The Stanley Undergraduate and Graduate Awards for International Research are given annually to outstanding University of Iowa students for the pursuit of research and learning activities outside of the United States.

Eligibility: UI undergraduate and graduate students in good academic standing (including non-U.S. citizens); Must return for at least one semester at UI after period abroad; See “Travel Eligibility” below for possible State Department travel restrictions to your destination(s).

Deadline: February 4, 2025 at 12 p.m. Noon (CST)

Duration: Minimum 4 weeks (no exceptions), Maximum 3 months

Time frame: Funding must be used between May 2025 and May 2026

Travel Eligibility

U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Risk Rating

The U.S. Department of State assigns a travel advisory risk rating for international travel destinations. Stanley Awards are only given for destinations that have a U.S. Department of State travel advisory risk rating of level 1 or level 2. 

***No awards will be given for destinations with a travel advisory risk rating of level 3 (reconsider travel) or level 4 (do not travel).

At the time of application, you must verify that your destination(s) are currently NOT under level 3 or level 4. Enter your destination(s) in the “Learn About Your Destination” on the State Department's Travel Advisory Page. No funding will be awarded for travel to a destination considered high risk at the time of application. If your destination does NOT fall under a level 3 or 4, you may proceed with the application.

After receiving an award, if the Department of State risk rating for your destination increases to a 3 or a 4, your project will not be funded.

International students may submit proposals for research in their home country if it does not fall under a level 3 or level 4 travel advisory risk rating. Applications to one's home country are considered less competitive.

Undergraduate Eligibility

Undergraduate students are encouraged to apply. They must be in good academic standing and work with a UI faculty member who will serve as their Stanley Project Advisor. All undergraduate applicants must return as enrolled students to the UI during the semester following their grant in order to present on campus. Undergraduates in their final semester or final year of study are ineligible to apply.

Graduate Eligibility

• M.A./M.F.A./M.S. students conducting research abroad for theses
• Ph.D. students performing preliminary research for a dissertation prospectus
• Professional students pursuing College-approved international research initiatives (including translational research) that are clearly related to their professional education. Priority is given to M.A./M.F.A./M.S. and Ph.D. students.

Those ineligible to apply include:

• doctoral students who have had their dissertation topics/proposals approved (these students should apply for the T. Anne Cleary International Dissertation Research Fellowships from the Graduate College. For more information, navigate to the graduate school’s fellowship page: https://grad.uiowa.edu/funding/fellowships)
• former Stanley Award recipients
• M.A./M.F.A./M.S. students planning to graduate during the spring of the award period (Those anticipating an Aug. or Dec. graduation should contact Dr. Karen Wachsmuth to discuss eligibility).

Obligations as a Stanley Award Recipient

• All Stanley grantees must attend a mandatory session in early March before traveling abroad.
• No funding will be awarded for travel commencing before this mandatory session; all travel must commence no earlier than May in the year of application.
• Within two weeks of return from conducting research abroad, recipients must submit a report, including the submission of photographs. Failure to comply with this regulation will result in the loss of grant funding.

Professional Obligations following the Stanley Award

• Recipients are expected to credit the fellowship on their theses/dissertations and should acknowledge the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization in all materials, such as PowerPoint presentations and written research documents.
• Recipients must present their research to the University of Iowa community and may be asked to participate in International Programs events.

Application Components

(Included in the graduate and undergraduate application forms)

A. Applicant Information

B. Current CV (2-page maximum) with the following fields

• Education – major/program (anticipated completion)
• Topic of thesis or degree-related final project (if applicable)
• Student activities/Community Engagement – club memberships/offices held/volunteering
• Honors/Awards/Conference Presentations/Publications
• Previous time abroad (professional/volunteering/study abroad, etc.)
• Employment (on/off campus)

C. Stanley Award Research Proposal

A 900-1,000 word (approximately 2 pages) proposal summarizing your research plans and your reasons for undertaking this research in the chosen country. Include the following sections:

• Abstract (generally one paragraph in length)
• Main research problems/questions
• Methods and/or approaches
• Detailed plan of research in destination country
• Language background and strategies (if needed)
• Timeline
• IRB considerations
• Academic and linguistic preparation
• Possible outcomes/Intellectual and public impacts from the research
• The importance of a Stanley grant for degree objectives and career goals

For students who intend to combine Stanley grants with a Study Abroad program:

• You must submit a Cost Sheet from Study Abroad for the specific program in which you are planning to enroll in addition to their budget.
• Stanley grants do not cover Study Abroad program fees.

