BIES Summer 2026 Research Fellowship
Call for Applications: BIES Summer Research Travel Fellowships for Graduate Students
Description: The Program in British, Irish, and Empire Studies (BIES) invites applications for Summer 2026 Research Travel Fellowships for Graduate Students currently enrolled in a PhD or terminal master’s degree program at UT Austin. These competitive awards of $7,000 are intended to support travel required for research relating to any aspect of the British Isles and/or the current and former British Empire. Research activities may include but are not limited to: travel to research sites (archives, libraries, museums, performances, etc.), fees for access to documents and databases, etc.
Note: BIES Summer Research Travel Fellowships do NOT provide support for conference/workshop attendance, course enrollment, or tuition/fees.
Application Deadline: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CST
Eligibility: BIES Summer Research Travel Fellowships for Graduate Students are one-time awards for UT Austin students currently enrolled in PhD programs. Applications to support thesis research from UT Austin graduate students currently enrolled in terminal master’s degree programs will also be considered. For 2026, recipients of prior BIES funding are eligible to apply.
Requirements for Award Disbursement: BIES Summer Research Travel Fellowship Awards in the amount of $7,000 will be paid to recipients after all travel has been completed. Upon completion of research travel, the fellowship recipient must submit to BIES no later than August 23, 2026: (1) a brief (one- to two-page) report on the activities undertaken and how they advanced the fellow’s immediate and longer-term educational goals; (2) receipts for air travel and ground transportation expenses. Travel supported by a BIES Summer Research Travel Fellowship Award must begin no earlier than May 10, 2026 and should conclude no later than August 18, 2026; reports and receipts must be submitted by August 23, 2026 or the recipient will forfeit their award.
How to Apply: Applicants must complete an application. In addition to some basic information, the application requires submission of a single PDF that contains the following: (1) a Cover Sheet that includes the applicant’s name, UT EID, email address, title of research project, anticipated dates and destinations for research travel, and whether the applicant has previously received funding from BIES; (2) a Research Statement (no more than 2 pages) that explains the proposed project, especially the goals and methods for the proposed research travel, and indicates explicitly the proposed topic’s relationship to BIES; (3) a detailed Budget for research travel that includes anticipated travel dates and destinations; (4) the name and email address of a UT Austin faculty member who has agreed to submit a Confidential Letter of Reference; (5) a concise C.V. (no more than 2 pages).
UT Austin faculty members should use this link to submit a Confidential Letter of Reference by Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CST. Please share the link with your referee in advance of the deadline.
Notifications of decisions will be sent via email in early-to-mid April 2026.
Application link: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5oq9hgZd9vHiGge
Letter of Reference link: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJnkqe4UaOHN3pk
Questions? Contact BIESut@austin.utexas.edu