Fund Details
Robert C. Bates Postgraduate Fellowship
Award Amount
varies
Competition Type
Yale

Brief Description:

The Robert C. Bates Postgraduate Fellowship, from the endowments of Jonathan Edwards College, supports students who give evidence that their educational experience would be significantly enhanced by a project of independent study and/or research outside of the continental U.S.

**The Yale College Postgraduate Fellowships Common Application will open on Monday October 21, 2024)**

Description:

The Robert C. Bates Postgraduate Fellowship, from the endowments of Jonathan Edwards College, supports seniors who, after successfully navigating an undergraduate education at Yale, have designed a 3-12 month project to build on their Yale experience through further research, an internship, or other creative projects that contribute to society. Projects must be conducted outside of the continental United States, immediately after graduation.

Proposals may be 1) research projects that are grounded in studies at Yale and relationships with Yale faculty, 2) internships that grew out of relationships at Yale or serve as bridges toward longer-term personal or professional goals developed at Yale, or 3) other inter-dependent projects with clear goals and learning outcomes. Students with interests in STEM fields, visual and performing arts, and community service are encouraged to apply.

Preference will be given to proposals that build on an applicant’s experience at Yale, whether a course of study, senior thesis, student group, major field of interest, or mentoring relationship with Yale faculty.

Successful applicants will receive funds to directly support their proposed project, as well as funds to defray their own living expenses for a period of 3 to 12 months. The minimum project duration is three months. The proposed project must be a full-time commitment and the the recipient’s primary activity for the duration of the fellowship. A recipient CANNOT undertake any other activities while a fellow. Such activities include but are not limited to part-/full-time work, internship, research, formal educational study, etc.

This fellowship is administered by the Office of Fellowships as part of the Yale College Post Graduate Fellowships Common Application.

Application Information:

**The deadline for the Robert C. Bates Postgraduate Fellowship via the Yale College Postgraduate Fellowships Common Application is Wednesday January 29, 2025 at 1:00PM**

Applications received late or submitted via e-mail or in person will NOT be accepted. It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that all elements of their application, including reference letters are submitted by the deadline. 

Application for this fellowship is managed through a single common application. To learn more and start an application, search Yale Student Grants for the Yale College Postgraduate Fellowships Common Application page and click "Apply." Your single application will be considered for this and other fellowship opportunities that may overlap with your proposal.

A complete Bates Postgraduate application includes:

1. Online Application
2. Two Letters of reference
3. Language Evaluation (for international projects requiring non-native language skills)
4. Letter of Affiliation (optional)
5. Project Proposal / Program of Study (including budget)
6. Resume / List of Activities or Awards
7. Transcripts

Interested applicants should attend an upcoming information session offered by the Office of Fellowships and may schedule an appointment with Dr. Mya Fisher, the advisor for the Yale College Postgraduate Fellowships. Make sure to review the fellowship descrptions and watch the recorded information session, or attend and upcoming one prior to meeting with Dr. Fisher. Advising appointments are not intended to be 1-on-1 information sessions. Click here to view a calendar of upcoming information sessions and events. Meeting with Dr. Fisher is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. 

Special Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants must be graduating seniors from Yale College.

Any field or discipline is eligible. STEM students are encouraged to apply. Visual and performing art students are encouraged to apply. Students interested in community service are encouraged to apply.

The project must be international.

The project must begin by September 1st in the award year.

There is only one application cycle each academic year. Students graduating in December may apply for the YCPG Fellowships the following spring semester. For example, a December 2025 graduate will apply in winter 2026. However, the earliest a December 2024 graduate would be able to begin their fellowship actiities is May 2026.

The Robert C. Bates Postgraduate Fellowships do not support postgraduate coursework or study abroad.

Internships/Apprenticeships must be independently sought. This fellowship does not support internships or activities that have a participation fee or program fee.

Restrictions to Use of Award:

To satisfy the minimum duration requirements of the fellowship, the applicant's project must be his or her primary activity, conducted without interruption, for the duration of the experience. 

Additionally, a recipient of any Yale College Postgraduate Fellowship CANNOT undertake any other activities while a fellow. Such activities include but are not limited to part-/full-time work, internship, research, formal educational study, etc.

This fellowship may not be combined with any other fellowship award, internal or external to Yale. If you are awarded a Yale College Postgraduate Fellowship, you cannot accept any other fellowships or awards that overlap the duration of the YC Postgraduate Fellowship. If awarded multiple fellowships, you will be expected to decide on one of the options. 

This fellowship award cannot be deferred. 

All interested applicants considering overseas projects must review the Yale University International Travel Policy. Projects in specific countries within approved regions may not be eligible for funding based on current State Department Warnings and the Yale University International Travel Policy.

Yale University policy requires that certain types of research projects involving human subjects be reviewed by an institutional review board (IRB) prior to the start of the study to ensure that the project meets University requirements and any applicable regulations. Click here to see if your project needs to be reviewed, for advice on working with human subjects, and for more information about the process and requirements.

International student applicants should inform the Office of International Students and Scholars of their plans to ensure they will be in compliance with the terms of their visa.

