Last month, a team of six staff from the Civic Initiative (a business group of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Donahue Institute) were in Islamabad. They held a three-day follow-up conference for alumni from recent cohorts of the Study of the U.S. Institutes Comparative Public Policymaking program that has been held annually by the Civic Initiative since 2010. The SUSI program is funded by the US Department of State Education and Cultural Affairs Office.
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AIPS Fellowship FAQs
Please read the following responses to recent inquiries prior to contacting AIPS with your questions. If you find that your particular concern is not addressed, please email us and we will try to respond to your questions as soon as possible.
Q. Who is eligible for AIPS Fellowships?
A. Fellows who are advanced graduate students or have completed an advanced graduate degree. US citizens are eligible for all fellowship competitions. Depending on whether or not funding is available, non-US citizens are eligible for AIPS fellowship competitions.
Q. Do I qualify as an advanced graduate student?
A. To be considered as an advanced graduate student, you must have completed your PhD qualifying exams but not submitted your thesis. Students still completing coursework are not eligible for fellowships.
Q. Who is not eligible for AIPS Fellowships?
A. Applicant (US citizens or non-US Citizens) who is not an AIPS individual member.
Q. If I am not pursuing a PhD but I am in another terminal degree program, am I eligible for a fellowship?
A. No, to be eligible for an AIPS fellowship, you must be in the research-gathering or writing stage of your dissertation.
Q. If I am scheduled to take my qualifying exams after the application deadline, am I eligible to apply?
A. Yes. You will need to submit, along with your application, the date of your qualifying exams. AIPS will verify that you have finished your exams prior to the start of your research.
Q. Are research associates, post-docs or honorary fellows eligible to apply?
A. Research associates and post-docs are welcome to apply if they fulfill the membership requirements as detailed above. Depending on funding availability, non-US citizen research associates may be eligible as well. Honorary fellows should contact AIPS if they are interested in applying for a fellowship, regardless of citizenship.
Q. How long can the duration of the fellowship be?
A. Duration of the fellowship can be from two to nine months.
Q. Does AIPS offer fellowships for undergraduates?
A. No. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer funding to undergraduate students.
Q. Is the fellowship deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?
A. All applications are submitted online, including letters of recommendation, and must be submitted prior to the deadline. Applicants should contact their referees well in advance of the deadline to ensure that letters are received in time. All competitions close automatically at 11:59 PM EST on the day of the deadline.
Q. In the case of pre-doctoral applicants, does AIPS require two reference letters in addition to the letter from the dissertation chair? Or is the dissertation chair included as one of the 3 referees?
A. Pre-doctoral applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation; one of the two letters must be from their dissertation advisor.
Q. Can the letter(s) of recommendation and transcript(s) be sent under separate cover?
A. The letter(s) of reference should be submitted as indicated in the application form. It is your responsibility to follow-up with your referees to confirm that the reference letter(s) have been submitted. Applications without reference letter(s) may not be reviewed.
Q. What details must the proposal cover?
A. The proposal should include each of the following elements: a precisely stated research question, a detailed statement indicating the research methodology to be employed, including tentative timelines and list of persons to contact and/or places to visit, and expected results. Describe the intellectual merit of the project and how it relates to the goals of AIPS to promote and disseminate knowledge on Pakistan in the United States and Pakistan. Also address the broader impact for your specific field and Pakistan studies as a whole. In the case of pre-doctoral fellowships, its relevance to the applicant's dissertation should be addressed, along with a timeline for the completion of the dissertation or that portion of the project for which funding is being requested from AIPS.
In your proposal, please include a brief statement that covers each of the following points:
1. Describe the intellectual merit of the project and how it relates to the goals of AIPS to promote and disseminate knowledge on Pakistan in the United States and Pakistan.
2. Describe the broader impact of your proposed research for your specific field and Pakistan Studies as a whole.
Q. What is required in the letter of affiliation?
A. Letters of Affiliation should be from the host institution in the country where the applicant plans to conduct research, confirming access to materials and facilities. The applicant should also provide a list of universities or institutions (with contact information) where the applicant would be interested in presenting lectures. Letters of affiliation are required before funds can be awarded. If you have already secured an affiliation, please upload the letter in the online application. If you do not yet have an affiliation secured, please enter all institutions with which you are seeking affiliation.
Q. When will decisions be made regarding the award?
A. Decisions will be made approximately two to three months after the submission deadline.
Q. How will awards be disbursed?
A. Funds for the research/per diem will be given directly to the awardees.
Q. Are there any stipulations regarding dates such that recipients of an AIPS pre-doctoral fellowship will be required to graduate before or after a certain date?
A. The awardee is expected to complete their dissertation work as indicated in the proposal.
Q. Is there a specified time period in which research is to be completed? Can changes be made to the duration of research at a later date?
A. If awarded, please refer to your award letter for the time period in which your research must be completed. If you have any further questions, please contact us.
Q. How do I report my fellowship on my taxes?
A. Most, if not all fellowship funds need to be reported as taxable income. Please visit the IRS website (link below) to determine if you need to report your fellowship award. AIPS does not provide a W-2 to fellows as it is not required by the IRS. For foreign students, however, there is a requirement to withhold appropriate taxes. Foreign students should cite the terms of the appropriate tax treaty on their return to claim a refund if excess taxes are withheld.
Link: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc421.html
Q. Can I take a dependent with me if I am awarded a fellowship?
A. Spouses and dependents cannot travel with fellows to Pakistan. All expenses for spouses, dependents, family members, and friends accompanying fellows during the fellowship (in countries other than Pakistan) must be borne by the fellow.