DETAILS:

This program is intended for students who will be in their final year of graduate school, at the dissertation writing stage and planning to start teaching and research appointments soon after the end of their dissertation fellowship year. For 2008-2009, each award consists of a $18,000 stipend, a re­imbursable research allowance of up to $500 and mandatory standard fees (excluding tuition).

Award recipients should complete all degree requirements within 12 months of beginning their dissertation fellowships and will be asked to submit a report of their progress at mid­year. Students must be nominated by their departments. To apply, students should complete the 2007-2008 Dissertation Year Fellowship Application. It is mandatory that the Gradu­ate Fellowships Letter of Recommendation forms be filled out in full and returned with the application.

Applicants must:

• Officially advance to doctoral candidacy at the time they are nominated by their departments

• File their dissertations within 12 months of beginning their fellowships. The thoroughness with which nominees have provided details in their application for completion of their dissertation is an important element in assessing their candidacy for a Dissertation Year Fellowship

• No student who has previously received any dissertation fellowship from Graduate Division funds (such as, but not limited to, a Distinguished TA Dissertation Year Fellowship) is eligible for a Dissertation Year Fellowship. Students who have received dissertation funding from other sources of funding specifically for the last year of write-up also are not eligible

• Recipients must be registered and enrolled in 12 units during the entire academic year. It is expected that students receiving the Dissertation Year Fellowship will not be employed more than 25% time. Exceptions to this policy may be requested if circumstances warrant. The primary consideration is that the additional employment will not adversely affect the student's degree completion

• Recipients offered other awards (e.g., from extramural agencies or department allocations) in addition to the offer of Dissertation Year Fellowships may, at the Graduate Division’s, department’s or sponsor’s discretion, be required to relinquish all or part of such awards. In no case may a student hold two major awards concurrently or receive fee awards exceeding the actual amount covered by this program. Dissertation Year Fellows who have not filed their dissertations within 12 months of taking the Fellowship are not eligible for further Graduate Division funding support of any kind

• Nominees are reviewed by a faculty committee, and awards are announced in early June

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Please be aware applications WILL NOT be reviewed if failed to comply with these requirements.

Each nomination must include three sets (one original in ink and two legible copies) of the following:

• A completed 2008-2009 Dissertation Year Fellowship Application

• The student’s proposed plan for completion of dissertation (maximum four pages double-spaced).

• An unofficial transcript that includes Fall Quarter 2007 grades. Do not submit a DPR or URSA report.

• The student’s personal statement of career goals after receiving the degree (maximum two pages double-spaced).

• The student’s curriculum vitae.

• A list of all extramural, departmental and Graduate Division fellowships the student received, including year and amount awarded.
• Two letters of reference, one of which must be from the dissertation adviser

• MUST USE a Recommendation Form for BOTH references
• Graduate Fellowships Letter of Recommendation Form
• References should emphasize academic accomplishments, degree progress and feasibility of completion of dissertation within the year of the award
  

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Make 2 copies of all materials (1 original + 2 copies)
• Send all materials in a manila envelope to the UCLA Political Science Graduate Department. *please try to hand in person to ensure all materials have been received*
  

CONTACT:

Jerry Kong, jkong@gdnet.ucla.edu or (310) 206-8743