Find answers to the most common questions about our graduate student opportunities.
General FAQs
The Graduate Exchange Program was replaced by the Primary Partner Graduate Student Grant. This new grant offers funding to doctorate level students interested in participating in research, creative activity, or projects with one of IU’s primary partner institutions
No, you may only receive one grant for any given research activity. We encourage you to work with your home department advisor and reach out to iagrants@iu.edu to determine which would be most appropriate for you.
It is possible to receive an IEG in one period and then a pre-dissertation or primary partner grant in a subsequent period; however, it is not permitted for one student to receive multiple of the same grant.
Students can hold multiple grants only so long as those grants don’t exceed the total costs of the project activity. A student who receives another grant in addition to an OVPIA grant must disclose that so that we can determine if either award needs to be reduced.
No, only international projects are eligible. Puerto Rico, along with the following U.S. territories are not considered international destinations: American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
IU Policy INT-04, Student International Travel Safety, prohibits IU funds being used to support student travel to Level 4 destinations. No exceptions to this policy are possible.
Visit the U.S. Department of State travel advisories page to view current Level 4 destinations.
Any student proposing travel to Level 3 country should demonstrate that they have received guidance about safety considerations from their home department graduate advisor.
Visit the U.S. Department of State travel advisories page to view current Level 3 destinations.
Two letters are required for an IEG and at least one must be from an Indiana University faculty member. One language evaluation is also required, if applicable (see below).
One letter is required for the pre-dissertation grant, and that letter must be from an Indiana University faculty member.
Generally it is not expected that graduate students at the appropriate stage of their degree program to compete for these grants would have the flexibility to be away from campus during the fall or spring semester when IU classes are in session.
International Enhancement Grant FAQs
OVPIA will not extend the deadline. You should apply by deadline making it clear that your acceptance to the program is still pending. Once acceptance is received, it can be appended to your application.
If you can come up with a reasonable plan to extend your stay at the foreign destination beyond the formal program in order to do individual supervised work in order to meet the 2-week requirement, OVPIA will consider the application. However, we will not waive the minimum 2-week requirement.
You may go ahead and apply and the OVPIA selection committee will consider the situation to determine if the proposed activity is within the spirit of the grant program.
Summer Pre-dissertation Travel Grant FAQs
Students in this situation may go ahead and apply without a language evaluation, but they should explain in their statement how the work will be accomplished without the local language, and the committee will evaluate the application on that basis.
Try to obtain the assessment from an external person, perhaps from a teacher of the language at another institution where you studied it. We would also accept a statement from the faculty supervisor of the research with his/her assessment of the student’s ability to complete the project given the language skills.
Please discuss it with your advisor in your home department and address your dissertation research and writing timeline in your statement. The intent of this award is to prepare students to successfully compete for the major international dissertation field research grants such as Fulbright, Fulbright-Hays, NSF DDRIG, Wenner-Gren, and unit-based awards.
Primary Partner Graduate Student Grant FAQ
No, this grant does not support enrollment at the partner institution or short-term credit bearing Education Abroad programs.
Possibly – this grant is intended only for students pursuing a terminal degree at IU. If you are not pursuing such a degree but believe your proposed activities fits within the grant's guidelines, please reach out to partner@iu.edu to discuss.
The Primary Partner Graduate Grant will endeavor to provide the costs of up to five months of activity. The award will not exceed $10,000 USD. You are welcome to extend your stay beyond the 5-month maximum, but would need to secure other sources of funding outside IU Global and ensure all local visa laws are adhered to.
The grant does not facilitate the visa application. It is your responsibility to consider the feasibility of any project and to take the appropriate steps to secure visas. Being granted this award does not guarantee the issuance of necessary visas associated with international research.
