Graduate Funding

For specific information about the ISA competitions listed below, including application forms and guidelines, please view the appropriate links. Unless otherwise indicated, only UNC-CH students are eligible to apply.

Mellon Conference Travel Awards

Due: Applications will only be considered after July 1, 2024.
Instructions, Application

Requests must be in conformity with University policies.

Applications will only be considered from students presenting scholarly papers at professional conferences to reimburse the cost of conference registration fees or travel. Graduate students from any department or school at UNC-CH presenting on Latin American and Latino/a Studies may apply for awards ranging from $75-$200 for virtual conferences and $200-750 for in-person domestic and international travel.

Pre-dissertation Summer Field Research Travel Grants

Due: February 12, 2024 
Instructions, Application

Eligible students: Pre-doctoral graduate and professional school students. Pre-doctoral includes terminal Master’s degree or doctoral students who are due to complete their comps and PhD proposal at the time of the award. Students who received pre-dissertation funds last year but who meet the above requirements may re-apply. Grants cover travel costs and per diem for brief periods of field research related to Latin America. Travel may be to consult resources in the U.S. or abroad.

Requests must be in conformity with University policies.

Please note: students will be automatically considered for the Varela Travel Fund and the Brown Fellowship. Do not apply separately. Average award: $1000-3000.

Academic Year Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship

Due: February 2, 2024
FLAS Homepage , Application Process, FAQ,Language Evaluation

Full-time graduate and professional school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may apply to conduct language and area studies training. Priority is given to Brazilian Portuguese, Yucatec Maya, K’iche’ Maya,  and Haitian Creole. Average award: Tuition + $20,000 stipend. Online Application Here

Summer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship

Due: February 2, 2024
FLAS Homepage,Application Process,FAQ , Language Evaluation

Full-time graduate and professional students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may apply for non-service graduate fellowships to conduct intensive language training. Priority will be given to Yucatec Maya, Brazilian Portuguese and other less-commonly taught languages of Latin America. Average award: $5000-7500 Online application Here

Dissertation Awards

Due: February 12, 2024
Instructions , Application

PhD. candidates conducting dissertation research or write-up activities whose work is directly related to Latin America, Caribbean, or Latino Studies may apply. Grants cover travel costs and per diem for brief periods of field research related to Latin America. Travel may be to consult resources in the U.S. or abroad.

Requests must be in conformity with University policies.

Average award: $1000-3000.

Graduate Assistantships:

ISA Assistantships
ISA offers several opportunities for graduate students including TA and RAships. Vacancies vary. Please send a resume if you are interested in being considered for positions in for AY 2024-25. Be sure to include information about previous teaching and research experience.

Languages Across the Curriculum (LAC) Teaching Assistantships

LAC is a program designed to integrate the study and use of languages into the mainstream curriculum for students. It is coordinated by the UNC Area Studies centers. LAC regularly seeks experienced bilingual (native or near-native) TAs to lead discussion sections. Advanced graduate students with interdisciplinary interests are especially encouraged to apply. For more information contact the LAC coordinator at: lac@unc.edu.

External Funding

Boren Awards for International Travel:

Boren Fellowships provide funding for U.S. graduate students to study in world regions critical to U.S. interests, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In exchange for funding, recipients commit to working in the federal government for a minimum of one year. The applications are now available. These fellowships are open to graduate students of all U.S. universities. For more details visit the website here.

Information about other Graduate Awards is available at:

http://global.unc.edu
https://research.unc.edu/
http://grantsource.unc.edu
https://honorscarolina.unc.edu/ods/
http://gradschool.unc.edu