Funding Opportunities

See the Watson School Undergraduate Student Opportunities page for additional resources.

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Funding Opportunities

See the Watson School Undergraduate Student Opportunities page for additional resources.

Funding Opportunities for Undergraduates

Funding provides opportunities for students to develop their research and writing skills outside of the classroom, opportunities that many students would otherwise not be able to pursue if it weren’t for the funds provided by generous donors. Students are challenged to apply their knowledge critically and think creatively about international issues through research projects, internships, and academic studies away from Brown.

Eligibility

  • You must be enrolled as an undergraduate student at Brown University at the time you apply and during the duration of your funded opportunity.
  • Travel/project must be completed prior to your graduation.
  • You must have a Brown faculty member be your recommender. 
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Students are required to write a brief post-award reflective summary describing how the support from the Watson School grant shaped their academic progress at Brown.
  • Students proposing research involving human subjects must follow the guidelines of the University's Regulatory Advisory Unit (RAU).

Payment

All student fellowship awards are paid via Brown University payroll. We encourage all students to enroll in direct deposit for the processing of the awards, if applicable. The payment will follow the Brown University bi-weekly payroll schedule. See the Controller's Office for those dates.

AVAILABLE GRANTS

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.

In 2025-2026, Brown Semester Internship programs are offered in the following locations:

Fall Semester: Berlin, Germany & Washington, DC

Spring Semester: Dublin, Ireland; Sydney, Australia & Washington, DC

Washington, D.C. - Please visit the Brown in Washington site for specific academic, co-curricular, internship and accommodation information for this program. 

Students can also opt to arrange their own internship in a location of their choosing in the Brown Semester Internship Program, Open Campus option.

IAPA Conference Travel Grants

IAPA Conference Travel Grants provide financial support for undergraduates concentrating in International and Public Affairs who would like to travel to attend a conference related to their track and focus area. Preference will be given to students who have not already received an IAPA Conference Travel Grant.

IAPA Thesis Research Fund

Winter Break Research Deadline :

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.

Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference (NAFAC)

The Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference has become a way of bringing together the nation's future Navy and Marine Corps officers with their peers from other colleges and universities, both civilian and military, from across the country and around the world. Participants include prominent politicians, leading academics and public intellectuals, government officials, and foreign dignitaries—providing a unique forum for scholarly discourse.

Student Conference on United States Affairs (SCUSA)

Fall Term Application Deadline :

The Student Conference on US Affairs is an annual four-day conference hosted at The United States Military Academy at West Point. The purpose of the conference is to facilitate interaction and constructive discussion between civillian student delegates and West Point cadets in order to better understand the challenges that the United States faces in an increasingly global society. SCUSA delegates attend panel discussions, hear from high-profile keynotes speakers, and develop policy recommendations during roundtable sessions.

Watson Summer Independent Research and Internship Grants

Round I Application Deadline :

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.

Funding Sources

Some International and Public Affairs and Watson Grants will be awarded using funds given in honor or memory of people associated with the Watson School or Brown University or who exemplify the spirit of Watson and Brown. Students whose grants draw from these funds will be informed of their funding source and will be asked to provide a reflective essay about their experience for the funder. Fund recipients may list the name of their grant on their resume.

The Michael Bhatia Fund for Peacekeeping and Conflict Studies was established in memory of Michael Vinay Bhatia '99, who died in May 2008 in Afghanistan, where he was working as a social scientist in consultation with the U.S. military. The Bhatia fund underwrites thesis or independent research for IAPA concentrators working on peacekeeping and conflict studies. It will be awarded to a student who, like Michael Bhatia ’99, hopes to deepen their understanding of a region or culture by traveling and studying there, with the goal of helping to promote cross-cultural understanding that might end or avert violence or military conflict. 

The Richard C. Barker Award provides financial support to IAPA undergraduates for thesis and independent research, internships, and conference participation.  

The Birkelund Fund provides financial support to Brown undergraduates for independent research and internships related to foreign policy and diplomacy.

The Kochon Fund provides financial support to Brown undergraduates for independent research and academic activities related to Korea.

The Jack Ringer Fellowship provides financial support to Brown undergraduates for thesis and independent research in Southeast Asia, through the generosity of Jack Ringer '52, who served in Burma after graduating from Brown. 

The Marla Ruzicka International Public Service Fellowship provides financial support to one Brown student doing international public service during the summer. The fund is named for Marla Ruzicka, whose compassion, determination, and selflessness in pursuit of international human rights, post-conflict rehabilitation, and international public service exemplify the values of the Watson School. A dedicated human rights activist, Marla Ruzicka arrived in Afghanistan shortly after the fall of the Taliban to record the effects of conflict on civilian communities. She lobbied diligently and effectively to seek compensation for those families whose homes had been destroyed in the Afghan conflict. From Afghanistan, Marla went to Iraq. She founded the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC), which was dedicated to assisting civilian victims of the conflict in Iraq. Marla's compassion and dedication touched all who met her, and her tragic death in April 2005 was deeply felt by those who had benefited from her selfless work. This fellowship has been made possible through the generosity of Lucinda B. Watson. 
 

Additional Sources of Funding