sets (collated and stapled) of the following materials, in the following order:

1)  Electronic Submission / Cover Page.

• The electronic submission/cover page will be available September 2, 2008 for Fall 2008 submissions, and February 2, 2009 for Spring 2009 submissions, at https://www.grad.umn.edu/gradforms/trg/application.asp
• Print a copy of your submission and attach to the top of each application set (as cover page).

2)  Application (labeled page 2), including the appropriate budget page (2A or 2B), and signature.

• Budget page 2A for domestic research, or
• Budget page 2B if applying for international research.
• Sign and date last page of application.

3)  Research proposal.

• Double-spaced, 12-point type, with margins not less than one inch, and title at top of page.
• The proposal should include the following five sections:

  1. Descriptive research title.

  2. Objectives.

  3. Design and methodology.

  4. Potential significance to the field.

  5. Current state of the project.

• The research proposal should be addressed to the wider University audience rather than to the major field, since the competition is University-wide and faculty reviewers will not be thoroughly conversant with every area of specialization.  Applicants would be well advised to ask persons outside their field to critique the proposal prior to submission to the Graduate School to assure that it meets this wider audience test.
• If you choose to include key references, they must be included within the three pages. Additional pages beyond three will not be forwarded to the committee.  

4)  Proof of Human Subjects (IRB) or Animal Subjects (IACUC) approval, if applicable (see FAQ).

5)  For international research only - Letter from a professional language teacher evaluating your competency in the language of the host country, if non-English speaking (see FAQ).

6)  For international research only – Letter (or email) of affiliation from institution/contact in host country (see FAQ).

7)  A current University of Minnesota graduate transcript (available at http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop/grades.html), including an explanation of any “Incomplete” grades.

8)  Category 3 applicants only - A copy of the approved degree program – (handwritten changes may be added to the form).

9)  Two letters of recommendation.

• One of the letters must be from the major advisor.
• Each letter should be no more than one-page, on letterhead, with the recommendation cover sheet attached.
• Letters should be sent directly to the Graduate Fellowship Office for duplication (314 Johnston Hall).  Or, applicants may bring sealed envelopes directly to the Fellowship Office.
• No more than two recommendations will be forwarded to the committee.

PLEASE NOTE: Since the selection committee reviews only applications that are complete in every detail, students should verify with the Graduate School Fellowship Office that all required supporting materials (two letters of recommendation) have been received.  Students conducting research involving animal or human subjects must obtain IRB or IACUC approval, or attach a copy of the waiver provided by the agency.

 

 

Selection Criteria:

The review and selection will be conducted by University of Minnesota faculty, which will select the awardees based on the following criteria: 

• The cohesiveness of the study or research plan and the clarity with which it is conveyed to the non-specialist,
• the strength of the overall academic record,
• the strength of the letters of recommendation,
• the soundness of the budget request, and
• the timeliness of progress toward the degree.

Notification: 

Applicants will be notified, in writing, before the end of the semester. 

	Questions? Graduate School Fellowship Office 314 Johnston Hall 101 Pleasant Street SE Minneapolis, MN  55455 Phone: (612) 625-7579 Fax: (612) 625-6820 gsfellow@umn.edu

              Or visit our FAQ page.