AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTER IN SOFIA 2014-15 PRE-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP COMPETITION
ELIGIBILITY
Graduate students of any citizenship enrolled at North American academic institutions, or academic institutions accredited in North America, engaged in research in the humanities and/or social sciences with a focus on Bulgaria or the Balkan Peninsula (antiquity through modern day).
THE PROGRAM
The fellowships are of 9-month (September to May) or 3-month (September to November, February to April) duration. In addition to independent research, fellows will participate in the academic program of ARCS, which includes a lecture series, seminars, and excursions designed to provide a broad thematic vision of Bulgarian and Balkan history and culture from prehistory to the present.
THE FELLOWSHIPS
Fellows receive a $600 monthly stipend, housing in Sofia, language instruction, travel expenses within the academic program, and up to $1,000 for travel expenses between North America and Bulgaria. The fellowship may be combined with additional funding; however, ARCS must be notified, and the terms of the ARCS Fellowship will be subject to negotiation. We strongly encourage you to inquire in about possibilities for funding from your home institution and to indicate this in your application.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
A complete application consists of the official application form (available at http://www.arcsofia.org/bg/node/301), official university transcripts, and two letters of recommendation from scholars in the field, commenting on the value and feasibility of the project. The transcript and letters of recommendation should be sent separately. All application materials must be in English. For full consideration, these materials must be emailed to the ARCS Fellowship Committee at usadmin@arcsofia.org by January 20, 2014. Please direct any questions about the fellowship program to Eric C. De Sena, Director of ARCS, at sofiadirector@arcsofia.org
ABOUT ARCS
ARCS facilitates academic research in Bulgaria and collaboration between scholars from North America and countries in Southeastern Europe. Located near the heart of Sofia, ARCS hosts a state-of-the-art library collection that focuses on Balkan history, society, and art from prehistory to the modern day.
The center organizes lectures, workshops, and conferences. It offers fellowships and travel awards to support North American and Bulgarian graduate students and scholars, and a grant program that furthers archaeological research and helps to preserve the rich historical and cultural patrimony of Bulgaria.