Undergraduate Merit Scholarships

Description: 

The Institute of International Studies (IIS) at UC Berkeley is seeking to award a series of merit scholarships of up to $2000 each to support undergraduate research in any area of international studies.  Research may be conducted while in EAP, or independently.  The scholarship recipients will be called IIS Junior Scholars.  After completing their research projects, all Junior Scholars are required to submit a four-page research summary and attend the IIS Junior Scholars Conference held on-campus at the end of the 2012-2013 academic year.  Several Junior Scholars will be asked to present their work in poster format at the Junior Scholars Conference.  Junior scholars with the strongest research project, as determined by an IIS faculty panel, will each receive an additional $1000 prize.  There will also be an opportunity to compete for the Best Poster Award, an additional $250 prize.   

Application Details: 

Applicants must submit a one-page research proposal that addresses:

1) The research question;
2) Why it is important to the field of study;
3) Qualification to conduct the research (i.e. related past or planned coursework, languages, etc.);
4) A preliminary research plan (including the format for research, i.e. during EAP, as an independent study, etc.).
 
In addition, applications must include an unofficial transcript and one letter of recommendation, which can come from a GSI or faculty member.
 
Submission Instructions:  E-mail all required application components (as detailed above) as one .pdf document to iis.grants@berkeley.edu.  Please ask your recommender to e-mail the recommendation letter directly to iis.grants@berkeley.edu.  
Eligibility: 
Open to any UC Berkeley junior or senior with a minimum 3.5 GPA who has completed at least one semester of study in residence at Berkeley. All majors are eligible and encouraged to apply. (Note: concurrent enrollment students are not eligible to apply.)
Award Amount: 
Merit scholarships will be up to $2000 each. An additional $1000 prize will be awarded to the strongest research papers (as determined by an IIS faculty panel).
Application Deadline: 
Monday, November 26, 2012