D. Completed Application Form submitted by student to ip-grants@uiowa.edu by the February deadline. Please fill out the form in Adobe Acrobat Reader –free download at get.adobe.com/reader.

E. Human Subjects Research Advisor Form (included with Advisor Reference Form)

All applicants must consult with a faculty advisor before completing this form and work with a UI faculty advisor when designing and conducting their project.

F. Faculty Project Advisor Reference Letter: One letter of recommendation from the Faculty Project Advisor is required. Applicants should contact their Faculty Project Advisor directly to ask for a recommendation. Faculty Project Advisors should be directed to the Stanley Undergraduate Award Faculty Project Advisor Reference Form or Stanley Graduate Award Faculty Project Advisor Reference Form (see forms below under Application Forms section).

A complete reference includes; 1) the IP Stanley Award Human Subjects Research Advisor Form and 2) a separate letter of recommendation, preferably on letterhead.

G. Faculty Project Advisor Reference Form: submitted by the principal faculty advisor for the Stanley project to ip-grants@uiowa.edu by the deadline. See pdf below; click on links for Faculty References.

IMPORTANT: You alone are responsible for making sure that your advisor submits your Stanley recommendation by the deadline. Applications submitted without faculty recommendations by the deadline will be considered incomplete and will not receive consideration.

Application forms

For Applicants

This year's Stanley application forms will be uploaded in mid-December.

Deadline: February 4, 2025, 12 p.m. (noon)

In order to be considered for a Stanley Award, your application form and advisor reference form must be submitted to ip-grants@uiowa.edu by February 4th at 12:00 p.m. (CT). Late applications will not be considered. 

This application form MUST be filled out with Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have access to Adobe Acrobat Reader, you must use a UIowa computer to complete the form. 

Adobe Acrobat Reader free download: get.adobe.com/reader 

For Faculty References:

This year's Stanley faculty reference forms will be uploaded in mid-December.

Deadline: February 4, 2025, 12 p.m. (noon)

Review Criteria

The selection committee is seeking well-written, complete proposals that:

• provide adequate evidence of academic and linguistic (if applicable) preparation;
• have clearly defined degree-related academic and personal objectives;
• contribute to student’s overall academic program;
• demonstrate the adequacy of the research method or fieldwork design;
• demonstrate the project's potential to make a scholarly or practical impact.
• Students who intend to pair a Stanley with a Study Abroad program must clearly and definitively indicate how the program relates to the Stanley grant to be considered. These applicants must show that time exclusively devoted to the proposed Stanley research or project is equivalent to a minimum of 4 weeks.
• demonstrate the project can be completed in a location that is not currently assessed as high risk by the U.S. Department of State (advisory levels 3 or 4)​

IRB Process for Awardees

Human Subjects Research Determination (HSRD) Form

At the Mandatory Stanley Meeting in March, all awardees must submit a Human Subjects Research Determination (HSRD) form to determine whether your project requires approval from the University of Iowa Institutional Review Board (IRB). The HSRD is a short form found in the electronic IRB application system called HawkIRB. After submitting the form, an IRB Chair will determine whether IRB approval is required for your project.

There are two possible outcomes from your HSRD form:

1. IRB approval is required - You must then submit a HawkIRB New Project form and receive IRB approval prior to implementing any research activity. You and your faculty advisor are required to follow all federal regulations and institutional policies regarding the conduct of human subjects research.
2. IRB approval is not required – You are free to conduct the project without completing the IRB process.

If you change the project design, you will need to submit another HSRD form.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What if my budget is more than the maximum award amount? Will I still be funded the maximum amount possible?

In many instances, the proposed budget will exceed the funding limit.

Is it necessary to have experience in the language of the country I want to go to before I apply? Before I leave?

There is no official requirement within the Stanley Award guidelines for language proficiency, although the application asks for information about language study. Students should understand that communicating in the language of the chosen country for study or research is, at least in most cases, highly desirable and often needed for conducting the work. Rudimentary knowledge of the language is also a courtesy to the country’s people and often necessary for day-to-day survival.

When will the Stanley Awards be announced?

International Programs will announce awards shortly before the March meeting.

How are the funds disbursed?

If you are chosen for an award, you will receive an award letter that includes detailed instructions for award disbursement.

What is IRB and how do I know if it applies to me?

IRB stands for Institutional Review Board; information can be found on the International Programs' website under IRB Review Steps. All students who will be working with human subjects through interviews, questionnaires, surveys or any type of research that will involve others’ participation and personal history may be required to secure IRB approval.