Research Scholarship Opportunity for Southeast Asian Scholars

Western Michigan University

Department of Geography

The Milton and Ruth Scherer Fellowship in Geography

The Department of Geography at Western Michigan University (www.wmich.edu/geography) is pleased to invite prospective applicants for its Milton and Ruth Scherer Fellowship in Geography for fall 2015. The Scherer Fellowship is a two-year award for students pursuing master’s degree program in Geography with a research focus on Asia in the Department of Geography at Western Michigan University. The department has a strong research focus on China and East Asia. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding academic achievements and shall exemplify the values of the Milton and Ruth Scherer Endowment Fund by demonstrating a strong commitment to completing Master’s research in Asia (Southwest, South, Southeast, and East Asia).

Application Procedure

Scherer Fellowship applicants must visit www.wmich.edu/geography/academic/apply.html and follow the instructions for application for admission to the master’s program in Geography. They must also complete the Graduate Students Application for Financial Assistance form on the website and e-mail it to the Department of Geography at geog-info@wmich.edu. The application deadline is February 28, 2015.

Eligibility

Scherer Fellowships are awarded only to students who have been admitted to the Geography master’s program and only to applicants who are embarking on an initial master’s degree.  Applications must have a tentative thesis research plan that includes in-country research in Asia.  At the time of accepting a Scherer Fellowship, a student may not have completed more than 9 non-geography credit hours toward a graduate degree at WMU.  No fellowship will be awarded if there is lack of qualified applicants.

Award

The fellowship is valued over $70,000 including

·       A salary plus 40 credit hours of tuition (up to nine credits in the fall and spring semesters for two years, and up to four credits during intervening summer sessions).

·       One round trip ticket to Asia for in-country research during the summer following the Fellow’s first academic year in the program.  

·       Travel to one national conference to present thesis research.  

·       Fellows will work 10 hours weekly as a graduate assistant in teaching, research, or service as a required component of their degree.

A GPA of 3.5 and completion of a thesis research proposal by the end of the first year, and participation in the academic activities of the department and the university will be required for continuation of funding.