TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

 

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2010-2011 STUDENT TRAVEL GRANT AWARDS

The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at MIT is now accepting applications for Student Travel Grant Awards for the Summer 2010 and IAP 2011 periods. Awards are open to all students in the MIT School of Architecture and Urban Planning, especially graduate students preparing theses, or undergraduate students preparing an Optional Senior Thesis.

The proposed research must be primarily focused on some part of the Islamic world or an Islamic community. Comparative research that includes an Islamic topic is acceptable. Theses requiring research in an archive or collection with holdings related to the Islamic world, past or present, are also eligible. At least one award will go to an undergraduate or graduate student who has an internship in an architectural firm or a design-oriented NGO dealing with design or planning projects in some part of the Islamic world.

The maximum for each grant is $2,800. The AKPIA award may be combined with other sources of funding if necessary. AKPIA reserves the right to prorate its award when combined with another grant or fellowship.

Award recipients must complete their travel or internship either in Summer 2010 or IAP (January) 2011. Depending on their project completion, they must present their research at an AKPIA sponsored event in the Fall 2010 or Spring 2011 semester. A final report on the research and its findings of no less than 2000 words is also required.

There is no formal application form. The application consists of:

1. A preliminary thesis proposal or description of design project(s).
2. Plan of travel and research (dates, places to be visited, specific research to be undertaken, duration, and budget).
3. Letter of support from adviser stating research topic, feasibility of the research, and verification of the need for travel. For design awards, a letter from the hiring person in charge stating project scope, specific duties of student, and conditions of internship (duration, payment, travel) is required.
4. Statement of language proficiency where relevant.
5. Portfolio in the case of a design award or if relevant to research proposal.

Proposal, letter of support, and travel plan, together with the other requirements, should be submitted electronically to <akpiarch@mit.edu>.

Submission deadline is March 1, 2010.
Awards will be announced by April 17.