Judd Research/Travel Grants
The Walter H. Judd International Graduate & Professional Fellowships are designed to support the continued internationalization of the University of Minnesota by providing critical assistance to students enrolled in master’s and professional degree programs, and to increase opportunities for students to study, undertake internships, and conduct research projects abroad. A primary goal of the fellowships is to increase exposure to other cultures. The program especially encourages applications from students who have never traveled abroad. The project being proposed can either be something designed by the student, or part of a pre-arranged curriculum or itinerary.
Funding for the fellowships is provided by a generous gift from the Walter H. Judd Fund and additional funds from the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance. The Judd Fellowship program is proud to also be supported by individual donors.
Two types of awards are available:
- Research awards support field research, archival research, or collaborative research and writing.
- Internship/study awards support internships, language study, study abroad, or participation in an exchange, group seminar, clinical experience, or practical training.*
*Applicants self-select their application category.
*Applicants participating in an organized group program must describe their individual goals or project. Judd Fellowships support group program participation in a University of Minnesota study seminar only if the applicant proposes a two-week independently arranged academic internship or research project following the group experience.
Top applicants will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Cohesiveness and feasibility of the project proposal or research plan and the clarity with which it is conveyed to the non-specialist
- Direct impact travel will have on research, degree program, and/or career objectives
- Strength of overall academic record (including timeliness of progress to degree)
- Soundness of project budget
- Strength of letters of recommendation
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 12:00pm CST.
Application Instructions
- Create a username and password.
- If you are applying to multiple fellowship competitions, you will need to create a new user login for each application.
2. Send Letter Requests
To ensure that letter writers have sufficient time prior to the deadline:
- Complete sections 1 & 3 of the electronic application (Applicant Information and Recommenders), then choose your "SEND REQUEST OPTIONS" (in section 4) at the bottom of the electronic application page.
- Your two recommenders will receive an email with instructions and a link.
- You will receive notification when the letters are uploaded.
3. Complete the Application
- You must first complete section 1 of the application in order to view all required questions/uploads in section 2.
- Section 2 details your credentials, the proposed project, and includes all of your uploaded documentation. Instructions for Required Components:
Instructions for Required Components
Budget Statement
- Download the Budget Statement here. (Contact [email protected] if you need an alternate format.)
- While overall costs of the project may be more, the Judd Fellowship will not exceed $2,500. Funding is intended to support travel, research, and living expenses abroad. Itemize all expenses to be incurred by your project, providing as much detail as possible. Justify individual budget items. Requests for mileage or per diem expenses should not exceed amounts permitted by University travel regulations. (Information on University travel policy may be found at http://travel.umn.edu)
Project Proposal
- The project proposal should be a statement describing the research, study, or internship that you propose to pursue. You should substantiate your proposal with any academic or professional background relevant to conducting your project. This might include: prior language study, previous travel or study in the region, academic work or work experience, and any publications or presentations you have made. If you are applying to participate in an experience (internship, research, seminar, clinical rotation) that has a pre-arranged curriculum or itinerary, please indicate the name of the agency or institution that will be the sponsor and specify how the experience fits into your degree program. If you are designing your own research or study/internship, describe the background and qualifications that are required and how you meet those.
- Maximum two-pages, single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins.
- Describe your project plan in terms that are accessible to the non-specialist. Ask someone outside your field to read your proposal, to ensure that it is jargon-free.
Curriculum Vitae
- Maximum two-pages, single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins.
- Include previous degrees earned, as well as academic accomplishments & awards.
Unofficial UMN Transcript
- Find out how to obtain unofficial UMN transcripts here.
Optional Components
- Letter of Affiliation/Acceptance (if applicable)
- Travel or IRB Approval (if applicable)
- If you are unsure if you need IRB/IACUC approval, start by speaking with your faculty advisor(s). You can also consult the UMN IRB page for additional resources.
Applicants will also need to list two references who are willing to provide letters of recommendation.
Is my program a 'graduate' or 'professional' program?
If you're unsure if your program falls under 'graduate' or 'professional,' please refer to this list to verify.
How should I calculate my budget expenses? Is there a per-diem amount I should use?
It is up to you to determine what your travel expenses will be. Please include an explanation of how you calculated your costs in the "Budget Item & Justification" section of the Education & Budget Statement.
I am a native speaker of the language that will be used to conduct research. Do I need to obtain a language evaluation?
Instead of obtaining a language evaluation, please include a signed statement indicating the language which will be used to conduct research, and stating that you are a native speaker of that language. You may sign this statement yourself.
Why do I need to obtain a letter of affiliation?
The purpose of obtaining a letter of affiliation is to demonstrate to faculty reviewers that, if granted funding, you will be able to successfully carry out your proposed research. Reviewers are hesitant to approve funding if there is any doubt that the research can be successfully conducted. The letter may be in the form of email contact, or other proof that demonstrates your ability to successfully complete the research.
I will be conducting research in a library archive, museum, or other public space. Do I still need to obtain a letter of affiliation?
You will want to provide proof to the review committee that you will have access to the resources needed to successfully conduct your planned research.
- You could obtain an email from an employee of the library, museum, or other public space verifying that you will have access to the required materials.
- If the webpage states that the archives/materials in question are available to the public, you could include a copy of the webpage, highlighting or circling the pertinent information.
You may have other ideas for providing proof of access. If you are in doubt about what to provide, please contact the Graduate School Fellowship Office.