About the fellowship
Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded for one academic year of full-time, intensive language study at the advanced level in East or Southeast Asia in approved language programs. For grants to be awarded in spring 2017, study must start between June 2017 and May 2018.
Grants are highly competitive. In recent years we have been able to fund less than 10% of applicants.
Selection Criteria
- A focused, well-defined career objective involving Asia in which regular use of the language is an important aspect
- The potential to make a significant contribution to a field of study or area of professional or business activity in an Asian country
- Prior experience in the Asian country or involvement or participation in activities related to the country
- Good academic, professional or business background, appropriate to the career program
Residency Requirement
Blakemore Freeman Fellows are expected to remain in the study country during the entire period of their grant, except in the event of an emergency, required visa renewal travel or for absences approved in advance by the Foundation. Therefore, a Blakemore Freeman Fellow should not plan to return to the United States for Christmas or other holiday periods.
We encourage Blakemore Freeman Fellows to use holidays and school breaks for modest travel within their study country and to participate in other activities to expand their language usage outside the classroom.
Conflicting Activities
Blakemore Freeman Fellows must devote full-time to language study and not engage in any conflicting activities during the period covered by their grant.
Part-time employment, teaching English, extensive research on a dissertation or involvement in other projects which could hamper full-time study are not permitted.
Recreational, educational or cultural activities which do not interfere with full-time study are encouraged, particularly during school and holiday breaks.
Dates of Study and Deferral Policy
Study must start between June 2017 and May 2018, or as limited by the start dates of school terms at the language program involved. No deferrals of start dates will be permitted beyond May 2018.
Application and Acceptance by Language Program
Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded contingent upon the applicant's unconditional acceptance by the language program for which the fellowship is awarded.
Example: an applicant applying to the IUP-Tsinghua program must successfully pass the IUP’s oral exam and not be required by the IUP to complete a summer program as a prerequisite to academic year admission.
No grants are available for study in the United States.
U.S. Income Tax Liability
All grant funds from the Blakemore Foundation are taxable for U.S. income tax purposes unless the recipient qualifies for some type of exclusion or deduction.
The treatment of Blakemore language grants for tax purposes is the recipient's individual responsibility. No income tax is withheld from the stipend and grant recipients are responsible for making any required estimated tax payments. Please see IRS Publication 970 Tax Benefits for Education and Form 1040-ES for more information. Because of the variety of individual situations, we recommend applicants discuss their own individual case with a qualified tax advisor.
Amount of Grant & Grant Disbursement
Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are intended to cover basic expenses at a graduate student level necessary to pursue an academic year of full-time intensive language study in Asia, including tuition or tutoring fees, plus a stipend for travel, living and study expenses.
Tuition for the language program, and tutoring fees (if applicable) are covered in full.
The stipend for Blakemore Freeman Fellowships may be used for the following types of expenses:
- Round-trip airfare, economy class (any carrier)
- Books and study materials related to language program
- Housing/utilities/cell phone/internet access
- Food and ordinary daily living expenses
- Local commuting
- Travel within country during holidays and school breaks
- Recreational, educational or cultural activities
- Health insurance/medical evacuation insurance
- Immunizations appropriate for country
- Visa application fees
- Income taxes due on taxable portion of grant
- Other fees or expenses required by language program or approved by the Trustee
It is up to each Blakemore Freeman Fellow to budget the stipend funds to cover necessary costs.
The stipend for travel, living and study expenses is disbursed to the Blakemore Freeman Fellow at intervals over the course of the grant. Adjustments to stipend may be considered if exchange rates or living expenses alter significantly during the period covered by the grant.
Required Reports
Blakemore Freeman Fellows must submit a monthly letter reporting on their activities during the preceding month. They must also submit two longer progress reports to the Foundation during their fellowship, the first report being due at mid-year, and a second report at the end of their grant. Financial reports regarding the use of stipend funds on forms provided by the Foundation must also be submitted at intervals during the grant and at the end of a Blakemore Freeman Fellowship. At the end of the grant, the Foundation must be provided with an official transcript from the language program at which the student was enrolled for each academic period covered by the fellowship. The transcript should list courses taken and grades received or progress made.
Relationship to Blakemore Foundation Board of Managers
An applicant must not be related to a member of Blakemore Foundation Board of Managers.
For more information click "Further official information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.blakemorefoundation.org