Links to Additional Information:

  1. Fellowship Policies
  2. Office of Fellowships
  3. Yale University International Travel Policy
  4. Previous Winners
  5. Recorded Information Sessions and Workshops

Contact Information:

For questions about this application, please contact Mya Fisher at mya.fisher@yale.edu

Search Filters:
Current Year of Study
  • Senior
    Term of Award
    • Summer
    • Spring
    • Fall
    • Academic Year
    • Summer + Fall
    • Summer + Academic Year
      Grant or Fellowship Purpose
      • Internship/Work
      • Project
      • Community or Public Service
      • Research
        Global Region or Country
        • Africa
        • -- Algeria (Northern Africa)
        • -- Angola (Central Africa)
        • -- Benin (Western Africa)
        • -- Botswana (Southern Africa)
        • -- Burkina Faso (Western Africa)
        • -- Burundi (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Cameroon (Central Africa)
        • -- Cape Verde (Western Africa)
        • -- Central African Republic (Central Africa)
        • -- Chad (Central Africa)
        • -- Comoros (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Congo (Central Africa)
        • -- Cote d-Ivoire (Western Africa)
        • -- Democratic Republic of the Congo (Central Africa)
        • -- Djibouti (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Egypt (Northern Africa)
        • -- Equatorial Guinea (Central Africa)
        • -- Eritrea (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Ethiopia (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Gabon (Central Africa)
        • -- Gambia (Western Africa)
        • -- Ghana (Western Africa)
        • -- Guinea (Western Africa)
        • -- Guinea-Bissau (Western Africa)
        • -- Kenya (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Lesotho (Southern Africa)
        • -- Liberia (Western Africa)
        • -- Libya (Northern Africa)
        • -- Madagascar (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Malawi (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Mali (Western Africa)
        • -- Mauritania (Western Africa)
        • -- Mauritius (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Mayotte (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Morocco (Northern Africa)
        • -- Mozambique (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Namibia (Southern Africa)
        • -- Niger (Western Africa)
        • -- Nigeria (Western Africa)
        • -- Reunion (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Rwanda (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Saint Helena (Western Africa)
        • -- Sao Tome and Principe (Central Africa)
        • -- Senegal (Western Africa)
        • -- Seychelles (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Sierra Leone (Western Africa)
        • -- Somalia (Eastern Africa)
        • -- South Africa (Southern Africa)
        • -- Sudan (Northern Africa)
        • -- Swaziland (Southern Africa)
        • -- Tanzania (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Togo (Western Africa)
        • -- Tunisia (Northern Africa)
        • -- Uganda (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Western Sahara (Northern Africa)
        • -- Zambia (Eastern Africa)
        • -- Zimbabwe (Southern Africa)
        • Asia
        • -- Armenia (Central Asia)
        • -- Azerbaijan (Central Asia)
        • -- Bangladesh (South Asia)
        • -- Bhutan (South Asia)
        • -- British Indian Ocean Territory (South Asia)
        • -- Brunei Darussalam (Southeast Asia)
        • -- Burma (Southeast Asia)
        • -- Cambodia (Southeast Asia)
        • -- China (East Asia)
        • -- Christmas Island (Southeast Asia)
        • -- Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Southeast Asia)
        • -- Georgia (Central Asia)
        • -- Hong Kong (East Asia)
        • -- India (South Asia)
        • -- Indonesia (Southeast Asia)
        • -- Japan (East Asia)
        • -- Kazakhstan (Central Asia)
        • -- Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia)
        • -- Laos (Southeast Asia)
        • -- Macau (East Asia)
        • -- Malaysia (Southeast Asia)
        • -- Maldives (South Asia)
        • -- Mongolia (East Asia)
        • -- Myanmar (Southeast Asia)
        • -- Nepal (South Asia)
        • -- Pakistan (South Asia)
        • -- Philippines (Southeast Asia)
        • -- Singapore (Southeast Asia)
        • -- South Korea (East Asia)
        • -- Sri Lanka (South Asia)
        • -- Taiwan (East Asia)
        • -- Tajikistan (Central Asia)
        • -- Thailand (Southeast Asia)
        • -- Tibet (East Asia)
        • -- Timor-Leste (Southeast Asia)
        • -- Turkmenistan (Central Asia)
        • -- Uzbekistan (Central Asia)
        • -- Vietnam (Southeast Asia)
        • Europe
        • -- Aland Islands (Northern Europe)
        • -- Albania (Balkans)
        • -- Andorra (Southern Europe)
        • -- Austria (Central Europe)
        • -- Belarus (Eastern Europe/Russia)
        • -- Belgium (Western Europe)
        • -- Bosnia and Herzegovina (Balkans)
        • -- Bulgaria (Balkans)
        • -- Croatia (Balkans)
        • -- Cyprus (Southern Europe)
        • -- Czech Republic (Central Europe)
        • -- Denmark (Northern Europe)
        • -- Estonia (Eastern Europe/Russia)
        • -- Faroe Islands (Northern Europe)
        • -- Finland (Northern Europe)
        • -- France (Western Europe)
        • -- Germany (Central Europe)
        • -- Gibraltar (Southern Europe)
        • -- Greece (Balkans)
        • -- Hungary (Central Europe)
        • -- Iceland (Northern Europe)
