Explore a variety of funding opportunities offered by the Watson School and Brown University to support students pursuing research, internships, and public service experiences. These programs help students deepen their learning, collaborate with faculty, and gain hands-on experience addressing real-world challenges.
Research & Internship Funding Opportunities
Research & Internship Funding Opportunities
Brown Undergraduate Research Funding
Brown sponsors a number of fellowship and grant programs that support undergraduate research during the summer or the academic year. Many of our awards are specifically designed to facilitate faculty-student research collaborations, including SPRINT Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards (SPRINT|UTRAs), Research at Brown (RAB) Grants and the Royce Fellowships.
Climate Solutions Lab Research Opportunities
The Climate Solutions Lab offers two Research Assistant positions each semester to support faculty research.
IAPA Student Research Opportunities
The IAPA concentration offers numerous opportunities for students to develop their research and writing skills while working closely with faculty. Students are challenged to critically apply their knowledge and to think creatively about international issues through their research projects.
Rhodes Center Fellowships
The Rhodes Center provides fellowships for Brown University undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty whose focus is on issues of, and related to, political economy, international economics, and finance across all disciplines.
Saxena Center Undergraduate Research and Internships
The purpose of undergraduate summer funding is to facilitate research for a senior thesis or to provide internship experience with an academic or civil society organization. Students are invited to propose work with any organization or indicate their interest in one of the Center’s partners by contacting Saxena's Program Manger.
Saxena Center Winter Research & Travel Funds
Subject to university guidelines regarding spending and travel, the Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia is offering winter research and travel awards of up to $3,000 to graduate and undergraduate students at Brown University. Students from any discipline whose research enhances knowledge about South Asia are encouraged to apply.
Brown Semester Internship Programs
The Brown Semester Internship Program combines a 12-14 week internship experience and academic coursework for the fall or spring semester. Students have the opportunity to gain direct experience in a dynamic field, immerse themselves in a new culture and community, and collaborate with fellow Brown students in small cohorts.
Climate Solutions Lab Internship Funding
The Climate Solutions Lab supports one undergraduate student each semester to intern with a Rhode Island–based nonprofit organization focused on climate mitigation or resilience. The program covers student research assistant salaries for up to 10 hours per week, with the student seconded to work at the nonprofit. Students may propose an internship after identifying a nonprofit organization interested in employing them for a semester. All internships are subject to approval by the Climate Solutions Lab director.
CHRHS Undergraduate Summer Internships
CHRHS strives to fuse education and research to on-the-ground action by connecting students with experts through internships at top humanitarian and human rights organizations. Each year, qualified students are invited to apply for internships with one of our pre-identified partner organizations. Selected candidates will be given a fellowship award to help cover associated living expenses during the internship. These curated internships are carefully crafted with our partners so as to provide Brown students with valuable hands-on experience and working knowledge of humanitarian and human rights issues and best practices.
CHRHS Graduate Student Summer Internships
The CHRHS Graduate Student Internship Program will begin accepting applications for the upcoming cycle in December. We invite graduate students passionate about human rights and humanitarian work to apply for these hands-on internships, where they will gain practical experience while making a tangible impact in the field.
IAPA Summer Research and Internship Grants
IAPA Summer Independent Research and Internship Grants provide financial support for undergraduates concentrating in International and Public Affairs who are doing summer independent research or unpaid internships. Research and internships can be on any topic in international and public affairs, but priority will be given to students working on peace and conflict in an international setting and students doing an internship in the Providence area.
Summer experiences must be 8-10 weeks long.
Saxena Center Undergraduate Research and Internships
The purpose of undergraduate summer funding is to facilitate research for a senior thesis or to provide internship experience with an academic or civil society organization. Students are invited to propose work with any organization or indicate their interest in one of the Center’s partners by contacting Saxena's Program Manger.
Watson Summer Research, Internship, and Public Service Grants
IAPA Summer Independent Research and Internship Grants provide financial support for undergraduates concentrating in International and Public Affairs who are doing summer independent research or unpaid internships. Research and internships can be on any topic in international and public affairs, but priority will be given to students working on peace and conflict in an international setting and students doing an internship in the Providence area.
Summer experiences must be 8-10 weeks long.
IAPA Funding Opportunities
Brown undergraduates concentrating in International and Public Affairs can apply for several Watson funding opportunities, including thesis research support, summer research and internship grants, language study awards, and conference travel grants. Awards range from $500 for conference travel to $5,000 for summer experiences. Deadlines vary throughout the academic year.
National and International Fellowships at Brown
Fellowships at Brown supports all undergraduates in pursuing national and international fellowships and scholarships based on their academic, professional, and extracurricular interests and goals.
UFunds
UFunds coordinates applications for funding from offices at Brown. You will find opportunities here for members of the Brown community, including undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty.
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Winter Break Research Deadline
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The IAPA Thesis Research Fund provides financial support for undergraduates concentrating in International and Public Affairs who have been accepted to the IAPA Honors Program.
The Jack Ringer Summer in Southeast Asia Fellowship is made possible through the generosity of Jack Ringer '52, who served in Burma after graduating from Brown. The award supports summer travel to Southeast Asia to conduct research or work in an internship.
Amount: up to $4,000
Eligibility: All Brown undergraduates
Application deadlines: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
The fund will support student internships related to foreign policy and diplomacy, research projects, symposia, and lectures on topics related to diplomacy.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Eligibility: Concentrators in International and Public Affairs (IAPA)
Application deadlines: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
A permanent endowment administered by the Watson Institute, the KoChon fund is utilized for a wide variety of research and academic activities related to Korea. For undergraduates, the Institute accepts applications to advance student research interests on Korean topics, offering one to two awards per year, which include the option of pursuing field research in Korea.
Amount: Project-dependent
Eligibility: All Brown undergraduates
Application deadlines: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
Financial support for off-campus language learning, with priority given to immersive language programs, and with special consideration given to the study of languages not formally offered at Brown.
Amount: Up to $10,000
Eligibility: Concentrators in International and Public Affairs (IAPA)
Application deadlines: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
Financial support for undergraduate students concentrating in International and Public Affairs for senior thesis research, research related to independent work, conference participation, internships, and/or travel.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Eligibility: Concentrators in International and Public Affairs (IAPA)
Application deadlines: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
The Marla Ruzicka International Fellowship supports the summer plans of one Brown undergraduate who displays the characteristics of compassion, determination, and selflessness in the pursuit of international human rights, post-conflict rehabilitation, or international public service in its most noble spirit, and whose summer plans reflect those traits.
Amount: Up to $4,000
Eligibility: All Brown undergraduates
Application deadlines: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
Awards that support academic activities for students—for example, senior thesis research, research related to independent work, conference participation, internships, and special projects. Students must complete an online application, including resume, transcript, and personal statement, secure an internship that is unpaid or pays $1,000 or less (includes salary, housing, and transportation) if the application is for an internship, and complete post-award requirements. Questions about the application process should be directed to Anita_Nester@brown.edu.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Eligibility: Undergraduate student concentrating in IAPA in good academic standing, and returning to Brown the following semester.
Application deadlines: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
Round I Application Deadline
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Watson Summer Independent Research and Internship Grants provide financial support for undergraduates pursuing summer independent research or unpaid internships related to the field of international and public affairs. Priority will be given to current IAPA concentrators and to students in semester 05 or beyond, but students from all undergraduate concentrations are eligible to apply.