Dressler Family Traveling Grant

Summer Travel/Study for Sophomores and Juniors

Application Deadline: Friday March 1st, 2024

Description of Fellowship
The Dressler Family Traveling Grant was established thanks to a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Dressler. Open to sophomores and juniors only, it is for the purpose of travel and study in a country where a Romance language is spoken (e.g. France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Romania, and Latin America). The Dressler Grant is to be awarded at the discretion of the Chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, based on the recommendation of a selection committee. The purpose of the grant is to afford students who have completed at least one course in Romance Languages and Literatures at Harvard the opportunity to travel and study in these countries in order to further their understanding of language, literature, politics, history, culture, etc. Financial need is a requirement for application. 

 

Eligibility Requirements
Only current sophomores and juniors at Harvard College may apply.
Students must have completed at least one course in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures (any level) at the time of application.
Students must currently be recipients of financial aid.
The grant may only be used for summer travel/study.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many grants are awarded per year?
Normally, only one grant is awarded each year. On occasion, two grants are awarded.

What is the selection committee looking for?
It is impossible to provide an exact recipe for a "winning project." Past recipients of the Dressler grant have conducted research on extremely different subjects in a wide variety of destinations. For instance, one grant winner traveled to Peru in order to study the interaction of native and European traditions in local religious festivals; another traveled throughout Italy to explore the influence that the great 19th-century composer Giuseppe Verdi still exerts over Italian popular culture. As you can see from these two examples, Dressler grant recipients typically perform on-site field research, experience direct cultural contact with local populations, and conduct their daily activities exclusively in the target language. They could not have brought their projects to fruition within the confines of a library, either at Harvard University or anywhere else.

How should I write the proposal?
State your research goal as clearly and precisely as possible. What exact steps do you intend to take while abroad towards achieving your desired end? You may also wish to describe whatever research you have already conducted on your subject, and how a trip abroad is essential to pursuing your goal.

How many applicants are there each year?
This information varies so much from year to year that it is impossible to predict the number of applicants in a given year.

Application Instructions
Please apply through CARAT, Harvard's common application process.

Questions? Please contact Catherine Downey.