MMUF Travel & Research Grant
The MMUF Travel and Research Grants provide assistance in completing research prior to the start of dissertation writing. These grants are open only to graduate students who participated in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program.
This program is funded by The Mellon Foundation.
INTRODUCTION
About the Program
MMUF Travel & Research Grants are part of the MMUF Advancement Program, whose Fellows gather to prepare graduate school applications, receive funding for additional research, and professional support throughout their dissertation research. MMUF Advancement Program Fellows are alumni of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) program and bring diverse perspectives to their graduate studies and careers in the academy, ensuring their perspectives are shared within their disciplines and with their students.
The MMUF Travel & Research Grants provide eligible graduate students with the financial means to complete their research prior to the start of dissertation writing.
The Challenge
Diverse perspectives have been historically excluded from higher education
The Fellows
431 grants have been awarded through the MMUF Advancement Program and 80% of scholars have earned their doctorate.
The Impact
Young adults have increased access to a diversity of perspectives and deepen their understanding of people of all backgrounds.
WHY APPLY?
Grant Benefits
The MMUF Travel & Research Grants give graduate students the financial support they need to conduct essential pre-dissertation research—whether traveling to field sites, accessing archives, or securing specialized materials—so they can enter the dissertation-writing phase with a strong foundation. By removing financial barriers to early research, the grant enables scholars to gather the evidence, data, and sources critical to shaping a compelling dissertation project, while reinforcing the broader MMUF commitment to elevating diverse perspectives within the academy.
- Funding of up to $5,000 to support the travel, research activities, and materials needed before dissertation writing begins.
- Support for accessing key research sites, archives, databases, and documents essential to building a strong dissertation proposal and plan.
- A dedicated period—one summer or one semester—to complete foundational research without delaying academic progress.
- Financial removal of early-stage research barriers, helping scholars enter the dissertation phase with clarity and momentum.
- Integration into a wider MMUF network committed to advancing scholarly voices in higher education.
Award & Selection Details
Award & Selection Details
The MMUF Dissertation Grants are available to graduate students who participated in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program. The grants provide graduate students at the critical juncture of completing their graduate degrees with support to spend a year finishing the writing of the dissertation.
Who can apply?
- Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Programs alumni
- Candidate for the Ph.D. degree in fields recognized under the terms of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program
- Candidates must have passed all comprehensive examinations, completed all course work for the degree, and selected a dissertation topic that has been approved by the dissertation advisor.
Grant Criteria
- The MMUF Travel & Research grants provide up to $5,000 for a period of one summer or one semester.
- Grants may be used to cover dissertation research, travel to/from research sites, and photocopying of documents and/or the purchase of access to databases for research purposes.
- The award may not be used to purchase computer software or hardware, and may not be used for general living expenses.
- Funding is for one summer or one semester of travel and/or research support. Awards are based on the scholarly merit of the individual applications received.
Eligible Fields
- Humanities: American and English Literatures, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Area/Cultural/Ethnic/Gender Studies, Art History, Classics, Film, Cinema and Media Studies (theoretical focus) History, Linguistics, Musicology and Ethnomusicology, Performance Studies (theoretical focus), Philosophy and Political Theory, Religion and Theology, Theater (non-performance focus)
- Social Sciences: Anthropology and Archaeology, Demography, Geography and Population Studies, Sociology
- *Physical Sciences: Computer Science, Earth/Environmental/Geological Sciences, Ecology, Geology, Mathematics, Oceanographic/ Marine / Atmospheric/ Planetary Science, Physics and Astronomy
*Applicants in these fields must have received the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship before 2016, when these were approved fields.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What if my plans are disrupted by COVID-19?
The Mellon team at the Institute of Citizens & Scholars recognizes that COVID-19 may continue to disrupt Fellow travel and research for some time. As a result, this year we are asking that research plans include at least one paragraph describing in detail back-up plans in the case that you are not able to travel to and from locations of interest to pursue your research. The Mellon team is committed to working with our current Fellows and 2026 Fellows to ensure that they have time to adequately use their grants to further their doctoral research. The addition of this will help us understand how you will use the grant to continue your work in some fashion, despite on-going COVID-19 precautions. Please contact Ritu Mukherjee at mukherjee@citizensandscholars.org if you have any concerns or questions.
I am a candidate for a doctoral degree other than a Ph.D. Am I eligible to apply?
You must be a Ph.D. candidate to be eligible for this grant.
I do not see my field of study in the list of eligible fields. Is my program eligible for support?
Only fields which have been designated by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation are eligible for support. If you question the eligibility of your field, you may contact us to inquire: mmuftr@citizensandscholars.org.
Eligible Fields
Humanities: American and English Literatures, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Area/Cultural/Ethnic/Gender Studies, Art History, Classics, Film, Cinema and Media Studies (theoretical focus) History, Linguistics, Musicology and Ethnomusicology, Performance Studies (theoretical focus), Philosophy and Political Theory, Religion and Theology, Theater (non-performance focus)
Social Sciences: Anthropology and Archaeology, Demography, Geography and Population Studies, Sociology
*Physical Sciences: Computer Science, Earth/Environmental/Geological Sciences, Ecology, Geology, Mathematics, Oceanographic/ Marine / Atmospheric/ Planetary Science, Physics and Astronomy
*Applicants in these fields must have received the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship before 2016, when these were approved fields.
Are social work and clinical psychology eligible fields of study?
No, only fields designated by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation are eligible. (See listing in above question)
Are there items that grant funds cannot be requested/used for?
Yes. Funds may only be used for items specific to the research intended for the award period. The grant cannot be used for:
- Computer hardware or software, recording devices
- Conference travel
- General living expenses/moving expenses
- Previous expenditures, deficits, or repayment of loans
- Institutional (overhead) costs
- Tuition for dependents’ education
- Tuition for additional coursework
When must the application materials be received on the deadline date?
All application materials must be RECEIVED by 5:00 pm EST on February 27, 2026.
How many letters of recommendation can be included in my application?
Only one letter will be considered for your application. Please ensure that your academic advisor/dissertation committee chair is the writer. The letter should be signed and on institutional letterhead and submitted through the online application.
When are new grant awards announced?
New grant awards are announced in late May.
What reporting is required of MMUF Travel and Research Grant recipients?
MMUF Travel and Research Grant recipients are required to submit a final progress report at the end of the grant period. They are also required to inform the foundation when they have been granted the Ph.D. and provide updates to their contact information when necessary. The foundation will send an occasional survey to monitor progress and provide targeted communications to grantees.
Still have questions or need help deciding where to begin?
Please direct any questions to mmufdis@citizensandscholars.org.
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