To Apply...
Foreign Studies Fellowship Program

The student should first select a faculty sponsor. With the sponsor’s guidance the student will translate his or her interests and goals into a workable and valuable proposal of study that will enhance the student’s professional education Jury members, as well as other members of International Health Institute and related departments, centers, and Institutes are dedicated to world health, and are pleased to assist students with their contribution toward this goal. The proposal must contain the following components:

1. The educational value of the planned international health experience: Within the framework of the proposal the student will define her or his educational goals; the way in which an international experience can uniquely meet these goals; the appropriateness of the experience in relation to the student’s education and skill levels; the educational outcomes that can be achieved through such an experience; the length of study needed to meet these goals and outcomes; and the kind of supervision and evaluation methods that will be used to measure achievement. Preference will be given to students who intend to pursue an independent research study.

2. The anticipated impact of that experience on the student’s career path: Preference will be given to those students who: a) propose a significant clinical, research or advocacy experience of at least 6-8 weeks in length; b) have an ongoing interest in international health or related issues; and c) have demonstrated their interests through pursuit of relevant courses, course concentrations, and related activities. 
   
   

3. The relationship between the proposed health care experience to the mission and future goals of International Health Institute: Preference will be given to proposals whose objectives support and enhance the purposes of International Health Institute and whose benefits extend to international populations, communities, and sponsoring institutions.

4. Other necessities of the proposal: All proposals will provide the sufficient detail so that the Jury members can evaluate the objectives of the proposed study in relation to the student’s overall education. Therefore, in addition to the above information, proposals must include: dates of the study period, location and description of the educational site, names of the supervisors at the site, name of the faculty sponsor at Brown, proposed budget using the lowest transportation costs, and a letter of support from your faculty sponsor. Students and their Brown faculty mentors must apply together for IRB approval for all research with human participants, including medical records review, interviewing, observing and biomedical exams. This IRB application should be done very early due to the IRB's schedules.The Office of Research Administration address is: http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Research_Administration/. Foreign letters of support are required for travel to those countries where there is no formalized relationship with the medical school. If applicable, describe the nature of an independent research project: hypothesis, data collection procedures, and methods of data analysis. There is no prescribed format for the proposal nor any length requirements; most students, however, are able to present their proposal of study within five pages.

Developing a proposal takes thought and time. Overseas correspondence often is slow, especially in the developing world. Therefore, students are encouraged to plan for international health experiences and submit their proposals for study one year in advance. All proposals for foreign study or questions about the program should be directed to:

Nickolas Sobanski
Administrative Assistant, Epidemiology Section Public Health Program, Brown University 2nd Floor, 121 S. Main St Box G-S121 Providence, RI 02912
Phone: 401-863-6459
Fax: 401-863-3713

The following timetable is offered to assist in the student’s planning.

Submission Date Notification Date Suggested Study Dates February 1 March 1 Study planned for the following fall semester. May 1 June 1 Study planned for the following fall or spring/summer semester October 1 November 1 Study planned for following summer and fall semesters

Financial aid is awarded by the Jury of the Foreign Studies Fellowship Program. The Jury has a dual purpose: to evaluate the value and benefits of proposed international health experiences and to grant Foreign Studies Fellowship travel funds. These funds are donated by the Etta Sundel Jaffe Fund and pay travel cost from Providence to the study site. As funds are limited, awardees are charged with finding the least expensive flight. We do not support the costs of the research or the experience and students may need to identify other sources of support for those costs.

PLEASE NOTE: All Foreign Studies Fellowship Proposals must include a completed copy of the application cover page. For a copy of the cover page please click on the following link, print, complete the form and submit it with your FSFP application.

Applications submitted without a completed cover page will be returned without review.

Link to application cover page

Updated 4/16/2008