UCSC THI Summer Research Fellowships: Get Funding for Your Humanities PhD

For a PhD student in the humanities, summer isn’t a break—it’s the most critical time of the year. It’s when the teaching load vanishes, the grading piles disappear, and you finally have the uninterrupted focus needed to dive into archives, conduct fieldwork, or write that pivotal dissertation chapter. But there’s one catch: summer funding is notoriously scarce.

The Humanities Institute (THI) at UC Santa Cruz understands this reality. Their Summer Research Fellowships are designed specifically to bridge this gap, offering awards ranging from $500 to $2,500 to support doctoral students who need resources to advance their research.

While $2,500 might not sound like a fortune compared to a year-long fellowship, in the world of humanities research, it is often the difference between a productive summer and a stagnant one. It can pay for a plane ticket to a specialized archive in London, cover the cost of digitizing rare manuscripts, or simply provide the financial cushion you need to stay in Santa Cruz and write instead of taking a summer job.

This fellowship is more than just a check; it’s a vote of confidence from your department and the institute. It signals that your work is valuable and that you are on a trajectory to finish your degree. Plus, it comes with a built-in platform to showcase your work at the Graduate Research Symposium, helping you build the presentation skills that are essential for the job market.

Key Details at a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

Targeted Micro-Grants These fellowships are “micro-grants” in the best sense. They are flexible and designed to cover specific, tangible costs that often fall through the cracks of larger funding packages. Whether you need to travel to interview subjects, buy access to a database, or pay for accommodation near a library, this fund is there to help.

Career Development The requirement to present at the Graduate Research Symposium in Spring 2026 is actually a benefit in disguise. It forces you to synthesize your summer research into a coherent presentation, giving you practice for conference talks and job talks. It also puts your work in front of faculty and peers from across the division, fostering interdisciplinary connections.

Momentum for Degree Completion The primary goal of THI is to help you finish. By removing financial barriers to your summer research, they are directly investing in your time-to-degree. This is why “normative time” is such a big part of the eligibility criteria—they want to fund students who are moving efficiently toward the finish line.

Who Should Apply

This fellowship is exclusive to UC Santa Cruz PhD students in the Humanities Division. But within that group, who is the ideal candidate?

The Archivist You have identified a specific collection of documents that you need to see in person. You know exactly where they are (e.g., The Huntington, The British Library) and you just need the airfare and a week of Airbnb money to get there.

The Field Researcher Your work involves ethnography or oral histories. You need to travel to a specific community to conduct interviews, and you need funds for travel and recording equipment.

The Writer You have all your data, but you need a quiet summer to synthesize it into a chapter. While travel is a common use, funds can sometimes support “stay-at-home” research needs if justified well (though check specific year guidelines on subsistence vs. travel priority).

Eligibility Checklist:

• Department: You must be in a Humanities Division department (History, Literature, Linguistics, etc.).
• Status: You must be enrolled in at least 5 graduate credits and not be on leave.
• Standing: You must be within “normative time” (making expected progress toward your degree) and in good academic standing.
• Commitment: You must be willing and able to present in Spring 2026.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

I’ve reviewed many internal university grants, and here is how you can make yours rise to the top of the pile.

1. Be Specific with Your Budget Don’t ask for “$2,500 for research.” Ask for “$850 for round-trip flight to NYC, $1,200 for 6 nights accommodation, and $450 for archival reproduction fees.” Reviewers want to see that you have a plan and that the money will be used for exactly what you say.

2. Connect the Summer to the Dissertation You need to draw a straight line between this money and your degree. “This trip will allow me to complete Chapter 3, which focuses on X.” Avoid vague goals like “broadening my understanding.” Focus on deliverables.

3. Address “Normative Time” Proactively If you are slightly off the standard timeline but have a good reason (e.g., COVID delays, medical leave), have your advisor address this in their letter. Don’t let the committee guess why you are a year behind; explain how this grant helps you catch up.

