Middle East Studies

Graduate 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.

Graduate Research Travel Award Application Form

Up to $1,500 for Middle East studies graduate students

  • Travel is not limited to the Middle East, however, applicants must be conducting research in Middle East studies
  • Graduate applicant support will be based on travel and expenses focused specifically on conducting research for their dissertations, not for attending conferences 
  • 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.

  • Graduate students will be required to present on their research at a graduate student research presentation event organized by MESGSA (Middle East Studies Graduate Student Association) in the fall or 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 endorsement from a member of faculty, addressed to the Director, Center for Middle East Studies, cmes_director@brown.edu

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 and by August 25, 2023, for spring/summer. 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 is considered to be income and taxable by the IRS.