The Thomas C. Barry Summer Travel Fellowship supports:
Independent summer projects, independent research, and other independent work in the Global South or emerging-market countries.
Self-designed, personally-led projects within disenfranchised communities in the USA.
The Barry Fellowship seeks to encourage students to pursue experiences that will enhance and diversify their personal and academic goals and test their resourcefulness and resilience. The project undertaken should thus be intellectually purposeful and personally enriching but need not contribute to an academic project. This fellowship intends to support students pursuing activities that are self-designed and personally-led. The proposed project should provide the student with the opportunity to challenge themselves in an unfamiliar environment. We encourage you to be in touch with the Fellowships Office as you are planning your application and take advantage of the resources listed below.
Proposals concerning the following will not be considered:
study abroad programs
activities based in New Haven or an applicant's home town - students are encouraged to explore unfamiliar locations and engage with new communities
projects, internships or activities which have a participation fee or a program fee
internships which are not self-designed and/or do not have a component for which the student has ownership
Research projects must be original and of the student’s own design (with appropriate guidance from an experienced faculty member). If the proposed research project is part of a broader project, the applicant must carry out an independent, self-designed component for which they assume responsibility. Applicants should clearly state in the brief description and proposal the ways in which this individual component is self-driven and independent. International internships must be driven by and arranged by the student and must contain an independent component or project for which the applicant assumes sole responsibility. Applications supporting internships in emerging market countries which students have arranged through reaching out to, and collaborating with, the Yale World Fellows are very welcome. Applicants should clearly state in their brief description and proposal the ways in which their internship is self-driven and independent. Applications to support formal, established internship programs (for example State Department internships, will not be considered).
Public Service Projects in the USA (excluding New Haven/an applicant's home town) should be independent, grass-roots public service projects working with disenfranchised communities. Please note, this does not include structured internships at non-profit organizations or government departments. While a student is encouraged to work closely with a community to carry out their project, this fellowship is not intended to support an internship or public service research which does not have a self-designed component. In addition to funding, awardees become part of the community of Barry Fellows past and present. This involves dinners hosted by Thomas Barry, an annual dinner with the Yale World Fellows, and other networking opportunities.
Preference is for first years and sophomores but applications from juniors will also be considered.
Minimum duration: 8 weeks; however, it may last as long as one or two terms or a summer plus a term (see below for further details). Projects of shorter duration will not be considered. The proposed project must be a full-time commitment and be the primary activity for the duration of the fellowship. Students whose majors are traditionally underrepresented in the student population studying abroad (e.g., the sciences and engineering) are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to students who do not have significant experience living, studying, or working in a developing country or unfamiliar environment. The award reflects Mr. Barry’s broad international perspective and his strong commitment to initiatives that both foster a keen appreciation of global issues and give evidence of sustainability. Generally eight to ten awards are made each year.