Grants and Fellowships for Thesis Research in Africana Studies

The department has grant and fellowship funding available to students who are accepted into the Distinguished Majors Program in African American and African Studies for the 2024-2025 academic year. This funding is provided with support from the Mellon Foundation.

Distinguished Majors Thesis Grants

Each student accepted into the Distinguished Majors Program in African American and African Studies will have a $300 research allowance available to cover expenses associated with their thesis work.  Research expenses might include the costs of specialized software; supplies and materials for creative arts projects; participation incentives for qualitative research; books for the thesis unavailable from UVA libraries; photocopies; and research-related travel.  The research allowance may not be used for cost-of-living expenses or general equipment and software unrelated to the thesis (e.g., computer or laptop). This funding is only available during the academic year. Students must submit a budget proposal with supporting documentation to the program director for approval. Students who need more than the research allowance provides are welcome to submit a larger budget request for consideration.

Summer Fellowships for Preliminary Thesis Research in Africana Studies

Each student accepted into the Distinguished Majors Program in African American and African Studies can request to receive a summer fellowship that enables them to work part-time during the summer conducting preliminary research for their thesis.  Students will be expected to work independently on their research for seven hours per week between June 3 and August 2.  Students will receive $560 in June and $700 in July for a total of $1260 for the summer. Fellowship awardees must submit progress reports with an excerpt from work completed for the month by June 25 and August 2.  More information about how students can request to receive the fellowship and requirements to maintain eligibility for it will be provided to students after their acceptance into the program.

Focus and Enhancement Grants for Thesis Research in Africana Studies

Each student in the Distinguished Majors Program in African American and African Studies can request to receive a $500 Focus and Enhancement Grant for Thesis Research in the spring semester of their fourth year.  These grants can be used for research or cost-of-living expenses.  Students can use the funding to free up time from other work obligations so they can spend more time focusing on the final stages of thesis completion. Students also could use the funding to support any enhancements to the final thesis project beyond what they would otherwise be able to complete. To receive this funding, students must have completed all assignments for the fall semester AAS 4070 course. They also must be enrolled to finish all required courses for the DMP and must have submitted the first 25 pages of their thesis to the program director by February 1.