Academics

The Women and Gender in Global Perspectives Program (WGGP) and the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies (CEAPS) announce a call for applications for the Illinois Global Institute (IGI) Language Fellowship. This fellowship provides support for critical language training necessary to fields of academic and professional development for UIUC graduate students. The fellowship offers academic year support (AY 2024-2025) to graduate students at the MA or PhD level. Successful applicants will receive a $20,000 stipend and a waiver of tuition and some fees.  As cultural and language training go hand in hand, fellows will be required to take one language course and one relevant area studies course each semester that they hold a fellowship. Additional requirements may be listed in awards letters. Academic advisors at each center will assist fellows in selecting the appropriate language and area studies courses.

Eligible Languages by Center

Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies

  • Chinese
  • Japanese
  • Korean

Women and Gender in Global Perspectives Program

  • Arabic
  • Hindi
  • Persian
  • Portuguese
  • Quechua
  • Swahili
  • Wolof

Applicant Eligibility

  • This fellowship supports study of eligible languages (see list above) at all levels, from elementary to advanced. Preference will be given to applicants studying at the intermediate to advanced level.
  • Applicants must be degree-seeking students in good academic standing enrolled in graduate programs at the University of Illinois.
  • Incoming graduate students are eligible to receive a fellowship if they are accepted for enrollment and matriculate for the 2025-2026 academic year or are already enrolled full-time at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Application Materials

All applicants must submit to the relevant center the following:

  • Personal statement explaining your rationale for studying a particular language, experience with the language (if any) and/or any other foreign languages, how the proposed language study fits in with your field of study and relates to the specific area studies you are apply to, as well as how the study of the language will advance your academic/professional goals;
  • Unofficial transcripts;
  • Two letters of recommendation (one must be from your current advisor). Reference letters must be submitted by referee at https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/10329057
  • Letters of Recommendation are due by 11:59 p.m. CT on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.

Application and instructions are available at https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/504860920

Applications are due by Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at 11:59pm. 

Contacts

Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies: Associate Director Yuchia Chang (yuchia@illinois.edu)

Women and Gender in Global Perspectives Program: Associate Director Anita Kaiser (arkaiser@illinois.edu)

 

AY 2025-2026 Awardee

AY 2025-2026 IGI Graduate Language Fellowship

Ali Baroutian

Ali Baroutian

Ali Baroutian is a Master's Student in the Department of Religion. He will study Arabic during his IGI Language Fellowship.

AY 2024-2025 Awardees

AY 2024-2025 IGI Graduate Language Fellowship

Eylul Begum Saglam 

Eylul Begum Saglam

Eylul Begum Saglam is a second-year PhD student in the Political Science Department. She received a 2024-2025 IGI Language Fellowship to study Arabic. 

Aysenur Senel 

Aysenur Senel

 Aysenur Senel is a PhD student in Architecture with a concentration in History and Theory. She received a 2024-2025 IGI Language Fellowship to study Arabic. 

Seung Deok

Seung Deok

 Seung Deok is a third-year PhD student in the Department of Political Science. He received a 2024-2025 IGI Language Fellowship to study Arabic. 

Manuela Quijano Hoyos 

Manuela Quijano Hoyos

 Manuela Quijano Hoyos is a second-year MS student in the lab, she has a graduate specialization in Environmental and Ecological Economics. She received a 2024-2025 IGI Language Fellowship to study Portuguese.

AY 2023-2024 Awardees

AY 2023-2024 IGI Graduate Language Fellowship

Arezoo Ataollahi

Arezoo Ataollahi

Arezoo Ataollahi is a MA student in the department of Linguistics.  She is studying Arabic.

 

Janet Husunukpe

 

Janet Husunukpe

Janet Husunukpe is a PhD student in Urban and Regional Planning. She is studying Swahili. 

Srinanda Ganguly

 

Srinanda Ganguly

Srinanda Ganguly is a doctoral student in the Art History Program, School of Art and Design. She is studying Arabic. 

 

 

AY 2022-2023 Awardee

AY 2022-2023 IGI Graduate Language Fellowship

Melissa Houston

Melissa Houston

Melissa Houston (Social Work) Melissa is a Master's student in the School of Social
Work. Melissa will study Arabic this academic year which she hopes to utilize in
service work with refugees and policy engagement.