Undergraduate Grants and Prizes
Senior Essay Prize in South Asian Studies
On an annual basis, the South Asian Studies Council awards the Senior Essay Prize for exceptional projects on topics pertaining to South Asia. Nominations for this award are solicited from faculty advisors across the university. Both South Asian Studies majors and non-majors can be nominated, as long as the content of the essay focuses substantively on South Asia.
Nominations for the Senior Essay Prize may be submitted at any time during the academic year. Deliberations on the award take place in advance of University Commencement in May. Essays by seniors who have graduated in December of the same academic year are eligible for consideration.
Nominations for SAST majors can be indicated as part of the senior essay evaluation process. Nominations for non-majors should be submitted to Tara Giangrande, South Asian Studies Registrar, by email: tara.giangrande@yale.edu. The faculty member forwarding the essay should include the following information in their nominating email:
- Subject line: "SAST Senior Essay Prize Nomination"
- PDF of essay
- Completed SAST Senior Essay Prize Nomination Form
Grants for Research and Language Study Relating to South Asia
The Council has limited funds to support both research projects and language study for Yale undergraduates through various grants and fellowships. Prior fellows have conducted research on issues as diverse as wireless project in Nepal, water quality in India, and sectarian violence in Pakistan and have studied a wide range of South Asian languages with institutions including the American Institute of Indian Studies. For comprehensive information about available fellowships, please consult the Yale Student Grants & Fellowships Database (http://studentgrants.yale.edu).
Please be advised that students awarded a fellowship are expected to submit a one- to two-page report of their research by the end of September. In addition, awardees may be asked to share about their experiences on social media or present on their results upon their return to Yale.
Rustgi Fellowship
The South Asian Studies Council offers Rustgi Fellowships to students with a demonstrated commitment to the field of South Asian studies. The fellowship is made possible through a gift from Anil Rustgi (Yale ’80), Vinod Rustgi (Yale ’75) and his wife, Eileen Boyle Rustgi (Yale ’77) in honor of their parents, Moti Lal and Kamla Rustgi. The general purpose of these grants is to increase understanding of the region among Yale students. Although graduate students may apply, preference will be given to undergraduates.
Learn more about Rustgi Fellowships here.
South Asian Studies Travel Research Grant for Undergraduate Students
The South Asian Studies Travel Research Grant for Undergraduate Students provides summer travel grants for undergraduates studying South Asian history, society, languages, and culture in the United States and internationally. The award is available to undergraduates in all disciplines, but priority will be given to students with demonstrated academic commitment to South Asia. Awards generally range from $2,000 to $2,500 and can be applied to travel, room and board, and other legitimate research expenses.
Senior Essay Research Grant
For undergraduate students who are doing summer research on South Asian Studies for their senior essays. All students are eligible to apply; however, preference will be given to South Asian Studies majors. The grant may be used for travel or other expenses related to the senior essay. The award shall be made on the basis of applications, supported by recommendations from faculty. The final selections will be made by a committee of representatives from the South Asian Studies Council at the MacMillan Center.
Summer Language Study Awards for Undergraduate Students
The South Asian Studies Council is pleased to announce the availability of a limited number of awards for qualified undergraduate students for language studies in the U.S. or internationally. The award may be used for tuition and travel. Language study must bear a clear relationship to the applicant’s overall course of study and must clearly relate to the area of concentration of the award.