Graduate Funding

General Funding for Graduate Students in History

The department endeavors to provide financial support to all students. At present this support normally covers the first six years of graduate study, provided the student is making satisfactory progress toward the PhD as determined by an annual review by the graduate committee. Occasionally, students may be admitted who receive other funding arrangements for part of their graduate program, but may be awarded grants in subsequent years. Students apply for funding from sources outside the department or university as part of their graduate training. Grants and fellowships provide expanded options for training and research, and enhance a student's chances of employment upon completing the program.

In addition to the funding provided by the Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences, the Department has special funding through the Goldschmidt and Eddy Grants.  These funds support language study, research travel, and other forms of graduate development. Except for those who plan some career other than teaching, all doctoral students, regardless of financial support, are normally expected to participate for two years in the department's program of training in teaching.

Please note that, for languages offered at Washington University during the summer term, students who are completing their first, second, third, or fourth year in the program are eligible for tuition remission.  To be considered for full tuition remission, the language must be critical to successful completion of the dissertation research.  If the necessary language courses are offered during the fall or spring semesters, it is preferable to take them at that time.  In February, the Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences makes an announcement regarding tuition remission for summer courses, and the History Department will circulate this announcement among the graduate students.

Travel Grants

R. W. Davis Travel Grant

The History Department supports graduate research and conference participation through R. W. Davis Travel Grants. Awarded on a competitive basis and subject to the limits of department resources, this funding allows students to present papers at academic conferences.

The department will fund reimbursable travel expenses up to $1,300 for a student who is presenting a paper at a conference in North America, and up to $1,800 for presenting at a conference overseas. The department strongly prefers that these be national conferences of major professional organizations, though specialized conferences bearing directly on the student’s research expertise (or other professional development) are also appropriate; regional conferences and graduate student conferences may be funded at a lower rate. This funding is available for presenting a paper at one conference in any given academic year. Support may be available for travel expenses to present a paper at a second conference, depending on the limits of departmental resources.

Students may apply for a Davis Travel Grant by submitting to the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) a one-page proposal outlining the rationale for their conference plans, along with a budget detailing their reimbursable expenses (conference registration fee, travel, lodging, and meals).

The award is named for Professor Emeritus Richard W. Davis in recognition of his decades of service to Washington University's doctoral program in history.

In addition to the Davis Travel Grants, which are provided by the History Department, students may request an additional $200 in matching funds from the Office of Graduate Studies. Requests for these matching funds should be submitted to the DGS at the same time as the application for a Davis Travel Grant. If approved by the DGS, they will be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies for review.

Deadline: Rolling

Maximum amount: $1,300* for North America/$1,800* for international conference; one conference per academic year, with possible funding for second conference.

Apply to: DGS

*Award amount has been increased to $1,300/$1,800 as of July 1st, 2023. Previous amounts were $700/$1,000. 

Professional Travel Grant

The History Department supports graduate students’ professional development through participation in appropriate conferences, where they may learn of the latest research in their field and make contact with scholars at other institutions. This funding is awarded on a competitive basis and subject to the limits of department resources.

The department will fund reimbursable travel expenses up to $800 for a student who is participating in a conference for professional development purposes. The department strongly prefers that these be national conferences of major professional organizations, though specialized conferences bearing directly on the student’s research expertise (or other professional development) are also appropriate.

Students may apply for this professional development travel support by submitting to the Director of Graduate Studies a one-page proposal outlining the rationale for their conference plans, along with a budget detailing their reimbursable expenses (conference registration fee, travel, lodging, and meals).

Deadline: Rolling

Maximum amount: $800**

Apply to: DGS

**Award amount has been increased to $800 as of July 1st, 2023. Previous amount was $500. 

Dissertation Travel Funds (Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences)

The Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences provides dissertation travel funds in the amount of $1,000 to support research-related travel or travel to conferences by students who are completing their dissertations. Students who are fully funded by a University Fellowship, are working on their dissertation, and have finished all their coursework and all required examinations (qualifying, foreign language, etc.) other than the oral defense are eligible to request this travel support. Funds are available at the beginning of August for fall and the beginning of January for spring and will remain available until they are exhausted or the student graduates, whichever comes first.

Certain restrictions apply:

  • Students funded by an Olin Fellowship, Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship, or a non-GS source (such as a McDonnell International Scholars Academy Scholarship) are NOT eligible for the dissertation travel fund.
  • If a student lives outside of St. Louis, the award may not be used for travel between their residence and St. Louis.
  • The dissertation travel fund may NOT be combined with a travel reimbursement request.

Requests for dissertation travel funds should be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies by March 31. The DGS will forward appropriate requests to the Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences, which makes the final decision on all requests for dissertation travel funds.

Deadline: March 31

Apply to: DGS; requires approval by Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences

Goldschmidt Grants

Goldschmidt Research Study Grants

The History Department supports graduate research and professional development by providing Goldschmidt Graduate Research Grants for research-related activities that contribute to the student’s intellectual and academic development. These activities may include such things as travel to archives, participation in training workshops on methods not available at Washington University, and subscription to databases not available through Olin Library. Goldschmidt Graduate Research Grants are awarded on a competitive basis and subject to the limits of department resources.

Students may apply for Goldschmidt Graduate Research Grants by submitting to the Director of Graduate Studies a two-page proposal outlining the rationale for their research plans, along with a budget detailing their reimbursable expenses (travel, supplies, lodging and meals). The proposal should explain and justify the student’s research plans in terms of their overall progress in the program. The key to a successful proposal is a concrete and specific budget that is justified clearly in the accompanying narrative. Awards usually range between $500 and $3000.

The secondary advisor should also submit to the DGS a letter of support.

All students who receive research funding must also submit a brief written report to the DGS about what was accomplished with the funding. This report is due within two months of completing their funded research.

Deadline: review starts January 1st for funding that would begin June 1st of that year and run through May 31st of the following year

Maximum amount: $3,500

Apply to: DGS

Goldschmidt Language Study Grants

The History Department supports graduate research by providing funds for summer programs that offer intensive instruction in languages essential to a student’s professional development. This may involve acquisition of a new research language, improvement of an existing one, or, for students who are not native speakers of English, immersive instruction designed to bring their English-language skills to near-native levels. Students newly admitted to the doctoral program may apply to pursue intensive language instruction during the summer prior to beginning their course work.

Requests for Goldschmidt Language Study Grants should include a brief explanation of how the language program in question will contribute to the student’s professional development and the success of their dissertation. The secondary advisor should also submit to the DGS a letter of support.

Continuing students should submit their requests to the Director of Graduate Studies by March 15.  

Entering students should submit their requests to the Director of Graduate Studies by May 15.  

Deadline: March 15 for continuing students; May 15 for entering students

Apply to: DGS

 

have questions?

Reach out to Steve Hindle, the Director of Graduate Studies.

Email Steve Hindle