Graduate Research Grants in the Humanities up to $1,000 are available to graduate students working towards completion of a master’s thesis, doctoral dissertation, or other major project or research initiative. Grants are available to students within the traditional humanities disciplines, as well as from other disciplines, provided the research is clearly grounded in the humanities. The Center will consider funding the same project twice for justifiable expenses, although priority will be given to projects not previously funded. Applicants who have received funding previously from the Center who have not yet submitted a funding report are not eligible.

The primary criteria upon which the grants will be awarded include:

• The significance of the project to knowledge in the specific field;
• The significance of the project to the knowledge of the humanities in general;
• The quality of the project, including its originality and clarity;
• The quality of the budget, including its clarity and specificity.

Not sure if your project is a humanities project? Please see our homepage for a definition of the humanities.

To Apply

Applications for Spring 2024 grants may be submitted to InfoReady starting Feb. 7 and are due by March 18.

Please submit your application to the Center’s Director using the electronic grant application.

Your application must include:

• Your project title, name, phone number, address, e-mail, department, and name of the faculty advisor;
• An overview of your research project including a statement about how the research will further knowledge of the humanities in general and a timetable for completing research (three pages maximum);
• A supporting bibliography (one-page maximum);
• A brief curriculum vitae (three pages maximum);
• A clear project budget, including an explanation of how the Center funds will be used. If research expenses exceed the amount the Center will provide, please explain where else you are seeking or have secured funding;
• A letter of support from the faculty adviser assessing the significance and quality of the project and the student’s likelihood of completing it in a timely manner. This letter should be addressed to the board.  (one- page maximum)

Proposals that do not include all requested information will not be funded.

Please keep in mind that applications are read by faculty across several disciplines who may not be familiar with jargon specific to your particular field of research. We recommend that graduate students have their faculty adviser and/or graduate director review their proposal before submission. For more guidance, please see a checklist review compiled by board members of the Center for Humanities, as well as an example criteria rubric.

For additional questions, email the Director at urihumanities@uri.edu.

Other Requirements

Award recipients will be expected to acknowledge the Center’s assistance in any publications or exhibitions that result from the research. They will also be required to provide a final report to the Director. Recipients will be expected to adhere to applicable URI travel and purchase policies.