The Brown International Scholars Program provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to make international studies an integral part of their Brown curriculum through research, public service or other independently designed projects. The program creates an enhanced context for students to probe the challenges and opportunities of international engagement through reflection and dialogue with a community of scholars, faculty mentors and community leaders.

The Fellowship is open to first year students, sophomores and juniors. Upon returning from the international summer experience, Fellows must have a full academic year in residence (at Brown). 

Each year, a group of twenty Fellows will receive up to $5,000 to pursue scholarly interests abroad.  Fellows may apply for an additional $1,000 in project extension funds upon return from international summer experiences.

To apply, please submit the following materials to Kerri_Heffernan@brown.edu. ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS ARE DUE by December 12, 2011:

INTENT TO APPLY (PART ONE): Students interested in applying for a BISP 2012 fellowship are strongly encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent to Apply for funding. While this isn't a requirement, it does provide applicants with an advantage by initiating support for project planning and development. Joint applicants are welcome to submit one letter.

Letters of Intent to Apply should be addressed to:

Dr. Kerrissa Heffernan
Director of Engaged Scholarship
Swearer Center for Public Service
25 George Street
Providence, RI 02912

Letters can be submitted at any time but should be submitted no later then November 17, 2011 and include the following:

• Intention to apply for Brown International Scholarship Program fellowship
• Brief overview of project, including:
  • possible faculty mentor
  • location for international scholarship
  • primary research or activity
  • information about what you hope to produce or accomplish through the fellowship
• Finally, please provide any information about your application planning process including key areas where we can provide support and guidance.

PROPOSAL NARRATIVE: The proposal narrative is an outline of the international experience that will form the core of your project, including a discussion of the field of study, related academic and extra-curricular preparation, and public value.

PROJECT SUMMARY: The project summary should serve as a brief description of the international project proposed in the narrative and should not exceed fifty (100) words in length.

FIELD OF STUDY:

• Include a description of the field or topic that will form the core of your international scholarship. The topic may be in any discipline in the humanities, social sciences or sciences but it should be in your planned concentration.
• How does your planned international experience relate to your academic concentration at Brown?
• Please detail the academic coursework that will contribute to your scholarship plans for the 2010-2011 academic year.
• If relevant, please describe any plans for the January term.  Some students may want to use this period for related research, relevant internship or service activity, language study or other activity at Brown or abroad. 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Please outline a proposal for international scholarship during the summer term 2012; this can include intensive language study, public service engagement, archival, lab or field research and/or another project of your design. Research-based critical intellectual projects are prioritized. Projects should include at least 8 weeks of full time engagement. Please discuss the following as part of your project description:

• Background information about the issue, problem or circumstance you are interested in exploring and why you are interested in the project.
• Related academic or extra-curricular experiences that have contributed to your interest and preparation.
• Details about the project including key activities and end products (i.e. a paper, program, etc.).
• Goals. What do you hope to accomplish?
• Public value. What are the potential benefits and impact of your international scholarship (beyond personal development)?
• Consideration of the potential challenges of international scholarship.
  • What are the limitations of the research or project?
  • What logistical support do you have to assist you in negotiating culture, language, geography etc?
  • What are the risks, challenges and limitations of working in this location and/ or with this population?
  • What kinds of support and resources are necessary for both planning and project implementation?

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE (500 words or less): Please discuss what international scholarship means to you and what you might uniquely contribute to a fellowship of scholars.

TIMELINE AND ACTION PLAN: The timeline/action plan should provide the Selection Committee with a breakdown of how the applicant conceives of undertaking her or his project. This segment of the application should reflect the feasibility of the project and demonstrate that the applicant has thought through the practical steps necessary to achieve her or his goals.

The timeline/action plan should include details about steps the student will take to initiate and implement the project, including a description of how key resources will be obtained, how relationships with partner organizations and international contacts will be developed.  The timeline/action plan should include information about how the student will work with the timelines of relevant internal and external partners (i.e. Brown's Institutional Review Board, international partner organization deadlines, etc.). For example, if the proposal involves a pre-existing program, the applicant should explain the plans for obtaining acceptance from the relevant international organization.  The timeline/action plan should also include living and meal arrangements and an overview of available on-site student support in matters of health and safety. 

BUDGET: (one page) Applicants may budget up to $5,000 in funding but are strongly encouraged not to go over $5,000. While the Selection Committee looks for budgets that are considered and detailed, they, like the timeline/action plan, are in no way expected to be exhaustive or final. This section of the application should offer insight, for the Committee as well as for the applicant, into the feasibility and logic of the project proposed. Budgets must include travel and in-country accommodation estimates. Ideally, funds should not be used to pay fees for language study or other kinds of programs at other institutions.  Please note that exchange rates should be taken into consideration as part of the budgeting process.

A sample budget might look like the following:

Living accommodations, family stay/ Franschhoek family, Cape Town

$500

Food: $150/month x 3 months $450

Stipend: Summer earnings requirement for financial aid $1500

Travel: Roundtrip airfare (Providence-Cape Town), quoted by X agency

$2135

Project expenses: 1 MiniDisc recorder (as quoted from "X" MegaStore): $400

2 MiniDisc cassettes (as quoted from "X" MegaStore) (2 x $7.50): $15

Total: $5,000

LETTER OF SUPPORT (no more than two) Each application must be accompanied by a letter of support from the Brown University faculty mentor.  In addition, applicants may include a letter of support from the person who will serve as the primary contact for the applicant's project in the country where the work will take place.  Brown faculty mentors should be asked to assess the student's unique qualities, interests and skills in fulfilling her or his responsibilities to the project and the International Scholars Program.  With this in mind, the applicant should choose someone who can speak to the feasibility of and opportunity represented by the proposed project, the applicant's ability to carry out the proposed work, and personal qualities in the applicant that she or he has been impressed by. Any additional letters of support should also address the feasibility of the project as well as its value to the field and/or organization. Letters of support must address supervision and monitoring (frequency and duration).  Letters should be submitted along with the application. If, however, this is not possible or if other arrangements have been made, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that her or his letter(s) of support are received by the deadline. Please note that letters of support should be requested to allow faculty mentors maximum time for consultation and writing, ideally three weeks or more. 

APPLICATION CHECK LIST

Cover Sheet

Proposal Narrative

Timeline and Action Plan

Budget

Letter(s) of Support