Columbia Central

Stuart Abelson Graduate Research Fellowship

For continuing graduate students

The Stuart Abelson Graduate Research Fellowship was established to encourage international travel among graduate Photography students while completing a specific project, and to support the experience by assisting with the costs of travel.

Deadline to Apply: November 15, 2024

• How to Apply

  Visit Internal Scholarships and click on APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS to access the Photography Major Scholarships Application. Only complete scholarship applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by the scholarship committee.

  Please follow all directions carefully. Students must submit the following materials to make a complete Stuart Abelson Graduate Research Fellowship application. There are three parts to the application:

  PART 1: PORTFOLIO

  A submitted digital portfolio of work is required.

  • 15-20 images. Work from one or two sustained projects is recommended. A portfolio that demonstrates an ambitious commitment to exploring one subject or idea is an important plus.
  • All images may be submitted in one file, but additional upload space will be provided.
    

  Upload your sample in .pdf, .doc, .docx or .jpg format. Note: Upload size limit is 50MB.

  PART 2: WORK STATEMENT

  Provide a statement describing the work samples you are submitting.

  Your statement must be double-spaced and must include your name and MyColumbia ID number in the upper right-hand corner of each page. Please upload your essay in .pdf, .doc, or .docx format.

  PART 3: PROJECT PROPOSAL

  Please provide the following information about your intended project:

  1. Project Goal (125 words or less): Briefly describe the overall goals of your project you intend to work on while abroad.
  2. The location to where you wish to travel.
  3. Project Description (750 words or less): Describe the artistic vision and purpose behind your proposed project and explain why travel will enhance this particular work. Indicate how this will contribute to and enhance your course of study at Columbia as well as how this might benefit the public.
  4. Budget Statement: Outline a detailed budget for your project.
  5. Timeline: Provide a timeline from start to completion of this project.

  Your proposal must include your name and MyColumbia id number in the upper right-hand corner of each page. Please upload your proposal in .pdf, .doc, or .docx format.
  
  

  Access online applications through Internal Scholarships.

• Scholarship Terms
  • Application must be submitted by November 15, 2024 (11:59 pm) for review by the committee
  • Fellowship may be used toward international travel during Summer 2025 only
  • Award amount is a stipend up to $6,000
  • Recipient will receive stipend in May 2025
  • Recipient must
    • Be enrolled full-time as a first year, graduate, Photography student during the 2024-25 academic year, and must maintain full-time, graduate enrollment during the 2024-25 academic year
    • Submit a photography project proposal and travel itinerary to the Duncan MacKenzie, Interim Director, School of Visual Arts and Laura Bauknecht, Director of Academic Operations, School of Visual Arts by April 10, 2025
    • At the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester, make a presentation of the work produced during the summer to the College community that includes an exhibition and artist talk. The formal date will be announced pending exhibition dates
    • Submit to the Duncan MacKenzie, Interim Director, School of Visual Arts and Laura Bauknecht, Director of Academic Operations, School of Visual Arts a two-page report on the outcomes of the project accompanied by a disk of high res images by September 9, 2025
    • Submit receipts of my project and travel expenses by September 9, 2025. Receipts relative to the project will include but are not limited to: airfare, food, lodging, photographic material, and museum entry. Any unspent money will be returned to the college by September 9, 2025.
  • Graduate students enrolled in a 0 credit hour thesis continuance course are not eligible to receive award
  • The rules and regulations governing other sources of financial aid (federal, state, institutional and other grants, gifts, or loans) will apply
  • Columbia College Chicago reserves the right to withhold the fellowship in any year in which, at the sole discretion of the scholarship committee, suitable candidates cannot be found among applicants

IMPORTANT DATES

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