Medieval & Early Modern Studies Summer Research Award

The Med-Ren Studies Program at William & Mary invites applications for its Summer Research Award, which supports rising seniors conducting summer research for an honors thesis on a topic related to the medieval and early modern worlds, broadly understood.

The award is intended to help students undertake research that will advance their honors thesis projects. Eligible topics may draw on a wide range of disciplines, including history, philosophy, art history, music, and languages and cultures, as well as other fields relevant to the study of the medieval and early modern worlds.

Projects may address any region of the world and a wide range of historical and cultural traditions, including those of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. We welcome interdisciplinary approaches and projects that explore connections and exchanges across geographical, cultural, and religious boundaries.

Award amount: Up to $1000 per award. Up to three awards will be made.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled as juniors at William & Mary and plan to undertake an honors thesis during their senior year following the summer research period.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• Be conducting, or planning to conduct, honors thesis research on a topic related to medieval and early modern studies.
• Have submitted an application to pursue Departmental Honors and received approval to proceed with the honors thesis.

Application Materials

Applicants should submit the following:

• Project proposal: A statement of no more than 500 words describing the honors thesis topic, central research questions, planned summer research activities, and the project's relevance to medieval and early modern studies.
• Research budget: A brief description of anticipated research expenses and how the award would support the proposed work.
• Unofficial transcript: Documenting the applicant's cumulative GPA.

The award may support research-related expenses, including travel to archives, libraries, museums, or other research sites; acquisition of research materials; and other expenses directly related to the proposed project.

Application deadline: April 15, 2027

Submission instructions: Please submit all application materials to Professor Ayfer Karakaya-Stump, Director of Medieval & Early Modern Studies, at [[akstump]].

Applications will be evaluated on the project's intellectual merit, its relevance to medieval and early modern studies, the feasibility and significance of the proposed summer research, and its anticipated contribution to the student's honors thesis.