Funding Opportunities for Students

The Institute of Latin American Studies at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is privileged to receive funding from the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies Endowment Fund, the U.S. Department of Education, the Tannenbaum Endowment Fund, and other sources to provide grants, scholarships, and fellowships to Columbia students. The applications and instructions below provide a brief overview of fellowship and travel grant programs, as well as information on eligibility, requirements, and submission deadlines and procedures. ILAS also offers an information session every January for students wishing to apply for ILAS funding.

FOR MARSLAC STUDENTS

In addition to the aid listed above, ILAS provides partial academic year fellowships and research assistantships to MARSLAC applicants who demonstrate academic excellence and considers requests for need-based assistance. Students must apply to the program by the early application date of February every year. Students who apply after the February date may be considered if funds are still available. All MA applicants will be automatically considered for aid regardless of citizenship or residence status, with the exception of for Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships which are restricted to US citizens and residents and require a separate application. Specific funding options include:

  • ILAS and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Tuition Scholarships (Consideration for these is part of the general MARSLAC admissions process, no separate application necessary)
  • Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships (FLAS) - | Application | GSAS Guidelines | ILAS Guidelines: The US Department of Education provides FLAS recipients with $20,000 in stipend and $18,000 in tuition.  To further enhance fellowship opportunities for master’s students in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS) programs, GSAS will provide a "top-off" tuition fellowship for entering MA students who are awarded a FLAS fellowship.  The GSAS support will combine with the FLAS award to provide a full-tuition fellowship for the student's first year.  Students will be required to register for a full RU in both the fall and spring of their first year.  Funding for the spring semester is contingent on maintaining satisfactory academic progress in the program.
  • Columbia University Scholarship for Displaced Students (Separate application process administered through Columbia Global Centers)
  • Loans and financial aid, including federal work study

MARSLAC students may also apply for additional grant funds to present papers at conferences or other research related activities through GSAS Conference Matching Travel Fund. Prior approval from the director of graduate studies is needed. For more information, contact Senior Manager of Business and Student Affairs Eliza Kwon-Ahn.

OTHER USEFUL EXTERNAL FELLOWSHIPS:

FOR ALL COLUMBIA STUDENTS

All applications for Summer 2025 and Academic Year 2025-2026 are now open.

Undergraduate Student Opportunities

  • Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships (Summer 2025) - Deadline: Thursday, February 6, 2025, 1:00 pm (EST) | Application | GSAS Guidelines | ILAS Guidelines | Approved LCTL Programs (Please note that these are some of the approved courses.  Courses not listed may be approved)
     
  • ILAS Undergraduate Internship & Research Travel Grant (Summer 2025) – Deadline: Friday, March 21, 2025, 11:59 pm (EST) | Application | Guidelines


Graduate Student Opportunities

Undergrad and graduate students

If you have any questions regarding these fellowship and travel grant programs, contact Senior Manager of Business & Student Affairs Eliza Kwon-Ahn.

Also visit the GSAS financial aid page for more information and options about financing graduate education at Columbia.