Summer Travel Fellowships For UCLA Students

The UCLA African Studies Center invites UCLA undergraduate and graduate students to apply for both the Judith Boyajian Travel Fellowship and the Dr. Elizabeth Woldemussie Centennial Global Health Fellowship. The Fellowships are designed to promote global citizenship and engagement through a summer working, studying, and living in Africa. Please find details of each fellowship below.

"Key for any student who applies is a commitment to and engagement in public service, whether in an established program or under an original project."

The Judith Boyajian Travel Fellowship 

The Judith Boyajian Travel Fellowship is designed to provide UCLA undergraduate and graduate students with support for purposeful travel to and cultural immersion in Africa, electing either to pursue study in an extant program or to design an original project that will be carried out in partnership with both a UCLA faculty member and an appropriate agency based in Africa. Key for any student who applies for the grant is a commitment to and engagement in public service, whether in an established program or under an original project.

The fellowship will provide from $1,000 up to $4,000 to cover travel and approved related expenses and fellows are expected to spend a minimum of 45-days in-country. Preference will be given to students working/studying in Morocco. 

Email us for information about restrictions on combining fellowship with other funding. 

Eligible Projects:

The fellowship will support eligible students to engage in language study, course work, research, and/or internship (unpaid) in Africa. Additionally, fellows must volunteer at least 15 hours a week in a local NGO, accredited association, or community group.

Eligibility Requirements: 

*Applicant must be a currently enrolled UCLA undergraduate or graduate student.

*Applicants must have a posted minimum GPA of 3.5 (graduate students) and 3.0 (undergraduate students).

*Applicant must propose language study, course work, research project, and/or internship in Africa with an accredited institution during the summer of the awarded year. (Award cannot be used to support employment.)

*Applicant must arrange to volunteer with a local NGO, accredited association, or community group.

*Applicants need not have any previous experience in Africa.

**Fellowship recipient must write a 5-page report and submit this report to the African Studies Center within one month of the official end of the trip. The report should describe the student’s experience abroad and how she/he benefited from it. The recipient will develop a 10-minute presentation based on the report which will be delivered during an ASC luncheon.

Application Opens: January 10, 2024

Deadline: 5pm PST, Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

 Apply at https://ucla.in/421KYhZ

The Dr. Elizabeth Woldemussie Centennial Global Health Fellowship 

We encourage both UCLA undergraduate and graduate students to apply for the Dr. Elizabeth Woldemussie Centennial Global Health Fellowship, designed to promote global citizenship and engagement through a summer working, studying, and living in Africa. The Woldemussie Fellowship provides students with support for purposeful travel to and cultural immersion in Africa. Students may elect either to pursue study in an extant program or to design an original project that will be carried out in partnership with both a UCLA faculty member and an appropriate agency based in Africa. Key for any student who applies for the grant is a commitment to and engagement in public health and/or public service, whether in an established program or under an original project.

The fellowship will provide up to $4,000 to cover travel and approved related expenses and fellows are expected to spend a minimum of 45-days in-country. Preference will be given to students working/studying in Eritrea and/or Ethiopia.

IMPORTANT UPDATES:

*Recommendation letters from faculty are not required at this time for Woldemussie and Boyajian: simply fill out reference info in the application form.

**Unofficial transcripts are fine.

***Formal budget is not required, but students are welcome to include it in their application materials.

****Students may apply to both fellowships.

Application Opens: January 10. 2024

Deadline: 5pm PST, Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Apply at https://ucla.in/3HnQC4f

Published: Thursday, February 17, 2022