Research Funding From UNC-CH Sources
Both the Department and the Graduate School offer a variety of grants to help support graduate research.
MOWRY DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPS. Named in honor of George Mowry, a former professor in the Department who endowed this fund, these fellowships are awarded upon attainment of ABD status. To receive a Mowry Dissertation Fellowship, a student must incorporate into the dissertation prospectus a one-page proposal for use of the funds; if the prospectus committee approves the proposal as part of the prospectus defense, and if the DGS subsequently concurs, the Mowry Dissertation Fellowship will be awarded.
In most cases, proposals for Mowry Dissertation Fellowships should entail (a) research with primary documents and (b) a commitment to complete said research by the end of the first summer after reaching ABD status. Because the fellowship is designed to kick-start ABD research, it should normally be taken by the end of the first summer after reaching ABD status. If an ABD student wishes to delay receipt, he or she must request permission from the DGS at the time of becoming ABD.
Finally, one caution about the limited funds of the Mowry endowment. Adequate funds might not always be available, and although the GSC does not want to institute some sort of means testing, it does wish to ensure that these funds go to those who most need it. Therefore, if the Mowry endowment has insufficient funds to cover all requests in a given year, ABD students who hold multi-year Royster fellowships, who are supported by military salaries, or who self-identify as willing to take lower priority will not be funded.
Mowry Dissertation Fellowships will be paid twice yearly: on or about 1 June (for those who submit approved proposals to the DGS by 1 May), and on or about 1 October (for those who submit approved proposals to the DGS by 1 September). The form for the Mowry Dissertation Fellowship is available online.
DORIS G. QUINN FELLOWSHIPS. Named in honor of a benefactor to the Department, this fellowship assists students in the final year of dissertation-writing. The Department's Prize Committee is usually able to award three Quinn fellowships each year. Quinn Fellowships are usually set at the same level as T.A. stipends. Tuition can be covered, if the recipient is still eligible, but fees must be paid by the student. In order to be eligible for the Quinn fellowships, applicants are asked to certify either that they have sought support in the previous year from at least one external source or that such support is not available. The Prize Committee coordinates the Quinn competition with the competition for Dissertation Writing Fellowships given by the Graduate School (but ranked within the Prize Committee). In addition to completing the following form, the student must also supply the Prize Committee with a completed chapter. The form for a Quinn Fellowship is online.
DEPARTMENTAL TRAVEL GRANTS. The Department has limited funds to assist ABD students in presenting papers at conferences. Usually, this is a one-time grant of $200. In order to be eligible for this grant, you must already have expended the Transportation Grant available from the Graduate School. To apply, use this form.
RAYMOND FLAHERTY RESEARCH GRANTS FOR MILITARY HISTORY. Through the generosity of the late Raymond Faherty and his family, a small fund has been established to aid graduate students in military history. Ray Faherty was a graduate student in British history in the 1960s in our department. After his unfortunate death from pancreatic cancer, these grants were established in his memory. Single grants are limited to $2000, but all grants are not so generous. Applications are solicited by Professor Richard Kohn each fall.
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL. In addition to these departmental funds, the Graduate School has fellowships to support (a) off-campus research, (b) the very final stages of dissertation writing (either the last year or the last semester), (c) small research expenses, and (d) personal emergencies. For a full list of Graduate School awards, see their website.