UNESCO Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship
The Laura W Bush Traveling Fellowship funds student-designed proposals to conduct brief work in a foreign country related to the mandate of UNESCO – using education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and/or communication and information to build strong ties among nations.
The value of the fellowship may vary from year to year and applicant to applicant, although the anticipated value is approximately $2,500. The fellowship may not necessarily cover all the costs of the applicant’s proposal, so in cases where the project costs will exceed the award amount, applicants should identify complementary funding sources.
The fellowship is intended for American college/university students who express an interest in international collaboration but as of yet had not been afforded many opportunities to travel abroad.
To apply for the Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship, applicants must be...
- a U.S. Citizen eligible for foreign travel;
- at least 18 years old and not older than 25 at the time of application; and
- currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university in the United States.
The length of time for the travel is expected to be between 4 and 6 weeks and should include interaction with individuals from other nations. During his/her travel, the recipient should be willing to participate in public diplomacy events arranged with the pertinent U.S. State Department Consulate, Mission, and/or Embassy. Following the travel, the recipient agrees to submit a report describing experiences and analyzing objectives achieved; share his/her experiences with others; and be available to make a presentation at the Annual Meeting of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.
Proposals are evaluated on the following criteria:
- Originality and feasibility of proposal
- Quality of essay
- Apparent dedication to bridging nations, enlarging freedoms, and promoting democracy through one or more of UNESCO’s fields of competence
- Performance during interview, if applicable
Prospective applicants should visit the program's web site to obtain the application materials. Applications are submitted via email, directly to UNESCO.
