Middle East Studies

Undergraduate Research Travel Award

Policies outlined on Brown's International Travel Risk Management Site must be adhered to. 

If the University reimposes travel restrictions due to a pandemic, we will be required to suspend accepting submissions and expending these funds.

Undergraduate Student Research Travel Award Application Form

Up to $1,000 in individual funding is available for Middle East studies undergraduate concentrators

  • Travel is not limited to the Middle East, however, applicants must be conducting research in Middle East studies. Funds are not for attending conferences.
  • Priority will be given to students concentrating in Middle East studies using the funds towards research for the senior Capstone or Honors Thesis, not for attending conferences
  • Students in concentrations other than Middle East studies but with Middle East-related research will be considered 
  • Previous award recipients will not be considered for another research travel award for two years. At all times, preference will be given to someone who is applying for the first time. 

Deadline for Winter cycle is November 17, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. EST
Deadline for Spring-Summer cycle is April 12, 2024, 4:00 p.m. EST
Applications are reviewed at the subsequent CMES faculty steering committee meeting. Applicants will be informed soon thereafter.

  • Undergraduate award recipients are required to produce a poster presentation showcasing their research during the DUG-organized MES presentation sessions that take place in the fall and spring semesters. 

You will be asked to provide:

1, one page proposal
2. proposed itinerary
3. itemized budget
4. names of other funding sources (this will be viewed favorably)
5. letter of support from academic adviser, addressed to the Director, Center for Middle East Studies, cmes_director@brown.edu
6. contact information in US and overseas

Reimbursement deadlines:Travel must be completed and original receipts (showing proof of purchase) must be submitted for reimbursement up to the amount of the award by January 26, 2024, for fall travel and August 25, 2023, for spring/summer travel. Research travel taken during the summer will be considered in the spring applications. The same deadlines apply. For summer research travel, a flight purchase may be reimbursed prior to summer travel. If travel is cancelled for whatever reason, the student is required to reimburse the Center for Middle East Studies for the full amount within 2 weeks of cancellation. CMES does not give advances.

Please note that all receipts must be submitted within 60 days of when the expense was incurred, otherwise the expense will be taxed as income as required by the IRS.