4. The “InfoReady” Factor The application uses the InfoReady system. This system sends automated emails to your letter writers. Do not wait until the night before to trigger these emails. Your advisor might miss the notification. Trigger the request at least two weeks early and follow up personally.

5. Show Feasibility If you propose to visit three different countries in two months on a $2,000 budget, you will look naive. Propose a summer plan that is ambitious but achievable. Show that you have done the math and the scheduling.

Application Timeline

The deadline is March 12, 2025, but the process starts much earlier.

Early February 2025: Strategy

• Action: Define your summer research goals. What is the one thing you must get done?
• Action: Check your “Normative Time” status with your Graduate Coordinator. Fix any administrative flags now.

Late February 2025: Drafting

• Action: Draft your 1-2 page application letter. Focus on the “What, Why, and How” of your research.
• Action: Build your budget. Go to Expedia or Google Flights and get real numbers.
• Action: Update your CV. Make sure your current year’s activities are listed.

Early March 2025: The Nudge

• Action: Log into InfoReady and trigger the reference letter request for your advisor.
• Action: Email your advisor separately: “I just sent the InfoReady request. Here is a draft of my proposal so you know what I’m pitching.”

March 10-12, 2025: Submission

• Action: Submit the application. Do not wait for the last hour. Technical glitches happen, and THI is strict about the deadline.

Required Materials

• Application Letter (1-2 pages): This is your narrative. Explain your research plan, its significance to your field, and provide a simple budget justification.
• Curriculum Vitae (1 page): Keep it focused. Highlight research experience, previous awards, and publications.
• Awards List: A brief statement listing previous and current awards (titles, dates, amounts). This helps the committee see your funding history.
• Advisor Letter: A letter of support from your faculty advisor evaluating your progress and confirming your standing.
• Graduate Director Certification: You will need to provide contact info for your Graduate Director, who will certify your standing through the system.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Tangible Outcomes The committee loves to fund “finishers.” If you can say, “This grant will allow me to finish the data collection for my dissertation,” you are a high-priority candidate. They want to see that their money will result in a completed degree.

Clear Methodology Don’t just say you will “study” a topic. Say you will “analyze 50 court records from 1750-1760 located in the X Archive.” Specificity signals competence.

Departmental Fit Briefly mention how your work aligns with the broader themes of the Humanities Division or specific research clusters at UCSC. It shows you are an engaged member of the intellectual community.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The “Vague Travel” Proposal “I want to go to Paris to write.” Unless you need specific resources in Paris that don’t exist in Santa Cruz, this is a weak proposal. You need a research justification for the location.

Ignoring the Budget Limit Asking for $5,000 when the max is $2,500 shows you didn’t read the guidelines. If your trip costs $5,000, explain where the other $2,500 is coming from (e.g., “I have also applied for the Departmental Travel Grant”).

Late Letters This is the #1 reason applications get disqualified. Your advisor is busy. Manage them. Remind them. Thank them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply if I am graduating in Summer 2025? Generally, no. You are required to present at the Spring 2026 Symposium. If you are graduating before then, you likely cannot fulfill the fellowship requirements. Check with THI staff if you have a unique situation.

Can I hold this fellowship with other awards? Yes, and it is encouraged. However, you should disclose other funding in your application. If you are fully funded by a major external grant that covers summer research, THI might prioritize students with greater need.

What if my research plans change? If you are awarded funds for a trip to London and the archives close, you must contact THI immediately. They are usually flexible if you have a backup plan that still advances your degree, but you must ask first.

How to Apply

Ready to secure your summer funding?

1. Log In: Go to the UCSC InfoReady Portal and log in with your CruzID.
2. Prepare: Have your CV, Awards List, and Proposal ready as separate PDFs.
3. Coordinate: Ensure your advisor is ready to submit their letter by the deadline.

Don’t let this opportunity pass. A funded summer is a productive summer. Apply by March 12, 2025.