Committee on Southern Asian Studies (COSAS) Undergraduate Research Grant
Grant designed to support BA thesis research—or equivalent research projects—in the study of Southern Asia.
COSAS is pleased to announce the “COSAS Undergraduate Research Grant” for AY 2024–2025. This grant is designed to support BA thesis research—or equivalent research projects—in the study of Southern Asia. This grant allows students to fund travel for fieldwork, archival work, or access to digital materials relevant to their research project.
COSAS is happy to support undergraduate research projects—with a preference for BA thesis research—proposed by any University of Chicago undergraduate, provided that the student requires research—whether in the form of archival or visual, or oral materials, or fieldwork—that concerns Southern Asian studies. (Southern Asian studies designates all scholarly research about the Southern Asian region and its peoples, viz. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, Vietnam, and the Tibet Autonomous Region.) Research funds may be used for travel to Southern Asia for research purposes, as well as to areas outside of Southern Asia for access to archival materials, in addition for access to digital sources.
Students who apply to COSAS are strongly encouraged to also submit an application to the Dean’s Fund as well as other fellowships for undergraduates (see The College Center for Research database of fellowships for undergraduates).
Application Process:
The application materials must include:
a COSAS cover sheet;
a Statement of Purpose (no more than 2 pages in length). The Statement of Purpose should include:
a brief description of the research project, its questions, and whether it is for a senior thesis;
a description of the unique materials to be examined regarding to Southern Asia and how they will be accessed;
a description of the applicants’ preparedness to carry out this research;
a time-line describing the research for which funds are being applies for;
a Budget that provides a line-item description of the total funds needed to complete the project, as well as a statement detailing how much of the total budget is requested from COSAS, alongside what, if any, other funds have been secured by the student for this project (e.g., from the Dean’s fund, etc.). NB: the budget should be devised with the help of the faculty member from the University of Chicago with whom you are working;
an Unofficial Transcript (a PDF of your academic history or electronic transcript may be submitted)
a short Resume/CV that includes the student’s major;
a Letter of Recommendation from a University of Chicago faculty member, lecturer, preceptor or academic advisor who is familiar with the student’s project (to be emailed directly to Rashmi Joshi [rashmij@uchicago.edu]). All applicants should be working with closely with a faculty member (lecturer or preceptor) in determining access to archives, availability of materials and budgeting.
Any questions about eligibility/ the application process should be directed to Rashmi Joshi (rashmij@uchicago.edu). Application materials should be e-mailed as a single Word or PDF attachment to Rashmi Joshi (rashmij@uchicago.edu) no later than the day of the deadline.
The application deadline is May 15, 2024.