Student Handbook, 2007-2008 — Page 2
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3. Requirements for Program Membership and Fellowship Support
To be admitted formally into the program as an associated graduate student, all applicants must:
- be admitted first to a UC Berkeley graduate program in the social sciences or a professional school;
- select Soviet/post-Soviet or East European studies as a field of specialization within their department;
- submit a letter of intent describing previous academic training, relevant language skills, and previous work experience in Soviet and post-Soviet studies. The letter, which serves as an application to join the program, should set out a future program of study that will allow the applicant to be eligible for program financial support (see section 4 on fellowships).
To be eligible for financial support from BPS, students must meet the following requirements:
- demonstrate a commitment to acquiring a level of proficiency in Russian or one of the other languages of the former Soviet Union or Eastern Europe that is sufficient for scholarly research (we expect third year proficiency by the start of the second year of the applicant’s graduate program);
- take at least three graduate courses on the former Soviet Union and/or Eastern Europe, one of which must be in disciplines other than the applicant’s major department;
- complete, with a grade of A- or better, a major paper on some aspect of Soviet, post-Soviet, or East European studies by the end of their second year (normally this paper is the product of a graduate seminar);
- agree to make a good faith effort to participate regularly in program activities.
Meeting these requirements qualifies associated graduate students to apply for financial assistance only. It does not entitle them to it. All fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis, and BPS students are required to apply for assistance from other sources of funding before seeking program support.
4. Program Fellowships
Application procedures for all program fellowships and grants are announced in the spring. During the fall semester, the executive director holds a meeting to explain the BPS fellowship competition, present information about outside funding sources, provide helpful hints, and suggest strategies for grant applications.
To be considered for BPS funding, the student must submit a research proposal (or a plan of study for graduate training fellowships), a budget, and a letter of recommendation from his/her faculty advisor.
The program offers the following types of fellowships:
a) Graduate Training Fellowships
For students in the pre-dissertation stage of their graduate studies. Graduate Training Fellowships are awarded for half a year or a full year.
b) Dissertation Fellowships
For students who have already fulfilled all program and departmental requirements for their doctoral degree, except completion of their dissertations. These fellowships are awarded for half a year or a full year.
c) Summer Language Training Fellowships
To cover part of the cost of studying Russian or other languages of the former Soviet Union, either in the US or abroad, during the summer. Students studying an East European language in connection with research that also embraces the former USSR are also eligible.
d) Field Research Grants
Limited to a $3000 maximum and are awarded for short research trips that contribute to completion of the dissertation. On occasion, they are also used for smaller projects deemed worthy and feasible by the fellowship committee. Priority is given to graduate students who are near completion of their dissertations.
e) Conference Travel Grants
Conference Travel Grants are awarded to offset travel expenses of program students who present papers at relevant conferences and workshops. Funding is limited to $450 for foreign travel and $300 for domestic travel. To apply, students must submit a brief prospectus of the paper they wish to deliver or a brief description of the panel they will serve on, a copy of the invitation, and a conference schedule. Students are limited to one such grant per year.
f) Summer Dissertation Write-up Grants
Limited to a $2,500 maximum and are awarded to affiliated graduate students who have already fulfilled all program and departmental requirements for their doctoral degree, except completion of their dissertations.
5. Courses of Relevance to Program Students
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Students may pick up print copies of the Student Handbook at the BPS main office, 262 Stephens Hall.
