APPLICATION for WINTER & SPRING 2027: deadline 13 November 2026
The Program in Medieval Studies invites M.A and Ph.D graduate students to apply for scholarships to support research and travel related to the field of medieval studies. Research support may be granted to purchase materials (for example: microfilm, books, software), for travel to conferences or to primary source collections (archives, libraries, museums), and for language training or other professional development opportunities. Most awards will not exceed $2,500 but applicants may request a higher amount. Some successful applications may be funded partially rather than fully. Students may also apply for retroactive funding to cover the expenses of conference or research travel prior to the award date, including Summer or Fall 2026. The next application deadline will be 31 March 2027.
Awarded funds will be paid through the successful applicant’s student account. Please note that Medieval Studies cannot reimburse or allocate expenses that the University judges to be inappropriate or for which you do not provide the necessary receipts and documentation. Please also note that materials purchased with funds through your student account will remain your property. Items purchased directly by the University are property of the University.
These scholarship funds will not be taxed. Still, please note that successful applicants who are U.S. citizens will receive a 1098-T for the year in which the scholarship funds are received, regardless of when expenditures were incurred. (The 1098-T is an IRS reporting form which colleges and universities are required to issue for the purpose of determining a student’s eligibility for the Hope and Lifetime Learning education tax credits. Students holding visas will not receive this form.) Successful applicants should keep a careful record of expenditures and receipts for purchases.
To be eligible, applicants must be (1) in good academic standing and (2) registered at the University of Illinois at the time of application (3) as well as during the period of the proposed research or travel. Preference may be given to students pursuing the Graduate Concentration in Medieval Studies, but all eligible applicants will be considered. Applications will be evaluated by the Program Director and the Program Advisory Committee.
To apply, submit the following materials as a single pdf to Carol Symes, Director of Medieval Studies, via email attachment <symes@illinois.edu> by 13 November 2026:
- the application cover sheet: downoad here
- a narrative of no more than 1,000 words describing your research project and the nature of the support requested, an abstract of your conference paper or description of the nature of your official participation in the conference, or a description of the professional development opportunity; and
- a budget itemizing costs, as well as all other sources of funding for the same research project or travel that you have sought or intend to seek, or that you have already received from the University of Illinois or outside agencies.
Guidelines for Planning Travel and Estimating Expenses
Please begin by consulting the University’s guidance and instructions on business travel: https://www.busfin.uillinois.edu/travel.
Those planning international travel are required to enroll in the university’s insurance program: https://safetyabroad.illinois.edu/insurance/register/.
To estimate air or train fares, provide the current economy-class ticket prices (note that first class or business class tickets cannot be reimbursed, so you cannot upgrade even if you intended to pay the difference yourself).
For travel by rental car, use current prices for an economy size vehicle; and for travel by your own vehicle, estimate the cost at the current government rate.
For domestic and international per diem rates, see https://www.busfin.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=1993898&pageId=2130211