Questions about Eligibility
1. Q: Who is eligible to receive a AY Dissertation Research FLAS Fellowship? UCLA graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are enrolled in a Ph.D. program that requires a dissertation. Students must be at an advanced level in all language proficiency skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) for which they are applying for FLAS to have the language skills necessary to conduct their research. Also, they must have already passed their departmental exams by the fellowship award period.
2. Q: Am I allowed to travel and conduct research abroad with the AY Dissertation Research FLAS Fellowship? Students planning to conduct dissertation research abroad during the fellowship period should specify the research plan in their personal statement, including the target country and institution(s) abroad where they would be affiliated.
Currently, awarded fellows who plan to conduct research abroad must obtain advanced approvals for their research and travel plans including: a. A UCLA Field Safety Plan; and b. from the U.S. Department of Education FLAS program officer. Travel to countries with a State Department “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and those with a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory in place might not be approved. In addition to State and CDC guidelines, international travel must align with UCLA COVID-19 Protocols. Students who apply for FLAS for dissertation research must inform CNES staff of any changes to their research and travel plans. Because of the ongoing international public health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), FLAS dissertation research fellows may need to prepare to also conduct their research at UCLA for either part or for the academic year.
3. Q: My graduate program is not a Ph.D. program. Am I eligible? No. Only Ph.D. students who are writing a dissertation to complete their degree are eligible. Students in professional graduate programs can apply and are eligible for the FLAS for language and area studies coursework.
4. Q: I have previously received or currently have a FLAS fellowship for coursework. Can I re-apply for the Dissertation Research FLAS? Yes. In the application, please indicate at what stage you are in your Ph.D. program, and indicate in your statement of purpose what your intended research plans are during the FLAS award period (see question #2 above).
5. Q: I have previously received or currently have a Dissertation Research FLAS Fellowship. Can I re-apply for the Dissertation FLAS? Yes, you can apply for the AY Dissertation Writing FLAS Fellowship. The Dissertation Writing FLAS must be used for finishing up the dissertation at UCLA. Students should already completed all their required coursework and dissertation field research. The Dissertation Writing FLAS is intended to support students as they complete this last step of their doctoral program. Students will be expected to graduate at the end of the award period.
Questions about Enrollment
6. Q: If I receive the Dissertation Research FLAS, what will my enrollment status be? Students should have already completed their required coursework and must be cleared by their department and committee chair to conduct their dissertation fieldwork research for the award period. Students may need to file a request with their department for in absentia status for the academic year.
7. Q: If I will have in absentia status, am I eligible for the full FLAS Fellowship award? Yes. The Dissertation Research FLAS Fellowship covers your in absentia tuition and fees and UC SHIP for the academic year (up to $18,000) and includes a $20,000 stipend (starting AY22-23).
8. Q: What is the required coursework? Students must be fully enrolled at UCLA only in 599 Dissertation Research courses during the award period with their committee chair or another faculty in their department.
9. Q: Am I required to conduct my dissertation fieldwork aboard? Students with Dissertation Research FLAS would normally conduct their fieldwork abroad for at least two quarters of the year (see question #2 above). However, if a students' research and travel plans are not approved due to safety concerns, then it may be possible for the student to use their advanced language skills to conduct research virtually using international linkages and digital resources. Students should detail their plan for research in their personal statement.
10. Q: Can I conduct my fieldwork for part of the year and enroll in regular coursework at UCLA for the remainder? The Dissertation Research FLAS is intended for students to conduct their fieldwork during the award period (see question #9 above).
11. Q: If I receive the Dissertation Writing FLAS, what will my enrollment status be? Students should have already completed their required coursework and fieldwork. Students should enroll full-time in 599 units with their department and finish writing their dissertation at UCLA.
Questions about Application
12. Q: How should I indicate that I am applying for AY Dissertation Research FLAS? On the AY FLAS application, check the box for either enrollment for dissertation research or dissertation writing (see questions #2 and #9 above).
13. Q: What do I need to do to get my dissertation fieldwork proposal approved? You do not need any further documentation or approval for dissertation fieldwork at the FLAS application stage. If selected for the AY Dissertation FLAS, you will need to get approval from your academic department's faculty committee to conduct your fieldwork. You will also need to submit a detailed proposal for the entire academic year to the Center over the summer months before the start of your FLAS fellowship. Your proposal needs to include a methodologies section about research sources and materials, and a quarterly plan listing your research goals and tasks. If travel is permitted, affiliations to universities and institutions in the target country must be listed (see questions #2 and #9 above).
Questions about Reporting
14. Q: What are the reporting requirements? There are several. All FLAS recipients are required to arrange to take a language proficiency evaluation with an instructor at the beginning and end of the fellowship period. In addition, fellows must submit a post-Fellowship report with letter grades for all courses taken during the award period through the online reporting system of the U.S. Department of Education. Students are also required to submit brief quarterly reports to the center administering their FLAS award. Finally, FLAS recipients are required to provide information every two years following graduation about their ongoing use of the target language and employment for 8 years following graduation from UCLA. FLAS recipients must provide their current contact information to the UCLA center awarding their FLAS fellowship in compliance with this requirement.