Comparative Religion
Student Funding
Funding and Scholarship Opportunities
Comparative Religion Fellowships | Funding Highlights | Other Resources
The Comparative Religion Program provides general financial support for graduate students through the Domoto Webb Endowed Fellowship and the Eugene and Marilyn D. Webb Scholarship. Research and conference travel funds are available for graduate students through the Joan W. Welk Endowed Fellowship. Students should also explore funding opportunities through other departments, like Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, and through general University of Washington resources.
Comparative Religion Fellowships
Domoto Webb Endowed Fellowship
This award is made annually to one or two in-coming graduate students. The amount of the award is determined by the chair of the program. There is no need to apply for this fellowship, the materials used for application to the MA Program are sufficient for this purpose. –
The Eugene and Marilyn D. Webb Scholarship
The Eugene and Marilyn D. Webb Scholarship recognizes academic merit and promise at both the undergraduate and graduate level by awarding grants to students on the basis of their academic record and writing ability. Priority will be given to students with a major in Comparative Religion or in the Comparative Religion track of the International Studies Master’s degree program, but students from all majors/departments who have a special interest in the comparative study of religion may apply. Applicants must have completed at least one quarter at UW to qualify.
Should no qualified Comparative Religion candidates be identified, the Comparative Religion faculty may award students majoring in an adjacent field of study (for example: anthropology, history, literature, philosophy or sociology), but with a special interest in the comparative study of religion.
To apply, please submit an informal copy of your University of Washington transcript and a one-page proposal to crelig@uw.edu and jwellman@uw.edu.
Joan W. Welk Endowed Fellowship
Application Deadlines: October 31 // January 22 // April 16
The Joan W. Welk Endowed Fellowship for the Study of Religion supports graduate students in the Comparative Religion Master’s Program for travel, fees, books, or other material connected to their course work and research. To apply, please submit an informal copy of your University of Washington transcript, CV, and one-page proposal to crelig@uw.edu and jwellman@uw.edu. Applications will be reviewed three times each year. Typical grants are between $500-$2000.
Funding Highlights
Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS)
Critical Language Scholarships information and applications are available via the U.S. Department of State online at: http://www.clscholarship.org.
The Program is a fully-funded overseas intensive language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students with the goal of broadening the base of Americans studying and mastering critical languages and to build relationships between the people of the United States and other countries.
The fourteen CLS languages are: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu. Participants in the CLS Program are not required to have any experience studying critical languages for most of the fourteen languages. Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Russian, and Japanese institutes have language prerequisites, which can be found on the CLS website. More information at: http://www.clscholarship.org/information-for/applicants.
Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS)
FLAS fellowships support undergraduate, graduate and professional students in acquiring modern foreign languages and area or international studies competencies. FLAS Fellowships are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Foreign Language study is critical to successful completion of the MA in Comparative Religion at the UW. Click here for more information.
The Frank F. Conlon Endowed Fellowship in South Asian Studies
The South Asia Center at the University of Washington announces, with pleasure, the competition for the Frank F. Conlon Fellowship in South Asian Studies. We invite graduate students in any discipline, including international students, who are engaged in the study of South Asia.Awarded on the basis of academic merit and demonstrated financial need as determined by the UW Office of Student Financial Aid. Applicants for South Asia FLAS fellowships (both current and prospective students) are considered automatically. If you are not eligible for a FLAS, you may apply for the Conlon Fellowship through the Jackson School Fellowship Application System. The application opens in October and is due in January. Awards: $8,000 for tuition or living expenses.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants to recent graduates, Master’s and doctoral candidates, and young professionals for individually designed study or research projects and for English Teaching Assistantships. The Fulbright Critical Language Enhancement Award provides supplemental funding to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for grantees to receive between three and six months of intensive language study in addition to their research or study grants. This opportunity is available for select languages.
Marcy Migdal Fund for Educational Equality
The Marcy Migdal Fund supports exceptional students engaged in activities aimed at enhancing access to education for vulnerable students, either locally or throughout the world, and helping them succeed in their education. The Marcy Migdal Scholarship provides a cash award of $1,000 to two individual recipients each academic year.
Marcy Migdal was known throughout Washington State as a leading educator in the field of multicultural education and for her passionate commitment to social justice and advocacy for the most vulnerable members of our community. It is the intent of this endowment that Marcy’s selfless dedication and activist spirit live on in this award. Scholarships will be awarded based on the adherence of the proposed activities to the priorities of the Marcy Migdal Fund.
The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies
Launched in 2014, the Progam in Buddhist Studies, administered by the American Council of Learned Societies, has promoted the academic study of Buddhism and the dissemination of knowledge of Buddhism through support for dissertations, research, and writing, and by assisting institutions to establish new, tenure-track teaching positions. Annual symposia have fostered networks and knowledge sharing.
Learn more and apply here.
UW Fellowships
Other University of Washington departments and schools offer a variety of fellowships for both undergraduate and undergraduate students. Please see the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Civilization page for more information.
Other Resources
UW Financial Aid Office
The UW Office of Student Financial Aid can assist students with a variety of financial aid options including grants and scholarships, work-study, student loans and state and federal financial aid.
Center for Global Studies funding resources
Explore funding resources from the JSIS Center for Global Studies
Teaching Assistantships
The Jackson School does not always have TA-ships available for the academic year. Please email jwellman@uw.edu to inquire. Occasionally, TA-ships are available in other related departments and programs within the College of Arts and Sciences especially those that offer courses cross-listed with Comparative Religion such as Middle Eastern Languages & Civilization.