The Bilimer Turkish Studies Initiative, with its home in the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Virginia, is excited to announce an interdisciplinary Turkish Studies Graduate Fellows Program.
Graduate students from any UVA department working on any subject related to Turkish language, literature, culture, history, or society, may self-nominate or be nominated by a UVa faculty member to become a Turkish Studies Fellow.
Fellows are invited to be part of the intellectual community of the Bilimer Turkish Studies Initiative and convene periodically as a cohort for informal gatherings and research workshop presentations. This renewable fellowship carries a stipend of $500 per semester to be put toward any use that furthers the student’s intellectual journey.
The Bilimer Turkish Studies Initiative aims to support scholarship, foster interdisciplinary engagement, and provide advanced students with resources and mentorship to advance their studies. Summer grant recipients will have opportunities to make connections with other like-minded students, participate in special events, and contribute to the growing community of Turkish Studies at the University of Virginia.
Application Process
Applications will be accepted from students currently enrolled full-time in an MA or PhD program at UVa who demonstrate strong academic potential and a clear focus on research on a project related in some significant way to Turkey or Turkish Studies. For Fall 2026 the program will accept up to 10 Fellows. To apply, submit a current UVa transcript and one-page statement of research interest that outlines your primary research interests and explains how Turkish Studies will be relevant to your current study program and future career plans. The statement should also describe how you envision sharing your research with the community of Turkish Studies Fellows. The deadline for applications is 1 May by midnight. Applications should be emailed Professor Parwana Fayyaz or Professor Daniel Lefkowitz