The ICWT offers The Schaeffer Graduate Fellowship, a summer funding award that can support summer research, travel, and/or language study for students working on the topic of “translation.” Students must be in good standing in their respective programs and by the start of the fellowship term (i.e., the summer immediately following the application period) have advanced to candidacy if they are in a PhD program or have completed their first year if they are in an MFA program. Priority may be given to students who are within normative time-to-degree. The following types of projects are eligible for the Fellowship:
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A dissertation or research project that involves translating a work or a part of a work as a significant component;
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A dissertation or research project that focuses on translation theory;
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Creative writing (prose fiction, poetry, plays), especially if the author works in an international context involving translation;
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Creative nonfiction writing (journalism, memoirs, essays, historical writing that explores modes of writing and narration outside standard academic forms, experimental poet-critic writing, manifestoes, creative glosses, multi-media works, and digital hybrid work), especially if the author works in an international context involving translation;
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A translation of a work or part of a work.
Proposals will be evaluated by a selection committee composed of members of the ICWT Faculty Advisory Board. We plan to offer up to three Fellowships this year in the amount of $8,000 each. For all applications, special consideration may be given to projects that have potential to interface with broader local and/or global publics (i.e., translational and/or public humanities projects). At least one Fellowship will be reserved for students working in creative writing and/or nonfiction. For PhD applications, priority will be given to applicants who propose realistic and measurable research outcomes for the summer Fellowship period.
Submit the following in a single document:
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Cover Sheet with the following information:
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Name
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UCI Email
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Degree Program
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Year in Program as of 2026-27
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Term Advanced to Candidacy (for PhD applicants only; e.g., spring 2025)
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Title of Project(s)
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Description of Project(s), including their relationship to translation and/or contributions to translation scholarship. Describe efforts or potential to interface with broader local and/or global publics, if applicable (1,000 words max)
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Description of specific research/creative activities that will be completed during the fellowship term (e.g., article manuscript, archival research, conference presentation, etc.)
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Updated CV
Deadline for submission: February 15 of each academic year. Please submit applications and questions to ICWT Director, Jerry Won Lee (jwl@uci.edu).