Research & Travel Grants
The Abbasi Program invites proposals from continuing undergraduate, co-term and graduate students for projects pertaining to the study of Islam as well as Muslim-majority or Muslim-minority communities and societies.
Projects may focus on any historical period and on Muslim-majority or Muslim-minority contexts, including non-Muslim minorities and settings. Projects may be undertaken during the Summer Quarter or, in some cases, the following academic year.
Awards of up to $6,000 will be granted on a competitive basis. Applicants are encouraged to seek matching funds from other Stanford units or external agencies.
The following types of projects are supported:
- Intensive language study
The proposed course of language study must be integral to the applicant’s academic or professional development. Priority will be given to training in languages not offered on campus or for advanced training in languages where the student has exhausted campus resources. - Fieldwork or Advanced Research Projects
Priority will be given to projects that may lead to a senior or honors thesis. - Study Abroad Programs (undergraduate students)
Funds may be used to fully or partially defray the costs of attending an overseas study program with an academic focus on Islam or Islam-adjacent topics as well as any topics related to Muslim-majority or -minority societies and communities.
Applications for the 2024–2025 cycle open on February 1, 2025, and close on Friday, February 28, 2025. Subscribe to the student email list for future announcements and updates.
Application procedure
To apply, use SlideRoom application management system by clicking on the Apply button above or here and upload the following documents.
- A 500–1,000 word project proposal detailing your intended course of study, research, or fieldwork
- Budget estimate for your proposed activity based on the template here.
- CV or resume
- One short letter of recommendation from a Stanford faculty member (e.g., thesis advisor or research supervisor) must be uploaded directly to SlideRoom by the professor. The letter may be entered as text within SlideRoom.
- If applying for language study, an additional letter from a language instructor is required.
Eligibility
Undergraduate, co-term, and graduate students at Stanford are eligible to apply. Applicants must be continuing students for the duration of grant project or study (i.e. graduating seniors may be ineligible). Preference will be given to students in Islamic studies-related degree programs (e.g. Islamic Studies minor, MELLAC, and M.A. and Ph.D. programs in the humanities and social sciences).
Allowable expenses
The grant may be used for travel, lodging, and living costs associated with off-campus research or training; the purchase of research materials; research-related services (e.g. duplication costs, production of questionnaires/surveys, human subject costs, data entry, transcribing interviews, running focus groups); and costs associated with training (e.g. tuition, registration fees, tutoring costs).
Note: travel is subject to the university's travel policy at the time of the grant project. Please check the latest regional and country-specific travel advisories.
The grant may not be used for the purchase of equipment (e.g. computer, recording equipment) and software; or travel costs to attend or present at professional conferences.
Requests must be for expenses that are not covered through other sources of funding. Applicants may, and are encouraged to, simultaneously apply for other sources of funding, but may not accept multiple sources of funding for the same expenses. The itemized budget should clearly list sources of confirmed and/or pending funding.