        • -- Ireland (Western Europe)
        • -- Italy (Southern Europe)
        • -- Jersey (Northern Europe)
        • -- Kosovo (Balkans)
        • -- Latvia (Eastern Europe/Russia)
        • -- Liechtenstein (Central Europe)
        • -- Lithuania (Eastern Europe/Russia)
        • -- Luxembourg (Northern Europe)
        • -- Macedonia (Balkans)
        • -- Malta (Southern Europe)
        • -- Moldova (Eastern Europe/Russia)
        • -- Monaco (Northern Europe)
        • -- Montenegro (Balkans)
        • -- Netherlands (Northern Europe)
        • -- Norway (Northern Europe)
        • -- Poland (Central Europe)
        • -- Portugal (Southern Europe)
        • -- Romania (Balkans)
        • -- Russian Federation (Eastern Europe/Russia)
        • -- San Marino (Southern Europe)
        • -- Serbia and Montenegro (Balkans)
        • -- Slovakia (Central Europe)
        • -- Slovenia (Balkans)
        • -- Spain (Southern Europe)
        • -- Sweden (Northern Europe)
        • -- Switzerland (Central Europe)
        • -- Ukraine (Eastern Europe/Russia)
        • -- United Kingdom (Western Europe)
        • -- Vatican City (Southern Europe)
        • Latin America and Caribbean
        • -- Anguilla (Caribbean)
        • -- Antigua and Barbuda (Caribbean)
        • -- Argentina (South America)
        • -- Aruba (Caribbean)
        • -- Bahamas (Caribbean)
        • -- Barbados (Caribbean)
        • -- Belize (Central America)
        • -- Bermuda (Caribbean)
        • -- Bolivia (South America)
        • -- Brazil (South America)
        • -- British Virgin Islands (Caribbean)
        • -- Cayman Islands (Caribbean)
        • -- Chile (South America)
        • -- Colombia (South America)
        • -- Costa Rica (Central America)
        • -- Cuba (Caribbean)
        • -- Dominica (Caribbean)
        • -- Dominican Republic (Caribbean)
        • -- Ecuador (South America)
        • -- El Salvador (Central America)
        • -- Falkland Islands (South America)
        • -- French Guiana (South America)
        • -- Grenada (Caribbean)
        • -- Guadeloupe (Caribbean)
        • -- Guatemala (Central America)
        • -- Guyana (South America)
        • -- Haiti (Caribbean)
        • -- Honduras (Central America)
        • -- Jamaica (Caribbean)
        • -- Martinique (Caribbean)
        • -- Mexico (Mexico)
        • -- Montserrat (Caribbean)
        • -- Netherlands Antilles (Caribbean)
        • -- Nicaragua (Central America)
        • -- Panama (Central America)
        • -- Paraguay (South America)
        • -- Peru (South America)
        • -- Puerto Rico (Caribbean)
        • -- Saint Barthelemy (Caribbean)
        • -- Saint Kitts and Nevis (Caribbean)
        • -- Saint Lucia (Caribbean)
        • -- Saint Martin (Caribbean)
        • -- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Caribbean)
        • -- Suriname (South America)
        • -- Trinidad and Tobago (Caribbean)
        • -- Turks and Caicos Islands (Caribbean)
        • -- Uruguay (South America)
        • -- Venezuela (South America)
        • Middle East & Persian Gulf
        • -- Bahrain (Persian Gulf & Arabian Peninsula)
        • -- Ghaza Strip (Middle East)
        • -- Israel (Middle East)
        • -- Jordan (Middle East)
        • -- Kuwait (Persian Gulf & Arabian Peninsula)
        • -- Lebanon (Middle East)
        • -- Oman (Persian Gulf & Arabian Peninsula)
        • -- Palestine (Middle East)
        • -- Qatar (Persian Gulf & Arabian Peninsula)
        • -- Saudi Arabia (Persian Gulf & Arabian Peninsula)
        • -- Syria (Middle East)
        • -- Turkey (Middle East)
        • -- United Arab Emirates (Persian Gulf & Arabian Peninsula)
        • -- West Bank (Middle East)
        • -- Yemen (Persian Gulf & Arabian Peninsula)
        • North America
        • -- Canada (North America)
        • -- Saint Pierre and Miquelon (North America)
        • Oceania
        • -- American Samoa (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Australia (Australia & New Zealand)
        • -- Cook Islands (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Fiji (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- French Polynesia (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Guam (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Kiribati (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Marshall Islands (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Micronesia (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Nauru (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- New Caledonia (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- New Zealand (Australia & New Zealand)
        • -- Niue (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Norfolk Island (Australia & New Zealand)
        • -- Northern Mariana Islands (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Palau (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Papua New Guinea (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Pitcairn (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Samoa (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Solomon Islands (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Tokelau (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Tonga (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Tuvalu (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Vanuatu (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
        • -- Wallis and Futuna Islands (Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia)
          Citizenship Status
          • U.S. citizens are eligible
          • Non-U.S. citizens are eligible