Funding Opportunities for Students

The Institute of Latin American Studies is privileged to receive funding from the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies Endowment Fund, the Tannenbaum Endowment Fund, and other sources to provide grants, scholarships, and fellowships to students at Columbia and affiliated institutions. 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

• ILAS and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Tuition Scholarships 

ILAS provides partial academic year fellowships and research assistantships to MARSLAC applicants who demonstrate academic excellence and financial need, regardless of citizenship or residence status.  Students must apply to the program by the early application date of February every year. No separate application is needed.  Students who apply after the February deadline may be considered for support if funds are still available. 

• Loans and financial aid, including federal work study

Additional grants and fellowships:

• GSAS Conference Matching Travel Fund:  MARSLAC students may also apply for additional grant funds to present papers at conferences or other research-related activities through the matching funds.
• MARSLAC Research Travel Grant: MARSLAC students who wish to conduct fieldwork during winter, spring, and summer breaks.
  
  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 RESOURCES & FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

• GSAS financial aid page
• GSAS | Columbia External Fellowships
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
• Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
• La Unidad Latina Foundation
• Federal student aid (FAFSA)

FOR ALL COLUMBIA STUDENTS

Applications for Summer 2026 are now open.

Undergraduate Student Opportunities

• ILAS Undergraduate Internship & Research Travel Grants (for CC, GS, and BC students in ILAS UG degree programs | Summer 2026) – Deadline: Friday, March 27, 2026, 11:59 pm (EST) | Application | Guidelines
   
• Columbia Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies Conference Travel Grant Program (rolling application)
  
   

Graduate Student Opportunities

• Pre-dissertation Field Research Travel Grant (for MA and PhD students in all programs | Summer 2026) – Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026, 11:59 pm (EST) | Application | Guidelines
   
• Columbia Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies Conference Travel Grant Program (for students in all programs | rolling application)
   
• Lemann Graduate Fellowships through SIPA, Teachers College, and other Columbia professional master's programs. These fellowships are for students in select professional master's programs with an interest in Brazil and are not administered by ILAS. Please follow preceding links for additional details and contact information (students from Brazil interested in graduate and undergraduate studies in the various schools and departments of Columbia are advised to consult with Fundação Lemann and Fundação Estudar regarding additional fellowship opportunities that may be available).
   

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