Richter International Fellowship Program
Richter International Fellowship Program
Honors students have myriad opportunities for independent research and study, on campus and overseas. Among the most unique of our offerings is the Richter Research Fellowship Program which allows undergraduate Honors students to conduct independent research projects on topics of international dimensions or multicultural projects within the United States under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Each year the UHP awards about 25 Richter grants, which normally cover travel, living expenses and research supplies for the recipient. Apart from fostering intellectual creativity and individual initiative, the Richter Fellowship Program affords students the chance to do postgraduate level research.
Eligibility
THIS FELLOWSHIP IS EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE FOR SECOND AND THIRD-YEAR SMU STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM IN THE LIBERAL ARTS.
About
The Richter International Fellowship Program is funded by the Paul K. and Evelyn E. Cook Richter Memorial Funds and is awarded to members of the University Honors Program to conduct independent research, usually outside the United States. The project can cover any area of study, but should be international or multicultural in nature. SMU is one of only 12 schools offering Richter Fellowships, and only Honors students are eligible to apply for the Fellowships.
Richter Fellows receive funding to conduct one to three months of research over winter or summer break, generally abroad. Upon returning, Fellows write and submit a scholarly article based on their research with intent to seek publication. Past Richter Fellows have been published in various academic journals and magazines; one SMU student won the prestigious Sidney De Vere Brown Best Undergraduate Paper Award in 2003.
Student candidates for the Richter Fellowship submit a completed application, a project proposal describing the project, its purpose, how it will be carried out, and its location. Students of sophomore or junior standing are encouraged to apply. Students must work with a faculty sponsor to develop and implement their projects.
Students interested in the Richter International Fellowship program should contact the University Honors Program office for further information. Application due dates for the winter and summer periods are listed below.
See below for sample Richter proposals.
Application Process:
1. Read the Richter Guidelines document for guidance on creating your proposal.
2. Complete the Richter Fellowship Application Packet.
Richter Fellowship Application Packet
3. Complete your Richter Fellowship Proposal and bring two printed copies along with your completed application packet to the University Honors Program Office (Clements Hall, Garden Level) before the deadline.
Important Deadlines:
Application and Proposal Deadline (Winter):*Rolling Deadline* (3rd Monday of October in normal times)
Application and Proposal Deadline (Summer):*Rolling Deadline* (2nd Monday of February in normal times)
Sample of past Richter Fellowship Projects
Ethiopia: The Stigma and Shame of Fistula: Implications for Rural Women in Ethiopia Attempting to Seek Medical Treatment
Lindsay, California; Mattawa, Washington; Glenwood Springs, Colorado: Educating English Language Learners: A Case Study on Bilingual Education Progress, Measures, and Outcomes in U.S. Rural School Districts
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Cultural Influences for Breast CancerPatients in Vietnam on Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcomes
Aligarh, India: Searching for Solutions: Identity, Water
Contamination, and Health Literacy in a North Indian Slum
Copenhagen, Denmark & Dallas, Texas: Health Literacy Between Two Western Healthcare Models
London, England: Niche Fashion Magazines: Changes and Adaptations of an Expanding Genre in London
Taos, New Mexico: Media Relations in New Mexico
Moscow, Russia: Recycling Russia: An Analysis of Russia’s Current Waste-Management Situation
Kenya: Micro-Financing Among the Maasair
Other Helpful Documents:
Click here for examples of successful proposals from past years
For additional information on university-wide competitive awards and scholarships, please visit:
SMU Office of National Fellowships and Awards