Fellowship for Undergraduate Travel and Research (FUTR)

Application and Requirements

Applications due the first of each month, September to June

The Europe Center invites applications from undergraduate students at Stanford University whose research or work focuses on some aspect of European politics, economics, history, or culture, or who have been accepted to present (in any field) at a conference or other academic convening in Europe. Funding up to $5000 is available to support necessary travel and research expenses.

A brief written report of the experience must be submitted at the completion of the project or conference. Any publication or presentation should acknowledge the support of “The Europe Center at Stanford University.”

Eligibility

Students must be current undergraduates in good standing at Stanford

Projects or presentations must be related to Europe through content or location. For example, travel to a conference in Florence on nuclear physics is eligible, as is a conference on medieval European esthetics in Brazil.
Conference funds support students who have been accepted to *present* their own projects at professional or scholarly convenings.
There are no citizenship restrictions.
Internships may be supported, but students should first explore The Europe Center's Undergraduate Internships, Stanford Global Studies self-arranged internship opportunities, and the Rising Bird Fellows program.
Undergraduates may receive funding through FUTR more than once, but we prioritize students who have not yet received funding from FUTR.
Financial need (as defined by the Office of Financial Aid) is prioritized but not required. If you have questions about how a FUTR award could impact your financial aid, please reach out to an FAO representative about your specific circumstances.
Co-terms who have not conferred their undergraduate degree may apply if the project fits into their undergraduate academic trajectory, e.g., honors thesis, capstone project.
FUTR does not fund projects retroactively.
Funding may be used at any time (including summer quarter), but student must not be on a leave of absence.
Travel must align with Stanford International Travel Policy

Proposal Criteria

Clear description of what you hope to accomplish, why those objectives are important to your academic or artistic field, and how you intend to achieve your objectives.
Explanation of how the proposed research is relevant to the project, if applicable. (It is not enough to stipulate that archival research is essential.)
Location and duration of the project or conference.
Attestation of proficiency in languages, if applicable.
Specific and detailed line-item budget, including other sources of funding that have been applied for or awarded.
Proof of conference acceptance, if applicable.

Application Timeline

Applications are due the first of each month, September to June.
Selected students will be notified within two weeks of application deadline.
Acceptance of award due within one week of notification.
Funds disbursed within three weeks of acceptance.
Funds must be used within two quarters of disbursement.
Experience report (1-2 pages, 2-3 photographs) due within three weeks of completion.

Grant Restrictions

The Europe Center reserves the right to audit the use of its funds. Recipients are advised to keep a log of all expenses associated with their projects, and to save all receipts in case an audit is requested for any reason. If recipients travel under the award, submission of the used airline ticket upon completion of the project may be required.

Stanford University policy requires that certain types of research projects involving human subjects be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to the start of the study to ensure that the project meets University policy and any other applicable regulations. To see if your project needs to be reviewed, for advice on working with human subjects, and for more information about the IRB process and requirements please visit http://humansubjects.stanford.edu/.

If you have questions about The Europe Center’s support of student research, please contact Professor Anna Grzymala-Busse amgbusse@stanford.edu, and cc Alyssa Goya adgoya@stanford.edu (Fellowship Coordinator).

Online Application

With immigrants comprising almost 70% of Brussels’ population, the city’s appreciation for multiculturalism and diversity was immediately palpable - in the plethora of cuisines, the multilingualism, and the widespread prioritization of travel as a meaningful form of learning.

Nadia Chung ’26