Go Abroad
Whether essential for a graduate degree, or a pipe dream, an international experience can be life-altering!
Two major obstacles prevent a graduate student: funding and information. This page endeavors to provide information regarding partially and fully funded programs for graduate students; however, it does not strive for comprehensiveness. 'Tis, rather, an amuse-bouche to encourage students to look for opportunities, to ask questions, to be curious. (All images are courtesy of the UIC Image of Research Competition.)
Programs to Facilitate an International Experience
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CLS
The Critical Language Scholarship Program provides immersive summer programs for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to learn one of nine languages of strategic importance to the United States’ national security and economic prosperity.
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Boren
Boren Fellowships permit public service-minded graduate students with long-term (6-12 mos.) overseas study. Awardees study the languages most critical to our nation's security. Recent UIC winner: art historian learned Twi in Ghana.
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Fulbright
The Fulbright US Student Program expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue in >140 countries. Earn a degree, do research, or teach English.
Non-Federal Programs
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Luce Scholars
The Luce Scholars Program provides an in-depth experience in Asia to emerging leaders (< 33yo) who would not otherwise have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the country where they are placed. Must be US citizen.
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DAAD
Funded by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), the world's largest funding organization supporting international exchange for students, researchers, and academic staff, study in Germany. (Only the 1-yr fellowship requires UIC nomination.)
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Chateaubriand
The Chateaubriand Fellowship supports outstanding PhD students from U.S institutions who wish to conduct part of their doctoral research in France for a period of 4-9 months. Separate STEM and Humanities/Social Sciences applications.
Short summaries
DAAD campus process: Only for the year-long PhD fellowship. Limited competition. Fall deadline.
Chateaubriand campus process: no; however, advising offered and recommended.
Overseas Research Centers CAORC Multi-Country Research (in flux)
CAORC advice
Even if CAORC (federal) funding is below normal levels, member organizations may still offer funding for language study and fieldwork.
American Institutes-MENA
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Maghrib Studies
The private non-profit educational organization facilitates research in North Africa and encourages the free exchange of information between American and North African scholars. AIMS administers overseas research centers (ORCs) in Tunisia and Algeria
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Egypt
ACRE supports research on all aspects of Egyptian history and culture. It often offers grant and internship opportunities.
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Jordan
ACOR is an academic research institute promoting scholarship, especially in archaeology, but robust support exists for historians, ethnographers, sociologists, scientists, biologists, and literary scholars.
American Institutes-South/Central Asia
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Pakistan Studies
AIPS fellowships as well as travel and short-term research grants, support 2-9 months of research in Pakistan as well as a 10-week online Urdu language and culture course.
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Indian Studies
Junior Research Fellowships are available to doctoral candidates at U.S. universities in all fields of study to pursue their dissertation research in India. $7000. Non-U.S. citizens may apply from UIC.
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Bangladesh Studies
The AIBS offers a number of fellowships and travel grants for both US and Bangladesh citizens. The Bangla language program returned in 2025 for intensive (160hrs over 8 wks) immersion in Dhaka.
Language/Research: East Asia
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Khmer Studies
CKS promotes research, teaching, and public service in the social sciences, arts, and humanities in Cambodia and the Mekong region, fostering a deeper understanding of this vital part of the world. Up to 11 months of dissertation research funding.
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Blakemore Freeman
The Blakemore and Freeman Foundations provide fellowships to support an academic year of intensive study of an Asian language at an advanced level.
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Asian Studies
A clearinghouse of external grants and fellowships for Asia (general), East and Inner Asia, Japan, Korea, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Language/Research: Eurasia
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Turkey
Fellowships for U.S. students and scholars and for other nationalities affiliated with institutions in North America as well as fellowships for Turkish students and scholars.
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ASEEES Diss Research Fellowship
Established in 2025, the ASEEES program provides a maximum stipend of $28,000 for doctoral students at US universities, regardless of citizenship, to conduct dissertation research in Slavic, Eastern European, and Eurasian Studies.
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ASEEES Diss Research Grant
Research grants with capped at $6,000 for the purposes of conducting doctoral dissertation research in Eastern Europe and Eurasia in any aspect of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian studies in any discipline.
Other Funding for East Asian Research
Language Study in Eurasia
Arabic: Fulbright US Student Program / Arabic Language Study Grants at CAASIC (Cairo), 9 months. Fall deadlines.
Eastern European / former Soviet languages necessary for the research of Holocaust-related documents, $30,000. Commitment to Holocaust studies. January deadline.
Polish: Kosciuszko Foundation/Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), scholarships for language study at Jagiellonian U., Cracow, Poland, $2000/semester.
Ukrainian: The Shevchenko Scientific Society in the U.S. (NTSh-A) provides $2,000 scholarships (2026) for summer Ukrainian language study in the U.S. or abroad (for example, in Poland). We welcome applications from current undergraduate or graduate students. $5,000 fellowships for doctoral students and early-career scholars doing research in Ukrainian studies. April 1. [Extended to April 8. 2026]
Grad College Funding
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Award for Graduate Research
Students may apply on a competitive basis for awards of approximately $1000 to $3000 to support their research. Awards will be made in two competitions annually, once in Spring semester and once in Fall semester.
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Provost's Visiting Scholar Award
One-time awards of up to $5,000 subsidize the cost of travel and living expenses for a well-reasoned duration in the spring or summer following the autumnal competition. There is no waiver attached.
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Provost's Graduate Internship Award
The springtime competition incentivizes graduate students to independently identify one summer internship opportunity that might lead to employment following graduation. This internship program is limited to students in a PhD or terminal master's.
Experts on campus UIC Study Abroad Office
Plan Ahead! Language study at UIC
Safety, Insurance, etc. Office of Global Engagement
