Apply now for AISLS Dissertation Planning Grant (United States)

Deadline: 01-Dec-2026

The American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies (AISLS) Dissertation Planning Grant supports graduate students preparing for doctoral research in Sri Lanka. Selected applicants can receive up to eight weeks of support, including a $560 weekly per diem, up to $2,000 for roundtrip airfare, and reimbursement of Sri Lankan visa fees. What Is the AISLS Dissertation Planning Grant? The AISLS Dissertation Planning Grant supports graduate students who need to visit Sri Lanka before beginning their doctoral fieldwork. The grant is designed for pre-dissertation research planning, rather than full dissertation research. It allows students to visit Sri Lanka to determine whether their proposed research is feasible and to prepare for future fieldwork.

The programme can help applicants:

Assess the feasibility of their research topic. Refine their dissertation research design. Identify potential research resources and contacts. Make practical arrangements for future fieldwork. Strengthen applications for subsequent dissertation research funding. What Funding Is Available? Selected recipients can receive several forms of financial support. Weekly Living Allowance Recipients receive a $560 per week per diem for up to eight weeks. The maximum potential per diem is therefore $4,480 for an eight-week visit. International Airfare The grant reimburses roundtrip airfare between the United States and Colombo up to $2,000. Visa Fees The programme also reimburses eligible visa fees paid to the Sri Lankan government. Funding sources vary by applicant. Awards to U.S. citizens are funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, while other awards are supported through AISLS discretionary funds. Who Is Eligible? The grant is intended for graduate students preparing for doctoral research involving Sri Lanka. Applicants must meet one of the following conditions: Be enrolled at an American university; or Be a U.S. citizen enrolled at a foreign university. The grant is particularly suited to students who have: Completed most of their graduate coursework. Begun developing their dissertation proposal. Started preparing for dissertation research funding applications. Identified Sri Lanka as an important location for their future research. What Fields Are Eligible? The AISLS Dissertation Planning Grant considers projects across the social sciences and humanities. Other relevant social science and humanities disciplines. The key requirement is that the proposed doctoral research requires meaningful planning or fieldwork in Sri Lanka. What Is the Purpose of a Pre-Dissertation Visit? A pre-dissertation visit allows a researcher to test and refine their proposed research before committing to full-scale doctoral fieldwork.

During the visit, a student may:

Evaluate whether relevant research materials or sources are accessible. Identify potential research institutions or contacts. Assess logistical requirements for future fieldwork. Refine research questions. Improve the proposed methodology. Determine whether the research plan is realistically achievable. Build relationships that may support later dissertation research. This makes the grant particularly useful for students who have a promising research idea but need firsthand knowledge of Sri Lankan research conditions before finalizing their dissertation proposal. How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Your University or Citizenship Status

Determine whether you are:

Enrolled at a U.S. university; or A U.S. citizen enrolled at a university outside the United States.

Step 2: Develop Your Research Plan

Prepare a clear explanation of the doctoral research you intend to pursue in Sri Lanka. Explain what you need to accomplish during the pre-dissertation visit and how the visit will improve your future dissertation research.

Step 3: Prepare the Required Documents

Applications must include:

Cover sheet Curriculum vitae (CV) Graduate transcript Project narrative Project bibliography Confidential recommendation letter from the applicant’s dissertation supervisor

Step 4: Prepare the Project Narrative

The project narrative should clearly explain: Your proposed dissertation topic. Your research questions. Why Sri Lanka is important to the research. What you intend to accomplish during the planning visit. How the visit will help refine your research design. How the proposed activities will prepare you for future dissertation research.

Step 5: Obtain the Recommendation Letter

The dissertation supervisor must submit the confidential recommendation letter directly, rather than including it in the applicant’s submission.

Step 6: Submit the Application

The application materials should be combined into one Word or PDF file and submitted according to the AISLS application instructions. The recommendation letter should be sent separately and directly by the dissertation supervisor. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Treating the grant as funding for full dissertation fieldwork. Providing a vague explanation of why Sri Lanka is necessary for the research. Failing to explain what the pre-dissertation visit will accomplish. Submitting incomplete application materials. Including the confidential recommendation letter in the applicant’s own file. Neglecting to connect the proposed visit with the development of the dissertation research plan. Applying before completing sufficient graduate coursework or developing a viable research proposal. Why This Grant Matters Doctoral research involving international fieldwork often requires substantial preparation before the researcher begins full-scale data collection. The AISLS Dissertation Planning Grant helps bridge the gap between developing a dissertation idea and conducting dissertation research. A successful planning visit can help a researcher identify practical challenges early, strengthen research methodology, establish useful academic contacts, and develop a more realistic dissertation prop